WDH ?
Submitted: Thursday, Aug 28, 2014 at 17:04
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Petra P
Getting a new 21ft starcraft tandem wheel van in November which has the Alko esc fitted , do I need to have a WDH fitted to the car, a Pajero 3.2 di.
If so , can anyone recommend one please.
Cheers Petra.
Reply By: awill4x4 - Thursday, Aug 28, 2014 at 19:30
Thursday, Aug 28, 2014 at 19:30
That's a pretty big van Petra so yes you almost certainly are going to need a WDH and probably a
suspension upgrade on the Pajero as
well if you haven't done so already.
I've got an 07 NS Pajero and I've found the
suspension upgrade worthwhile.
You will probably also need the spare wheel lift kit to lift the spare wheel approx 50mm so you have a better chance to open the rear door while the van is hitched to the car.
Is your van an "offroad" version with the 6" chassis and where is your coupling located on the drawbar of the van? on the top or recessed down in the bottom of the A frame.
This is important as it can dictate the type of WDH that will fit and not hit on the drawbar.
For example my van has a 6" deep drawbar with the coupling mounted on the top and it requires the Hayman Reese "standard" series of WDH's that allow the bars to run underneath the van drawbar rails.
Some more info from you is required before some definitive answers can be given.
Regards Andrew.
AnswerID:
538278
Follow Up By: Petra P - Friday, Aug 29, 2014 at 20:20
Friday, Aug 29, 2014 at 20:20
Thank you , Petra
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822745
Reply By: Bobjl - Thursday, Aug 28, 2014 at 20:00
Thursday, Aug 28, 2014 at 20:00
Petra
The short answer would almost certainly be YES.
The W.D.H allows you to redistribute the [additional] weight on the rear wheels of Tow Vehicle created by the Tow Ball Mass [weight-dowload] of the Caravan. This would usually mean that when attached the WDH transfers much of that weight to the Tow Vehicles Front Wheels and also to the Caravans wheels. Having that weight distributed appropriately assists to maintain the steering, stability and handling of the rig [car and van] meaning it is likely you will avoid, eliminate or reduce the potential for swaying.
The E.S.C is very different and does nothing to transfer weight so as to maintain the steering and handling characteristics of the rig, rather it intends to activate only when it senses that the caravan is getting out of control and swaying [yaw]. So the E.S.C is designed and intended to assist to overcome the van swaying. It is my opinion that you never rely on the E.S.C until and unless you have created the optimum dynamic capability of the rig by having weights in the right
places.
As and aside you will as a matter of course need to establish the tow ball mass of the van and consider the limits of the Pajero which may be as low as 180kg or as high as 250kg dependent upon the weight of the fully laden van.
FYI I have recently retro fitted the ALKO ESC to my large Van even though I have the best available WDH and electric brake controller and a large tow vehicle which I have towed some 60,000 k,s, the reason was simply to have a secondary back up system to assist in the event the van starts to sway uncontrollably. You will benefit from reading article written by Collyn Rivers in regard to Caravan Dynamics, google search and you should find the article.
Expect you will have some great fun in the Starcraft.
Bob
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Follow Up By: Petra P - Friday, Aug 29, 2014 at 20:20
Friday, Aug 29, 2014 at 20:20
Thank you , Petra.
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