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Subject Topic: Detachable towbar ground clearance
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PersonGrampian91
01/9/2013 at 11:11pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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Ive had an insurer ask if any factory fitted options or extra's had been fitted to my car. Its 5 years old i didnt order it.

A company that ask silly things like that would never payout if they could find any reason.

You were listening to a spice girls CD when you crashed. Was that CD factory fitted as standard, No then its an extra. No we wont pay you...

If your insurer are that fussy then dont risk it. I ask my current insurer when i bought the car that i will be fitting a towbar will i need to tell them.
Their reply was no need.

Yet the other company wanted to know everything...



How much clearance under the bar itself when not loaded?


Personiscacamper
01/9/2013 at 11:34pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Cabanon Malawi 2.0 View iscacamper's Profile View Profile   Reply to iscacamper Reply   Quote iscacamper Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 01/9/2013

How much clearance under the bar itself when not loaded?



I just measured it - there is 18.5cm (7 1/4 in) clearance under the towbar when unladen.


PersonGrampian91
02/9/2013 at 1:28am
 Location: Midlands
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Thats more than mine. What are you measuring the noseweight with?

Is it calibrated?


Personiscacamper
02/9/2013 at 8:05am
 Location: Devon
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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 02/9/2013
Thats more than mine. What are you measuring the noseweight with?

Is it calibrated?




Measuring with a Milenco noseweight gauge (calibrated, so they say!).

The back of the Octavia does sag quite a lot under load, hence my interest in the spring assisters.


PersonGrampian91
02/9/2013 at 11:18am
 Location: Midlands
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Do you weigh more than 75kg? approx 11 stone 8 pounds.

Stand on the towbar, Does it sink as much as putting the caravan on it?

Overloading the rear suspension maybe?   Too much combined weight in the car and on the towball?

You would need to load it up and stick the rear axle on the weighbridge to check that one.

Did you say you replaced the springs?   Self levelling? What about the shocks also?

Fitted self levelling springs my mistale which are softer?


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Personiscacamper
02/9/2013 at 11:51am
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Cabanon Malawi 2.0 View iscacamper's Profile View Profile   Reply to iscacamper Reply   Quote iscacamper Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 02/9/2013
Do you weigh more than 75kg? approx 11 stone 8 pounds.

Stand on the towbar, Does it sink as much as putting the caravan on it?

Overloading the rear suspension maybe?   Too much combined weight in the car and on the towball?

You would need to load it up and stick the rear axle on the weighbridge to check that one.

Did you say you replaced the springs?   Self levelling? What about the shocks also?

Fitted self levelling springs my mistale which are softer?






I replaced the rear springs with new standard OEM springs (as I was having some other suspension work done at the same time). They made no real difference. Fully loaded, the tops of the rear tyres are just below the tops of the wheel arches. From what I have read, the Octavia is quite well known for saggy rear suspension.

We do carry two bikes on the roof, which I guess weigh less than 50kg including the racks. I suppose it is possible that we are close to the rear axle limit with the van attached, but I have no easy way of checking. We are just two adults in the front plus a 2-year-old in the back, and only light items in the boot (although it all adds up, I know).

Unfortunately there is no public weighbridge in my area (yes, really - I couldn't believe it at first!). I did manage to get my car 'unofficially' weighed at a 'private' council weighbridge last year as an act of goodwill by the chap on duty, but I am hesitant to keep bothering him. To be honest it's a pain in the backside - how are people supposed to keep within weight limits when the authorities don't provide facilities for the public to weigh their vehicles!

I will try measuring the drop with 75kg on the towbar and no other load in the car as you suggest. Funnily enough I do weigh almost exactly 75kg.


PersonGrampian91
02/9/2013 at 4:35pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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There are weighbridges around Exeter, One of the HGV drivers at my old firm got pulled in to be check and taken to one.

Had a right whinge because he had a busy day and there was a queue.

I dont have his number to find out where though.

If there are any left ask a traffic cop. Or VOSA vehicle. Ask where they take the vehicles to be weighed.

Truckers cafe maybe?

Finding them is a bit of a PITA, Websites dont seem to list them properly.



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