tow hitch height

[robstanbury_5041463]

We have just bought a Land Cruiser to replace our faithful

Rav4 (8years no problems),but the tow hitch seems high, 17inchs,

what is the norm,if too high, what about useing a drop down plate?

Rob Lynne &Woofers

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Rob,

The EU regulations sets the range of hitch heights for private cars to be between 350 and 420mm from the ground to the centre of the ball when fully loaded and ready to roll with passengers and luggage.

Your land cruiser may be exempt from the regulation on the basis that it is a specialist vehicle.

All EU caravans are designed for the 350 to 420 range so keeping to that range will ensure the caravan maintains its correct ground clearance at the rear.

Drop plates are allowed on some vehicles, but you would need to talk to your tow-bar specialist to find out if you are allowed one on your vehicle.

 

[Cockovan]

I have just measured the height of the ball on my Landcruiser.

It has a Toyota own bar with faceplate. The height of the centre of the ball - completely unladen - is 460mm (18in). I have never noticed any problems with ride height in 5 years once the vehicle is loaded and the van hitched it appears to ride level or slightly nose down.

Hope this might reassure you.

 

[ProfJohnL]

The unladen height is not specified in the EU regulations. quite obviously the height of the tow ball drop when the caravan nose load, passengers and luggage is added.

The important factor is what hight it rides at when it is loaded and ready to tow.

The EU specifies the height to the centre of the ball, and as you do not say where you measured your height the 17inches is relatively meaningless, however for the record 17 inches is 432mm.

Incidentally 17inches is 431mm, but as you do not specify the point of measurement it is difficult to know where the centre of the ball is.

 

[robstanbury_5041463]

Hi John ,Thanks for your response,I have remeasured my tow bar height

before going to the pub ,and they are as follows ,Caravan

top of tow hitch when van is level is 430 mm and the

Land Cruiser to top of tow ball 500mm do I need a drop plate?.

Rob Lynne & Woofers

 

[Sproket]

Rob

Before you go out & buy a drop plate, the next time you go shopping & the back of the car is full, ask a couple of friends to sit in the back seats & then re-measure the height of your tow ball...

Remember it will go down even further when another 100kg of nose weight is sat on the ball & if you can get someone to stand on it whilst everybody is in the car you will be surprised how far down your suspension will compress ...... ( that will give you an idea of your tow ball height when loaded ) I have seen motors with drop plates fitted & when they are fully loaded they very low.....

I initially put one on my truck & then removed it because when loaded the van was too low at the front....

It now travels nearly level ...

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello again Rob & Lynn,

I'm not sure what the significance of the Pub is? and I'm sorry if I did not make it clear that the car and caravan must be coupled just as if you are about to set off on holiday to make the measurement. As couplings can change from make to make, the regulations avoid different mechanical designs by specifying the centre of the ball as the measurement point.

The measurement is vertically from the road to the centre of the ball, and that for compliance with the EU reg must be between 350 and 420mm

What I can't tell you is if your car is exempt from the regulation, your cars main dealer should be able tell you.

Drop plate are only legal on cars that are exempt from the regulation.

NOTE the caravan does not have to be level when towed, the caravan manufacturer will have made their caravan to ride satisfactorily when the hitch height is within the EU limits.