Member Since: 13 Jan 2013
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 240
Discovery 4 hitching to twin axle problem
I have a discovery 4 and we have just bought a new Bailey twin axle caravan. My issue is that when I try to hitch to the caravan my cars toll ball is lower than the caravan hitch and I have to raise the car suspension to hitch up. The cars suspension then goes to normal level and thus pulling down the hitch on the caravan. I rang the caravan club technical support and they said this is not right as the caravan hitch should not be pulled down by the car, they advised me to speak to Land Rover and I put a call into land rover and awaiting a response.
I have the factory fitted detachable land rover tow bar.
Has anybody else had this issue and is there some thing wrong with the car tow or caravan hitch?
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: The Magic Roundabout
Posts: 1392
Have had this in the past, albeit with a twin axle trailer, rather than a caravan. The ball height of the detachable towbar was too low for my trailer to run level.
The only way to solve the issue IME is have the multi height towbar as posted above by methley, fitted. The you can have the ball fitted at the correct height to allow your caravan / trailer to run level.
Last edited by zebadee on 14th Jun 2013 4:12 pm. Edited 1 time in total
14th Jun 2013 3:48 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
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Why not just lower the jockey wheel DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
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14th Jun 2013 3:59 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10360
I tow a Bailey Olympus twin axle on the D3, with the adjustable towbar, with the ball on the bottom set of holes (as per pic), and it runs dead level (there's a pic in my galley of the 'van and car together)
Click image to enlarge
I always thought that the ball fitted at this height was the same as the removable ball height. I can measure the towball height on mine if you want, so you can check yours
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14th Jun 2013 4:31 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
I think there must be something fundamentally wrong with either the suspension height of the car, or the way your presenting the caravan. I tow a twin axles Elddis and use the detachable tow bracket. There is more than enough up/down movement in the jockey wheel to hitch up with the car in normal height. Are you sure you have got the load in the caravan balanced properly? To much weight at the back will make it sit nose high.
Some pictures might help.
14th Jun 2013 4:34 pm
xyplex
Member Since: 13 Jan 2013
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 240
Pelyma wrote:
Why not just lower the jockey wheel
I have lowered the Jockey wheel fully as its a twin axle the caravan sit level with the Jockey wheel fully retracted. The nose does not come down on the caravan.
14th Jun 2013 4:36 pm
xyplex
Member Since: 13 Jan 2013
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 240
Gareth wrote:
I think there must be something fundamentally wrong with either the suspension height of the car, or the way your presenting the caravan. I tow a twin axles Elddis and use the detachable tow bracket. There is more than enough up/down movement in the jockey wheel to hitch up with the car in normal height. Are you sure you have got the load in the caravan balanced properly? To much weight at the back will make it sit nose high.
Some pictures might help.
I will measure from the ground to the top of the tow ball
14th Jun 2013 4:37 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10360
sorry - are you saying you can raise the jockey wheel un-hitched, and the 'van sits level??
If so, that implies no nosewieght, and thats not right.
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14th Jun 2013 4:38 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
xyplex wrote:
Pelyma wrote:
Why not just lower the jockey wheel
I have lowered the Jockey wheel fully as its a twin axle the caravan sit level with the Jockey wheel fully retracted. The nose does not come down on the caravan.
This is my outfit below.
[URL=]
Click image to enlarge
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This was when I used a detachable tow bar but I now use a fixed one without the plate so I can use a bike carrier. You should be able to lower the hitch on the caravan to ground level if you position the jockey wheel correctly.
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14th Jun 2013 4:52 pm
Chippy
Member Since: 05 Jan 2012
Location: Surrey
Posts: 520
Bailey's are nose heavy when empty so should natural drop to the floor when unsupported. In may cases its hard to keep to. The recommended 100kg nose weight.
14th Jun 2013 5:14 pm
highbayrack
Member Since: 09 Jul 2008
Location: Northamptonshire
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Nose weight issue I think On a mission to find the perfect Pork Pie. Just Found it (I think)..(Yes I have)
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14th Jun 2013 5:17 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
What caravan is it, I tow a twin axle Unicorn and do not have the issues you are stating. I can in theory lower the jockey wheel right down to apoint where the hitch would be on the ground, in other words the caravan is nose heavey. This when hitched up runs dead level. Think you may well have an issue with the caravan.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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14th Jun 2013 6:07 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10360
Chippy - Thats the issue I had with our Olympus - It was really hard to get DOWN to the 100kg noseweight specified by Bailey, and the last thing I wanted to do was have loads of weight right at the back. In the end, with lightweight gas bottles, and moving loads of stuff around I got it down to 110kg and thought sod it, thats close enough.
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14th Jun 2013 6:16 pm
THUB
Member Since: 10 Dec 2005
Location: West Berkshire.
Posts: 717
I had this with two previous cars (Not LRs) with the detachable tow bar. I suggest you change to the adjustable tow bar and then adjust the method of carrying the bikes.
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