Low tow ball height..............

tcstrat
tcstrat Forum Participant Posts: 6
edited August 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi,

I tow with a Hyundai Santa Fe Premium 2012, 5 seater.It has a Witter detachable tow bar but the tow ball height is only about the minimum recommended consequently on udulating roads or road humps the jockey wheel is bottoming out,can anyone suggest a tow
bar that will give a higher tow ball setting.Never had this problem before in over 40 years of towing with many different cars.Caravan is a Coachman 460/2 VIP loaded to the correct weights.Any help appreciated............

 

Comments

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #2

    Have you checked your vehicle suspension height is correct?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #3

    I would personally get the suspension thoroughly checked on the car 

  • tcstrat
    tcstrat Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited August 2016 #4

    Thanks for the advice,however just had 30k annual service and MOT at Hyundai and told them about low tow ball,suspension checked out all ok.Advised try different tow bar,any suggestions?My brother in laws Sorrento`s tow ball is much higher but it is a different
    type of fitment on that vehicle.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2016 #5

    Towbars have to be type approved so it is unlikely that you will find an approved alternative from the same manufacturer. If it's not the suspension then your only choice is to try a towbar from another manufacturer in the hope that the towball sits higher,
    but that would be quite risky inasmuch as you may buy a new towbar only to find that it is just as low.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #6

    Have you looked at Witter on line they show all towbars with technical details including a photo it may give a clue. Sounds as if the suspension is "soft"

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #7

    It might be worth an e mail to the other manufacturers to see if they can give you the fitted height of their tow bars. Having said that the jockey wheel should not be hitting the road and it does make me wonder if it can be moved up further. Other than
    that the only option might be to lose a little nose weight to get the height up a fraction.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2016 #8

    It might be worth an e mail to the other manufacturers to see if they can give you the fitted height of their tow bars. Having said that the jockey wheel should not be hitting the road and it does make me wonder if it can be moved up further. Other than
    that the only option might be to lose a little nose weight to get the height up a fraction.

    In view of the fact that the height of the towball is so very dependent on the actual standing height of the vehicle and that is subject to production tolerances on the part of the vehicle manufacturer and over which the towbar manufacturer has no influence,
    it would be unrealistic to expect the latter to be more commital than to state his towball height is within the limits set in the regulations.

  • tcstrat
    tcstrat Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited August 2016 #9

    Thanks for the posts,think I might just change the car,Santa Fe not much good as a tow car if it has soft suspension.Although it does not drop much when van is attatched.Probably go back to having a good estate car.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #10

    Thanks for the advice,however just had 30k annual service and MOT at Hyundai and told them about low tow ball,suspension checked out all ok.Advised try different tow bar,any suggestions?My brother in laws Sorrento`s tow ball is much higher but it is a different
    type of fitment on that vehicle.

    ...I thought the Santa fe and Sorrento  are the same vehicle just rebadged 

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited August 2016 #11

    i had same problem with skoda superb, no way of increasing towball height tried spring assisters which did help but not cure in the end just travelled very light in the car and kept check on noseweight,be aware though dealer did warn that altering things
    (assisters included)could invalidate warranty

  • tcstrat
    tcstrat Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited August 2016 #12

    Santa fe and Sorento are similar but not the same,much of the interior trim and the engine are the same,however there are differences in the bodywork shape.

  • tcstrat
    tcstrat Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited November 2016 #13

    Changed vehicle to Land Rover,problem solved.

    Thanks to all who offered advice.......

  • RangeRoverMan
    RangeRoverMan Forum Participant Posts: 125
    edited November 2016 #14

    Changed vehicle to Land Rover,problem solved.

    Thanks to all who offered advice.......

    Good choice!

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