Were away on our maiden voyage in 2 weeks cant wait.Does anyone change tyre pressure from solo to towing and visa versa.thanks for replies
tyre pressures
- Thread starter kopite
- Start date
Yes. My solo pressures are about 29/30 psi but increase these to 35 psi for towing. This is as per the handbook which gives pressures for an unloeaded and loaded towcar. As the van adds 75 kg for starters to the back end plus the c..p in the boot I reckon it is equivalent to a full passenger load. I carry a 12 volts tyre inflater which allows these to be easily changed.
If you have a big 4x4 then there may be little difference but the ride could be spongier at lower pressures. Check your handbook.
If you have a big 4x4 then there may be little difference but the ride could be spongier at lower pressures. Check your handbook.
HI! Wayne yes is the answer re pressures check your handbook for your towing vehicle there won,t be many that don,t require some air to be put in at the very least the rear tyres i have a Kia Sportage 30psi unlaiden then 36psi towing thats front & rear tyres so i would check if not would will tend to overheat the tyre and could endup with a blowout at the very least .also check your van pressures .
cheers Duggie
cheers Duggie
our mondeo est. has a solo no passanger psi of 30 and fully laden/in tow it goes upto 41 psi.
We dont half get funny looks letting out and inflating air on arrival and departure from site, which leads us to believe not many do this.
kevin
We dont half get funny looks letting out and inflating air on arrival and departure from site, which leads us to believe not many do this.
kevin
hi
I always say when caravaning you learn something new every year im vaning almost 16 years and i still find something ive never heard before cheers must look up now about tyre pressures
I always say when caravaning you learn something new every year im vaning almost 16 years and i still find something ive never heard before cheers must look up now about tyre pressures
Its only the rear tyres on my vectra estate that require the increase in tyre pressures, always keep the spare at the towing pressure easier to deflate if required .
Once I start caravanning the rear tyres remain at the towing spec even when i am driving solo, be honest do not notice the difference when driving solo.
Once I start caravanning the rear tyres remain at the towing spec even when i am driving solo, be honest do not notice the difference when driving solo.
cheers douglas i have sportage too and will take your advice.Only towed van once when i picked it up but the car was as good as gold how do you find yours
This is a bit of a contensious point,By hitching your caravan to the car you are only adding the noseweight of the van to the car load(75kg in my case)less than the weight of 1 passenger,so in my veiw unless the combined weight of the noseweight plus additional baggage exceeds the weight of 2 rear passengers I would not increase the tyre pressure's
- Mar 14, 2005
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An increase in rear tyre pressure is to compensate for payload, whether it's stuff in the boot plus additional rear passengers or whether part of this load is made up by the noseweight of the caravan. There is no such thing as a tyre pressure just for towing a caravan. There is no reason to increase the tyre pressure if only 75kg or whatever noseweight is applied but nothing else.
I'm afraid I have to disagree there Lutz.
While you may very well only be exerting 75Kgs of gravitational force onto the rear of the car, you do have to consider the cornering forces while towing.
If they tyre pressures are left at solo rates IE 30psi, when cornering the extra pressure exerted by typically 1300kgs of caravan trying to go on it's original coarse rather than turn, will have a significant side ways force to the tow vehicle. With softer tyres, this could enduce the rear of the vehicle to slide out, thus starting a snake situation under certain circumstances.
So by increasing the rear tyre pressure to the manufacturer's reccomended pressure for a fully loaded vehicle not only allows for the draw bar load of 75-100Kgs, but also it stiffens the sidewalls of the tyres to resist cornering distortion and rear end steer.
When we moved our caravan on 1st March just 16 miles to our summer seasonal site, I had forgotten to adjust my rear tyre pressure from 30psi to 38psi and it became very evident when I went down a small hill with a bend on it. With 1436Kgs of caravan behind our tow car weighing in at approx 1650 Kgs I did notice a very spongy rear end (not mine personally of coarse
So even me with all my experience can slip up and such an event does give you the jolt to check those tyres regularly.
The front tyre pressures are equally as important too although there is not so much difference, mine have only a 1 Psi increase.
ATB Steve L.
While you may very well only be exerting 75Kgs of gravitational force onto the rear of the car, you do have to consider the cornering forces while towing.
If they tyre pressures are left at solo rates IE 30psi, when cornering the extra pressure exerted by typically 1300kgs of caravan trying to go on it's original coarse rather than turn, will have a significant side ways force to the tow vehicle. With softer tyres, this could enduce the rear of the vehicle to slide out, thus starting a snake situation under certain circumstances.
So by increasing the rear tyre pressure to the manufacturer's reccomended pressure for a fully loaded vehicle not only allows for the draw bar load of 75-100Kgs, but also it stiffens the sidewalls of the tyres to resist cornering distortion and rear end steer.
When we moved our caravan on 1st March just 16 miles to our summer seasonal site, I had forgotten to adjust my rear tyre pressure from 30psi to 38psi and it became very evident when I went down a small hill with a bend on it. With 1436Kgs of caravan behind our tow car weighing in at approx 1650 Kgs I did notice a very spongy rear end (not mine personally of coarse
So even me with all my experience can slip up and such an event does give you the jolt to check those tyres regularly.
The front tyre pressures are equally as important too although there is not so much difference, mine have only a 1 Psi increase.
ATB Steve L.
Ah, but it is not quite as easy as that.
Adding one passenger in the rear seat will add a load that is distributed between front and rear wheels, albeit rather more to the rear than to the front. Adding weight in the boot or luggage area will place additional loading behind the rear wheels but not far behind so it will probably have little effect on the balance of the suspension.
Adding up to 75Kg on a tow ball that is some (relatively) considerable distance behind the rear axle will impose a turning moment which tends to lift load off the front wheels - not good since you user them to steer - and we've all paased the idiot caravanner on the motorway that has the back end nearly touching the road whilst almost lifting the front wheels of it!
From many years experience I usually increase the rear tyre pressures by about 3psi (0.2bar) when towing just to counteract that turning moment. It is usually enough to level out the loading (my hitch limit is 60Kg) but not enough to make the back end go 'bouncy.'
Adding one passenger in the rear seat will add a load that is distributed between front and rear wheels, albeit rather more to the rear than to the front. Adding weight in the boot or luggage area will place additional loading behind the rear wheels but not far behind so it will probably have little effect on the balance of the suspension.
Adding up to 75Kg on a tow ball that is some (relatively) considerable distance behind the rear axle will impose a turning moment which tends to lift load off the front wheels - not good since you user them to steer - and we've all paased the idiot caravanner on the motorway that has the back end nearly touching the road whilst almost lifting the front wheels of it!
From many years experience I usually increase the rear tyre pressures by about 3psi (0.2bar) when towing just to counteract that turning moment. It is usually enough to level out the loading (my hitch limit is 60Kg) but not enough to make the back end go 'bouncy.'
I am off on Saturday about 180 miles with van in tow for the first time ever and have read all about tyre pressers on the forum, on my old 4x4 it says solo 30psi but I will increase this at the rear to 40psi as if it is not to good I can always let some out.
I will keep the front at 30psi.
Filling up with Diesel tomorrow and checking oil and water.
My first job will be on the Friday to back out of the road and turn it round for the off, just hope no one is watching.
I will keep the front at 30psi.
Filling up with Diesel tomorrow and checking oil and water.
My first job will be on the Friday to back out of the road and turn it round for the off, just hope no one is watching.
Reg,
Have you googled your 4x4 to find out the correct pressure ? guessing is not right good.....
Or put the details of 4x4 wheel & tyre size on here ?
Have you googled your 4x4 to find out the correct pressure ? guessing is not right good.....
Or put the details of 4x4 wheel & tyre size on here ?
HI Wayne had a few cars in my day but have to say for the price and spek it just about the best i have had & 7year warrenty i tow a Swift Charisma 550 1500KG with no problems get 40/42 mpg solo 24/26 towing 1500KG . great lowdown torque for starting off . only problems i have had mileage is now 22500 mls new clutch at 20800mls clutch pedal was very high (clutch NOT slipping ) went to garage tested it sayed it was the self adjuster was not working so fitted a new clutch and flywheel .saved me
HI! Again wayne forgot to say that inside the drivers door there should be a sticker on the piller between the front & rear doors that gives you both the pressures solo & loaded
again 30psi solo front & 36psi loaded rear depends on what size of tyre fitted mine is a 58 plate XS Diesel
great motor better than the Xtrail i had before it
cheers Duggie
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