I have two Dandy trailer tents and the tow ball height on both the cars I use for towing are too high, meaning the tents are towed high to low, from front to back. Any ideas as to how I can rectify the problem?
One car has a flange tow bar the other a fixed swan neck.
The EC Directive 94/20/EC (The standard that all towbars are designed to) says that the tow ball height should be between 350 and 420mm from the ground with the vehicle in a 'laden' state.
how you fix that depends on where the problem lays is it the cars suspension? or is it the tow bar has been incorrectly fitted.
Doing 'mods' to towbars has some risk, apart from the blindingly obvious of needing to be strong enough for the task (remember, someone else, like a subsequent owner, may use it for a much heavier load to it's manufactured limits!), they have been type approved at manufacture and subject to MOT scrutiny for years now, neither technically makes allowance for mods like 'drop plates' unless a manufacturer's option/adjustment! - risk of MOT failure!
It's also a questionable practice, as it makes the towbar close to unique to a particular trailer, when it's intended to be universal and suited to all trailers!
Now the trailer itself is a different matter, little regulation, and no regular scrutiny, so less risk of falling foul of anyone. It also makes the trailer more universal in as much as should be compatible with any tow vehicle. Two popular methods of 'levelling' a nose high trailer is to fit bigger diameter wheels (be careful to check adequate clearance especially when suspension compressed!), and/or put a spacer on the drawbar to raise the hitch. Hitch spacers are commercial available, and larger diameter wheels sometimes an original manufacturers option.
The above mentioned EU standard tow bar height is to the centre line of the ball! With many trailers, like caravans etc., the load on the towball is something like 75-100Kg so this lowers it's 'running/laden' height quite noticeable in some cases, plus loading the car lowers it further.
I wouldn't use a drop plate to tow a caravan but they are fine for a small trailer. The ones I've used over the years have been fine and made of 10mm steel plate. I've used them for years on tractors towing 30ft trailers loaded with 10 tons of hay bales. No problem at all.
I've got a Dandy Designer and use the modern higher tow ball with no problems. The dandy does slope front to back but being so small it doesn't seem to matter. The body is 1.8m x 1.8m with MTPLM 500kg.
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Topic: Tow hitch height
via mobile 03/9/2024 at 11:21am
