Subject: BAILEY PROVENCE SERIS 7 TOW CAR Author: COLIN Date: February 04, 2010 at 13:22
Hi,
I posted a message previously about my 03 reg xtrail towing a pageant provence series 7 approx. 1500kg.
The nose weight was of concern as was the jockey wheel catching the road on occasion. I tow with a rear bike carrier mounted off the tow hitch plate, but the bottoming out also occured without bikes!
We used to tow an ace award transtar at 1450kg, i think & never had this problem.
I have since realised that the jockey wheel needs to be fully wound up to sit at its most out the way point....still this is still indicating a heavier noseweight than the ace.
Caravan Club have confirmed that my car is a 92% match & 100kg nose weight, but I do plan to change this car.
Any one got any recomendations to a larger car, but with reasonable economy. I tow 3k per year & 9k short runs.
Thanks
Replies:
Author: Paul Date: February 06, 2010 at 23:40
On other forums I visit, the X-Trail come in as a very good towcar; is it not worth perservering with your nose weight. I can't be too sure, but I think the Ace might have used the BTW chassis, while Bailey use the Al-ko and I have read a post elsewhere regarding jockey-wheel heights between the two.
As a side issue, you mention you usually tow with a tow-bar mounted cycle rack; how many bikes do you load as this will impact on your noseweight too as the bike rack will impose it's own weights onto your tow bracket.
Author: Andy Date: February 22, 2010 at 13:06
I to have had same problem with exact same van due to noseweight max for my car at 75kg. I partially solved by removing Jockey wheel altogether when hitched up (simple handscrew) and placing in car or caravan (but not front locker). Also notcied that battery compartment on this van is sited forward of axle and a heavy duty battery may have a bearing on nose weight.
