Hi Guys, i have heard that an oil cooler is required if towing a caravan with an W210, E300D R Reg? Is it required or just a nicety? Any advice would be greatly apreciated. Also, if it is the case what would it cost and what model would members suggest?
SilverSaloon
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2004
- Messages
- 7,758
- Car
- 1994 W124 E300D Estate, 1985 R107 280SL
i wouldnt bother. i tow with a W124 but still the same OM606 engine - i dont have an additional oil cooler.
its fine.....
time for the essential photo just to pi$$ off non-caravanners:
SilverSaloon
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2004
- Messages
- 7,758
- Car
- 1994 W124 E300D Estate, 1985 R107 280SL
Honest question, not trying to pi$$ off caravan ownersHow do you balance the caravan when towing? Yours looks to be front heavy? Not that I know anything about towing.
hi
its not front heavy; its just the height of the towball on my car is quite low.
you use a nose-weight guage to check the noseweight of the caravan to make sure it doesnt exceed the limits.
i always use one before a big trip to make doubly sure, but for short trips or the return trips i usually dont worry as we always carry the same stuff in the same place most of the time.
you want it to be a bit front heavy anyway.
Apial
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 743
- Car
- 300ce-24 sportline
Honest question, not trying to pi$$ off caravan owners
A good question. You need to know the nose weight as incorrect weight can lead to instability. The trailer/caravan manufacturer will stipulate a recommended weight. The maximun figure is the ideal to aim for, but you must not also in doing so exceed the maximimum weight allowed by the car manufacturer or the tow hitch manufacturer.
On a twin axled trailer the nose weight will vary depending on the towball height. The lower the towball height the lower the nose weight, and vice versa. Thus setting the towball height too low could even result in negative nose weight. This would make a very unstable combination.
To set the noseweight correctly you will need to experiment with various ball heights and record the weight of the nose when the ball is set at the relevant height. No two vehicles will be the same as they all have different rear spring rates.
Where the ball height is fixed, you can only vary the noseweight by altering the loading of the trailer/caravan.
Single axle trailers/caravans are easier to balance as the ball height makes less difference to the nose weight, and moving the load in the caravan/trailer to suit, can usually accomplish a satisfactory result.
As above 
You also need to keep heavy things low down, as a high CG is not good for stability!
And ... you want as much load as possible in the middle. You can achieve the correct noseweight with a lot of stuff in the front and a lot of stuff in the back, but that's like a dumbbell - once it starts to swing it won't stop (high polar moment of inertia)!
You also need to keep heavy things low down, as a high CG is not good for stability!
And ... you want as much load as possible in the middle. You can achieve the correct noseweight with a lot of stuff in the front and a lot of stuff in the back, but that's like a dumbbell - once it starts to swing it won't stop (high polar moment of inertia
)!
