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Subject Topic: nose weight Post Reply Post New Topic
19/7/2008 at 12:46am
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ok our new van is only 850kg now when i towed it back from storage with just basics in it but in the right places nowt rear of the axle persay, every time i got to 50mph the dam thing started to sway, now what is the nose weight?
with our fc we had it 35kg and worked a treat and that was one packed unit alot more packed in that then the van.


19/7/2008 at 10:58am
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome
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The rule of thumb for noseweight is that it should be about 7% of the laden weight of the caravan. The only problem with this is that on larger vans it can suggest a noseweight greater than the design noseweight on the car which is a no,no. Have you had chance to measure the noseweight? Most caravans are designed to be at their best with a even distribution of weight throughout the caravan with heavy items over the axle. Having said all that most vans when they are empty do feel a bit tender on the back of the car. I would try and get as near to the 7% as you can or as near to the maximum noseweight of the car, hopefull you will see an improvement.

David



19/7/2008 at 1:07pm
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nose weight of the car is max is 75kg but doing that much would compress the back end right down, not sure on our new car we pick up in two weeks its a c-max 1.8petrol not as big as our grand scenic.


19/7/2008 at 1:17pm
 Location: Freckleton Nr Preston
 Outfit: Autotrail Apache 700
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I cannot get my noseweight below 90kg, I've given up trying! the only way to do it is to back load the van which I don't like doing.

I would try to get as near to the 75kg as you can for a safe combination. The cars back end shouldn't sink too much, its only the same weight of an adult standing on the towbar.



19/7/2008 at 2:47pm
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it did sit low had to put a riser plate on it, no idea of the new car.


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19/7/2008 at 6:16pm
 Location: Freckleton Nr Preston
 Outfit: Autotrail Apache 700
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I used to find my laguna sat low but was ok towing so didn't worry too much, maybe the Cmax will be stiffer on the back end.


23/7/2008 at 7:17pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Pageant Bordeaux Nissan X-Trail
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Hi Wildie

Riser plates are illegal I believe.

Drop plates are O.K. but only with the towbar manufacturers permission.

I agree with David Klyne that empty caravans do sway about a lot more. Lots of weight over the axle is best.

Tyreman



29/7/2008 at 6:24pm
 Location:  Morecambe
 Outfit: Xtrail or Land Rover Elddis Crown
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Al the books one reads will tell you that the noise weight should be 7% of the total weight of the van. The Elddis i have is 1200 Kg so that would be 84Kg on the ball (what a load of rubbish) My Volvo estate says in the hand book not to put more than 75Kg Max on the ball so the 7% is blown out of the window. I will stick to my own rule and that is 5% of the total weight making it 60Kg on the ball and keeping it well within the tow cars recommendations. It ' s worked for me for the last 30 years of towing caravans, trailers, you name it I've towed it! No accidents! Most new caravans are far too heavy on the noise weight! Just check the noise weight of any new van at and dealers and you will probably find that the noise weight is in the region of 85 Kg or maybe more! (and that ' s an empty Van). Start adding the gas bottle and your gear and you will soon be up to the 100 Kg which is the Max you should put on the tow ball. ............Load the rear of the van if you like to get the correct nose weight, nothing wrong with that as long as everything is strapped down and cant move! ( Why do they tell you to put heavy items over the axle?.......... so that it won't affect the nose weight!!!!!)..........If you have a nose weight of say 50Kg then put 5cwt right on the floor on the axle line you will still have a nose weight of 50Kg.........Move the 5cwt forward and the nose weight will rise.............move it back and the nose weight will reduce!...........it's a balancing act........... Get it right and you will have no problems get it wrong and you could be all over the place!!................my rule is 5% or a maximum of 60Kg on the ball............50Kg is my preferred nose weight but 60 is my max!.................Hope this is of some help!!!!!!!!!!!..........But bear in mind I'm no expert but that rule has served me well for the last 30 odd years and no Accidents!



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