On this information to levelling your caravan and tow car for protected towing, we talk about why being degree issues, the right way to verify if it’s degree, the simplest strategy to degree up your rig and whether or not you need to take into account a weight distribution hitch.
Getting your car and caravan degree is important for protected towing, and getting it proper when hitched up is determined by a number of components. Nevertheless, we’re not going into that oft-trundled remedial effort, a Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH). Positive, the WDH has its place, however for those who haven’t arrange the rig so it’s degree within the first place, a WDH is only a band-aid answer.
Let’s begin with why getting your car and caravan degree issues!
Why being degree issues
Why do it’s essential have the car and van degree anyway? Stability. Keep in mind {that a} degree rig is just one a part of a heady mixture of things that make up a protected, balanced rig.
A caravan wheel set acts like a fulcrum or pivot level. So, if the van is nose-up when hitched, there may be an excessive amount of weight on the again of the van, leading to poor towing dynamics. The again of the van will act as a pendulum, with the surplus weight on this space inflicting the trailer to maneuver backward and forward.
When you might have the alternative degree state of affairs – the caravan is in a nose-down stance when coupled up – the burden of the van could have shifted too far ahead, and that is additionally a recipe for a sway state of affairs growing. That is magnified within the case the place there’s a excessive tow ball obtain. That may trigger the tow car to elevate an excessive amount of on the entrance, lowering the stability and entrance tyre grip and due to this fact not solely rising the possibility of sway however lowering the power of the driving force to steer and brake successfully.
One other downside with the nose-down or nose-up perspective on the caravan is poor aerodynamics. Caravans are, by their very nature, not essentially the most aerodynamic of issues. However with the frontal space altered by the inaccurate stability, they will change into even much less aerodynamic, rising the tow car’s gas consumption.
Find out how to verify in case your car and caravan are on the identical degree
So, how do you go about guaranteeing your car and caravan are degree? Begin by ensuring you’re not shopping for one thing mismatched like a tall off-road caravan hitched as much as a low-passenger car or a big car hooked as much as a road-going pop-top.
First off, it’s essential measure the caravan. With the van parked, uncoupled and on degree floor, get a spirit degree and place it on a horizontal a part of the van such because the A-frame. Subsequent, modify the jockey wheel till the spirit degree signifies that the caravan is completely degree. Affirm this by measuring one of many longitudinal chassis members on the entrance after which the rear of the van to make sure that the measurements are the identical.
The caravan coupling and car towball can now be measured to see if they’re on the identical peak degree. It’s troublesome to get a precise, equivalent measuring level on the coupling and tow ball, however a great level on the coupling is on the lowest lip of the 50mm coupling meeting after which on the corresponding level on the tow car’s tow ball.
In case your uncoupled heights have a distinction of greater than about 100mm, it suggests you might have an issue with getting your car and caravan degree. If in case you have measured the car and van earlier than shopping for both, you might be within the lucky place of contemplating whether or not you would possibly have to go along with one other car/van mixture. We’ll get to what you are able to do about it shortly for those who’re already bought on the mix or already personal the rig.
Let’s get a bit extra technical
In line with Car Requirements Bulletin 1 (VSB1), the centre of the coupling should measure between 350mm and 420mm from the bottom when the trailer is coupled to the tow car. Nevertheless, in case your uncoupled measurements are exterior of those, don’t fear about it but since you’ll set up for those who’re authorized when you’ve hitched up the van.
Earlier than hitching up the caravan to the car, verify the static suspension peak of the tow car. Measure from the centre level of the wheel or the bottom a part of the rim to the lip of the wheel opening for each a entrance and rear wheel on the identical facet of the car.
Then, hitch up the van, repeat the measurements on the car, and verify you don’t have greater than about 25mm droop on the rear or 25mm rise on the entrance.
With the caravan hitched, verify your spirit degree and measure the chassis rails once more. A small distinction in measured caravan chassis rail peak (relying on the size of the van however say about round 30mm) received’t have a major impact on stability, however for those who see a distinction of 50mm or extra, it signifies an issue — time to do one thing about it.
The simplest strategy to degree up your rig
The simplest strategy to repair the extent downside in your car and caravan is to alter the towbar tongue to an aftermarket one with an adjustable peak place.
When filming “Are You RV Protected?“, we used an adjustable peak ball mount package equipped by TAG to make sure we had been capable of get each the tow car and caravan on the identical degree and guarantee protected towing. You’ll be able to see it in use in Episode 3 on 10Play.
With an adjustable towbar tongue set at what seems to be the right peak, you should still have unacceptable rear suspension droop (greater than 25mm) on the tow car. On this state of affairs — so long as the tow car’s entrance physique rise measurement is not more than about 30mm — it’s essential set up whether or not the towball obtain is extreme by both measuring it with a devoted towball obtain scale or at a public weighbridge.
If the towball obtain is round seven to 10 per cent of the van’s weight, then all chances are you’ll have to do is match stiffer rear springs, or airbag helper springs to the tow car to degree it out. If the tow car’s nostril is pointing in the direction of the sky and you’ve got a excessive TBM, then it’s essential take into account repositioning the load within the caravan and car in order that it’s higher balanced. Each car and van mixture is totally different, so once more, get impartial professional recommendation to see what is going to work finest in your state of affairs.
Do you have to use a weight distribution hitch?
The Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) has taken on a legendary standing in some Australian caravanning circles as the one security merchandise that ensures your rig received’t sway its method right into a rollover. Some would counsel it will be suicidal to tow with out one fitted.
Whereas there’s a place for the WDH, it isn’t the cure-all some counsel it’s. Why? As a result of a WDH exerts monumental forces on the caravan and car chassis, particularly on the car towbar. In lots of instances, the caravan must be higher balanced or is simply too nose-heavy for the tow car.
In all instances, a WDH’s spring bars have to be slackened earlier than negotiating deviations in highway surfaces akin to spoon drains or steeply angled driveways, or it would impose hundreds on the car and van it was not meant to impose, and that may trigger injury.
In case your caravan has a excessive towball obtain (greater than round 250kg, or greater than 15 per cent of whole caravan weight), then you definately nonetheless have to make sure your rig is degree, utilizing the steps talked about earlier, earlier than attaching a WDH.
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