Is there an order when adding a tow bar and rear air assist?

[Conal]

Took my motorhome to Watling Engineers today to have a tow bar fitted. By the way it is a work of art, but that is not why I am posting. Speaking to the engineer before fitting I mentioned that I was having rear air assist fitted next week by Glide Rite and would that make a difference to his work. He advised that, due to air assist raising the vehicle slightly, it would have been better for that to have been done first so that he could make sure the vehicle level was correct after the work. He did say that it would not be a problem. Has anyone had a problem with levels after air assist has been fitted?

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Our rear height was increased after air assist was added to our ALKO rear axle.
I’d never considered it but it stands to reason as the air assist took some of the weight off the torsion bars.

 

[Mikeco]

It definitely will affect the height of the tow ball which can be a problem, I had to fit a drop plate to mine so that the twin axle trailer that I towed to Spain was riding level.

 

[Phill D]

Surely the hight will depend on the pressure you put into the bags. And that is likely to change as you find the best pressure to suit your needs.
At any point in time

 

[Conal]

Phill D From what others have said I think he meant that the rear would be higher as the air assist adds to the height even at the lowest setting. I don’t know what he could do to prevent this whilst fitting the tow bar.

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[Emmit]

It definitely will affect the height of the tow ball which can be a problem, I had to fit a drop plate to mine so that the twin axle trailer that I towed to Spain was riding level.

The grey matter is corroded but;
Are 'drop plates' legal? In the strictest sense.
I'm not making a criticism but
somewhere in the dark recesses of what used to be called a brain, it recalls that (again in the strictest sense of legality) they became a no-no.

 

[ChrisL]

The grey matter is corroded but;
Are 'drop plates' legal? In the strictest sense.
I'm not making a criticism but
somewhere in the dark recesses of what used to be called a brain, it recalls that (again in the strictest sense of legality) they became a no-no.

Multi height tow bars are still available, I used to have one on my old Range Rover.

Multi-height Tow Bar

VUB000720 Kit-Trailerhitch

www.paddockspares.com

Tow Bars - Multi Height - Devon 4x4 - 4x4 specialists

Tow Bars - Multi Height Devon 4x4

www.devon4x4.com

 

[gus-lopez]

It definitely will affect the height of the tow ball which can be a problem, I had to fit a drop plate to mine so that the twin axle trailer that I towed to Spain was riding level.

Yes the minimum height is 375mm. A drop plate is only any use post 2012 if the drop plate was homologated as an addition to that type of bar ,when the tow bar was homologated.Otherwise it is not legal.

 

[Emmit]

Multi height tow bars are still available, I used to have one on my old Range Rover.

Multi-height Tow Bar

VUB000720 Kit-Trailerhitch

www.paddockspares.com

Tow Bars - Multi Height - Devon 4x4 - 4x4 specialists

Tow Bars - Multi Height Devon 4x4

www.devon4x4.com

Thank you.

The two examples I understand. However the top one is part of a vehicle system specifically for a certain vehicle, as is the second one.
What I'm referring to is a simple square of metal with holes drilled into it.
I'm thinking that, in these days of conformity etc. such use would negate the conformity on the towing system fitted.
This would not apply to the two examples you have shown.

 

[IRHP]

Although Air assist can raise the height of the rear end It's not considerable until you really start to pump them up as you might if you wanted more ground clearance for whatever reason. You generally wouldn't run with them at those sorts of pressure as the ride would be too harsh. Adding air as you load the van means the level stays about the same.

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[pappajohn]

The towball center should be 17 inches above ground level.
All commercially manufactured trailers /caravans etc are built to this level.

 

[Ridgeway]

I added rear air after i had my tow bracket installed and i didn't notice any major difference in height. My tow bracket (Sawiko) is adjustable in height so i could lower it although the steps are actually pretty big.

I did measure my trailers hitch height and asked the installer to match that which they did.

 

[ChrisL]

The two examples I understand. However the top one is part of a vehicle system specifically for a certain vehicle, as is the second one.
What I'm referring to is a simple square of metal with holes drilled into it.
I'm thinking that, in these days of conformity etc. such use would negate the conformity on the towing system fitted.
This would not apply to the two examples you have shown.

I just wanted to illustrate that approved variable height tow bars are available, the OP would need to find the correct one for his motorhome. I would have thought that pretty much all tow bars are vehicle specific.

 

[Conal]

IRHP and Ridgeway thanks for the reassurance

 

[bigwood]

The breakdown vans we used had air assist fitted to enable us to adjust the ride hight depending on what trailer or A frame we used. It was a simple job to adjust the pressure and helped with keeping the trailers stable.

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[Conal]

bigwood Thanks, hopefully once I have the A frame and car attached I will be able to adjust the ride height.