I don't know if anyone can help, but we have just had a tow bar fitted to are Renault Espace (new shape) and we are not convinced it is fitted correctly.
The top of the tow ball is below the top of the bumper and only sits 380mm from the ground when the car is empty. We have looked at a couple of other Renault Espace and they appear to sit higher than ours - not sure if it just depends on make or whether there is a legal height for them.
With our caravan on, the jockey wheel is only centimetres from the ground (and we don't overload!!)
Before we go back to the company that fitted it, just wanted to pick your brains!
Thanks very much for that - I think I will have to get the chap back that fitted it. Upon checking it again, (apparently you measure from the middle of the tow ball) it is only approx 350mm with the car empty.
Quote: Originally posted by wendywirdz on 01/6/2008
Thanks very much for that - I think I will have to get the chap back that fitted it. Upon checking it again, (apparently you measure from the middle of the tow ball) it is only approx 350mm with the car empty.
When I bought my Nissan Patrol (from a main dealer), it was already fitted with a towbar - but it was impossible to hookup because the towball was too near to the rear bumper. When I checked with the towbar manufacturer, it transpired that it was for a Nissan Patrol - but an earlier version. You need to be sure that the towbar is actually for the precise model & year of towcar that you own.
It does seem about 50mm low. According to Bulldog Technical Support a few years ago, the standard height from the ground to the top of the towball is 17 inches, which is about 430mm. However, if that towbar is approved for your particular car, I suspect you might not get much joy by complaining unless you can show the towbar was fitted incorrectly.
FWIW, you can gain around an inch in towball height by fitting an Al-ko towball because their A50-X towballs are that much higher than the standard A50-1.
Going back a year or so, we had the official Renault towbar fitted to our Scenic, and it was too low. I checked the EC regulations (haven't got it to hand, but found it all by searching the web) and Renault ended up paying for a local towing place to fit a Witter towbar which was 10cm higher! I spoke to a very helpful chap at Witter's HQ (find details on their website) who emailed me photos of a Witter towbar on a Scenic, with a measuring rule.
My real advice though, would be to change the car for anything other than a Renault. Our Grand Scenic has been the most unreliable, poorly built car we've ever owned - back to the dealers 25 times in the first year, excluding services! I'll never buy Renault again.... but that's another story!
>>> My real advice though, would be to change the car for anything other than a Renault. Our Grand Scenic has been the most unreliable, poorly built car we've ever owned - back to the dealers 25 times in the first year, excluding services! I'll never buy Renault again.... but that's another story! <<<
We tow our van (see gallery) with either of two Renaults. A 1.5d Clio and a 1.5d Scenic.
Whilst the Clio is okay, the Scenic is fantastic. Indeed in a year or so's time we intend to trade it in for a brand new one.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Towbar Height
