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Loading the caravan yesterday to check the noseweight for the first time with only a full gas bottle, chocks and levelling blocks in front locker and everything else positioned over the axle i.e. awning, folding table, chairs, food, wastmaster and clothes the scales read 48kg. I then moved the wastemaster to the front locker and all the other stuff right to the front of the van. The noseweight then read 70kg which is just under the recommended noseweight for my car. Does anybody now if it is the norm for everything to be right at the front of the van for an end kitchen model. I have been told most of the weight for end kitchen models is at the back when unladen

 Any Much Appreciated.

Campermark    

Basically you have to know your van.  Over the years we've learned the best places to put things to keep the nose weight correct - and now everything has a proper place and the noseweight is spot on each time.

Our kitchen is centrally placed, (we don't have an oven though) and we have a fixed bed with loads of underbed storage, but only really light stuff goes in there.  Heavier things go over the axle, and waste and gas bottles only in the front gas locker, but some more weighty things under the front bench seats.  It's really just a question of trying different combinations until you find just the right one to suit your van and your car.

All I Know is mines somewhere near 100 kgs Cos I Can only just lift it by hand

That'll Do Then !

It can be a problem with rear kitchen models, I used to have a Compass that was the same and only had a very small front locker.

70 Kgs isn't the recommended noseweight for your car, it's the maximum recommended noseweight for your car, so anything less is ok.

Recommended by caravanning organisations is approx. 7% of the loaded weight of the caravan.

The answer is to get more in the front locker - in mine I have 1 x 7Kg propane and 1 x 4.5 butane gas bottles, plus the spare tyre, awning pegs, chocks, steady winder and 10 metre EHU cable.

The MTPLM is 816 Kgs - 7% of that is 57.12, the noseweight is actually 60 Kgs which is within the 75 Kgs fior the car and it tows very well.

Thanks for you're comments.

Makes me feel a lot better now as I'm towing the van next weekend for the first time and I wanted to make sure everything is right

mark, if you are towing for the 1st timed you are doing the right thing by asking advice on here

I will add, check your tyre pressures on car and van and torque on wheel nuts, take it easy you will find it hard at 1st as no matter what the experts tell you towing is not a doddle, it will come together and you wil feel the van and what it is doing. take regular breaks on the road to relax. finally...dont forget the beer

I still class myself as a novice as it is only my 2nd season towing so I know how you are feeling but we are all mates on here

Quote: Originally posted by campermark on 14/3/2009

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 I have been told most of the weight for end kitchen models is at the back when unladen

 

 Any Much Appreciated.

 

Campermark    

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Hi Campermark

We have a rear kitchen and the noseweight of ours is light too, so I can pack plenty in the front locker, which is a good thing. Having the kitchen at the back does not automatically make the van nose light, it all depends how far back the axle is placed when the caravan is designed.

Gazza 12345

First:

The van is an elddis vogue whirlwind 2 birth. I loaded the van in the under seat lockers first with the bedding stuff then I loaded the kitchen cupboards with cups, plates, cutlery, pots & pans. Then the front locker with a 6kg calorlite gas bottle, chocks and levelling blocks.

Second:

Then I positioned everything else over the axle i.e. lightweight awning, folding table, chairs, food (tins), wastemaster and clothes.

Third:

Checked to make sure the van was level. Then put a set of bathroom scales under the hitch with a piece of wood from scales to hitch (330mm long). Raised up back legs then raised up front legs. Raised the jockey wheel until wheel was off the ground then took reading from scales 48kg (van was level)

Fourth:

Entered the van and removed wastemaster to the front locker and moved everything else up to the front drawer unit in the front of the van. Checked the scales which actually read 72kg

Have I done everything right that’s why I asked the question in the beginning because everything you read says to load all heavy items over the axle? If I had left everything over the axle as a lot of the reading material says I would have been front end light.

PS: Also the spare wheel is located in a carrier under the van at the back. 

hi see

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/Documents/Matching%20Car%20and%20Caravan.pdf

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/datasheets