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Subject Topic: Car a bit ;lurchy;
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PersonCledry
10/7/2013 at 8:07am
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Elddis Wisp 450 CT & Talbot Express View Cledry's Profile View Profile   Reply to Cledry Reply   Quote Cledry Quote  
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We picked up the new caravan last night and on the way the car was a bit 'lurchy'. From googling I can see it might be a number of things so I just wanted to run through it with you guys.

We have a Fiat Doblo Multijet 1.9 TDi and the caravan is an Elddis Wisp 450 CT/SE (apparently) From looking at the combination of car + weight on what tow car it should be speeding along but the car was struggling a little bit. The caravan is only 828kg so I was a bit flummoxed.

There's a fancy tow hitch thing on the back


tow hitch

And this is our tow bar


tow bar

The guy we bought the caravan from said it probably wouldn't work on our tow ball but when he'd gone the guy from the place it was being stored came over and put it on anyway.

So. I'm aware it could be several things:

1) That's just what towing a van feels like

2) The van was empty so the only weight from the gas bottle and battery at the front and the awning was under the front sofas

3) There's some kind of incompatibility with the tow hitch thingy (that's a technical term) and our car's tow ball.

I'm a bit concerned at how hot the car seemed to get and how it struggled a bit more than I would have expected. Any ideas about that tow hitch/tow ball combination?


Personchinster1957
10/7/2013 at 8:23am
 Location: Essex
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Maybe the caravan brakes are binding??

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The Chinster

Some people are just all show. I don't mind that if the show is worth watching, but .....


PersonCledry
10/7/2013 at 8:32am
 Location: Cornwall
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It's possible but everything seems really well cared for and not seized up etc.


Personchinster1957
10/7/2013 at 8:38am
 Location: Essex
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Looking at your photos, I would say that your tow hitch is compatible with your van, however I would clean up the towball with emery paper to remove the rust and the black paint.

Also, you need to check on the noesweight of the caravan and make sure that it is not too heavy for your car.



-------------
The Chinster

Some people are just all show. I don't mind that if the show is worth watching, but .....


PersonCledry
10/7/2013 at 9:30am
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Elddis Wisp 450 CT & Talbot Express View Cledry's Profile View Profile   Reply to Cledry Reply   Quote Cledry Quote  
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The caravan club noseweight leaflet lists the doblo noseweight at 60kg. I have no idea what that actually means.


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Persondodge20
10/7/2013 at 9:39am
 Location: Ulverston South Lakeland
 Outfit: monty 6 deluxe Vango Asante 500 View dodge20's Profile View Profile   Reply to dodge20 Reply   Quote dodge20 Quote  
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I don't want to seem like a harbinger of doom but it could be your car. The 1.9 diesel engine is a GM unit i.e Vauxhall, and they are renowned for the EGR valve clogging up and sticking . We had a Zafira with that engine and the symptoms you describe sound very much like the ones we had with that car.

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Dance before the storm and don't look back to where you've been.

If you can keep your head when all around you are losing theirs, you obviously haven't grasped the gravity of the situation.

I don't want it I just need it.


PersonCledry
10/7/2013 at 9:41am
 Location: Cornwall
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Hmmm. Is that solveable?


PersonPetemate
10/7/2013 at 10:46am
 Location: Kennington OXFORD
 Outfit: 2005 Eccles Sterling Topaz 2 berth View Petemate's Profile View Profile   Reply to Petemate Reply   Quote Petemate Quote  
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I am not sure what BHP the engine in you Fiat is tuned to, but the one powering our Saab (1.9 Tid, same engine basically as also in some Alfas and Vauxhalls) could easily lose me my licence towing. So the EGR, if that is the culprit, is a relatively easy fix.

Have a look at the various Vauxhall owners forums and there are many articles including good pics for cleaning/overhauling EGR valves.

HTH
Pete


PersonCledry
10/7/2013 at 11:35am
 Location: Cornwall
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Thanks :)

The car's having its MOT today so when I pick it up I'll ask them how much they'd charge to do it. If it's too much I'll print the instructions off the internet for my husband


Personaudicab26
10/7/2013 at 12:01pm
 Location: South
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If the car drove ok prior to towing then it sounds like it was not loaded correctly.

If the awning was under the front sofas then you might have had too much nose weight for your car. You need to get a nose weight gauge, Milenco are a reliable make. Then consider moving the awning and placing it over the caravan axel to improve the balance. Or you could put it in the car?

Also I second the advice above re cleaning the tow ball. Rust, grease and paint will prevent the stabiliser from doing its job. Clean the ball till its free of debris then put a ball cover on it when not in use.

Finally make sure the tyre pressures are set correctly on the car to cope with the weight. You should of course check the tyre pressures on the caravan too.

It's a learning curve, but there's always lots of advice on here.


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PersonCledry
10/7/2013 at 12:24pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Elddis Wisp 450 CT & Talbot Express View Cledry's Profile View Profile   Reply to Cledry Reply   Quote Cledry Quote  
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The car's been a bit sluggish for a few weeks so I'll get the EGR valve looked at one way or another. Will definitely get the tow ball cleaned. It did have a cover but it got knocked off and lost.

The tyres on the car are being replaced today - a couple of them were really low. It'll be interesting to see if that makes a difference on its own to be honest.

And - yeah - we'll look at loading it better

Thanks for all the help.


Personaudicab26
10/7/2013 at 12:38pm
 Location: South
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If you bought it yesterday and collected it from storage I can well imagine everything was thrown in by the vendor.

When you go away in it yourself next time a bit of time spent loading it properly and getting the tyre pressure spot on really pays off in terms of how the unit feels.

Hope the car is ok and doesn't require too much open wallet surgery.


PersonCledry
10/7/2013 at 1:25pm
 Location: Cornwall
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I've booked a couple of nights this weekend at a caravan site 20 mins up the road so we can test everything out before braving a longer trip. All these tips are gratefully received.


PersonGrampian91
10/7/2013 at 1:38pm
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You NEED to check the noseweight..

Too little and the caravan maybe less stable. Too much and it can overload the rear axles and put extra strain on the rear suspension which also affects the handling.

Caravan serviced?? Hitch greased? Is the damper working properly?

Checked the return springs on the caravan brakes?


PersonCledry
10/7/2013 at 1:59pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Elddis Wisp 450 CT & Talbot Express View Cledry's Profile View Profile   Reply to Cledry Reply   Quote Cledry Quote  
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I'll pass you on to my husband...

I know it's been serviced but beyond that I don't understand a word.

I'll buy a noseweight gauge.


Personaudicab26
10/7/2013 at 2:34pm
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These seem to be the most recommended:

http://www.milenco.com/products/noseweight-gauge/

You can get them from Amazon etc.




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