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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice
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Subject Topic: Lifting Tow ball by 2"
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20/10/2014 at 11:23am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Kia Sportage & Sterling Eccles 584
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I want to lift mine by 2", i thought i would just buy a 2" drop plate and use that but they advise not to, whats the best way to go folks, cheers.


20/10/2014 at 11:44am
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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You cannot use a drop plate to raise the ball. Unless the vehicle was type approved then fitting a drop plate is probably punishable by death anyway.

Some towbars have 2 sets of holes in the mounting bracket. That can give you an inch or so.

Why do you need to raise it 2 inches? The height should be between 350mm and 420mm to the centre of the ball.

What car do you have?



20/10/2014 at 12:22pm
 Location: Rochdale
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc
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The 350mm to 420 mm is when the car is laden but without the trailer attached.

-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


20/10/2014 at 2:18pm
 Location: None Entered
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Iam towing with a Citroen Berlingo, its quite low although i havent measured it, i,ll get my tape out.


20/10/2014 at 6:55pm
 Location: Reading
 Outfit: fleetwood countryside 450-ek
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Uprated rear shocks ???

-------------
2007 Santa Fe cdx+


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20/10/2014 at 8:35pm
 Location: Northumberland
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Lift kit / spring spacers??

-------------
Damned if I do...

Damned if I don't!!!!


20/10/2014 at 8:49pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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Maybe the illusion of the car being tall that the towball is low.

If you raise it wont the tailgate cause problems?

Thinking of a 2005 Multispace model. The ball isnt far off the top of the bumper.

Do you have a different one, year?





20/10/2014 at 10:33pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Kia Sportage & Sterling Eccles 584
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The rear doors will open fine even if i lift the tow ball by 2", by the way its a standard 2006 1.9D 600kg van.


20/10/2014 at 11:11pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
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Is it low because you have a lot of nose weight in the caravan?


21/10/2014 at 8:31am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Kia Sportage & Sterling Eccles 584
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Quote: Originally posted by navver on 20/10/2014Is it low because you have a lot of nose weight in the caravan?



Its low without the caravan on tbh, its just the way berlingos are, we,v only got a light weight caravan [elddis xplore] MIRO 995kg and load very little to take away as upto now were only going for 1 or 2 nights away, we only take 1 gas bottle and the empty clean water drum up front,towing with the van is abit of a make do for now as the car is only 18 month old, when we buy a new car we,ll get one thats more capable in the towing dept but for now its the van, i would just like the tow ball slighty higher.


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21/10/2014 at 10:17am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4
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you could try finding a ball with a longer neck, it will be just the case of swapping them over.
check with the company who made your tow bar

or try here
http://www.caravanaccessoryshop.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=161


21/10/2014 at 10:21am
 Location: Rochdale
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc
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Quote: Originally posted by vespa 494 on 21/10/2014
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 20/10/2014Is it low because you have a lot of nose weight in the caravan?


Its low without the caravan on tbh, its just the way berlingos are, we,v only got a light weight caravan [elddis xplore] MIRO 995kg and load very little to take away as upto now were only going for 1 or 2 nights away, we only take 1 gas bottle and the empty clean water drum up front,towing with the van is abit of a make do for now as the car is only 18 month old, when we buy a new car we,ll get one thats more capable in the towing dept but for now its the van, i would just like the tow ball slighty higher.



How low is low, what does it measure from the ground without the van on the back?


-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


21/10/2014 at 10:48am
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB
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How much nose weight have you got?

Rob


21/10/2014 at 12:05pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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Try a combined ball/towing pin. Some of those are a little bit taller. I doubt you will get 2 inches extra though.

And its bulky so beware when around the back. Its just calling to whack your legs on it.

Even with the van though the towball shouldnt be much below the bumper level.



21/10/2014 at 12:46pm
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Its 350mm to the centre of the ball folks, does that sound ok then.


21/10/2014 at 2:17pm
 Location: Llanidloes Powys
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That is the bottom measurement of the Standard, so should be OK.
I might suspect that your rear suspension is "tired" and the springs and shockers need replacing.



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