Hi,
Need a little help, I have a Bailey Pageant series 6 twin wheel.
I am finding it difficult to weigh the tow bar weight I have a Maypole weighing stick but with it being a twin wheel the caravan sits more or less level and the nose does not dip.
Any advice?
put the 2 rear axle wheels on a leveling ramp high enough to lift the front axle off the ground, or on a couple of blocks of paving/wood, and then you can get a good indication of the weight
Firstly, you need to adjust the loads within your caravan to give you a nose down posture, you NEED weight on the tow hitch to tow safely! Hitches are not designed to have no or negative (effectively lifting the car) loads! Only try to determine nose weight when your caravan is loaded as you intend towing it with all it’s normal goods and chattels in situ.
Nose weight has to be adjusted to suit your car tow hitch which will have a maximum load (see your car documentation), by moving stuff in front or behind axle(s) to give the correct weight. Heavy items like awnings should always be stowed securely low down near the axle to give best stability.
Marg6 that is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard... when the caravan is on the hitch it’s on 4 wheels so why lift the front wheels to weigh???????????????????????????????
Op it just means you need to load it with a little more nose weight. However, twin axle vans don’t like too MUCH noseweight as this will have the effect of putting too much weight on the front axle, lifting rear axle and thereby encouraging tail wagging.
Yes you do, the weight should be measured with the hitch at normal towing height, and of course with both axles on the ground, so that you are taking the weight in the same circumstances as if the caravan were hitched up and being towed.