tow-bal hight

stormy_be · Jul 14, 2010

Hello,

Last weekend I towed a 2 axle-trailor.
Only one axle touched when the trailor was empty.
When loaded, the other one touched too. But I suppose the weight was not distributed over the 2 axles.

After some searching, the towbal should be at a hight of 360-420mm.
My is higher.

Question now: is it my ride height (hydraulic suspension) that is wrong, or is it the towbar construction that is wrong?

Can someone measure for example the norm hight of the top of the rear bumper (DII td5 late 2002)? Or the difference between center of the bal and top of the top of the bumper.

This way I would be able to tell if it's the car in general, or the bal itself that is too high.

Thanks,
Koen

Beast o Bodmin · Jul 14, 2010

fit a lift kit to the trailer

WolfyDave · Jul 14, 2010

Hi Koen,

Measurements from my 2002 Facelift v8 are as follows

Centre of towball to top of rear bumper.......................220mm
Centre of towball to ground......................................450mm

Please note that i have an Alko extended tow ball fitted which sits 30mm higher than a standard tow ball

Hope this helps

Dave

thebiglad · Jul 14, 2010

stormy_be said:
Hello,

Last weekend I towed a 2 axle-trailor.
Only one axle touched when the trailor was empty.
When loaded, the other one touched too. But I suppose the weight was not distributed over the 2 axles.

After some searching, the towbal should be at a hight of 360-420mm.
My is higher.

Question now: is it my ride height (hydraulic suspension) that is wrong, or is it the towbar construction that is wrong?

Can someone measure for example the norm hight of the top of the rear bumper (DII td5 late 2002)? Or the difference between center of the bal and top of the top of the bumper.

This way I would be able to tell if it's the car in general, or the ball itself that is too high.

Thanks,
Koen

Hi Koen, what I have on the back of my car is a Dixon Bate adjustable towbar, so in a couple of seconds you can alter the height of the towing ball to suit any trailer.

See the linky:

202049 Dixon Bate adjustable dropplate kit - air sprung

Incidently, I suspect you have air suspension on the back of your car, rather than hydraulic.

Cheers
Dave

woodsman · Jul 14, 2010

Hi Koen ,as the big lad says Dixon Bate adjustable, or try a drop plate of the correct size they just bolt on to standard plate, if yours is ?. Hope you suss it .

.

stormy_be · Jul 15, 2010

thebiglad said:
Hi Koen, what I have on the back of my car is a Dixon Bate adjustable towbar, so in a couple of seconds you can alter the height of the towing ball to suit any trailer.

See the linky:

202049 Dixon Bate adjustable dropplate kit - air sprung

Incidently, I suspect you have air suspension on the back of your car, rather than hydraulic.

Cheers
Dave

Yes off course, air suspension was what I ment.

I've added a picture of mine.
Ground to center is 53cm
Ground to top bumper is 70cm (so center to top of bumper is 17).

That would mean my bumper is 3cm more up to Dave's measurements (might be the ground was not 100% level on my measurements)
So from to bumper down, the tow-bal would need to be 25-31 cm down.
Mine only being 17cm down make a differnce of 8-14 cm that mine is to much up :-(

Koen

thebiglad · Jul 15, 2010

stormy_be said:
Yes off course, air suspension was what I ment.

I've added a picture of mine.
Ground to center is 53cm
Ground to top bumper is 70cm (so center to top of bumper is 17).

That would mean my bumper is 3cm more up to Dave's measurements (might be the ground was not 100% level on my measurements)
So from to bumper down, the tow-bal would need to be 25-31 cm down.
Mine only being 17cm down make a differnce of 8-14 cm that mine is to much up :-(

Koen

Hi Koen, don't need to worry about measurements, you can see straight away that the style of towbar fixing you have is non-std, which is why it is too high.

Either go for a drop plate or the Dixon bate setup I suggested and you'll have no more probs.

Cheers
Dave

KevsTD5 · Jul 15, 2010

don't forget that if you buy the drop plate you may have to buy longer bolts to bolt the tow ball back on.

stormy_be · Jul 17, 2010

thebiglad said:
Hi Koen, don't need to worry about measurements, you can see straight away that the style of towbar fixing you have is non-std, which is why it is too high.

Either go for a drop plate or the Dixon bate setup I suggested and you'll have no more probs.

Cheers
Dave

Hey,

I've dropped by the guy who installed the towbar.
And Bosal don't have this drop down plate.
Meaning I would need to buy a complete new towbar (and even so, he doesn't sell anything other that bosal).

I would believe this is not an item that would be pricey at a breakers, would it?
unfortunatly, no LR-breakers in belgium...

If someone is goign to a breakers anytime soon, could you ask?

Maybe after ok, would it be possible to send it over?

Thanks, Koen

fanatic · Jul 17, 2010

Google or ebay
"tow bar drop plate"

Find a supplier who does international delivery

If you had air suspension-you can lock towing height

WolfyDave · Jul 18, 2010

Hi Koen,Ive found this on Ebay,might be worth considering.

TOWBAR / TOWBALL / TOWING DROP PLATE 100mm 4" MAX on eBay (end time 19-Jul-10 12:37:27 BST)

thebiglad · Jul 18, 2010

stormy_be said:
Hey,

I've dropped by the guy who installed the towbar.
And Bosal don't have this drop down plate.
Meaning I would need to buy a complete new towbar (and even so, he doesn't sell anything other that bosal).

I would believe this is not an item that would be pricey at a breakers, would it?
unfortunatly, no LR-breakers in belgium...

If someone is goign to a breakers anytime soon, could you ask?

Maybe after ok, would it be possible to send it over?

Thanks, Koen

Hi Koen, if you have a look at the Paddocks site, you'll see a Dixon Bate towbar on there for £95+vat and they will deliver to you direct.

I do not believe a drop plate will be successful when fitted to you existing mounting as the drop will take the towball below the existing fittings and will not be as safe as putting a new Dixon Btae arrangement on the car.

Your choice of course......................

Cheers

Dave

tow-bal hight

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