Hi Everybody
This is my first post here and I am in need of some advice.
I have a 1989 Carlight 152 and I recently took it to be serviced. I mentioned when taking it in that I thought it needed a new hitch damper.
When I collected it they told me that the hitch damper was fine but on towing the caravan home there were jerks from the hitch as I pulled away and jerks as the caravan ran into the car as I applied the brakes. I decided that it needed a new hitch damper anyway.
I dismantled the coupling and removed the hitch damper. The damper is not in bad condition but is easier to compress than a new one.
However there are two things that I found when I had taken it to pieces that are a bit puzzling. The first is the brake adjustment. With the hitch damper removed I can push the hitch tube in and see how much it moves before I can feel the resistance of the brakes.
I was surprised by this. About 3/4 of the travel of the coupling is used before the brakes are applied. Is this normal? Is this why I can feel the caravan running into the back of the car?
While taking it to bits for this I was also a bit disappointed with the state of the jockey wheel clamp which seems to have been distorted by the bolts holding it to the hitch. It still works as it should but I don't think it holds the jockey wheel vertical as well as it might.
The problem seems to extend to the side of the coupling as well.
Has anyone else come across this? Has anyone got a solution?
I'd be grateful for any advice.
Russell
This is my first post here and I am in need of some advice.
I have a 1989 Carlight 152 and I recently took it to be serviced. I mentioned when taking it in that I thought it needed a new hitch damper.
When I collected it they told me that the hitch damper was fine but on towing the caravan home there were jerks from the hitch as I pulled away and jerks as the caravan ran into the car as I applied the brakes. I decided that it needed a new hitch damper anyway.
I dismantled the coupling and removed the hitch damper. The damper is not in bad condition but is easier to compress than a new one.
However there are two things that I found when I had taken it to pieces that are a bit puzzling. The first is the brake adjustment. With the hitch damper removed I can push the hitch tube in and see how much it moves before I can feel the resistance of the brakes.
I was surprised by this. About 3/4 of the travel of the coupling is used before the brakes are applied. Is this normal? Is this why I can feel the caravan running into the back of the car?
While taking it to bits for this I was also a bit disappointed with the state of the jockey wheel clamp which seems to have been distorted by the bolts holding it to the hitch. It still works as it should but I don't think it holds the jockey wheel vertical as well as it might.
The problem seems to extend to the side of the coupling as well.
Has anyone else come across this? Has anyone got a solution?
I'd be grateful for any advice.
Russell
