Trailers & 'BWSOW's

[Richard A Thackeray]

Why would they affect pitching?
They would help rolling side to side if that's an issue.
I think you need to look at how your loading your van. Too much weight behind the axle....

There's minimal behind the axle, a few clothes/kitchen items

I was looking at them for the Kodiaq, not the 'van
That's on the archetypal 'elastomer' suspension units/axle

 

[Jameshow]

There's minimal behind the axle, a few clothes/kitchen items

I was looking at them for the Kodiaq, not the 'van
That's on the archetypal 'elastomer' suspension units/axle

That makes more sense if they would fit?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

That makes more sense if they would fit?

Various thicknesses available, for differing coil ‘heights’

 

[CXRAndy]

Monday 29th


She got me some netting
It’s a bit big, but gives some leeway for a bulky/high load
(‘bin bags’, or garden trimmings)


View attachment 788472

I've got one them. Its over 30 years old. I gave it a bit of TLC recently. Wire wheeled the drawbar, cold galvanised spray the area and fitted a jockey wheel. We now use it for a 600 litre IBC water bowser.

 

[kynikos]

There's minimal behind the axle, a few clothes/kitchen items

I was looking at them for the Kodiaq, not the 'van
That's on the archetypal 'elastomer' suspension units/axle

Better to get the loading/noseweight right than try and correct with a 'bodge'. We find one of these useful and I think it would be a better use of your £££s to have one rather than spring adjusters.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Better to get the loading/noseweight right than try and correct with a 'bodge'. We find one of these useful and I think it would be a better use of your £££s to have one rather than spring adjusters.

I appreciate that, but heck, that's far dearer!!
A piece of wood & bathroom scales used to be the old idea

 

[figbat]

Spring supports might help with pitching but it is really down to damping. Either upgrade/renew the shock absorbers or adjust the nose weight to remove the resonance between the pitching frequency of the trailer with the damping frequency of the car's suspension. Spring assists are typically to prevent the suspension from sitting too low when loaded, hence reducing the available stroke of the suspension and increasing the chance of bottoming out.

The combination of trailer load, length, drawbar length, load distribution, tow-hitch-to-trailer-axle length, tow-hitch-to-car rear-axle length, suspension spring rate, damping rate, trailer CofG, stabiliser friction and so on will affect the pitch and sway behaviours. I'd try to adjust the easy ones first before getting hands oily. I always used to run a nose weight of around 75 kg and never had a wobble or wag. Set with a piece of wood and bathroom scales!

 

[Jameshow]

Spring supports might help with pitching but it is really down to damping. Either upgrade/renew the shock absorbers or adjust the nose weight to remove the resonance between the pitching frequency of the trailer with the damping frequency of the car's suspension. Spring assists are typically to prevent the suspension from sitting too low when loaded, hence reducing the available stroke of the suspension and increasing the chance of bottoming out.

The combination of trailer load, length, drawbar length, load distribution, tow-hitch-to-trailer-axle length, tow-hitch-to-car rear-axle length, suspension spring rate, damping rate, trailer CofG, stabiliser friction and so on will affect the pitch and sway behaviours. I'd try to adjust the easy ones first before getting hands oily. I always used to run a nose weight of around 75 kg and never had a wobble or wag. Set with a piece of wood and bathroom scales!

Do you drive with the boot empty?

How about a couple of bags of sand might just damp down the pitching?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

@Jameshow, @figbat

It's been on a site for quite a while, I was thinking of last time I towed it

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Spring supports might help with pitching but it is really down to damping. Either upgrade/renew the shock absorbers or adjust the nose weight to remove the resonance between the pitching frequency of the trailer with the damping frequency of the car's suspension. Spring assists are typically to prevent the suspension from sitting too low when loaded, hence reducing the available stroke of the suspension and increasing the chance of bottoming out.

The combination of trailer load, length, drawbar length, load distribution, tow-hitch-to-trailer-axle length, tow-hitch-to-car rear-axle length, suspension spring rate, damping rate, trailer CofG, stabiliser friction and so on will affect the pitch and sway behaviours. I'd try to adjust the easy ones first before getting hands oily. I always used to run a nose weight of around 75 kg and never had a wobble or wag. Set with a piece of wood and bathroom scales!

This sums it all up

 

[Jameshow]

Your Kodiaq is designed to carry 7 people (I doubt there are suspension differences between 5/7 seat versions.
So the suspension is going be pretty firm and bouncy without anyone on it. Which irrc is often how you tow it. Like an empty pick up or van would be....
A bit of weight in the boot might really help.
Even the water carrier filled up perhaps?

 

[DRM]

I've just found out today, that any trailer/caravan over 750Kg capacity, will need to be registered with DVLA, and be fitted with a 2nd registration number plate, in order to travel in Europe, excluding Spain, Ireland, Malta & Cyprus, I think this is the thin end of the wedge, where they will eventually have to be registered regardless, & be MOT'd too in the not too distant future, as this is a requirement in the rest of Europe
https://www.gov.uk/register-trailer-to-take-abroad
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overs...ation/travelling-in-europe/driving-in-europe/
What an absolute shambles!

 

[Alex321]

I've just found out today, that any trailer/caravan over 750Kg capacity, will need to be registered with DVLA, and be fitted with a 2nd registration number plate, in order to travel in Europe, excluding Spain, Ireland, Malta & Cyprus,

You aren't going to get it to Malta or Cyprus without going through other European countries on the way, no direct ferries from UK, so while registration may not be needed there, that isn't particularly useful.

I think this is the thin end of the wedge, where they will eventually have to be registered regardless, & be MOT'd too in the not too distant future, as this is a requirement in the rest of Europe

Registered, very likely. MOT not so likely, though a good case could be made for requiring it.

https://www.gov.uk/register-trailer-to-take-abroad
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overs...ation/travelling-in-europe/driving-in-europe/
What an absolute shambles!

Not sure what is a "shambles" about it?

 

[DRM]

You aren't going to get it to Malta or Cyprus without going through other European countries on the way, no direct ferries from UK, so while registration may not be needed there, that isn't particularly useful.



Registered, very likely. MOT not so likely, though a good case could be made for requiring it.




Not sure what is a "shambles" about it?

It’s a shambles in so much as the actual details are as clear as mud, some organizations claim the CRIS documents will do, no it’s through DVLA, it’s been sneaked through quietly, no doubt another Brexit Benefit, and watch this space, MOT’s will be next just like in France with a visit to Control Technique every 2 years

 

[Alex321]

It’s a shambles in so much as the actual details are as clear as mud, some organizations claim the CRIS documents will do, no it’s through DVLA, it’s been sneaked through quietly, no doubt another Brexit Benefit, and watch this space, MOT’s will be next just like in France with a visit to Control Technique every 2 years

It has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Brexit.

MOTs will not be next either. IF we go down that route, registration will come first.