Towbar angle

Yorky

I had a towbar fitted recently - a flange ball type for dog box and cycle carrier fittings. When ordering, it was specifically requested for it to be perpendicular to the ground in order not to create leverage when using the dog box or cycle carrier.

Not only is it not perpendicular but not horizontal either which means to dog box sits at a noticeable angle.

On querying this with the manufacturer they claim that a towbar cannot be horizontal as this would affect the stability of the towed trailer. I have never heard of this before and find it difficult to accept.

Can anyone confirm whether this is the case? Thanks in advance.

Chiorino

Yorky wrote: »

I had a towbar fitted recently - a flange ball type for dog box and cycle carrier fittings. When ordering, it was specifically requested for it to be perpendicular to the ground in order not to create leverage when using the dog box or cycle carrier.

Not only is it not perpendicular but not horizontal either which means to dog box sits at a noticeable angle.

On querying this with the manufacturer they claim that a towbar cannot be horizontal as this would affect the stability of the towed trailer. I have never heard of this before and find it difficult to accept.

Can anyone confirm whether this is the case? Thanks in advance.

Can you tell me the brand of bar and what car is it fitted to?

Yorky

Chiorino wrote: »

Can you tell me the brand of bar and what car is it fitted to?

It's a mazda 3 and a well-known towbar manufacturer.

MidlandsM

You see they don't give a toss about your quandry because they sold you a tow bar, to tow with. The did'nt sell you an item designed to hold your dog box.

si_guru

"adjust" the bracket on the dog box?

colm_mcm

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bar-types-explained.html

See the types of towbar. I reckon you needed flanged but got a swan neck.

Yorky

colm_mcm wrote: »

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bar-types-explained.html

See the types of towbar. I reckon you needed flanged but got a swan neck.

It is a flange ball. No attachments can be fitted to a swan neck

Chiorino

Ok, trying to get my head around this. The ball should look like this when fitted, ie the base of the towball flange should be at 90 degrees to the ground. Is this how yours looks?

si_guru

Also in my experience.. any small side to side angle can be removed by loosening the nuts, move and retighten.. (+/- 5 degrees or so anyway).

Yorky

Chiorino wrote: »

Ok, trying to get my head around this. The ball should look like this when fitted, ie the base of the towball flange should be at 90 degrees to the ground. Is this how yours looks?

No it's about 70 degrees to the ground and also sloping horizontally ie looking at the rear of the car it is sloping to the left - this is what the manufacturer claims is necessary for towed trailer stability.

mullingar

Yorky wrote: »

No it's about 70 degrees to the ground and also sloping horizontally ie looking at the rear of the car it is sloping to the left - this is what the manufacturer claims is necessary for towed trailer stability.

That sounds wrong. It should be perfectly vertical if viewed directly from behind. I have seen towbars that kick in a bit to the car if viewed from the side of the car, never from behind.

Chiorino

Yorky wrote: »

Chiorino wrote: »

Ok, trying to get my head around this. The ball should look like this when fitted, ie the base of the towball flange should be at 90 degrees to the ground. Is this how yours looks?

No it's about 70 degrees to the ground and also sloping horizontally ie looking at the rear of the car it is sloping to the left - this is what the manufacturer claims is necessary for towed trailer stability.

That doesn't sound right at all. The reason I asked what brand the bar was earlier was so I could check the specs. This is no set up I have ever come across. If you prefer PM me the details and I'll try to check it out if I can.