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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email
Subject Topic: Towing Elddis Elf with XF
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PersonV6Steve
27/10/2021 at 7:59pm
 Location: Chatham Kent
 Outfit: Elddis Elf View V6Steve's Profile View Profile   Reply to V6Steve Reply   Quote V6Steve Quote  
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I have a 95 Elddis Elf and I've hitched it up to my XF and found that the caravan isn't exactly level on the road. I've read that the ideal position would be level and the difference from the front to rear is around 6cm, the front being slightly lower than the rear. I've also fitted a taller necked tow ball to reduce the difference.
I know there are height plates available but there's already a mass of metal on the rear of my XF and the plates look horrible!
Is this going to be a big issue for me or is the 6cm difference not an issue?


Personmarg6
27/10/2021 at 8:44pm
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its not meant to be totally level, in fact its meant to be lower at the front end, but the most important thing is to get your nose weight correct which should be around 60 kgs working on the mx load weight of the caravan being 900kgs and the nose weight needing to be approx 5-7% of that figure

the center of your tow ball on the car should be between 350 and 420mm from the ground


Persontango55
27/10/2021 at 11:01pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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Slightly nose down is better than nose up merely because when the towing vehicle brakes, the caravan damper directly behind the hitch compresses and operates the caravan brakes (if they are set up correctly). If it's nose up then the action of the hitch tries to ride up above the towball which effectively doesn't make the caravan brakes function and likely to incorporate a snaking effect due to no caravan control. As pointed out in the above post, it's just as important to get your noseweight correct.


PersonJuanHuNose
28/10/2021 at 10:44am
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"Drop" or "raiser" plates will render the outfit illegal as the towbar will no longer be classed as type approved. If the noseweight is correct there shouldn`t be a problem unless the car suspension is absolutely shot.


PersonV6Steve
28/10/2021 at 1:59pm
 Location: Chatham Kent
 Outfit: Elddis Elf View V6Steve's Profile View Profile   Reply to V6Steve Reply   Quote V6Steve Quote  
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Tow ball height is 35cm. I started off with a nose-weight of 70kg but after a bit of moving stuff rearwards, though still in front of the axle, I'm at 50kg so looking good. I've got the air awning in the boot of the car. The XF has a large boot space and the suspension is in excellent condition!
All this shows that even before you load any personal stuff like cloths and bedding, its very easy to end up with an overweight nose-weight.


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Personmarg6
28/10/2021 at 2:47pm
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i would be putting the awning in the caravan across the axle if i was you. that would bring the back end of your car up a bit. then you would be spot on


Persontango55
28/10/2021 at 7:21pm
 Location: Lichfield
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If the vehicle's recommended towball downward weight allowance is 60 kgs. then that's what you need to aim for and not 50 kgs. If the hitch weight is too low you are more likely to experience an unstable outfit which can lead to snaking when being passed by high sided trucks or cross winds. Moving items around inside the caravan will achieve this and keeping heavy items such as an awning directly over the caravan axle.


PersonV6Steve
28/10/2021 at 7:48pm
 Location: Chatham Kent
 Outfit: Elddis Elf View V6Steve's Profile View Profile   Reply to V6Steve Reply   Quote V6Steve Quote  
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The only thing about putting the awning in the van is that it will start off over the axle but will soon slide forward and backward whilst on the move as its too large to go into a seat base. I suppose I'll need to strap it to something to stop this. I'll try this in the morning before we set off and take another weigh in.


Personmarg6
28/10/2021 at 9:07pm
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Steve believe me the awnings dont move around, unless of course your in the habit of hammmering the brakes on?


Personnavver
29/10/2021 at 7:54pm
 Location: West country
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The bag of poles can usually rest against a sticking out bit of front seat. The canvas bag can go alongside them and will hold them in place.



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