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Subject Topic: Tow Hitch issue! Post Reply Post New Topic
17/7/2010 at 3:06pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Conway Camargue
View mattlostatsea's Profile View Profile   Reply to mattlostatsea Reply   Quote mattlostatsea Quote  
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Hi I have a conway camargue, problem is when its hitched to the car it sits very high as I have a swan neck bar fitted to our Astra, I have made spcers for the hitch but these are Wooden spacers, Am I right in thinking the weight of the trailer etc would be on the bolts that secure the hitch to the trailer and not the spacer, this is a concern as I have made the spacer myself out of STRONG wood! It seems fine but is this ok to do? I have also fitted a Erde hitch (Al-ko) as the old one looked a bit rusty!

Any help would be most gratefull!

Thanks

Matt



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Off to Kessingland Beach very soon in my Conway Camargue!


17/7/2010 at 4:43pm
 Location: crewe
 Outfit: Elddis Xplore 302 and Nissan Campervan
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You need to change the spacer to a metal one, now.

 Wood can and will split. Although it may look fine at present. It also swells and contracts with heat, moisture and stresses and strains from the hitch itself. Eventually the wooden spacer or a piece of it will probably drop out leaving you towing with loose retaining bolts etc. Definately would not recommend that you ever tow with this wooden spacer. Do not risk it, it could cost you very dearly indeed. By the way, I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and do not consider myself to be one of the "experts in everything" who seem to contribute opinions now and then. A metal spacer will cost very little if you shop around local engineering workshops.



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cramming for my finals in the twilight zone


17/7/2010 at 4:53pm
 Location: Freckleton Nr Preston
 Outfit: Autotrail Apache 700
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Please change it!! the wood will compress, the bolts will then be loose and from there on everything starts to go pear shaped!


17/7/2010 at 10:18pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Conway Camargue
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Many thanks for all your help! Wooden spacers have now been binned.

Thanks

Matt



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Off to Kessingland Beach very soon in my Conway Camargue!


17/7/2010 at 10:42pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit:  Mitsubishi ASX4
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I got metal spacers made for my caravan from a local towbar fitter who also makes trailers. Together with new bolts and plastic ends to seal the bars the cost was £20 and they made them while I waited.


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18/7/2010 at 10:26am
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
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Had to read this twice. It's so hard to beleive. Please tell us this is a windup.

BTW metal spacers are not type approved either.


18/7/2010 at 1:28pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit:  Mitsubishi ASX4
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Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 18/7/2010 Had to read this twice. It's so hard to beleive. Please tell us this is a windup.

BTW metal spacers are not type approved either.


At the moment you do not need type approval for trailers, only for towbars, so perfectly legal. This was the solution offered by the Caravan Club technical support officer, and the trailer manufacturer I went to said they made quite a lot of similar spacer bars and it was their preferred solution to towbar height problems such as this.

They are, however, planning on bringing in type approval for new trailers in the near future, October 2010, I believe.

If it really was going to be a windup I would have made it much simpler for you.

Post last edited on 18/07/2010 14:38:27

Post last edited on 18/07/2010 14:38:55


19/7/2010 at 10:10am
 Location: south cheshire
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi
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I bought a medium sized spacer and two longer bolts from a caravan spares department - works like a dream now - and under a tenner for both.

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20/7/2010 at 11:33am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Static Caravan
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hello there i new to this site and i need to remove my static caravan i have brought ages ago of the site that i am on now as i have my own field which i would like to put it on and also fallen out with the owner. I was just wondering if someone had information on how to remove it and also have any ideas on how to put the grease on the wheels and where to get it from. all info would be grateful. many thanks joey.


22/7/2010 at 10:27am
 Location: south cheshire
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi
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Quote: Originally posted by joey1992 on 20/7/2010
hello there i new to this site and i need to remove my static caravan i have brought ages ago of the site that i am on now as i have my own field which i would like to put it on and also fallen out with the owner. I was just wondering if someone had information on how to remove it and also have any ideas on how to put the grease on the wheels and where to get it from. all info would be grateful. many thanks joey.


Joey, you've posted this in the wrong place, not many ppl are likely to see it here. Re post your q's in the static caravan forum, and the folks there will probably have the answers!

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22/7/2010 at 2:52pm
 Location: Yeadon Leeds!
 Outfit: Swift Challenger & Defender 110SW
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Quote: Originally posted by joey1992 on 20/7/2010
hello there i new to this site and i need to remove my static caravan i have brought ages ago of the site that i am on now as i have my own field which i would like to put it on and also fallen out with the owner. I was just wondering if someone had information on how to remove it and also have any ideas on how to put the grease on the wheels and where to get it from. all info would be grateful. many thanks joey.

 

how far are you moving it? grease- standard stufffrom any motor factor, you will need a gun as well though.

check the tyres aint shot if its been there a while.

unless you are only moving a short way, ie the feild next to where it is now you will need transportation, they cannot go on a public road being towed, only on the back of a flat bed( no idea of cost for that),  the wheels and hitch are there to manouver into position, you may need a tractor/large 4x4 to do that bit.




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