Vibration After Having Tow Bar Fitted!?

EuroTrotters

EuroTrotters

Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Posts
12,235
Likes collected
20,903
Location
Manchester UK + Javea/Xabia Spain + Abu Dhabi
Funster No
7,543
MH
HYMER B644
Exp
2004
Hi,

Further to my recent post. I have a question...?

We had a tow bar fitted to our Sprinter Based motorhome a few days ago. I drove the motorhome to the installer 35 miles from our home, no problems.

When the tow bar fitters had installed the Type Approved bar, they had to make several adjustments to the supplied equipment. So it took some time and modifications.

Upon driving away, the van seems to be vibrating. Not violently, but as if you were driving on very fine rumble strips or one of those Belgian concrete motorways.

I can't imagine how fitting a tow bar could change the way the van feels to drive. Or how they could of done something to alter things?.

Before I contact them and sound stupid. I wonder if anyone had any thoughts on the matter please?

TM
 
sounds like the exhaust is rubbing against the metal of the towbar.
quite common fault....... needs tweeking.
 
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Reactions: DBK
There is certainly something a bit amiss, so don't feel bad about taking it back, as the longer you leave it the quicker it could do some damage.
 
Jonkil said:
sounds like the exhaust is rubbing against the metal of the towbar.
quite common fault....... needs tweeking.
Click to expand...

I understand your thinking on some white man van`s..... but don`t most if not all MoHo exhaust`s come out near the front.. ??

If so why would they have to interfere with the exhaust..??

Or have I got it wrong........... as usual... :(;)

 
Exhaust would be my guess too, assuming it goes near the tow bar, it happened on a vehicle of mine. But just check all the wheel nuts are tight before you next move the vehicle. They may have taken the wheels off to gain access and not tightened them!

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Get it checked by them, could be simple but impactive error
 
Check all your tyres you may of picked up something and its stuck in one of the treads.
 
TeeMyob said:
Hi,

Further to my recent post. I have a question...?

We had a tow bar fitted to our Sprinter Based motorhome a few days ago. I drove the motorhome to the installer 35 miles from our home, no problems.

When the tow bar fitters had installed the Type Approved bar, they had to make several adjustments to the supplied equipment. So it took some time and modifications.

Upon driving away, the van seems to be vibrating. Not violently, but as if you were driving on very fine rumble strips or one of those Belgian concrete motorways.

I can't imagine how fitting a tow bar could change the way the van feels to drive. Or how they could of done something to alter things?.

Before I contact them and sound stupid. I wonder if anyone had any thoughts on the matter please?

TM
Click to expand...
Hi Trev,

Like others, I'd be suspecting the exhaust and getting myself underneath to check out the possibility. It may be a hand brake cable vibrating against the framework, causing resonance, but if not found, as advised above, check the wheel nuts before taking the MH back to the fitters.

Good luck with it. (y)

Jock.
 
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old-mo said:
I understand your thinking on some white man van`s..... but don`t most if not all MoHo exhaust`s come out near the front.. ??

If so why would they have to interfere with the exhaust..??

Or have I got it wrong........... as usual... :(;)
Click to expand...
Yes
That's a good point mo.....
Just thinking it's nearly the only thing it could be ( assuming it comes out the rear of the vehicle)
 
I would think exhaust would only 'rattle' not vibrate------most likely cause (most simple) would be wheel nuts loose--or wheel not centred/seating correctly.
Alternative cause could be serious:(------get it sorted ASAP--or sooner
Nigel
 
sounds like wheel nuts or the wheel balance has gone out did they remove the wheels they might have knocked ono of the balance weights off
bill
 
I'd be checking the wheel nuts are all tight.
Also - check one or more of the wheel balance weights haven't been knocked off
 
Any feedback on this thread..... Teemyob....

Would be interesting to hear the outcome... (y)
 
Hi All,

After several attempts to contact the company in question by email, ebay and telephone, we eventually spoke with them yesterday.

They are adamant that the fitment of one of their tow bars could cause such an issue. Despite explaining that immediately after fitting the issue started.

I have politely suggested that they may like the opportunity to at least look at the vehicle before I go anywhere else for an opinion and I it was again pointed out to me that the tow bar could not be causing the problem. So far, they have not offered any date where they are willing to inspect the work, that and distance being a problem as we both work.

Not sure where to go from here at the moment. Very peed off. I do not understand why companies fail to respond to multi attempts for contact.

TM
 
Hi All,

After several attempts to contact the company in question by email, ebay and telephone, we eventually spoke with them yesterday.

They are adamant that the fitment of one of their tow bars could cause such an issue. Despite explaining that immediately after fitting the issue started.

I have politely suggested that they may like the opportunity to at least look at the vehicle before I go anywhere else for an opinion and I it was again pointed out to me that the tow bar could not be causing the problem. So far, they have not offered any date where they are willing to inspect the work, that and distance being a problem as we both work.

Not sure where to go from here at the moment. Very peed off. I do not understand why companies fail to respond to multi attempts for contact.

TM
 
Bearing in mind the distance to the towbar fitters and the feedback from others regarding tyre and wheel potential suspects, would it be worth popping into your local tyre depot first?
 
Tyre fitter for sure....

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Why would the fitters need to remove the wheels.....they are 6ft in front of the towbar.
the exhaust invariably exits half way down the right hand side unless its a PVC then it may be at the back.

My suspicions are its either the bar fouling the bodywork or its purely coincidental it started when it did and its something unrelated.
 
Hi,

If you know me from the other forums, you will be aware I know a little about wheels and tyres, but thank you for your kind replies. It is not a wheel/tyre issue.

I have taken the vehicle back to the tow bar fitters who have checked it and stated it is nothing they have done and the tow bar is fine.

Not wanting at this stage to get any of the local Mercedes dealers involved, I am going to take it to a local specialist truck garages.

I will let you all know.
 
I wonder if it's too close to a side skirt support bracket or something like that
 
I have had experience of nvh (noise,vibration,harshness) testing on vehicles and would suspect that the tow bar mountings have pulled the chassis rails and now the rear axle fixings are strained transmitting harmonic vibration through the rails which you can hear.
This is very common if things are fitted on a wheel free ramp as the axle hangs down while everything is fitted.
The cure is usually to loosen the fixings to finger tight and drive it for a few hundred yards then re torque everything evenly with the wheels on the floor. This may also need the axle fixings to be done as well as the tow bar.
I assume it is rear wheel drive as they have more potential for this sort of problem.
 
Derbyshire wanderer said:
I have had experience of nvh (noise,vibration,harshness) testing on vehicles and would suspect that the tow bar mountings have pulled the chassis rails and now the rear axle fixings are strained transmitting harmonic vibration through the rails which you can hear.
This is very common if things are fitted on a wheel free ramp as the axle hangs down while everything is fitted.
The cure is usually to loosen the fixings to finger tight and drive it for a few hundred yards then re torque everything evenly with the wheels on the floor. This may also need the axle fixings to be done as well as the tow bar.
I assume it is rear wheel drive as they have more potential for this sort of problem.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I tried to explain to the company who fitted the tow bar. Except I expected the issue to be lateral rather than longitudinal (if that makes any sense).

The company did not let me take them for a test drive or offer to road test it. Simply, tapped around underneath and said he could not understand it.

As I have pointed out to them, I have not named the company as yet and offered them every opportunity to look at the work. This has been difficult as the company ignored emails, PM's and telephone calls initially.

Thank you for your replies.

Very frustrating and makes me feel like giving up motorhoming with all the issues we have had in the last 10 years.

TM

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If you paid for it with a credit card, raise a complaint with the issuer. The fitter will soon be on the phone to get you sorted.
 
Thank you once again.

I had thought about doing that, but decided to let the company look at it first.

In doing so, it is past the 60 days the card companies allow for complaints. Part of their delaying tactics maybe?

I am looking into the period I have with my card.

Your explanation regarding NVH make a lot of sense to me derbyshire wanderer
 
Why not book your MH into a motorhome specialist with a good reputation (a few on here), get them to diagnose and rectify the problem and bill the original two bar fitters if it's a tow bar fitting problem. If it has nothing to do with the tow bar then you need the problem sorted anyway so having it fixed by people who understand motorhomes is a must.
 
veevee said:
Why not book your MH into a motorhome specialist with a good reputation (a few on here), get them to diagnose and rectify the problem and bill the original two bar fitters if it's a tow bar fitting problem. If it has nothing to do with the tow bar then you need the problem sorted anyway so having it fixed by people who understand motorhomes is a must.
Click to expand...


Anyone know a Specialist around the southern part of the M60 please?
 
TeeMyob
I think that as you complained to the supplier well within the 60 days, you will have a valid reason for the card issuer to be involved as the goods could be described as either 'faulty' or 'not fit for purpose'. Personally I would take the faulty goods approach.
Either way, you should inform the card company today that you have tried to resolve an issue with a supplier of goods that they have purchased on your behalf and cannot get the supplier to address your concerns. They will probably ask you to persevere with the supplier but insist that your complaint is logged for them to pick up if you get no joy in say 7 days from the supplier.
You have nothing to lose by calling them and owe the supplier nothing as you have given them fair chance to rectify.

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