 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > Adjustable Towbar Minimum Height |
 
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| zsd-puma Member Since: 09 Aug 2016 Location: Kent Posts: 2720   
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The 110 has the same springs on the rear as standard as the 90, but it weighs more so sits very slightly lower and also rides better due to the extra length. (110's also have a larger fuel tank)
However there is a heavy duty suspension option which makes them sit higher. |
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1st Apr 2017 11:13pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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Centre of tow ball should be between 350 and 420 mm above level ground.
It is not just springs which effects tow ball height but tyre size as well. If towing caravans consider a Dixon Bates shock link as well. Brendan |
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2nd Apr 2017 3:32am |
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| nick345345 Member Since: 05 Dec 2016 Location: Dunbar Posts: 71  
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I have a USW 110 with 285/75/16 tyres with a Dixon bate adjustable tow bar. On the lowest setting the bolt holes are just under 360mm from the ground. That's with the vehicle empty.
 Click image to enlarge |
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2nd Apr 2017 9:03am |
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| ROBBONTHEROCK Member Since: 23 Jun 2014 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 637 
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Mmmmm, how naughty would it be to have a machine shop drill two more holes the cross pin direction?
I bet you could load test that as well, i doubt dropping it down by say 50mm, would produce a large enough moment to cause failure...... Do dixon bate not offer specials, that you could buy maybe? Cheers Andy |
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2nd Apr 2017 9:59am |
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| Sammyboy Member Since: 28 Feb 2017 Location: Hampshire Posts: 121 
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Thanks Nick that is very helpful. You seem to have quite big tyres also.......about 14mm taller than the more popular ones of 235/85/16. |
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2nd Apr 2017 10:35am |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2295 
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Hello Sammyboy
I think the Dixon Bate 200mm Adjustable Coupling will get you to within the range you are looking for. It is all about the exact arrangements, your question was 'generally' what's the lowest you can achieve... 
I have a 90 on larger Wheels and Tyres, a NAS Rear Step to which the 200mm Adjustable Dixon Bate Coupling is attached and went for a 'custom' arrangement using the lowest fixing points on the Slider to achieve a 375mm Centre Ball height (long neck ALKO Ball) The Slider is also bolted through (security and I only need one height) This also gives room for a NATO Hitch above....conveniently for me also at the right height for my X MOD Trailer. Placing the Tow Ball at this 'low level' works for our Eriba Van and although it is relatively small and light, I made up some additional metal work to brace the Coupling at its lower level. Dixon Bate will send you the drawings for their products... Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Good Luck SKIP https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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2nd Apr 2017 10:52am |
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| Sammyboy Member Since: 28 Feb 2017 Location: Hampshire Posts: 121
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Hi Skip
Many thanks for your very helpful reply. Is the Dixon Bate any lower fitted to the NAS footstep than it would be if fitted conventionally to the rear cross member?? How do you find the 90 for towing your Caravan over longer distances (200+ miles) as opinion seems to favour the 110 as it is supposed to be more stable, less pitching etc!!! |
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2nd Apr 2017 1:26pm |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2295
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Hello Sammyboy
Yes... again depending on exactly what you do, I effectively lowered the Tow Ball height by 85mm than if the Dixon Bate Adjustable Coupling had been attached directly to the Rear Cross Member. If you look carefully you will also see that I inverted the Drop Plate in my set up, against the 'Standard' arrangement (on the left) but this gives you the general idea. Click image to enlarge Fixing to the NAS Step does a few other things... It projects the whole Towing Frame and therfore Tow Ball 130mm further away from the rear of the Defender which can help when tight turning with a trailer / caravan It also helps when you open the rear door of the Defender as you have just that extra space before it collides with what your towing. You can still climb in more easily than without a step... 
I have no real 110 experience in Towing, but the 90 works really well, our Eriba is 1200kg unladen, probably 1500-1800kg ready to go. The Eriba at effectively the same width and height as a Defender (Roof Down) and a 'Bullet' shaped front end means collectively it really does Tow well...This will be dead straight at 70mph, which I crept up to once inadvertently... 
We have twisted our way through some tight places in both Wales and The Lake District and whilst we would have still done this in a 110, the 90 is more 'compact'. The 90 for us is a Two person + Dog Vehicle, (Children at Uni' now) We often use a Roof Box too...I'd say if you have a Family or lots of Kit (the two go hand in hand) a 110 can soon prove to be the only option. Click image to enlarge Good Luck SKIP https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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2nd Apr 2017 2:46pm |
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| Sammyboy Member Since: 28 Feb 2017 Location: Hampshire Posts: 121
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Hi Skip
Thanks again for your very helpful (and for you time consuming) reply. Your measurements therefore suggest that fitted to the cross-member the Dixon Bate lowest holes would be approximately 35mm to high. Your tow ball centre being 50mm lower than needed but raising it 85mm would be approx 35mm too high! I see on the Dixon Bate website they do an adjustable Tow - bar with a 260mm range where yours is 200mm. We are also without children (she is now grown up and married) so there is just the two of us and an English Springer Spaniel. Our caravan has an MTPLM of 1440kg so very similar to yours. We generally Caravan in the UK within 200 miles of our home but like to go to the Dordogne once a year which is approximately 500+ miles each way with at least one overnight stop. So perhaps a 90 will do for us.......its what I have always wanted (just because I do!!) and would prefer for when not towing but just thought a 110 would be more advisable. Cheers once again. |
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2nd Apr 2017 3:28pm |
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| Wild Card 90 Member Since: 03 Dec 2014 Location: Gerlingen Posts: 1060  
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Sammy, the decision as to whether you go for a 90 or 110 isnīt straight forward. They each have their advantages, both with and without a trailer. A 110 will offer better directional stability by virtue of itīs longer wheelbase. However, because the distance from the rear axle to the tow bracket is also longer, the trailer is able to exert more leverage on the tow vehicle. When manouvring in close quarters, the 90 also has a clear advantage. The 110 is the clear winner if you have family, dogs, and/or alot of equipment on board, even when the caravan is at home. A 90 is a great 2 seater, is quieter and demands less from both heater and AC. The short wheelbase ride is however an aquired taste on bumpy roads
Concerning the tow ball height, this is my solution. My 90 has about 2" lift on heavy duty springs and large diameter 255/85 tyres, and because I have a number of standard height dual axle trailers, i wanted to get the towball down to the usual 41 - 43 cm height. Using the factory Land Rover tow bracket, and a 90 mm drop - ball from Thule, the centre of the tow ball is at 44cm unloaded, and goes down to about 42 cm once a trailer with 100 Kg hitch weight is hooked up. The tow has a D-value of 25 and can take up to 200 Kg hitch weight, so is well suited for the job. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 1998 Tdi 90 SW, 2008 Td4 90 SW, 2012 2.2 90 SW, 2" raised Trailmaster/Terrafirma Heavy Track Raids, 255 MTīs, Recaro CSīs, anorak, wellingtons |
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2nd Apr 2017 4:12pm |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2295
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Hello Sammyboy
Again its about exactly how your potential 90 or 110 is set up I have oversized Wheels and Tyre's that all came with the Defender (prepared for a customer that changed his mind then needed a 'quick' sell) They are a 20' Concept LRX Wheels developed for the Range Rover with 275/60R20 Cooper Zeon Tyres fitted, I originally intended to swap them but have just got use to them, but they are 33''high so this will raise the Defender. My figures are a Tow Ball height of 375mm when fitted to the NAS Rear Step if transferred to the Rear Cross Member (lowest two fixing positions) would then give around a 460mm, so 30mm higher than you need...standard Tyre's and you maybe close... The picture appears wrong on the 260 Height Adjustable DB (worth checking)... http://dixon-bate.co.uk/products/gb/height...coup-.html This is the 200 http://dixon-bate.co.uk/products/gb/height...coup-.html 90 / 110....decision decisions The Storage Space in a 110 is very similar to the 90 it's just (obviously) got an extra row of seats...storage space in some way...but look close  SKIP
https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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2nd Apr 2017 4:40pm |
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| Sammyboy Member Since: 28 Feb 2017 Location: Hampshire Posts: 121
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Thanks very much Wildcard for taking the time to give a detailed response. The Thule tow-ball looks a very good option that is less cumbersome than the Dixon Bate Adjustable tow-bar. As I will only tow a caravan a fixed height ball would be preferrable. Do you have any details of Part No etc or where I would be able to get one should I need to. Cheers. |
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2nd Apr 2017 5:31pm |
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| Sammyboy Member Since: 28 Feb 2017 Location: Hampshire Posts: 121
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Thanks once again for your helpful reply. I agree with you about the photo of the 260mm bar on the DB website. I'll call them for clarification. I also agree with your conclusion that I would be very close with my tow-ball height. Having said that our measurements don't include luggage/kit/dog weight in the 90 or the approx 100kg caravan nose weight; both would lower the tow-ball. Cheers again. |
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2nd Apr 2017 5:49pm |
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| Wild Card 90 Member Since: 03 Dec 2014 Location: Gerlingen Posts: 1060
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Sammy,
The Thule part is 530072. Couldn't find a UK Thule supplier, although I'm sure with a little bit research, you'll find one. I bought mine here online - Ramader.de This is the one - https://www.kupplung.de/universal-kugelkopf-4-loch-122042.html Strangely the D- value stamped on the manufacturer's plate, is 25. The description on the website says 20.2. Both values are enough to accommodate 3.5 tons, behind a Defender. Stephen 1998 Tdi 90 SW, 2008 Td4 90 SW, 2012 2.2 90 SW, 2" raised Trailmaster/Terrafirma Heavy Track Raids, 255 MTīs, Recaro CSīs, anorak, wellingtons |
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3rd Apr 2017 5:59am |
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