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No, you can't exceed the stated noseweight.  You are quite correctly looking at it from the axle loading point of view, but you also need to consider the design parameters of the towbar and its fastenings.

Jim

It's the maximum regardless of what else you have loaded in the car, empty or choc a bloc.

Beware of towbar mounted bike racks as the weight of the rack and bikes must be added to that of the caravan noseweight, and the total mustn't be greater than the recommended noseweight for the car.

7% is related to the weight of the caravan/trailer, not the car. 

Hi,

The noseweight is simply the downward force that your caravan hitch exerts onto the towball, eg if you weigh 75kg and you stand on your towball you have just reached the cars 75kg noseweight limit.

 I carry out a rough check, grab the bathroom scales, cut a piece of wood to go under the caravan hitch and lower the hitch onto the wood/scales, hey presto the reading is the vans noseweight.

The reason the car manufacturers put a limit on it is so that the car structure does not distort under the strain when the van is bouncing up and down.

Quote: Originally posted by dave8858 on 08/6/2009

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Thanks for that Geendemon315 and drat! Its bang on now but I need to take an second gas bottle to France and I was hoping to store it in the front locker in the space provided but this will take the noseweight 5Kg too high :o(

Dave

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Sproz if you are stopped and checked out by the Police or are in an accident and it is found that you are over your noseweight be prepared to be prosecuted and or have your insurance invalidated.

It is one of those weights that is not a "somewhere near will do" but a "must not exceed" by law.

Ali

Quote: Originally posted by dave8858 on 08/6/2009

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Thanks for that Geendemon315 and drat! Its bang on now but I need to take an second gas bottle to France and I was hoping to store it in the front locker in the space provided but this will take the noseweight 5Kg too high :o(

Dave

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Quote: Originally posted by dave8858 on 08/6/2009

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Thanks for that Sproz I have checked the noseweight hence my question. Its bang on the manufacturers 75Kg now but I need an extra lightweight gas bottle for a trip to France which I was hoping to stow in the front locker. I'll have to think again and carry the damn thing somewhere else it would seem.

Dave

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A slight bit of shuffling around should easily give you 5kg without adding to the see-saw effect i.e. putting too much weight towards the rear of the van e.g. i took my  wheel clamp out of the locker and put it just front of the axle in the van and it did the trick. 

Andy