I posted last year re doing this and have followed the advice given .
i.e heavy duty trans cooler. heavy duty coil springs and gas strut shockers. It raised the car a few inches but when I hitched my van to it today it is way too low. Been to weighbridge weight was just over and I can get rid of some payload.
I understand the load leveller will help but I need more height and wheel clearance.
Can I do this without spending thousands ?I am sure some of you experience3d guys have some ides and will be grateful for help,
Mim, I assume the back of the car, and the front of the caravan, is too low??
If so it sounds like the van is loaded too heavy on the front.
You will need to check the following -
1. Will the car and van disconnected and both sitting level, is the tow bar and the caravan coupling at the same height?? If not you are behind the eight ball to start with. You can buy different offset towbar tongues to adjust the tow bar height.
2. As well as the overall caravan weight, you will need to check the weight at the caravan coupling. This needs to be about 10% of the overall caravan weight, but must not exceed the allowable tow bar weight on the car.
I see from a previous post that your van is 16'.
In my opinion, provided the caravan weight is below 1600 kg the Fairlane should tow that, so you just need to get your coupling heights and weight distribution sorted out.
Regards
PJK
__________________
Now that food has replaced sex in my life -
I can't even get into my own pants!!!!!!
I used to have a premium model Ford (AU II) which was a bugger to tow with due to the prestige (soft) suspension. The thing used to drag it's arse along the road.
I ended up getting rid of it and buying a wagon - live axle and leaf springs and never looked back.
You can take it to Pedders and get new springs and dampers but is the expense worth it?
Can you fit airbags in the coil springs( assuming it is coil suspension). The wagon is a better option as it is built differently and can tow a heavier load the the sedan. At any rate DO NOT compromise your safety and the safety of others on the road.
Larry
I had the same problem with a 89 Holden Calis and the rear would also drop with the camper on the back. After a long talk with the minister of finance, i ended up buying a 95 pajero 4x4, best thing that i have ever bought. To rework the rear end of a 15 year old car, stonger springs,coils and or pump up shockers etc, and then once that work had been done and once the caravan was off of the car you would end up with car that has lost all of it's solf ride on the road due to the beefed up rear end . Don't forget the COST that would be involved in the transformation of your tow car, several $1000.00 for the up grade. Maybe time to look at up grading.
Fit some firmer springs .. Between $120 / $200 .. A large wheel base car actually rides better imo with firmer springs..
Check with Pedders etc ?? They will have spring shock package... They are REAL easy to fit..
Disc auto cooler from radiator and fit external trans cooler..
Thank you fellas for your response. I have put on a distribution hitch and sorted out height and weights..All looks good. I have an ford wagon with heavy duty springs also but the boss of me wont even get in it. The fairlane we like so lets hope all is well. I dont want a 4 wheel drive. Many thganks to you all. Mim
Updating my progress with this project. Thank you all so much I have had a levelling hitch installed and it is really altogether different . Happy as a pig on the road again xx cheers all
Mim
