Towing with a lowered van

[Eli]

There a really good article here - Understanding the dynamics of towing

What’s your nose weight? 100kg max remember.

But if in any doubt ask your dealer.

Thanks, I don’t have any issues towing. I have a class 1 license and I am in my 3rd caravan, this is the first time on lowered suspension so just wonder what everyone else was doing. I see you run at max height on B14,s

 

[Eli]

Another Adria with the van on Bilstein B14’s

View attachment 75371

View attachment 75372

View attachment 75373

What suspension are you on ?

 

[Eli]

@Eli1264 my concern would be the load going through the tyres on the front axle. It looks like a recipe for a blow out to me.

That’s what I was thinking, I don’t even have anyone or anything in the van either

 

[T6Paul]

What suspension are you on ?

B14’s probably about 10mm off lowest setting?

 

[Eli]

B14’s probably about 10mm off lowest setting?

Looks good, I only had 2 gas bottles in the front of the caravan ha ha

 

[Insert Coin]

You won’t know if it’s truly dangerous without checking the nose weight, when I tow mine it is pretty much bang on 100kg and it’s smaller than your caravan.

Use a set of bathroom scales and a block of wood, line up tow ball and hitch as level as you can and then let the handbrake off (chock the caravan wheels obvs).

 

[Eli]

You won’t know if it’s truly dangerous without checking the nose weight, when I tow mine it is pretty much bang on 100kg and it’s smaller than your caravan.

Use a set of bathroom scales and a block of wood, line up tow ball and hitch as level as you can and then let the handbrake off (chock the caravan wheels obvs).

I did that once, glass scales...... didn’t end well ha ha

 

[Mooncat]

You won’t know if it’s truly dangerous without checking the nose weight, when I tow mine it is pretty much bang on 100kg and it’s smaller than your caravan.

Use a set of bathroom scales and a block of wood, line up tow ball and hitch as level as you can and then let the handbrake off (chock the caravan wheels obvs).

It's not the nose weight I was worried about, it's the fact that the two axles of the caravan are not sharing the load equally.

 

[Andyf]

You could put it on a weight bridge and find out each individual axel weight
Then compare with manufacturers recommended weight if bothered

Don’t forget if they exceed the plate weight and Mr VOSA has a look, he will advise you LOL

 

[welshbaron]

I did that once, glass scales...... didn’t end well ha ha

Eli1264 think I met you at CRS on Saturday

 

[Eli]

Indeed, did you have a good run back home ?

 

[welshbaron]

Indeed, did you have a good run back home ?

Was a good run back. The suspension setup is a major difference!

 

[abond007]

We are thinking of buying a T6 combi but it’s been lowered by 60mm does anybody have a van lowered by 60mm and tow a caravan with it and does the caravan look nose down at the front

 

[T6Paul]

 

[Littleblackflash]

Mine is lowered 50mm but rolls on 20". Tow bar height is 420mm so still within spec for my trailer.

I've found the tow ball height only really makes a difference on twin axle trailers. On single axle trailers you can move the weight so the nose weigh is correct. This is much harder on a twin axle trailers to keep the weight even on both axles and get the nose weight correct.

 

[Eli]

We are thinking of buying a T6 combi but it’s been lowered by 60mm does anybody have a van lowered by 60mm and tow a caravan with it and does the caravan look nose down at the front

Mine was lowered 60mm but it was too nose down for my liking so had raised back up to 50mm. I was on 17’s at the time but have now moved to 19’s so it could probably come down again
On 19’s
On 17’s

 

[abond007]

Mine was lowered 60mm but it was too nose down for my liking so had raised back up to 50mm. I was on 17’s at the time but have now moved to 19’s so it could probably come down again
On 19’sView attachment 80478
On 17’sView attachment 80477

Cheers looks good on 19” wheels

 

[abond007]

View attachment 80449View attachment 80450

Cheers looks fine

 

[Dave F]

Mine was lowered 60mm but it was too nose down for my liking so had raised back up to 50mm. I was on 17’s at the time but have now moved to 19’s so it could probably come down again
On 19’sView attachment 80478
On 17’sView attachment 80477

if you don’t mind and have time one day could you give me the distance from the centre of your back wheel to to wheel arch.
I had my van lowered then lifted but still think it could do with going up.
Yours looks spot on for towing so would help a lot . Cheers

 

[Eli]

Hi Dave, I will come back to you on Saturday as I have a boot ful of gear as I am currently away so the measurement wouldn’t be correct