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[32omegalad]

hi guys i have  a problem with my ride hieght .basicly when i hitch the caravan up i have to get two or more people to stand on the hitch.now i know the auto levleing works provideing it senses weight on the back / but problem is i have a very neg nose weight the van is a twin axle and i have tried putting all the stuff in the van.and have tried spring asistors still did not raise the car enough.
any of you guys heard of this before also cant raise the tow ball as it will block the rego plate when van not on
cheers james

[TheBoy]

Yeah, sell the van. Or burn it.

[32omegalad]

Yeah, sell the van. Or burn it.

not a caravan person then ??

[bigall]

1. Is your towball at the correct height iirc it should be between 350mm and 420mm without the van attached and fully loaded car. Check with caravan club etal

2. negative noseweight !!!!!!!  check the recommended noseweight of your van also the  height of the its  tow hitch from the ground  these will be in the vans  handbook or from the manufacturer I dont think you should have negative noseweight

[32omegalad]

thanks
no there should be no neg nose weight this means in my situation the van is pulling up the back of the car.i could add in a bracket but this then blocks the rego plate of which is not legal.the caravan is also at the max mplw wieght for the car to tow.

[TheBoy]

thanks
no there should be no neg nose weight this means in my situation the van is pulling up the back of the car.i could add in a bracket but this then blocks the rego plate of which is not legal.the caravan is also at the max mplw wieght for the car to tow.

So if you have neg nose weight, but shouldn't have, this is a problem with van loading then?

[32omegalad]

i dont take much in the van but to get over this problem im having to load it over but correctly placed the recomended trailer weight just to get it on the tow ball .may have to put standard springs on as i think the ellite ones are sports lowerd if im correct

[TheBoy]

i dont take much in the van but to get over this problem im having to load it over but correctly placed the recomended trailer weight just to get it on the tow ball .may have to put standard springs on as i think the ellite ones are sports lowerd if im correct

No, if you are supposed to have nose weight according to van manual, and you haven't, then the issue is with the van, not the car.

Elite with self levelling is not lowered in any way

[alexandjen]

Have you got anything in the front locker?
What model van have you got?

[Kevin Wood]

If the nose weight is insufficient surely raising the hitch would make matters worse?

Maximum nose weight for an Omega is 75kg IIRC, and it's best to aim for something approaching this if possible.

Also, ideally, the car should have a bit of load in it too. They tow much more stable with a bit of weight in the boot.

Sounds like you need to measure the height of the ball and see if it's within spec for the caravan. If you've got a conventional towbar you could always use a plate to raise the ball and remove it when not towing however, nose weight needs to be sorted before you raise it.

Kevin

[32omegalad]

Have you got anything in the front locker?
What model van have you got?

2000 coachman amara 580/4

[mark.adams]

If its got neg noseweight as you say, if you unhitch it it does the front end ping up in the air?

[davlad22]

How about a set of irmscher lowering springs for your 2000 amara!?!  

[32omegalad]

It does /i can have the van ready to hitch no jokey wheel touching the floor and reverse straight under the hitch.
I have in the front locker two 6kg gas bottles all the bedding and tv blow up bed pots pan s all in the van i have an awning but have not used that yet.The van tows ok but due to the lack of nose weight it rattles aroung on the tow ball standard hitch

[lee4206]

I know nothing about caravans but could it be that someone has put wrong size tyres on it ie larger than standard on the front axle or smaller ones on the rear axle.

[32omegalad]

I know nothing about caravans but could it be that someone has put wrong size tyres on it ie larger than standard on the front axle or smaller ones on the rear axle.

good point but going on car rule ish wheel/tyre size should always be the same size all of mine are same size and brand i could put smaller alloys on it tho

[davlad22]

235/45/17 on your elite mate

[32omegalad]

235/45/17 on your elite mate

yes they are mich primacys standard elite wheels. The van has michilin some thing on them and they are proper van tyres

[Andy B]

What kind of towbar have you got fitted? And as mentioned before, what is the height of the towball without a 'van on the back?

[32omegalad]

What kind of towbar have you got fitted? And as mentioned before, what is the height of the towball without a 'van on the back?

ground to top of ball is seventeen inches bang on

[Big_Al]

Blimey ! Just glad I ain't got a caravan !

[32omegalad]

tow bar is a witter standard fit non  detachable

[MickAP]

Got a single axle caravan, and omega estate.
Mine too sits lower than when on my last car, your problem is obvious you need to bring the back end up on the car or change the van to a single axle. Raising the back of the car may not be advisable. I see many 4 X 4 towing twin axles,  the reason is they have the increased height for them.
Just my thoughts!

Mick

[davlad22]

I too am not an expert but I would say your van is too big for the car? The omega is a great tow car but even they have their limits!  :-/

Tyre pressures on your van should be around 38psi as opposed to a single axle which is quoted around 60psi.

[32omegalad]

Thanks people some very good points.
I went for the larger van as i take the olds away in it.I will be at the van next wk end so will try a few different things out on it and see where that goes.I hope not straight pass me on the moterway.
Thanks again will post findings
James      

[Martin_1962]

Does it balance on the 4 wheels
Ideas

Inflate rears to maximum and fronts to minimum.

Contact the builder

Try the awning loaded towards the front

[davlad22]

^^^^^^^
Good advice, they want to be fairly well pumped anyway when under load. Take the van pressures down.

A bit drastic but spare wheel out of mig into front of van?

[MickAP]

^^^^^^^
Good advice, they want to be fairly well pumped anyway when under load. Take the van pressures down.

A bit drastic but spare wheel out of mig into front of van?

Don't mess with the tyre pressure on either the van or the car, remember it will be also dangerous especially if you are putting odd loads into the front of the caravan. The insurance and police will look at these very seriously if you are involved in any kind of accident, and let's hope not.
Follow the manufacturers recommendations or best still contact The Caravan Club.
You'll also find some well informed people to talk to here www.touringandtenting.com just ask.

Mick

[davlad22]

RIGHT! I think i've found a possible solution. Has one of these been mentioned?.....

AL-KO extended neck towball

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AL-KO-TOW-BALL_W0QQitemZ110234302087QQihZ001QQcategoryZ33653QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I wouldn't worry about it covering your numberplate, you can always take it off and really, I don't think even our friendly UK police would be that petty!

This is another possible option?...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-or-5-drop-plate-towbar-towball-trailer-caravan-DP04_W0QQitemZ290214842205QQihZ019QQcategoryZ36632QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Though it implies it is to 'drop' the level of the towball, not to raise it, and not sure i'd trust that anyway to the size of your van.

....now you're gonna tell me you have a 'swan-neck' arrangement aren't you!

[davlad22]

and another....cheap as chips  

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alko-Towball-unused_W0QQitemZ290214877679QQihZ019QQcategoryZ33653QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CARAVAN-TOW-BALL-SUITABLE-ALL-HITCHES-17KN_W0QQitemZ140203788435QQihZ004QQcategoryZ108845QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

Get one bought

[MickAP]

The extended neck Alko tow ball is only extended by a small amount, designed to be fitted to all bars that will couple up to a stabiliser coupling. It gives clearance for the friction pads, otherwise they would foul the neck below the ball, if a standard one is fitted. Minimum height gain I guess around 1"
The drop plate is exactly what it says to drop the level, not raise it!

Mick

[davlad22]

I'll get me coat.............


AL-KO job gotta be worth a try though for only a few quid, might be enough to solve the problem? I'm saying 2 inches height gain for a guess (it looks to be a whole towball longer?)

Anyway, i'm out  

[Kevin Wood]

Is there any height adjustment possible on the 'van side of the towing hitch?

Hitch height needs to be spot on for twin axle trailers. Hadn't appreciated it was twin axle before.

If you're out of ideas I'd talk to a tow bar specialist. They might be able to   suggest something.

Kevin

[bigall]

http://http://www.uktow.com/caravans.asp?company_name=Coachman#123

Is this your van?
Mass in running order  1375kg (ie totally empty
Max permissable laden mass 1600kg

facelift x30xe elite  saloon manual  kerb weight approx 1750kg auto 1770kg  van to car about 90%. A little high but Ok with care Caravan club recommend iirc max of 85% as ok and 100% as maybe!!!
With your van level you need to measure the distance from the floor to the centre of the hitch and compare this to your towball height which as you say was spot on. NB the range I gave before of towball height max and min relates to cars . 4x4s iirc do not have to comply with this max and min heigh

[32omegalad]

few good points said
one i forgot to mention ball fitted is the type for the alko hitch 3004 just have not fitted the hitch yet vans in oxfordshire im in berkshire ??
now iv'e towed since i was 18 and was always put under the impression that a plate could only add on other objects being that the ball always went directly into the towing bracket on the car.
by useing the plate to lower or make higher you would loose strength  between the ball and bracket given the weight of the van.
im at the van over easter so will try and get some piccies  and post them on here
james    

[davlad22]

Absolutely right, as mick said, only to be used to drop the level but I was merely putting a few ideas around. I think the extended towball would be my choice for starters but always rememeber to stay within limits and the law.

[32omegalad]

got the car sorrted it was a faulty load sensor with an intermitant fault
follow the link got some pics done first wk end away and it snowed lol
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.marrshall/
just got to replace the shocks now as not holding air