banging when towing caravan

General Information Forum for the J11 QashQai. (Formerly Order Forum)
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Keefy361
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:17 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai - J11 (2013–2017)

Post by Keefy361 »

Hi.
I have an annoying banging noise coming from rear of car when traveling at low speeds on bumpy/ dips in the road when towing my small caravan.
Had suspension checked on car everything fine, had caravan checked and everything is fine. Jockey wheel is in situ when towing and not catching ground, Doesn't sound like its the calor gas bottle but will check to see if its tightly secured.
Sometimes I can feel the vibration in the car when a bigger bang appears.

Tow bar was checked by towbar specialist and is fine but he didn't check underneath car just stood on tow ball and bounced up and down
The noise is not a creak or groan as its just a bang.
There is still a little area of black paint on tow ball which I intend to sand paper off as we speak but wouldn't of thought that would be the cause
My tow bar is a swan neck (not detachable)

Im sure there must be somebody amongst us who would be able to guide me to see what it may be.
Im considering installing suspension assisters.
Any help would be greatly appreciated :) :)

Thanks Keith

Qashowner
Posts: 564
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:07 am
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai - J11 (2013–2017)

Post by Qashowner »

It may be the overrun brakes on the van sticking or they may be running too well and hitting their limit. Struggling to think of anything else, but as you know noise travels well through tow bars :(
Past cars Mercedes B Class, S Class, E Class Estate, E Class Coupe, G Wagen, 260E interspersed with Peugeot 406 and Audi Coupe.
Keefy361
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:17 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai - J11 (2013–2017)

Post by Keefy361 »

Hi Thankyou for this info
I will ask the caravan service people this when I fetch my caravan back from service on Tuesday.
Many thanks and any valuable info
regards
Keith
Spuriousfish
Posts: 69
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2016 12:25 pm

Post by Spuriousfish »

I tow a small caravan with a J10 and have on the odd occassion a sharp crack/bang noise when going over large sharp bumps but I don't feel it in the car. Some of it was due to items in the front locker and the lid stay banging onto the floor of the locker. I put down some foam on the locker floor and secured the lid stay better and most of the noise went away.

Just occasionally it will still occur such as when I recently went on a ferry which had a sharp level change on the ramp - just crawling along. The jockey wheel was not grounding but I'm beginning to suspect that the noise is due to some play in the tow ball and hitch. Its a fixed swan neck and and Alko hitch.

If I find out anything more I'll come back.
Keefy361
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:17 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai - J11 (2013–2017)

Post by Keefy361 »

thanks for your message. im towing it back today from service. Im think it could be coming from underneath the car when car bottom the frame of the car may be touching against something like the exhaust heat shield. Its going to be a case of elimination till I get to whats causing it. I wonder if Nissan would suggest anything if they've had feed back from other caravaners.
the other alternative would be suspension assisters a rubber device fitted to spring of car .
cheers for now
Keith
Spuriousfish
Posts: 69
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2016 12:25 pm

Post by Spuriousfish »

What do you set the nose weight of the caravan to? My J10 has a limit of 75kg on the tow bar. Also I inflate the rear tyres to the maximum - 38psi.
Keefy361
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:17 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai - J11 (2013–2017)

Post by Keefy361 »

think mine is the same too and I do set my rear tyres to 37psi on tyres
Coming back from caravan service, the noise appears to be more coming from caravan now rather than car so think it could be coming from the front boot. I know ive got some item that were loose and also the calor gas bottle is slightly loos and is nearly empty so spose its proneto bounce around more. Am going to somerset the weekend with van and will empty the boot and secure the bottle and see if that works. finergs crossed
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