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Topic: Towball on camper

Claydoncamper

13/9/2012 at 6:38pm
Location: Bucks
Outfit: Used to have a Pennine Fiesta

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Has anyone ever fitted a towball to the back of a FC particularly a Fiesta? I'm thinking of getting a towbar mounted bike rack but as I have a Swan neck on the car a Maxxraxx is just too expensive.

ramfan

13/9/2012 at 7:31pm
Location: Walsall
Outfit: Pennine pullman

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I dont no but this is a fab idea and something I could do with doing on my Pullman!

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What's the point in them folding campers, there silly........................2 months later I own one!

paul-and-lou

13/9/2012 at 7:47pm
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i would have thought that as long as you made up a nice strong frame coming off the chassis to bolt the towbar to it would be fine. only thing to remember is to get the nose weight right as a bike rack with a couple of bikes on the back could make the trailer back heavy and not very stable when towing

wongers

13/9/2012 at 8:51pm
Location: devon
Outfit: fc plus 2 many tents

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i have done it in a slightly different way,i have a thule rack that comes with a plate that bolts behind the towball.so got a spare plate,and attached this to the back of the camper,so we can carry the bikes on the camper when towing,and then move the rack on to the car once we reach the camp site.
when i say attached to the back of the camper,i have built a frame,that is attached to the main chassis,and the plate is welded to this.

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tony
that was a lovely summer

sunshinetours

14/9/2012 at 8:37am
Location: sunny south east!
Outfit: Coachman

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A Fiesta is probably less sensitive to weight distribution than say a Pathfinder/Pullman epesically if match with car is very good ie longer heavier tow car

Would it intefere with the entrance at all as isn't the door on the back as well?

Claydoncamper

14/9/2012 at 10:30am
Location: Bucks
Outfit: Used to have a Pennine Fiesta

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Thanks for the replies. I had wondered about the weight problem, but I use a Ford Galaxy which doesn't even know the Fiesta is on the back most of the time (noseweight of 90kg). The frame attachments etc are beyond my technical and physical abilities. The rear door wouldn't really be a problem, it would mean that the bikes would have to come off before setting up - a pain particularly for overnight stops but doable. I think I'll buy a normal towbar mounted rack (about £150 - the Maxxraxx will be about £350!!!) for non-towing use and then get some ratchet straps to stick the bikes on top of the trailer for the times when we will be towing. I'm not very tall so sticking bikes on the roof of a Galaxy is a no no really.

Post last edited on 14/09/2012 11:39:56

les2802

15/9/2012 at 8:52am
Location: hampshire Surrey border
Outfit: 2010 conway crusader

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Hi, slightly different but I have a tow ball on the back of my crusader . I have a range rover with detachable tow bar so there is no way of fitting a bike rack to the car when towing.
I have a welded frame that slides fits in place of the original sliding bed frame and have the tow ball mounted to this. I alos beefed up the frame support on the FC with U brackets. ( didn't trust the welding ) When on site all I do is slide this out and slide in the original bed support. The fiesta does not have this I think.
I coupled into the tow ball wiring inside the FC and added a secondary socket at the rear for the bike rack lighting board to plug into , so I didn't have to worry about extension leads.
I then brought t a weight gauge as I was worried about the weight so far back from the wheels, and found I had to rebalance the inside stuff to get a decent nose weight ( I ended up with a 15kg market weight in the front locker )
This has limited weight I can carry inside the fc but it is a little compromise compared to not having bikes for the kids .

Kelper

15/9/2012 at 11:19am
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480

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I have a Thule roof carrier bolted to the bed support frame at the back of the camper ... drilled two new locating holes to lock it a bit further out ... carry one bike there and the other two on a Maxxraxx on the swan-neck tow bar.
All works a dream.
Make sure you load your camper to balance and provide the recommended nose weight ... an inbalance of weight at the back could lead to snaking (as I found out once!)

Claydoncamper

17/9/2012 at 2:46pm
Location: Bucks
Outfit: Used to have a Pennine Fiesta

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Thanks for all the replies and ideas. I've now gone for the non-towing version of the MaxxRaxx (15% discount for UKCS members!!!) for normal days out with kids and their bikes and will look at putting bikes on the trailer top fixed with ratchet straps for camping holidays.

andy_1977

04/10/2012 at 11:47pm
Location: www.neacc.co.uk
Outfit: CONWAY CHALLENGER 1990

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Hi i had a conway challenger,The bolt thats used for the spare wheel i used that and made another at side,i put a tow ball on and used it for a bike rack it worked great i can send a photo.

i am hoping to do something on my pennine aztec

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FOR BREAKING 1990 CONWAY CHALLENGER TRAILER WITH A 1995 AWNING

Claydoncamper

09/10/2012 at 2:29pm
Location: Bucks
Outfit: Used to have a Pennine Fiesta

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Hi Andy

It all sounds a bit beyond my infantile technical abilities but would appreciate a photo.Can you post one here? If not, I'll try to let you have an e-mail address.

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