Bailey Approach Autograph 740 Tow Bar

[Lillylo]

Has anyone fitted a tow bar to a 740 or similar? We have fitted a tow trust tow bar to our and have had a lot of ground clearance problems especially with our motorcycle trailer. Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts?

Dave & Linda

 

[deanroofing]

Have heard about the problem on Bailey Facebook page got a Autograph 745 but no tow bar, but they are very low profile so ground clearance is shite.

 

[Lenny HB]

First of all is the towbar at the correct height?

Info from Witter towbars.

Secondly is the rear end dropping when you hitch the trailer, even if the nose weight is well within limits it could still push the rear end down a lot due to the overhang, if so you may need to fit air assist to the rear suspension.

 

[Bailey58]

Can you post the height measurement of the ball in it's unhitched state? I have a towbar and bike rack fitted by Watling Engineers and although I don't plan to tow any time soon I can check the height of the ball without too much trouble (it's in the loft). It might show your bar to be a different height for some reason.

 

[Lillylo]

I'll measure it in the morning. I think that the problem is that the overhang from the rear wheels to the tow bar is considerable? Nose weight is spot on to Bailey figure of 80kg so I don't think that there is any rear end dropping. The first time it ground out we were not even towing!

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[TheBig1]

you need to fit air assist suspension to the rear axle to lift the towball height

 

[Gorse Hill]

Can you post the height measurement of the ball in it's unhitched state? I have a towbar and bike rack fitted by Watling Engineers and although I don't plan to tow any time soon I can check the height of the ball without too much trouble (it's in the loft). It might show your bar to be a different height for some reason.

How did you fit the Motorhome in the loft ?

 

[Bailey58]

Bit of a struggle but it overwinters better up there and I don't have to drain down.

 

[timetochill]

Bailey 740 with approved fitted towbar April this year shape to the bracket does indeed ground did this after refueling for the first time 10 miles on clock s--te myself almost till realised what it was and only slight incline from pumps
Height of bottom of bracket from ground 26 mm 10.5 inches
Height to top tow all 42mm 16.5 inches
Height to tow all bolt at centre 23 mm 13 inches
MH parked on drive almost empty hope this helps

 

[Lenny HB]

Distance to the centre of the ball should be at least 350mm.

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[Bailey58]

If the height to the top of your ball is only 42mm I can see why you have a problem. I jest.

To the top of my ball is 400mm so if I ever tow I may face the same problem.

This is an archive picture from Watling but my "loose" measurement is accurate.

 

[timetochill]

Yes missed the zeros off still imperial measurements in Derbyshire but still remains that grounds very easily the 740 has a larger overhang at the back compared to the 6 berth version 760 i seem to recall

 

[Gellyneck]

Height to top tow all 42mm 16.5 inches

Assuming you mean 420mm to top of the towball and it's a 50mm ball (it will be) this gives you a height to centre of the ball of 420-25 = 395mm. As Lenny has stated above regulations stipulate that the centre of the ball should be between 350 and 420mm with the vehicle laden. I've always based this on the vehicle in it's laden state (excluding the trailer \ caravan hitched) to be on the safe side rather than an "arbitrary" MIRO given by the manufacturer. So, again assuming your vehicle is in it's laden state you are within the criteria.

The same regulations state your trailer tow hitch should have a height between 385 - 455mm when laden. Is it?

How much does the height drop when the trailer is coupled to the towbar?

If the towbar \ trailer grounds and the fitter has positioned the towbar to it's maximum height there is very little you can do except try and stop the towball dropping so much. As stated previously you would have to fit spring assisters. Reduction of the tow hitch weight could assist a little but the lighter you make it the less stable the trailer becomes. I would suggest a maximum reduction of, say, 10kg.

The above from my previous caravanning days with a sizeable twin axle.

 

[Lillylo]

Thanks for your replies. We took it back to the manufacturer yesterday and they said that the install was not spot on. The beam was at a slight angle looking down and as the bracket is quite long a small amount out at the beam can be as much as an inch out at the end of the bracket. It was removed and reinstalled and we are going to give it a try on a trip to St Tropez next week. The 2015 Bailey is a very low design however and raising the ball height too much would cause us problems at the rear of the trailer.

 

[timetochill]

What model Bailey have you and which towbar was fitted they all have the alko chasis so interesting if ours is at an angle will check later

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[Gellyneck]

Believe there can be "fitting adjustments" up to a couple of inches dependent upon manufacturer to ensure final height is within tolerance.

 

[timetochill]

Have heard about the problem on Bailey Facebook page got a Autograph 745 but no tow bar, but they are very low profile so ground clearance is shite.

Is this site different to the Bailey owners forum?
Not on Facebook but maybe worth a visit

 

[Brian_K]

It's a group page, so you will need to apply to join:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433322080268895/

Brian

 

[Lillylo]

What model Bailey have you and which towbar was fitted they all have the alko chasis so interesting if ours is at an angle will check later

Ours is a 2015 Approach Autograph 740 and the tow bar is made by Tow Trust in Atherstone.

 

[deanroofing]

Lillylo also check your engine battery in some boxer cabs they've put in a 680ah battery should be 950ah this is a Peugeot recall and you get it done under warranty with Peugeot nothing to do with Bailey.

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[timetochill]

Ours is a 2015 Approach Autograph 740 and the tow bar is made by Tow Trust in Atherstone.

We have the same it has quite a lot of metal work from the round bar across the chasis to the actual ball mount this is the part that grounded on ours
Thank you dean roofing will check ours

 

[mike mcglynn]

Hi, I would remove the jockey wheel if you are going on the ferry as you may have some damage with the ramps in fact, I know its a bind but I would stow it with the motorbike until required. It sure looks very low on level ground what would it be like over speed humps

 

[peterc10]

Lillylo also check your engine battery in some boxer cabs they've put in a 680ah battery should be 950ah this is a Peugeot recall and you get it done under warranty with Peugeot nothing to do with Bailey.

Are you sure you haven't added a zero accidentally to those figures? A 950Ah lead acid battery would be a hell of a size.

 

[deanroofing]

That's what it says, check with your Peugeot dealer.

 

[gus-lopez]

That's the cca ( cold cranking amps) isn't it ?

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[peterc10]

That's what it says, check with your Peugeot dealer.

Then they have probably got it wrong. Most starter batteries are between 55Ah to 100Ah. I have never seen or heard of a 950Ah one. It would have to be very large and heavy.

 

[Leigh Bryant]

The Towtrust bar is low for ground clearance on the Bailey lowline Alko chassis. The Alko towbar with its looping neck is even worse.
As a specialist in this field I would always recommend either the Memo or SMV swan neck bar as if offers better clearance. However if you need a flange style towbar then the Towtrust is the only way to go. For future reference we Spam removed offer a nice towbar for the Bailey in white.

 

[Jim]

Nice of you to join, open an old thread and promote your own product Goodbye Leigh

 

[tonyidle]

It's generally regarded as a no-no (I've never understood why) to use a drop-plate in reverse. I have done it in the past - a lift of two or three inches isn't an issue. It won't solve the problem of the towbar grounding but it will give you more clearance for the jockey wheel. I would do that as a first step then consider air assistance. What you have now will be difficult or impossible to live with.