Towing with a lowered van

[BognorMotors]

Just found my ‘extended’ removable towbar. Although not strength tested, but this could be done. I was told there would be no issue by the engineering shop, but would never use this on the road untested. I only used this when putting my boat down a steep ramp, which prevented the trailer dragging over the peak. It worked well

 

[JOG]

Just found my ‘extended’ removable towbar. Although not strength tested, but this could be done. I was told there would be no issue by the engineering shop, but would never use this on the road untested. I only used this when putting my boat down a steep ramp, which prevented the trailer dragging over the peak. It worked well

View attachment 93417

Like this - pity there isn’t an “approved” version

 

[JOG]

40mm drop (Cobra springs, Koni Sport shocks), 275x40x20 tyres towing 1800kg twin axle. Sits absolutely lovely and level. This combination of wheel/tyre would give about a 20mm rise in ride height so combined with 40mm drop I guess that's about 20mm down at the tow hitch over stock. Not all hitches are the same height. From earlier research I found that the Tow Trust removable hitch I have also sits a bit lower than the Westfalia removable by about 15mm. So there are lots of variables. Not that best pic but don't have a side on pic right now.

View attachment 90357

My caravan is also a elddis crusader my tow ball is 360 to the centre without the van on and with it on its 325 ish.

We have an Elddis Crusader too and the van pulls it with no issue. I haven’t pulled it since the suspension was done, but I am confident it will be better

 

[BognorMotors]

Like this - pity there isn’t an “approved” version

Could. get it pull tested. Again the market is slow to catch up to the lowered vans section!

 

[JOG]

Could. get it pull tested. Again the market is slow to catch up to the lowered vans section!

The cynic in me says that you’d spend good money on engineering and getting “Approval” only for the rip-off merchants to churn out “lookie-likie” versions (even stamped with your approval reg!)

 

[BognorMotors]

Yes I know what you mean. However I’m not about approval for sale. I’m on about approval to be used personally and piece of mind. The engineering shop who made it said it would need pull testing. I presume they have access to this sort of testing. They also said you could easily hang a ‘few’ tons off it. I imagine you could get caught up in a load of regulations ...... so I’m not interested, and I don’t have about anymore :-(

It worked perfectly for what I needed, which was all off road use.

 

[JOG]

Yes I know what you mean. However I’m not about approval for sale. I’m on about approval to be used personally and piece of mind. The engineering shop who made it said it would need pull testing. I presume they have access to this sort of testing. They also said you could easily hang a ‘few’ tons off it. I imagine you could get caught up in a load of regulations ...... so I’m not interested, and I don’t have about anymore :-(

It worked perfectly for what I needed, which was all off road use.

Absolutely agree! You had something engineered that suits your needs. My comment was more of what a state we are in that it simply wouldn’t make sense for you to invest R&D money only to have the result of that spend “stolen”!

 

[rover220]

You may well find an unmodified neck from another car fits better.

 

[racerke600]

blowing some dust of this older topic

I drive a t6.1 cali, mildly lowered and i have a foldable bike rack that fits three bikes.

I have the westfalia removable tow bar, but i'm looking into changing the neck part.

If I would find a neck that sits a little higher and a little more outwards, this would help clear the tailgate when opening with the bikes installed.

Is there some kind of 'list' or knowledge that lists 'necks' that can be used for this purpose?

greetings

 

[rover220]

the mk2 skoda superb estate westfalia neck may be worth looking at.

 

[DWS]

Hi all.

I was following this thread a year or so ago when it started, and now have just freshened up on it.

I have a T6 T32 sportline kombi, lowered on SoLow’s at max height and I currently run banded Amaroks with T32 rated tyres.

I have a detachable tow bar, never used it, but it’s sat there under the passenger seat and never been used.

Is there a limit with what you can tow with these detachable tow bars?

This is my work van, and bar the odd customers driveway here and there I can get round ok this low….. just!

However, I am thinking of changing my old rusty Ford Transit drop side for an Ifor Williams trailer over buying a newer Transit drop side….. possibly……. I’m a heating engineer, and off the back of doing oil boilers I also do oil tanks, hence the transit, but it does 3-4K a year, only used locally, and not very often I do 20-30 tanks a year and the groundwork’s for them, so I carry anything from a 500kg to probably more than the transit is allowed to carry whether it be 2 bulk bags or a couple of IBC tanks loaded with oil, concrete lintels, so the trailer would be heavy when loaded!

Does anyone tow a trailer with SoLow coil overs?

I will be looking at something twin wheel drop side that is similar load space to my transit which is 13ft bed, so will be a decent size.

I do have a trailer specialist near me, I’m sure they would be happy for me to hook up and have a test, I see someone above had B14’s and said a twin wheel trailer had the rear wheels off the ground!!!!

It may be a clear cut now way in which case I may have to reevaluate my options, for having a low van

 

[JOG]

blowing some dust of this older topic

I drive a t6.1 cali, mildly lowered and i have a foldable bike rack that fits three bikes.

I have the westfalia removable tow bar, but i'm looking into changing the neck part.

If I would find a neck that sits a little higher and a little more outwards, this would help clear the tailgate when opening with the bikes installed.

Is there some kind of 'list' or knowledge that lists 'necks' that can be used for this purpose?

greetings

I think Oli @BognorMotors manufactured one for his personal use reversing a boat into the water! The issue is, he could spend the R&D money and then another small fortune for approvals etc that others would rip off and flog on t’internet without a worry in the world.

Best bet is to talk to a fitter who know his onions and what options may be available to you

 

[DWS]

I think Oli @BognorMotors manufactured one for his personal use reversing a boat into the water! The issue is, he could spend the R&D money and then another small fortune for approvals etc that others would rip off and flog on t’internet without a worry in the world.

Best bet is to talk to a fitter who know his onions and what options may be available to you

Oli @ @BognorMotors fitted my SoLow….. amongst other bits while it was there!

Don’t want to change the suspension so I may end up just buying a newer transit drop side!

 

[BognorMotors]

My issue was reversing down the boat ramp with the boat on. The ramp was steep and at the top where it flattened out the trailer would drag, so my extended height towbar was perfect. (I still have it somewhere)

Other than that, no issues. I was low- around 80mm) but not solow

 

[DWS]

My issue was reversing down the boat ramp with the boat on. The ramp was steep and at the top where it flattened out the trailer would drag, so my extended height towbar was perfect. (I still have it somewhere)

Other than that, no issues. I was low- around 80mm) but not solow

I guess I’d have to have a test - I can’t imagine it will be overly practical, there’s a handful of my customers drives I can’t even get on with these SoLows

 

[Maarten1]

Hi, I am a new owner to a newly converted T6 that has been lowered 60mm and has 20 inch wheels. I have spoken to a guy about fitting a tow-trust towbar but he has warned about towing a caravan with a vehicle lowered that much. The caravan is fairly lightweight but I can see that the whole set up may not be very level. Has anyone else got a similar set up (lowered 60mm with 20 inch wheels) and if so how do you find it? Any photo’s and thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jayc001]

Lowered 70mm, 20" wheels and tow all over the place with the Caravelle fully loaded.

 

[Maarten1]

Lowered 70mm, 20" wheels and tow all over the place with the Caravelle fully loaded.

View attachment 265512

Thanks very much for this as it’s put my mind at ease. Do you know which towbar you have as I have read that some raise the ball slightly higher?

 

[jayc001]

It's a Westfalia fixed. I had a T5.1 before this T6 and it had the Westfalia removable hitch. Again that was lowered the same.

I did read on here that you can get a different hitch for the removable type that gives some extra height but personally I wouldn't worry, I get across camping fields no issues, tows at 60+ stable and it's fairly level with my twin axle.

 

[Maarten1]

I have a quote for a Westfalia and a tow-trust but I’ve been told the Westfalia needs a bumper support at my expense whereas the tow-trust doesn’t. As you haven’t had any issues I think I will book it in to get fitted. Thanks.