Please help, my Magna sits too low in rear suspension with 900kg in tow

[cjreeves8]

Hello,
my friend and I have gones halves in a 2005 Stessl Bluewater 550 which has a tow weight, when fueled, of around 900kg. His Jeep is fine, but my Magna sits near bottom in its rear shocks and as such, is undrivable (well it drives by i'm not a twit).

Suggestions would be great

I can lift the trailer over the hitch, so i figure it is putting 125-175kg on the ball. Standing on the ball (85kg) doesn't have half the effect of the trailer, which tends to affirm my estimate. Is this a normal weight over the ball? The tow ball is 7cm lower on the Magna than the Jeep and then sags further under weight, so the trailer slops down to the car.

The wheels of the trailer are U-bolted on, but i'm not sure moving these forward is a good idea? I'd figure it's well balanced because it rides well with the Jeep.

The towing capacity is 1500kg! Plenty of margin. Is it just Magna's ridiculously soft suspension? Kids need to be comfy in teh back still :S

Please help and thanks in advance

p.s. it's really hard to get a new 4wd past the boss after already throwing money into a boat, so i've no option at present, but i'm sure this can be made to work

[Chimo]

Hi CJR..............8

Don't know if it would work or if its legal where you are? but I used to tow heavy seeders behind a ford ute with a trailer brake equiped "A" frame.

It was fitted with 13inch wheels and tyres (with hydraulic over ride brakes) and was hitched to the vehicle and the towed unit, with it very heavy tow bar was hitched to the ball mounted above the axel on the "A" frame .

There wasn't too much backing required in my situation so in your application you might have to use the Magna to launch and retrive but the A system would make road travel a lot safer and more comfortable; if its legal where you are!!

Cheers
Chimo

[cjreeves8]

Thanks for the reply Chimo. I'm in queensland and googling A frame now. Sounds like it would work, but are they expensive? If they are articulating, would make reversing good sport wouldn't it

[russ81]

Hows it going mate

You could also poly airbag suspension they are available from places like tjm and arb

Russ

[Chimo]

CJR.......8

They are essentially a mini trailer that carries the boat trailer's weight.

Sorry I cannot draw you a sketch on here; we need Charle's skills I fear.

Chimo

PS I thought about the poly airs, I have them on my truck and they are great but I dont know if they do them for a Magna, worth a look tho.

PPS As your going to get a bigger boat sooner or later why not just get a real tow machine like a Diesel Patrol and be ready and also give the tin lids a look at the county as you drive around?

[SunnyCoastMark]

G/'day,
What model/year is your magna?

If the drawbar on the trailer is "running downhill" to your car - you are putting more weight on your cars rear end than is necessary.
The first step therefore is to purchase a stepped up or gooseneck towbar tongue from a local towbar supplier. They come in varying "rises".

It is important to have the trailer riding level.

Regards,
Mark

[SunnyCoastMark]

Oh, and I once owned a brand new Misubishi Sigma Station wagon.
Had to replace the rear springs after 18months because they had sagged after towing a small box trailer (500kg)for 2000km's.

So the rear springs may require checking out.

Mark

[Sea-Dog]

Another alternative is to Load levellers.

I have a set for towing a heavy van around with my commodore. Hayman Reese type hitch (square tube). A couple of spring bars hook via chains from the towhitch (where the ball is mounted) to the A-frame of the trailer.

http://www.haymanreese.com.au/index.htm



There are also lighter weight versions available that you can fit to a standard towbar tongue. It gets mounted underneath the towball and the spring arms sit into holes in this fitting. The other ends of the spring bars are attached via chains to the drawbar of the trailer.

It works by applying a lifting force from the trailer to the back of the car and downward pressure onto the front wheels.

Imagine a couple of wheelbarrow handles attached to the back of your car. You lift up on the handles and the back of the car rises and the front lowers - thats how these weight distribution systems work.

The ideal setup is where the tow vehicle is running level, and the trailer/caravan is level or sloping slightly down at the front.

Here is a pic of the heavy duty Hayman Reese setup.

Cheers, Ross

[cjreeves8]

Thanks guys, it's a 2003 Magna, 3.5L

How much are the airbags likely to go for installed?

Gooseneck is the first thing I thought; raise it up to be equal to the Jeep, but I fear this will make minimal difference to the weight over the tow bar. Is it important to have it level for reasons other than weighting? Airbags + gooseneck sounds exy. But i'll do what's necessary and if it helps...

Will there be sufficient weight over the front wheels? I am figuring, based on leverage it couldn't be taking much more than 70-80kg off the front wheels, which sounds fine.

I think the springs should be fine, because the car has never towed before (we had the bar installed) and only ever had 2 people in it, but can check this when i get quotes for airbags

Ah getting a bigger boat and new 4bie... will happen, but that's about 2-3 years out, after raising the house

[cjreeves8]

Wow that Reece weight redistribution system is a sensible approach, by moving weight over the front wheels, it will also help with traction

I'm not going to get out of this cheap am I

$500 is $500 i won't be allowed to spend on fishing gear, oh well, no fun without a boat

[bay_firey]

You will need to check the Ball weight for the tow bar also.

I go tthe impression you were saying that you were putting 125 - 175kg on the tow ball ???

From memeory and previous discussion on here i think the consensous is 10% therefore with a bmt weight of 900kg you should only have about 90kg on the tow ball.

There will also be a rating on the tow bar to tell you what download you are alowed on the ball

[cjreeves8]

Hmmm if 10% should be over the ball... the the trailor may be unbalanced? I'm not keen on playing with the balance myself. Would a tow bar installation shop usually be able to help there?

A lot of options... gees

Thanks fellas

[trueblue]

Check the car manual. In the towing capacity section it should state the maximum downforce on the tow bar. If you don't exceed the maximum down force, it should not sit too low in the arse end.

It sounds like you have way too much down force. Consider weight redistribution of the boat on the trailer if that will be possible.

All other suggestions etc of modifications to the car are fruitless if you are exceeding the maximum allowable down force on the tow bar...

cheers

Mick

[nedoleboy]

mate buy some petrol,pour liberally over magna,then light 'er up. best thing for magnas.minister for finance will have to approve some emergency transport funding then.ned.

[cjreeves8]

"Check the car manual." I'm a dumb dumb

Manual says I MUST have a weight distributing hitch for loads over 500kg and it also says to use 10% over the ball as you guys recommend.

I wonder if that same recommendation holds for the Jeep. I want the trailer to work well for both.

Wow, this has been great info!! Thanks, I think this is the right track now