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Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 08/8/2009

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Find a local engineering firm and explain the problem to them.

I am sure that if you took the car and trailer to them, they could make you a spacer to fit between the A Frame of the trailer and the Coupling.

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Hi,

I thought that there was a standard height for the centre of the towball, something like 15 inchs. I would hope that a towbar manufacturer could tell you the exact figure. Now if you look at your trailer and its ideal towing stance and see what height the towball needs to be you could possibly sort out the problem. Have the suspension units sunk? Are the tyres incorrect, if the sidewalls are not the correct ply rating the rolling diameter when loaded could be to small? Does it actually have the right size wheels? Any of these things could cause your problem,

Regards,

Chris.

Can I repeat my earlier post.I had the same problem with our new caravan. Turned out the towbar was at the upper limit of the specifications allowed, the caravan at the lower limit. In the end I changed both the towbar and fitted spacers. I asked for advce from the towbar manufacturers, the CC and the C&CC, as well as the very reputable company I eventually got the spacers for the A frame from.

The spacers have been on the caravan for some 6000 miles of touring, with no problems whatsoever, and unlike drop plates, this is perfectly legal and would not invalidate the insurance of either the caravan or the car.

Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 09/8/2009

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The spacers have been on the caravan for some 6000 miles of touring, with no problems whatsoever, and unlike drop plates, this is perfectly legal and would not invalidate the insurance of either the caravan or the car.

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        So - spacers then! Note to self for when I collect our 'van - let engineering commence.......

Pete

Is your trailer new or is it old.And dose it have an Indespension axal.

If it is an old trailer the suspension inside the axal could become soft this would cause the trailer to be lower to the ground than normal and would have to life up the frount of the trailer higher to hook it on.

A good point for anyone with a trailer tent and even a caravan if you can, for the winter storage time is to jack up the axel a bit not all the way and put some timber under the axal beside the wheels. This will take the pressure of the suspension and even the tyres and they all will last longer.

Happy Camping

Andrew

Hi, thanks for all your help! I cannot find a spacer to go between the hitch and the A frame, I have modified a wooden piece about 1.5" in height, I am under the impression that it is simply a spacer and the stress wouldnt lie on the wood but the Bolts themselves? am I right?

Thanks again great community you have here!

Matt

Yes you are right, the stress is in the wood. The only problem that I see is if you were towing and the wood would beake of or splinter then the hitch would have a 1.5 inch gap of movent and if you did not notice immedaly all the movement would wear the bolts and also make the bolt holes bigger, then when you replace the bolts the hole would be to big and your hitch would always then be loose. So if you replace the wood with some metal washers and you should be ok, but the best thing to do is to get someone to make you spacers!

Happy Camping

Andrew

Had the same prob with my Dandy when we bought our new car a Kia Soul

Alco detatchable towbar (the only one to fit Kia Soul)  towball 50cm from the ground

Dandy Hitch 34cm from ground=Dandy almost dragging rear end on the ground

Tearing Hair Out!!!!!! 

Took Dandy to local welders who makes &  specialises in trailers and he raised the unit 600mm. I presume over the chassis, a perfect result, the dandy sits level when towing and now I don't even know it's on the back

Cost £200 and worth every penny