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I am hoping some of you more experienced towers out there can help.

We purchased an Eccles Amethyst 1993 caravan last year, this is our first van. We towed this with a Volvo last year, and experienced some problems. We thought this was down to the fact that the Volvo was low slung and that the rear suspension wasn't up to the job, so we had the rear suspension changed to be stiffer, and everything seemed great.

Later on last year this car was written off in an accident, and we have just had a tow bar fitted to our Ford Focus V reg. My husband took the caravan out on Friday and had to return to the house as the daisy wheel kept scuffing on the road (only on B roads apparently!) The caravan wasn't fully packed as he was only going local to make sure all was well and in working order, so I know it isn't over loading and in the wrong area.

Are we just so very unlucky that this should happen to both our cars? I think there is something else we are over looking. There isn't much stored in the front locker of the caravan, although we do think that the front end could be rather heavy anyway.

We are having the caravan serviced this friday and are very keen to get out there and use the van, but not happy to do so until we get this problem sorted once and for all.

Any tips or help would be greatly appreciated to try and rectify this problem.

Thanks Jenny

How do we do that? we have taken the caravan to a weighbridge to make sure this car would pull the caravan, but I have no idea how this can be established...HELP

Jenny

Quote: Originally posted by jma28 on 15/06/2005

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How do we do that? we have taken the caravan to a weighbridge to make sure this car would pull the caravan, but I have no idea how this can be established...HELP

Jenny

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You can check the noseweight using a noseweight gauge, which you can buy from a caravan accessory shop.   Another way is to use bathroom scales and an axle stand.  Put the axle stand on the bathroom scales and rest the caravan hitch on the axle stand (adjusted so that the caravan is roughly level, front to back).  At a pinch, you could also substitute a piece of wood about 15ins long for the axle stand.   

Cheers
Andrew Kay

 

Hi i would go to your nearest caravan dealer an buy a nose weight gauge or you could use bathroon scales and a piece of wood cut to lengh so that the hitch sits parallel to the road, place the wood under the tow hitch and over the centre of the scales and gently wind the jocky wheel up untill the whole weight is on the scales then read the weight it should be approx 7% of the weight of the van or what ever the hand book states 75kg is about the norm. Also check your car hand book for mas towball loading and max towing weights. Make sure you do this on level ground. Hope this is of some help.

PS i would check the way you have loaded you van ie; heavy  item at the front/back etc..

Jenny,

I'm assuming by "daisywheel", you actually mean "jockey wheel".

I would suggest that there are several simple stages to check through.

Is the caravan's weight within the car's kerbweight or towing limit, whichever is the lower?

If the answer is yes, then check the car's maximum allowed nose weight.  Next check the caravan's actual noseweight and ensure that it is within the car's permitted nose weight.

If all that checks out as ok, then I'd suggest there are only 2 other things left.  There's a problem with the car's rear springs/suspension, and/or the towbar is wrongly fitted with the towball too low.  An easy way to check this out would be to look at how the caravan sits when hitched to the car.  If it's nose down/rear up, then there's something wrong somewhere.

If you're taking it in for service, presumably using the car, then why not discuss the situation with the servicing people.

I would like to join Paul's Club!!!  We have an Eldiss Hurricane GTX (basically, 2 berth, full bathroom & shower at rear, L-shaped lounge that makes up into a bed......... is as technical as I get!!!) and a Toyota Rav4 (which Senior Manager on the Domestic Front drives.... (in other words, a good match) and I pack the van evenly................ I've yet to run level!!!!

So, unless I'm attached to a higher towbar, which is unlikely in the foreseeable future, I elect to drive more carefully than my daily commute!!!  T'is preferrable than relying  on the mathematics to keep us safe when on hols! 

Without being a caravan guru, the Focus is a sturdy wee car but my Volvo S40 "wouldn't pull toffee" as same Senior Manager on Domestic Front enjoys reminding me! 

If you've got your load on safely and you're driving safely....... you'll be fine!  Just enjoy your hols, eh?!?!?

John

Quote: Originally posted by jma28 on 15/06/2005

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My husband took the caravan out on Friday and had to return to the house as the daisy wheel kept scuffing on the road

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If after carrying out all these checks you are still worried about the jockey wheel scuffing the ground, undo the clamp, remove it and stow it.  Many caravanners tow without their jockey wheel because they do encounter some rough roads/fields.

Carr

HI Jenny,

Just a word on Focus specs for noseweight. When I was setting up my Focus with my van I consulted a number of sights and the hand book etc. The noseweight limit , I discovered, was 50kg though for later models of which mine is one, this was raised  to 75kg. Your car being V registered probably falls into the 50kg limit. I mention this cos another post mentioned 75kg as being the norm. If you get in touch with Ford UK they will gladly tell you what your car's spec is  by looking at its reg. number on there data base.

There is a recommended height that the towball should be from the ground. I can't remember what it is, but I do remember it was to be measured with the car loaded.

This setting is universal (i.e. applies to all cars), so I would expect that if the cars towball is at the right height, the nose weight is correct, then all should be well. the ball hitch on the caravan is set my the manufacturer, so shouldn't be a problem.

Even with this set to the nominal setting & the nosewieght at a reasonable 60Kg, our outfit was slightly nose down. I don't think this is a problem. I think the problem comes (stability wise) if the nose is too high.