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 Please could I ask for some advice, I have never towed  anything before,but next week I am due to tow a smallish trailer whilst going camping. I noticed when I bought the trailer and hooked up to my towbar, the trailer bar was angled upwards towards the car.

I had read that this wasn't ideal, so arranged yesterday to buy a plate which drops the towing ball down 2 inches. This now sits perfectly, but the bottom of the towbar now looks very close to the road. I measured this and it is exactly 9 inches from ground to bottom of tow bar. Do you think that this is safe or should I revert back with the trailer bar putting upwards ?

Many thanks

well depending on the age of your car, the use of a drop plate may make your towing illegal. (all to do with EU homolgomation, I think the date is 1997 and after)

Sat all levelled up my hitch is app 13inches from the gound (centre of ball), so not too far off your 9inches to bottom of hitch I would think. If an average kerb is 3-4 inches, and a speed bump no more than 6, 9 should be plenty. I bet there are other parts of your car lower than that :)

I think (best research it yourself as regards EU type approval) that your towbar is likely illegal with the drop plate.

A passing cop may not notice, but your insurance company may if you do have an ooops :(

Many thanks for your help, I think I will get it taken of and go with a slightly high nosed trailer. Although after all suitcases and bits and bob's have gone in car hopefully this will drop it down a little.

Thanks again

Hi

I wouldn't worry about the law. In my opinion it's a technicality. I'd defend the use of it.

I used a 3inch drop plate with my last caravan (up until last year) because otherwise it would have been well nose up and that was with 3 different cars. When I sold it the drop plate went with it - the new owner needed it too for a level tow. Older caravans are closer to the ground. The standard height must have changed at some time.

Towing nose up affects stability more than you'd expect.

I have a small car trailer and use a 4 inch drop plate with it to get a level tow. Without it, it is definitely uncomfortable on the back of the car at any speed above 48 mph unless heavily loaded.

Others have found it impossible to get a stable tow when even 2 inches nose up with a caravan and don't forget, if your car trailer is a lot shorter than a caravan the effect will be amplified (IMHO)

Tyreman

A techincality it is, but it is a technicality that will allow insurers to tell you to go whistle should you be involved in a collsion and they decide to be picky

Hi Dirty Disco

I doubt it personally.

I suspect the Towing Bracket manufacturers might even testify on the defendants behalf.

We are, or should be aware that although drop plates are O.K. it's definitely not acceptable to use them to raise the towball. 

So what about "Witter" bicycle carriers that are fitted to the towing bracket well above the towball ( mine can take 3 to 4 bikes which is probably more than the noseweight of most caravans). I have one fitted whilst I'm towing my caravan. Is that illegal. I don't know but accept they're a bona fide company of good repute and wouldn't dream of manufacturing and selling such dangerous things (if they are so terribly dangerous and illegal).

Tyreman

The difference is, that you are not using it as a tow hitch. If a hitch is to be used for towing it must (after the cut off date) meet EU type approval. That means if a drop plate is used that plate must be approved for use with the type approved towbar. Simply beacuse anything that modifies the towbar invalidates the type approval unless the bar and the modification have been approved together as a combined single unit.

My heavy duty bumper would not be legal on a newer discovery as it is not type approved. Likewise the headlights on my racer are not type approved and therefore illegal on a public highway no matter the vehicle age.

Hi again

I know that technically it might possibly be an offence under the construction and use regulations or a European regulation to use a drop plate.

Has anybody ever been prosecuted. I doubt it!

Has anybody had an insurance claim refused because they used a drop plate. I doubt it.

What concerns me is that tuggers like Jordan9 in this instance are being encouraged to tow nose up which might help to cause a snaking incident possibly endangering himself, his family and other road users.

Those who keep raising this issue will I hope worry as they drive along our roads that some tuggers are towing nose up, and may have a snake because of their advice.

Tyreman