Member Since: 18 Aug 2013
Location: Aberdeenish
Posts: 1691
Trailer and Tow Bar worked hard today
My daughter in law bought 20kg bags of burning peat for £6.99 - buy 2 for £12 at the Farm Shop. Crazy!
I did a bit of research and found 30kg bags at £3.50 but they are 50 miles away!
Stuck the trailer on, Ifor LM 1260, so OK up to 3.5Te gross.
With the ongoing thread on detachable tow bars I though I'd watch carefully running empty then with 80 bags ca 2.4Te of Peat. Don't worry the pallets were strapped down and braced back and forward, pic is after unloading some.
It rattled and banged about empty so that must be hammering the coupling and as it wears then the hammer blows become bigger and so the cycle continues.
On the way back loaded it was quiet as a lamb with no thumping around. I keep it well greased so any slight movement should be minimal wear. Only the occasional bad road ridge made it go up and down, but still no noise from the coupling.
Not a scientific study in anyone's book but I think light or empty may be worse than heavy as regards wear.Stew,
2010 D4 gone but I really loved it
Went back to Merc - C350 AMG
7th Dec 2015 1:44 pm
HughMartin
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 751
I tow one of these trailers and they do tend to rattle around a lot when empty. I am guessing it is your trailer you are hearing and not the actual tow hitch.
7th Dec 2015 3:38 pm
DALEK
Member Since: 28 Jul 2011
Location: Near Stockport
Posts: 633
We use them on film locations and they rattle like crazy, not sure they do the tow hitch any good!
The GD85 is the same, alot of the rattle comes from the brake cable spacer/adjuster underneath LRs are a fond memory, apart from the maintenance.
7th Dec 2015 4:34 pm
Bigcol66
Member Since: 28 Jul 2010
Location: Welshpool, Powys
Posts: 775
You will probably find its the springs on the trailer which make the noise which ii why they ride much quieter with weight on.
7th Dec 2015 6:14 pm
romadog2004
Member Since: 07 Nov 2010
Location: Powys
Posts: 290
Ifors always rattle, mainly due to cart springs that they use as suspension !!
Should get one of these from Brian James if you want a quiet trailer all the time
7th Dec 2015 7:07 pm
AAA.Happy.Disco1.Fan
Member Since: 04 Nov 2010
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 2895
Re: Trailer and Tow Bar worked hard today
Sloss wrote:
On the way back loaded it was quiet as a lamb with no thumping around. I keep it well greased so any slight movement should be minimal wear. Only the occasional bad road ridge made it go up and down, but still no noise from the coupling.
'' I keep it well greased ..''
Does that refer to the coupling, viz the hitch cup and tow ball?
Once upon a time one was told to grease up that coupling, then the [Counter intuitive] advice was to run dry.
I knew that metal formulations had improved no end in the last # of decades, but ?
Are we back to ''greasing up'' again, plz ?
AAA
7th Dec 2015 7:22 pm
romadog2004
Member Since: 07 Nov 2010
Location: Powys
Posts: 290
Light lubrication is advised - too much and its on your leg or hands !
7th Dec 2015 7:28 pm
AAA.Happy.Disco1.Fan
Member Since: 04 Nov 2010
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 2895
........................
That was always the main hazard, and no matter how many make shift tow-ball guards ( Old tennis balls, etc) were put on - some toad would nick them, and grease laden trews were discovered at home.
AAA
7th Dec 2015 7:38 pm
Steve RR
Member Since: 16 Jul 2010
Location: Ayrshire
Posts: 64
I have a big fleet of Ifors of all sizes but now had a couple of Nugent trailers recently, they are basically Ifor copies but with all the annoying bits improved, parabolic springs etc, but mainly so so quiet, not a rattle. Been very impressed with them and worth a try.2010 XS with lots of upgrades
2011 Commercial with every option possible!Fuji white(gone and missed 😥)
2007 TDV8 FFRR
4.6 P38 Autobiography
300Tdi county 110
Too many late Classic RR to count
Bowler Tomcat
7th Dec 2015 11:04 pm
AAA.Happy.Disco1.Fan
Member Since: 04 Nov 2010
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 2895
Ifor am Byth !
AAA
8th Dec 2015 2:03 am
MGCarr
Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
Re: Trailer and Tow Bar worked hard today
AAA.Happy.Disco1.Fan wrote:
'' I keep it well greased ..''
Does that refer to the coupling, viz the hitch cup and tow ball?
Once upon a time one was told to grease up that coupling, then the [Counter intuitive] advice was to run dry.
I knew that metal formulations had improved no end in the last # of decades, but ?
Are we back to ''greasing up'' again, plz ?
AAA
Dry use of the tow ball including carefull degreasing with a solvent such as brake cleaner is still essential for any trailer (mostly caravans) using the Alko style of built in stabilisers which utilise small friction pads, built into the coupling head, to damp out any sway. These friction pads are made of a similar material to that used for brake pads and any oil or grease contamination renders them useless. If like me you tow a combination of commercial trailers and tin tents then you will find that an aerosol can of spray grease, an aerosol can of brake cleaner and a big hand full of rags becomes part of your essential tool kit.
I cannot comment on the merits or otherwise of greasing the removable towbar where it enters the rear cross member as I run a heavy duty fixed towbar. My only thought is that grease in the aperture of the rear cross member, which is not particularly well protected, could, over time, be contaminated with salt, road grit, etc and become an effective grinding paste to accelerate the rate of wear.
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
LWB Hard Top Series 3
LWB Truck Cab Series 2A
Not been without a Land Rover for over 40 years - I must need therapy!
8th Dec 2015 2:43 am
Sloss
Member Since: 18 Aug 2013
Location: Aberdeenish
Posts: 1691
I started this thread to discuss wear on the removable type Tow Bar. It's gone off in a few directions, not unexpected
I know about all the Ifor rattles from loose sides, cart springs, brake cable bounce etc., as I've had Ifors in many guises for 30 years or more.
What I'm trying to get across is the different wear situations the Tow Ball housing gets during its life. When empty with very little nose weight then the hammer effect will have a higher frequency than when heavily loaded, full nose weight, therefore not so much pitching and diving, the hammering frequency will be less.
Regarding greasing. I don't grease the actual Ball part as my Caravan has the friction type coupling.
I do grease the part that goes into the housing and clean and regrease all parts quite frequently to negate the 'grinding paste' scenario.Stew,
2010 D4 gone but I really loved it
Went back to Merc - C350 AMG
8th Dec 2015 7:00 am
Erea
Member Since: 19 Mar 2012
Location: Munster
Posts: 1509
If your removable tow bar is rattling then it's loose and needs to be replaced with a fixed tow bar. Mine used to rattle a lot and when Landrover replaced it a few years ago they also replaced the rear crossmember. As far as I know the removable tow bars are not now recommend for towing heavy loads.
E
8th Dec 2015 8:37 am
Sloss
Member Since: 18 Aug 2013
Location: Aberdeenish
Posts: 1691
My Tow Bar has next to no looseness at all. I contribute that to frequent cleaning and regreasing over the almost 3 years I've had my D4. I don't think it was used to tow prior to my purchase, no electrics were on it then.
This discussion was whether most fretting damage to the housing/pin is caused in the unloaded or loaded situation.
Regarding 'Heavy Loads'. As far as I'm aware that has not been defined by JLR nor has 'often'.
I can be towing 2 or 3 Te twice a week or nothing for a month or two. Is it an average over a year? Who knows.
The removable tow bar is a good idea but was not properly engineered to last the life of the vehicle, whatever that is Stew,
2010 D4 gone but I really loved it
Went back to Merc - C350 AMG
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