Are We Lost wrote:

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Starting by measuring the heights before connection is a good idea, but it's the level when connected that matters.

The goal should be for the van to be level, or slightly nose down, but never nose up. This is more important if you have dual axles and non load sharing suspension.

If the car sags down at the back substantially and raises at the front when connected, you are affecting the handling characteristics of the tow vehicle. A Weight Distribution Hitch would help. But if you provide actual measurements and weights you will get a lot of help to work out if any action is needed. Read the Weights and Measures section up the top of Techie's Corner.

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 Good information in this post,particularly the first sentence.."It's the level when connected that matters". You could add to that sentence "When loaded,ready to travel". However,if  the van is dual axle,and has non-loadsharing suspension,it needs to be as level as possible,with slightly lower pressure in the van's front axle.This allows that axle to "shuffle" when cornering,as opposed to it being the the effective pivot point if the front of the van is down,and the tyre pressures all are the same.If you could advise what car you have,and the model of your van,including its ATM,we may be able to offer more specific advice.Lastly,a word of warning! Towball scales are,at best,a rough guide,in my experience.As an experiment,I once purchased several different brands and compared their readings.The difference in readings was ridiculous,with none anywhere  near what the actual weight was when I paid to have my towball weight checked.All these units were subsequently given away to people I don't like,with the exception of the most accurate,which lives somewhere in my shed.Cheers.

This is an example of a VERY poorly set up unit!

-- Edited by yobarr on Wednesday 30th of June 2021 07:04:04 PM

RobDor wrote:

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Thanks for the info. I havent had a chance to do any measurements yet, but I can tell you the car is the new model BT50 XTR auto, dual cab 4x4 and the van is a 2015 Millard Breakaway Longreach 1660, single axle with ATM of 2600 and tow ball rating of 210, wheels are 265/75 R16. At the moment I have 54 psi in van wheels, but may have to come up to about 60 psi. I will be measuring hitch heights when van is level in the ne t couple of days.  cheers 

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 Good car to tow a van such as yours,with its 2600kg ATM. Forget the towball "rating",as it likely means nothing more than that being the towball weight of the van at the factory.With 2600kg ATM you should be looking at around 260kg (10%) towball weight,but first check your owner's manual, as some AUTO  BT50s are limited to 250kg towball weight,I believe? With your car's long wheelbase,and your mid-weight caravan,there is no need to consider a WDH,unless you wish to put exceedingly HEAVY loads into your utes tray. A WDH removes weight from the car's REAR AXLE,with SOME of that weight being transferred back to the car's front axle,while the rest of the weight is applied to the van's axle group.This can often result in you exceeding your van's total allowable weight (ATM if you like) or your van's axle rating,or its GTM. ( Gross Trailed Mass,or weight on van's axle group).These figures can be found on your van's compliance plate,and will help us give further advice if you supply them to us? It is vitally important to understand that a WDH does NOT change towball weight.Never has,never will. But it is a seriously misunderstood piece of apparatus.Back to your original question.Your van should be set up so that,loaded to travel,towball weight is around 10% of the loaded weight,and the van is level,or slightly nose-down. Good luck with your set up,but always we are happy to help if you have further questions.Cheers.    

                       P.S Just checked towball weights,and there are no problems there,with 4wd auto able to have 350kg towball weight.(In theory!)

RobDor wrote:

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Thanks for the info. I havent had a chance to do any measurements yet, but I can tell you the car is the new model BT50 XTR auto, dual cab 4x4 and the van is a 2015 Millard Breakaway Longreach 1660, single axle with ATM of 2600 and tow ball rating of 210, wheels are 265/75 R16. At the moment I have 54 psi in van wheels, but may have to come up to about 60 psi. I will be measuring hitch heights when van is level in the ne t couple of days.  cheers 

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 If I owned your caravan in my thoughts only, I would be reducing the tyre pressures from 54 psi to somewhere around 40 psi, my reason being those pressures you have mentioned are maximum preasures if your are driving at maximum speed of the tyre rating at the maximum weight of the tyres rating for one hour without blowing them.

So probably 40 or 42 psi would be more acceptable for your caravan. The first thing the caravan will not be shaken to pieces by seriously hard over pressured tyres. 

A little Knowledge is a dangerous thing.

With tyres, any tyres, the size is imprtant yes, but the ONE thing you need to look at is the Load Index.

That is the part that will dictate, what pressures to use at what loads. Maximum load, maximum inflation, just because it says maximum pressure is "X" it doesn't mean you need to run that pressure if the the load does not justify that.

Also the speed rating. 265/75R16 tyres can have multiple speed ratings, from Q, R, S, and T,  also multiple load indexes, which vary from one manufacturer to another, from 109 to 123. 

Some tyres may even have two load indexes, one is for single wheel fitment, one for is for dual wheel fitment.

Normaly the higher the speed rating, the higher the maximum speed range, and simarly, the higher the load index letter, the higher the maximum load carrying capacity.

Not all tyres in one size, are suitable for all applications.

RobDor wrote:

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Yes Ive done a few calculations on those tyres an that setup. About 60 psi is what they should be.

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 My tyres are 123 load rated,and that is what I did my calculations  on,reaching a conclusion similar to yours.Cheers

yobarr wrote:

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 If you could point out exactly where you believe I "suggest" that the lower front is bad,I may be able to elaborate.Cheers

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 The image. 

Bobdown wrote:

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A question for the wise, I have noticed a tow bars with the tongue turned over and the ball obviously, to get a bit extra height to level the van.

Does that compromise the integrity of the hitch? Reduce the weight carrying capacity? And is it legal?

Cheers Bob

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 Nissan Australia reassured me back in 2016 when I made this enquiry about the use of their towbar, the towball retriever (tongue) could be used either way on our Navara crew cab ute.

There is lots of other things wrote in Nissan owner manual about towing but that was not mentioned hence the phone call.

Greg 1 wrote:

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In answer to the question of turning the drawbar tongue over, some drawbars have different ratings for which way it is used. This does not apply to all manufacturers but there are cases such as the Ranger and I think the Landcruiser tongues. Wise to read up in your owners manual.

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 X2.Good post Greg.Cheers

wasn_me wrote:

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Iana, it doesn't matter a rats bum.

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 Wrong!

yobarr wrote:

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wasn_me wrote:

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Iana, it doesn't matter a rats bum.

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 Wrong!

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           Right!