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Discovery 4 hitching to twin axle problem
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xyplex
 


Member Since: 13 Jan 2013
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4
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?
  
Post #111716814th Jun 2013 3:41 pm
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methley
a.k.a. Big Hairy Ski Monster 


Member Since: 07 Oct 2008
Location: Marshfield, South Glos
Posts: 2433

England 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Manual Java BlackDiscovery 3

Sounds like you need the height adjustable fixed tow bar Thumbs Up

Click image to enlarge
 Andy

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Post #111717014th Jun 2013 3:44 pm
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zebadee
 


Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: The Magic Roundabout
Posts: 1392

Ireland 

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 
Post #111717214th Jun 2013 3:48 pm
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Pelyma
  


Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496

England 

Why not just lower the jockey wheel Confused
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Post #111717614th Jun 2013 3:59 pm
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al cope
 


Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10349

England 

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

Al
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Post #111720114th Jun 2013 4:31 pm
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Gareth
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Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
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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.
  
Post #111720214th Jun 2013 4:34 pm
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xyplex
 


Member Since: 13 Jan 2013
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

Pelyma wrote:
Why not just lower the jockey wheel Confused



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.
  
Post #111720414th Jun 2013 4:36 pm
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xyplex
 


Member Since: 13 Jan 2013
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

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
  
Post #111720514th Jun 2013 4:37 pm
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al cope
 


Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10349

England 

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.

Al
 Volvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD 
 
Post #111720714th Jun 2013 4:38 pm
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Pelyma
  


Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496

England 

xyplex wrote:
Pelyma wrote:
Why not just lower the jockey wheel Confused



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
[/URL]

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.

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green
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Post #111721514th Jun 2013 4:52 pm
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Chippy
 


Member Since: 05 Jan 2012
Location: Surrey
Posts: 520

England 

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. Confused
  
Post #111722414th Jun 2013 5:14 pm
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highbayrack
 


Member Since: 09 Jul 2008
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United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto LuxorDiscovery 4

Nose weight issue I think Thumbs Up
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Post #111722514th Jun 2013 5:17 pm
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Russell
 


Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564

United Kingdom 

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.
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Post #111724414th Jun 2013 6:07 pm
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al cope
 


Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10349

England 

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.

Al
 Volvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD 
 
Post #111724514th Jun 2013 6:16 pm
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THUB
 


Member Since: 10 Dec 2005
Location: West Berkshire.
Posts: 717

United Kingdom 2012 Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE Auto Nara BronzeDiscovery 4

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.
  
Post #111725714th Jun 2013 6:56 pm
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