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Subject Topic: Nose weight question newbie Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonRobhullfury
02/8/2016 at 1:41pm
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Hi, just want some clarification on nose weight.

Everywhere I read people mention putting stuff over axle to lower nose weight however:-

I have an insignia the plate when the towbar was installed says 95.00kg, my van has a max weight of 1400kg (7% of this is 98kg). So I need to balance out by loading correctly, been and measured my current nose weight and its 55kg should I load more into the front to balance out the van, as I tow it feels bouncy like the back end is heavy lifting the towbar up (afting and pitching)? Its just been serviced and new pads put in the alko lock etc.

In my locker I have a gas bottle empty water bottle wheelie thing, empty waste thing and awning poles. However back of the van is fridge toilet shower and underneath a spare wheel. I was expecting front to be too heavy and need to move stuff backwards?

Any help would be ace, I'm driving to Newquay next week and want to it be right.

Caravan is a Fleetwood Sonata Rhapsody if that is any help?

Thanks in advance
Rob


Persontango55
02/8/2016 at 2:15pm
 Location: Lichfield
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The towball weight limit for the Vauxhall Insignia is 85 kgs. (not 95 Kgs.) but the 7% of the caravan's MTPLM you are referring to is just a guide as various vehicles have different towball weight limits so can't always be applied respectively. However, 55 kgs. noseweight seems rather light as most people struggle to get the noseweight down and not visa versa so you need to check that the toilet flush tank and cassette are empty as this will contribute to a lighter noseweight.


PersonRobhullfury
02/8/2016 at 2:59pm
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I'm wondering if the spare (steel) wheel underneath is contributing majority to the weight its quite far back so more down force to counterbalance. Might have to have a good play about. I'm guessing a light noseweight can be the cause of aft and pitch? Seems to bounce at the back end rather then sit too heavy at the front.

The flush is full so that's another 10kg to weigh back down.

All got abit concerning when I measured it so low but think just a balance act might help
Rob


Persongreasychipbutty
02/8/2016 at 8:46pm
 Location: Sheffield
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I tow with an insignia pulling a van just under 1400kg .I set the noseweight around 6% and it tows fine. As Tango mentioned the cars max is 85kg.
55kg seems very light considering you carry awning poles in the front locker.How accurate is the guage/scales you are using and are you on a flat surface? Some of the cheeper guages are not so good .Milenco are a bit more expensive but are more accurate.
I always put the heavy items over the axle first and drag them towards the back of the van a bit at a time to make the noseweight lighter which is usually the case with me or if need be forward a little to make the noseweight heavier.
Hope this helps ...enjoy your holiday ...GCB


PersonGrampian91
03/8/2016 at 2:02am
 Location: Midlands
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My toilet is at the rear and when i bought the van it felt a little wiggly. Seems the dealer had filled the freshwater tank to the very top, knowing we were taking it straight to a campsite.

Drained it off and what a difference.

Getting the noseweight as close to my 75kg limit also helps stability.

If 85kg is your max then get it as close as you can, check the cars manual for rear tyre pressures when fully loaded.


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Persongreasychipbutty
03/8/2016 at 3:40pm
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As Grampian says ,i always add an extra 10 lb of air pressure to each of the rear tyres for towing as per the handbook of the model insignia i tow with


PersonRobhullfury
04/8/2016 at 8:00pm
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Thanks e for all your kind responses. I am only using a gooutdoors nose weight scale so might have to invest but to be out by 30kg is alot even for cheap ones I feel!

I'll have play with the bathroom scales and a chunk of wood.
Thanks for tips on tyre pressure aswell, I'll look into that !👍

Rob


PersonBaileyjake
08/8/2016 at 10:44pm
 Location: West Midlands
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With My Bailey ranger i started with about 55kg on the nose, it was dreadful, very bouncy to the extent I could feel the motion long after I had set up and say down like being on a boat. I eventually loaded the nose down to 85kg by putting 2 gas bottles, the spare wheel toilet chemicals etc in the front locker and it towed much nicer.

-------------
First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara


Personsnagz
08/8/2016 at 11:05pm
 Location: Wiltshire
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I found the bathroom scales and a piece of wood cut to length much more accurate than the milenco noseweight gauge. IMO getting the weight as close to your towbar's rating as possible helps for a more comfy tow but that could be dependent on the tow car I guess.

-------------
Rich


PersonRobhullfury
08/8/2016 at 11:41pm
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Thanks for the replies, it sounds similar to your issues baileyjake.

I have a 10kg gas bottle, cadac, clothes and a few bits to put in it before setting off so I'll bang them far forward as possible see if I can get the noseweight up abit. See how it goes then then maybe add a few bags of sharp sand incase haha ;)

Thanks
Rob



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