Towing with a lifted vehicle.

des332 · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject: Towing with a lifted vehicle.

Im looking at fitting a towbar to my discovery which has been lifted I just wanted to check if anybodys knew of any implications of towing with a vehicle that had been lifted!

thanks

cynic-al · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:34 pm Post subject:

you may need a long drop plate to get the ball height correct. Some companies do a removable one so that it doesn't become aplough offroad.

otherwise i would say the same advice as driving any other lifted vehicle on road- its taller and bouncier so go slower and be more careful.

paul_c · Off-Road Guru Joined: 17 May 2009 Odometer: 1378

What year is it? Makes a difference, past a certain year tow bars need to be type approved and marked as such. Most towbars are NOT type approved with the use of a drop plate, although many 4x4 ones are. It will be a particular size, though, ie the manufacturer will have put it through testing at stock height and with (for example) a 4" drop plate. So you can't just bolt up a 6" drop plate and be legal.

If its before the year requirement (I think from vague memory its 1 april 1997) then there's no such red tape and you can use a drop plate with no worries. Except that if its too long, its likely to bend under the constant forces applied, so if you can get it braced at the top through 2 pairs of bolt holes, or at the bottom, then it makes good engineering sense.

des332 · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info its a 95 discovery drop plate sounds like the way forward.

I drive it like a bit of an old man to be honest never over 55-60mph usually 55 its just not worth it. My grandad has a saying "your better being a few minutes late in this life than several years early in the next".

Guest · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject:

I swan necked the draw bar on my trailer. Keeps the trailer level and works just fine.
Would depend on what exactly you're towing though!
Regards,

jonny jeep · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:45 am Post subject:

Just to clarify the date - Any light passenger vehicle registered in the UK on or after August 1st 1998 ('S' Registration) will require a type approved towbar and towball (when fitted).

paul_c · Off-Road Guru Joined: 17 May 2009 Odometer: 1378

RichardD · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:22 am Post subject:

I had to make a removable 19" drop plate for Volvanimal Shocked

durknp · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject:

i have a discovery with a 3 inch lift. it has a standard land rover tow pack on it which i use really for recovery. Even that is bit of a plough and its a lot higher than a tow ball should be. i have towed with it a couple of times and it tends to make the end of the trailer get a bit close to the ground but it depends how much over hang you have and how many axles the trailer has. it can overload the rear trailer axle if you have too much weight on it. I once made a lowering plate out of a piece of U beam. I wouldnt reccomend it for highway use!

Cagey · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Apparently towbars are now becoming part of the MOT procedure, so need to be factory made or type approved & certified/stamped!

paul_c · Off-Road Guru Joined: 17 May 2009 Odometer: 1378