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Subject Topic: KIA SPORTAGE 2011 TOW BALL HEIGHT
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Personkev.t
29/8/2011 at 7:41pm
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Hi All
I have just towed with a Sportage 2.0 crdi for the first time.
My problem is that the van is extremely nose down - 3.5 inch between Jockey wheel and the ground. So we hit ground if we run over anything more than a pebble!!. The tow bar is a Witter fixed swan neck, an does look low, but appears to sit at 350mm from centre of ball to ground. Have tried all configurations of weight shifting in the van, even got the nose weight down to 74 kg ( 80kg recommended )All to no avail.
Towed hassle free for 3 yrs with S max and am wonderin if I have made a big mistake.
Any advice??
Kev


PersonGrampian91
30/8/2011 at 12:59am
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350 when loaded or empty? If you stand on the towball how much does the ball drop by?

Maybe soft springs?


PersonKeslinny
22/4/2013 at 9:44pm
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I have just come across this post - rather belatedly, I'm afraid. However, I have the same problem . Car - Kia Sportage KX-2 CRDi 2.0 litre AWD, bought new Sep 2011. Caravan Lunar Quasar 524, 1340 kg fully laden. 84% of car weight - a very good match. Nose weight (80 kg), but I keep down to 70 max. No rear seat passengers, modest amount of belongings in boot. Each time I tow, I need to remove jockey wheel for fear of grounding, which happens on moderately bumpy roads.
I have considered various options to address issue - pin and jaw replacement towball (only slightly higher) , replacement neck for Witter towbar (none available)', spring assisters - wouldn't affect ride height, but possibly prevent grounding but also invalidate warranty if suspension issue.
No idea what to do next. I would welcome any suggestions.


Personrushallmanor
24/4/2013 at 7:14pm
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You could try air shocks, I had them on an old Granada for that very reason. You can choose your own ride height, just use a tyre compressor to adjust it.

-------------
Regards

Steve




Personrushallmanor
24/4/2013 at 7:18pm
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If you look at section 5 of this document your ball is at lowest permissible height.

-------------
Regards

Steve




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PersonKeslinny
24/4/2013 at 7:24pm
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Thanks, Steve. Some type of spring assistance is effectively the conclusion I had arrived at. My local Kia dealership say that the current springs are within spec. My only concern is possibly invalidating the warranty, were I to have fitted spring assistors/air bags.... Thanks for your interest.


Personrushallmanor
25/4/2013 at 11:24am
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Have you thought about the SLS option?

-------------
Regards

Steve




PersonKeslinny
25/4/2013 at 1:36pm
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What's SLS, please?


Personrushallmanor
25/4/2013 at 5:15pm
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self leveling suspension

-------------
Regards

Steve




PersonKeslinny
25/4/2013 at 5:25pm
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Thanks, Steve. Will investigate!


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Personrushallmanor
25/4/2013 at 5:43pm
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Just checked the Kia website and it doesn't appear to be an option

-------------
Regards

Steve




PersonKeslinny
25/4/2013 at 5:46pm
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Many thanks for that, Steve. Much appreciated. What a pity.


Personrushallmanor
25/4/2013 at 6:53pm
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check with your dealer, it is available in europe

-------------
Regards

Steve




PersonKeslinny
25/4/2013 at 7:10pm
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Will do. Thanks again.


PersonKeslinny
15/5/2013 at 3:38pm
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Postscript
Having investigated all options in order to raise the towing height of my 2011 Sportage (set at the minimum height of 35 cm, but which still meant that I had to tow without the jockey wheel to avoid grounding), I spoke with a very helpful guy from Witter technical support. When I mentioned that the flange wasn't totally perpendicular, in that it leaned out slightly away from the car (say about 5 degrees?), he said that there was some adjustment in the bolt holes on the bracket which might raise the height by up to an inch. I duly took my car to a local towbar/auto electrics specialist, who loosened the bolts, adjusted the bracket and retightened and gave me 30 mm extra height! The distance from ground to centre of towball is now 38 cm. I think it took him less than half an hour at most. Absolutely delighted!


Persontrevan
18/5/2013 at 5:00pm
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I had to have my towbar changed on my volvo xc70 they had fitted one for normal suspension and not for self leveling, they never asked spec. I only noticed when looking at the fitting instructions/spec for towbar.



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