 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Lower the Tow Ball height on a Defender 90 |
 
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558  
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Guess he means a normal towbar drop plate
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1st Feb 2015 8:41pm |
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| Venomator Member Since: 25 Aug 2014 Location: Peterborough Posts: 2087 
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Something like the Dixon Bate Item Nr: TS/TH202091 shown > HERE
 Rog... 
The GREEN One... MY2016 Urban Truck Build Thread - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40548....al[/color] |
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1st Feb 2015 8:50pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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Roger bolt a tow ball onto the plate and measure the centre of the tow ball height from the ground it should be between 350 and 420 mm above the ground.
No need for guess work, just fit a tow ball and get your tape measure out. As long as you have not got oversized tyres fitted and a 6" lift I would have assumed LR had done the measurements already but best to check. Photo added Click image to enlarge Brendan |
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1st Feb 2015 8:56pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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Even on the lowest holes they can be to high for a lot of trailers
the last thing you want is to be towing nose up as it makes it unstable |
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1st Feb 2015 9:03pm |
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| Sphere Member Since: 26 Apr 2013 Location: Midlands Posts: 725 
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Is it not the same height as a standard tow bar?
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1st Feb 2015 9:08pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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no i found it too high even for my big ifor williams trailer
standard tyres , no lift etc |
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1st Feb 2015 9:15pm |
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| TJ101 Member Since: 30 May 2007 Location: Taunton Somerset Posts: 3748  
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Gen LR Adjustable towbar
Click image to enlarge Need for 4 different hight trailers, Ifor Williams and Brian James, Would love a towstep bar BUT I would not want to tow with the max weight a Defender can, with an adjustable on a tow step bar,, due to 3500 kgs of leverage etc, There are some with lower stays that go back to the chassis California F1, 75th 110 "Kermit", 50th Ann V8, 90 V8 Hybrid, 55 Series 1 Main Brian James Trailer Dealer for South West UK |
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1st Feb 2015 9:22pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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TAPE MEASURE TIME!
350 - 420mm is the height set out in EC Directive 94/20/EC That is the height that caravan manufacturers will be working too. Don't guess just measure! Brendan |
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1st Feb 2015 9:22pm |
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| Brillo Member Since: 27 Jan 2015 Location: Oswestry Posts: 7 
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Folks
Thanks for your suggestions - will sort it when my new Landy arrives! |
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2nd Feb 2015 10:11pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006 
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Don't forget that the tow ball height is dependant on the load in the back of the car, it's pointless setting up with an empty boot and then setting off on holiday with a car full of people and luggage because then the suspension will be compressed making the ball lower and the caravan sit wrong. Also don't forget to allow for the nose weight of the trailer as that will compress the car too. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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3rd Feb 2015 6:55am |
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| nakatanenga Member Since: 12 Nov 2010 Location: Neumarkt Posts: 546 
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We name it "swan neck"
2 versions available: up to 90mm lower up to 160mm lower Complete with all hardware and fully ECE approval. http://nakatanenga-tours.de/shop/article_A...SHT-090%26 WANTED: SII or SIII in max 1.5k |
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3rd Feb 2015 8:10am |
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| Phib Member Since: 07 Oct 2012 Location: Berkshire Posts: 119 
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I have a similar rear step on my 50th, we have tried many things because as you say it's too high to tow ( turns out in our case by about 1 inch!!)
We know this because we fitted twisted lowering and updated springs ( I know sacrilege !!) and it now is the perfect height for towing !! Phib |
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11th Feb 2015 10:55pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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OP has OEM kit and that does have the lower stays that go back to the chassis - from the two pictures it looks like a very similar tow height could be achieved in relation to these stays with both setups? |
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12th Feb 2015 10:54am |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018
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I found this to be helpful when considering the overall picture: Click image to enlarge "The Directive gives us two height ranges – one for the tow vehicle and one for the caravan or trailer. However, if you look at the directive in detail it gives these height ranges in “Laden Condition”. For the tow vehicle the ‘Laden Condition” may have been defined (by the manufacturer) as either fully laden (the maximum gross weight as shown in the vehicle handbook), or, conventionally laden (defined as 68.5kg per specified passenger seat and 6.5kg of luggage per specified passenger and located in the centre of the luggage storage area). Depending on the vehicle, there could be a height difference between these two loadings. For the caravan or trailer, it is a little easier. “Laden condition” in this instance is when the caravan or trailer is loaded to its MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permitted Laden Mass) and the caravan or trailer chassis is adjusted using the jockey wheel so it is horizontal. Just looking at the two height ranges, it is obvious that the regulations are designed so that in theory you always tow level or slightly ‘nose down’." Source: http://caravanchronicles.com/guides/unders...ll-height/ |
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12th Feb 2015 11:12am |
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