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Topic: towing (Read 672 times) |
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gary1
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Hi i hope sombody can help me with this. I have a 1997 2.3 scorpio estate with self leveling suspension.I will be towing a trailer and would like to use a tow bar cycle carrier for 4 bikes as well.The max towing weight is 2000kg so that is no problem but the down ward weight on the tow ball is only 75 kg.( as ford hand book) What would happen if the down ward weight was exceeded.
GARY
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Kjetil S
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2001 BMW 520iat
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Re: towing
« Reply #1 on: Jun 6th, 2006, 8:32pm » |
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I'm no expert, but my guess is that it could affect the steering and stability as the front wheels won't grip as well as they used to. How much are you planning on loading it?
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gary1
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Re: towing
« Reply #2 on: Jun 6th, 2006, 8:38pm » |
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the total down ward weight would be about 105kg.i thought with self leveling suspension the the level of the car remains the same so i would not loose grip at the front.
GARY
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john_smiffy
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Re: towing
« Reply #4 on: Jun 6th, 2006, 9:04pm » |
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what sort of trailor are you towing cant you put bikes on trailor
here is an easy way to check tow-hitch weight
if you get a set of bathroom scales a 6in sq bit of wood and a 2x2 about 18in long put the 2 bits of wood on the scales and reset to zero
if you put scales under tow-hitch the 6in sq wood on scales the the 2x2 upright on scales and inside of tow-hitch what it reads on scales is the towball weight (downward pressure)
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john_smiffy
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Re: towing
« Reply #5 on: Jun 6th, 2006, 9:05pm » |
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ps
i tow a 1200kg caravan with my 2.9 12v ultima and towball weight is 70kg
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Spannerdemon
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Hi Gary. We tow a 17' Caravan with our Ultima 2.9 12v, and you really don't want to exceed the nose weight.
Kjetil is absolutely right. It's not worth the risk, as if you had to brake suddenly, your whole steering geometry will be affected. If I was doing this, I'd put a couple of the bikes on the roof to reduce the towball noseweight loading.
Noseweight is quite critical, especially in damp, wet slippery conditions......but you really don't want to find out the hard way. Neither will your family.
You've got a bit more latitude with a caravan, as you can move weight around within the van to achieve a sensible load. Putting heavier items over the main axle, and not carrying water etc.
Don't risk it............not worth it. 
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Spannerdemon
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Another Caravanner.....Hi Smiffy!
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gary1
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Re: towing
« Reply #8 on: Jun 6th, 2006, 9:38pm » |
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Hi, Thanks for all your replies.i will not be exceeding the tow ball weight now.I have a trailer tent so can not put bikes on top incase the tent gets damaged . I have a big roof box on the car so i will have to take only 2 bikes on the tow ball for my daughters and me and the wife will just have to sit on site sun bathing drinking wine.
GARY  
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sector-9
Senior Member
No scorpio anymore
Posts: 1069
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Re: towing
« Reply #9 on: Jun 6th, 2006, 11:21pm » |
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Technically exceeding the nose-weight limit at the ball could bend or damage the bracket or mounting points. It'd have to be seriously overloaded for that to happen, but it could easily overload the rear axle weight limit, especially if the car is fully laden anyway.
If you overload the axle then the suspension won't be able to cope and may not be able to level itself, which will cause handling and stability problems. Also tyres are load rated for a given pressure and these could be overloaded with the danger of a blowout.
Apparently the recommended nose-weight is 7% of the weight of the trailer - it shouldn't be an issue for you unless you're towing >1 ton loads or have a bracket mounted bicylce carrier as well.
Darren
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john_smiffy
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Re: towing
« Reply #10 on: Jun 7th, 2006, 3:07am » |
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the ball weight is 75kg max for all other towing data
press here just scroll down a bit for scorpio
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john_smiffy
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Re: towing
« Reply #11 on: Jun 7th, 2006, 3:15am » |
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on Jun 6th, 2006, 9:11pm, Spannerdemon wrote:Another Caravanner.....Hi Smiffy!
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hi spannerdemon
yup im another vanner only had my 2.9 12v a few week
just had towbar fitted with twin leccy & new rad plus exhaust gaskets so it going to get tried very shortly
had a frontera for a few year but my wife who is disabled found it a struggle to get in so now ive gone for some comfort
i help run a vanning site here http://www.talktouring.co.uk
pop in and have a look
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Spannerdemon
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I'll do that a bit later. Just off to work.
Thanks for that. We had a Volvo 940 GLE Turbo Saloon for several years, which was the best tow car I've ever owned. Absolute workhorse, and I'd have another tomorrow.
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Paulus
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Big and Ugly....DON'T MESS!!!
Posts: 150
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Re: towing
« Reply #13 on: Jun 7th, 2006, 11:04am » |
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I worked (very briefly) at Swift Caravans. 75Kg is the industry standary target for the tow-bar weight is 75Kg - primarily for vehicle stability.
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john_smiffy
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Re: towing
« Reply #14 on: Jun 7th, 2006, 1:02pm » |
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on Jun 7th, 2006, 11:04am, Paulus wrote:| I worked (very briefly) at Swift Caravans. 75Kg is the industry standary target for the tow-bar weight is 75Kg - primarily for vehicle stability. |
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paul
i always check my nose weight before i go away with van
my van has an overall length of 7.3mts
as for the caravan industry aiming for 75kg ive known them to come out of factory at anywere between + or - 25kg
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Paulus
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Re: towing
« Reply #15 on: Jun 7th, 2006, 1:17pm » |
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It is only a guideline...very rarely met.
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gary1
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Re: towing
« Reply #16 on: Jun 7th, 2006, 4:04pm » |
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Hi paulus can you go over the 75kg limit and by how much and still have stability. The 75kg is only the industry guide line.
Gary
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john_smiffy
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Re: towing
« Reply #17 on: Jun 7th, 2006, 4:13pm » |
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the 75kg on the tow ball is fords rating for there car
so why try exceeding the towball/hitch limit
ive been vanning for years and have seen some accidents that were down to people not getting car&van balanced
if the caravan hitch is 75kg and the towball weight is 100kg you still cannot exceed 75kg for hitch
if you have an accident and its proved you exceeded you limit i bet you the insurance will use it as a get out
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Paulus
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Big and Ugly....DON'T MESS!!!
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Re: towing
« Reply #18 on: Jun 7th, 2006, 6:22pm » |
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Insurance....good point.
In the last three weeks, I have seen two overturned caravans - one on the M40, the other on the M5. the one on the M5 ended up with a Smart car on it's side too. Not very nice to see
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