Towball too high (1 Viewer)

[adamsale]

Hi,

We tow a Toyota Aygo on an A frame behind our new Adria Matrix 670 sl and noticed that the tow hitch is sitting high on the towball. With the vehicle laden and the Dunlop air assist at 40psi/2.75bar the height from the ground to the centre of the towball is 445mm and 470mm to the top.

EC directive 94/20/EC states towball height should be between 350 and 420mm. We believe the best ride for our Motorhome is with the air assist set at 2.75 bar but this means the tow ball height is not going to be compliant.

Although we have not encountered any problems so far towing the Aygo with the new Motorhome we don’t like the nose up attitude “so to speak” as it gives concern that it may cause damage to the cars suspension. We also wonder whether it would affect the stability of any two wheeled trailers that we may tow in the future.

It should be said that we have towed a car on an A frame behind our two previous non air assisted suspension Motorhomes with no problem but these have been with the tow hitch at a level attitude.

Has anyone encountered similar issues and if so how were they overcome please.

P.s.thought about getting drop plates to lower the towball height but until I speak to Memo Europe..the towbar manufacturer:supplier I don’t know if this is a legal option.

Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[Littlewheels]

Tow Ball Drop Plate,simple to fit.

 

[Littlewheels]

Sorry, Witter are a highly respectable manufacturer, I’m am sure they are legal but do check Witter.

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[pappajohn]

Show me a Range-Rover without an adjustable dropper plate and I'll show you someone who has never towed with their Range Rover.

 

[John65]

Just fit a drop plate, if you don't want an adjustable one you can buy a plain steel plate pre drilled mine has 6 holes in it 2 for fixing to tow bar and the others for height adjustment

 

[gus-lopez]

Hi,

We tow a Toyota Aygo on an A frame behind our new Adria Matrix 670 sl and noticed that the tow hitch is sitting high on the towball. With the vehicle laden and the Dunlop air assist at 40psi/2.75bar the height from the ground to the centre of the towball is 445mm and 470mm to the top.

EC directive 94/20/EC states towball height should be between 350 and 420mm. We believe the best ride for our Motorhome is with the air assist set at 2.75 bar but this means the tow ball height is not going to be compliant.

Although we have not encountered any problems so far towing the Aygo with the new Motorhome we don’t like the nose up attitude “so to speak” as it gives concern that it may cause damage to the cars suspension. We also wonder whether it would affect the stability of any two wheeled trailers that we may tow in the future.

It should be said that we have towed a car on an A frame behind our two previous non air assisted suspension Motorhomes with no problem but these have been with the tow hitch at a level attitude.

Has anyone encountered similar issues and if so how were they overcome please.

P.s.thought about getting drop plates to lower the towball height but until I speak to Memo Europe..the towbar manufacturer:supplier I don’t know if this is a legal option.

Thank you for your thoughts.

It is if the towbar was EC homologated with a drop plate as well as without.

View attachment 196814 Tow Ball Drop Plate,simple to fit.

Not legal to modify unless towbar was Ec homologated with a drop plate.

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[wiljoy]

I had a tow bar fitted by a dealer when I purchased the van. The bar was the wrong item and far to low. The only cure was to change the complete tow bar. I found TowTrust knew what they were selling unlike many dealers. Now sorted.

 

[adamsale]

HI

Thank you for all replies. I should have mentioned it’s Swan neck towball attachment fitted to an extended chassis frame. I don’t think the drop plate as shown is suitable but thanks anyway. I’m really not sure if it’s possible to fit a drop plate to the type of towbar that’s fitted to our Motorhome.

 

[gus-lopez]

HI

Thank you for all replies. I should have mentioned it’s Swan neck towball attachment fitted to an extended chassis frame. I don’t think the drop plate as shown is suitable but thanks anyway. I’m really not sure if it’s possible to fit a drop plate to the type of towbar that’s fitted to our Motorhome.

Unfortunately you are right, it isn't ,nor do they homologate drop plates for them.

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[pappajohn]

HI

Thank you for all replies. I should have mentioned it’s Swan neck towball attachment fitted to an extended chassis frame. I don’t think the drop plate as shown is suitable but thanks anyway. I’m really not sure if it’s possible to fit a drop plate to the type of towbar that’s fitted to our Motorhome.

You're buggered then.
Nothing will alter the height of a swan neck...either fixed or detachable.

Only thing that will happen as it is, there will be a higher downforce on the cars front suspension under heavy braking rather than transmitting the force along a horizontal axis.

 

[tacr2man]

It would not be good with a 2 wheeled trailer being nose up , but you could mod the front of the trailer to lift the tow coupling , as seen on some military trailers.
I think you are worrying unnecessarily re the a frame . horizontal would be ideal , but you are not going to damage the front suspension all vehicles have weight transference under braking that cause the front to dip to a certain degree even with anti dive front suspension geometry . The aygo isnt that heavy that it will lift the rear of your motorhome to a dangerous level under braking , especially as you are unlikely to be pushing limits whilst driving a motorhome ? also the front tyres will be transmitting braking force more efficiently under the load .

 

[two]

Towing an A-frame should not matter as it's hinged at both ends and has little effect on the towed vehicle.
Towing a trailer could be problematic as they expect it to run more or less horizontally and, if too high at the front, may be too low at the back. If you cannot lower your swan neck, you may be able to raise the hitch of the trailer.

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[adamsale]

Thank you all again for the advice and reassurances regarding towing our Aygo on the a frame - all makes sense.

I agree that towing two wheeled trailers could be a problem and will investigate the suggested remedies. Given that the height of the towball appears to fall outside the EC directive is it still legal to tow with it???

Thanks for your views.

 

[PhilG]

it sounds like this is not fit for purpose.

 

[pappajohn]

Given that the height of the towball appears to fall outside the EC directive is it still legal to tow with it???

I doubt very much anybody is going to check it anyway.
Unless it was ridiculously high it wouldn't stop me using it.

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[pappajohn]

it sounds like this is not fit for purpose.

It has type approval so is fit for purpose.
The op's air suspension has raised the rear of the van above the standard height which the bar was designed for.

 

[jockaneezer]

Stick the swan neck in upside down.

 

[PhilG]

It has type approval so is fit for purpose.
The op's air suspension has raised the rear of the van above the standard height which the bar was designed for.

Which bit of that isnt 'fit for purpose' .. for whatever reason ( in this case air suspension) it falls outside what it is supposed to be, the question is, was the ball fitted with the knowledge that the Air kit was fitted . I also agree that for pulling a car , its neither here nor there, but it may give issues with other stuff.

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[pappajohn]

Which bit of that isnt 'fit for purpose' .. for whatever reason ( in this case air suspension) it falls outside what it is supposed to be, the question is, was the ball fitted with the knowledge that the Air kit was fitted . I also agree that for pulling a car , its neither here nor there, but it may give issues with other stuff.

It's exactly what its supposed to be, and do.
The manufacturer designed the bar to fit a standard height van therefore fit for purpose.
If the owner decides to alter the vehicle height it's not a design fault on the bar manufacturers part so again, fit for purpose.

Rather than 'not fit for purpose' maybe 'no fecking use in this instance' may be a better description.

 

[adamsale]

Hi and thank you for your comments.

The towbar was ordered prior to the air suspension being fitted though it was installed when the air suspension had been done.

Following the comments on this topic I am now of the opinion the air suspension is responsible for raising the long overhang and consequently the towball. I don’t think Towtal (towbar installer) is at fault here though I will talk to them tomorrow to see if they have any suggestions.

I could always reduce the air suspension pressure to 2 bar to lower the towball but I’m not keen to run at that lower pressure?

As an aside I had Air assist fitted to help with the up grade to 3850 kgs and to improve our Motorhomes ride and stability. I must say it’s been a very worthwhile addition apart from the issue it’s probably now presented.

Thank you

 

[pappajohn]

I wouldn't worry as its just 2" over the official tolerance of 3" difference from low to high.tolerance.
If it had been 6" I might give it some thought, but not 2"
Plus....the A frame brackets on the car may be attached lower than the lower ball limit which, even without the air, may make the upward angle of the frame higher than expected.

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[icantremember]

You could fit 12" wheels to the motorhome!

 

[Gellyneck]

You could fit 12" wheels to the motorhome!

Or bigger wheels to the car!

 

[two]

Stick the swan neck in upside down.

but then the trailer wheels would be in the air.

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[two]

With a longer overhang, a small increase in axle height will be much more by the time you get to the back.
I expect that the 'standard' height will have been established to give everyone a level to aim for. In practice some mis-matches look a bit odd if the trailer is travelling 'nose-up' but I can't see much problem if there's adequate ground clearance. If there was a fault in the height of your tow ball, I'd suggest it is with the installer of the air suspension.

 

[Littlewheels]

Don’t Laugh!!


There’s always a Solution.

 

[jockaneezer]

Don’t Laugh!!


There’s always a Solution.

That monstrosity would take half your payload !

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[PeteH]

Is the Swan neck Welded to the Bar Or (as was the case with one I had) Bolted to the Bar?.

If Bolted it may be possible to get one with a shallower curve. Failing that A good Blacksmith will be able to modify it.

 

[two]

Of course, that's not intended for a motor vehicle. You need to keep the tow ball as close to the rear axle as possible and that thing extends a long way out. I guess it's for agricultural trailers which have a greater margin of hitch heights. Nice piece of engineering, though. And probably a tad expensive.

 

[adamsale]

Thank you for your suggestions the swan neck is bolted to the bar... I will look into the possibility of a shallower fitment. The hitch height adjuster looks a novel idea but don’t think I’ll pursue that one but thank you anyway

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