Message Forums

Last year we changed from a series of single axle caravans to a twin axle new van.

We love most things about it.

We tow it with a 1993 range rover with air suspension. The single axle caravans didnt affet the cars ride qualityat all but the twin makes the ride in the rear much more choppy - We thought it might be loading but also does it when taken for service empty.

Any ideas??

I find this as well and discovered that if I put a bit more weight at the front of the van but still keep below the 100 Kg noseweght it all but disappears.

When we empty the van to take back to storage again it can be very bouncy in the rear of the car.

things to check

nose weight 7% of gross weight, max 150kg (I think for range rover)

tyre pressures on caravan and car (increased for towing - see handbook)

tow bar height.  some land rover tow bars are too high, and that effects the stability

Michael

Hi Rich T

I've towed twin axles in the past and have found that getting the noseweight right can be tricky.

If you get it right with the van level it can cause problems when you hitch up if your towball is higher or lower than the hitch.

An inch or two can make a lot of difference.

If the towball is higher than the hitch you can almost end up trying to jack the caravan front wheels off the ground - maybe not off the ground but you know what I mean. This can send the noseweight into orbit. A lower towball can have the opposite effect.

I don't know how your air suspension works or how it might affect it either. I do know that self levelling suspension adjusts as you travel (hitting bumps actually raises the car rear). This kind of thig could affect your ride dramatically.

Is it possible that yours rises gradually once the engine is running?

Regards

Tyreman

Thanks guys

More food for thought especially nose weight

The Tow ball is set at whatever Swift said (Cant remember now) and the air suspension drops at 50MPH but with the recommended heightn tolerence

Hi Rich T

One way to find out how much the noseweight might be affected is to set the van up on the level with the correct noseweight say using the jockey wheel on bathroom scales, then raise the hitch one inch at a time and see how it affects the noseweight. Then try lowering one inch at a time to see that effect.

It's been a few years since I towed a twin axle but if memory is correct (dubious I know) a couple of inches below the level the jockey wheel comes off the ground (zero noseweight) with the rear wheels balancing the van using the front wheels as the pivot point.

Regards

Tyreman