Quote: Originally posted by navver on 19/3/2023
I believe towbars have to be type tested for both the towbar and hitch and the car mountings and that this is now part of the MOT test. Has been for a while. I would guess a drop plate would be included in that.
Yes that is correct, but a drop-plate is something supplied by towing suppliers, and as far as I know is still available, so would simply installing one make it an illegal modification? I have no need of one but I'm still curious.
I think the critical point is (and this is from someone who has spent a goodly part of their career working with equipment approvals!), that any change to the tow bar as it was submitted for type approval (which IS a legal requirement), will (as a technicality) rend it 'modified' and therefore no longer compliant! Non-compliant = Illegal under the law as far as I can see it.
Fitting a drop plate will change all the dynamic loadings on the tow bar, which at least potentially may lead to distortion/failure, so not to be dismissed completely as a risk. A light trailer is not likely to be any kind of a risk, BUT the towbar is in place for ANY trailer to be attached, and that may be by a unsuspecting subsequent owner!
I don't for one moment think in the real world there is a problem, but we are talking about approvals/bureaucracy/legalities here, and usually they have little latitude! Whether your average MOT inspector has either the knowledge/information or skill to identify if a tow bar is modified is also highly doubtful.
The thing that always worries me most with these situations, is not the safety (as an engineer, I'm a fair judge of safe/unsafe), it's that insurers will drop any claim on the hint of something being non-standard, even as a technicality! I suppose there is a minuscule risk that you may get caught in a roadside check by DVSA who would be in a better position to judge modified or not, and could stop your ongoing journey right there! From roadside checks carried out a couple of years back, around 40% of small trailers were found to be defective in some way (only around 16% of caravans were defective by comparison!), so IF there was a roadside check you may well find that a small trailer would get stopped for inspection in preference to a caravan, as odds are it's more likely to have an issue!
Nothing wrong with the tow ball height , the trailer is very low because it’s pretty old design
Consider buying a more modern trailer or increase the ride height by fitting larger wheels
Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 22/3/2023
Nothing wrong with the tow ball height , the trailer is very low because it’s pretty old design
Consider buying a more modern trailer or increase the ride height by fitting larger wheels
I have a virtually identical trailer. Mine is old but in excellent condition as there is nothing much really that can go wrong with it. Everything is solid, no rust, hitch is in good working order, wheel bearings are fine, all the lights work, and the woodwork has no rot. The one modification I would probably make to it is to fit bigger wheels, but only if I was going to do longer journeys with it. All I mainly use it for is trips to the tip which is about 3 miles away. Not bad for something I paid £50 for about 10 years ago.
Contrary to previous comments, the tow ball looks high to me. The measurement to the middle of the tow ball should be between 350mm and 420mm with the vehicle in a laden state.
I would be surprised if a SUV with such a short overhang as the Lexus dropped by 60mm when laden, to comply with the law, and as such I do think the OP has a cause for complaint. There have been numerous posts online about the factory fitted tow bars fitted to some Skoda models being too high, causing a caravan to tow nose up.
Quote: Originally posted by 00jamie00 on 27/3/2023
I have a friend with a gym and will use his weights to load the car to laden and re measure but you are right the car doesn’t move that much.
I think it will still be WELL above 420 and thus I will be complaining to Lexus.
Don't forget to include the nose weight (as loaded trailer) on the tow ball when measuring height, although I doubt that little trailer is going to make a lot of difference, but no point in giving Lexus a get out if height is wrong!
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: New car tow bar high
via mobile 27/3/2023 at 8:41pm
