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Topic: Nose weight

caroline129

07/7/2016 at 9:48pm
Location: stoke-on-trent
Outfit: Lunar Venus 540 4 with antara

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We cannot get nose weight correct. Have minimum I front box and one gas bottle. Nothing at all in front cupboards above sofa. Two pairs Sandles. And electric cable under one sofa. Only enough clothes for a couple of days. Limited pots and pans . Food in car. Empty fridge. Under bed fold up chair.cadac airer. Awing carpet. Waste and water go over axil. Limited toiletries. I said the is not enough in van any one help. It's a 2015 lunar venus.

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Caroline

checkley1973

07/7/2016 at 10:00pm
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636

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Hi, what nose weight are you getting when you measure it, and what's your target nose weight?

Do you have an awning? if so place this on the floor over the axle, weigh. If too light move it forwards slightly and weigh again, keep repeating until you get the right reading.

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Jax365

08/7/2016 at 10:25am
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi

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Lots of info on other sites about this problem and possible solutions if you put 'Lunar Venus+noseweight' into a google search.

Don't shoot me down in flames if I'm wrong here, but if you put your heavy stuff at the back of the axle, it might help to counterbalance the nose, although it's not recommended to counterbalance too much... However, there is a degree of counterbalance involved in most caravans. You could always try filling up your water carrier (if you don't have an awning like Checkley suggested) and see how a full container of water affects the nose weight, situated in different places on the van floor, either just in front or just behind the axles. Keep weighing until the nose weight is right, and then you will have some idea of where to pack your stuff, and roughly how much weight you are likely to have.

I've had similar problems recently with a new tow car, with a max towbar weight of 50kg. Eventually I took off the spare wheel bolted to the front of the caravan and put it in the boot of the car. Seems a bit light now!

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Kelper

08/7/2016 at 12:58pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480

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It's amazing how many vans have masses of storage space right at the extremities.
We have a large storage area under the double bed, at the front of the van, plus a huge 'Gas locker' right at the front ... and a whole suite of storage spaces under the seating at the other end.
Hardly anything, other than kitchen and fridge over the axle!
Makes balancing tricky.

navver

08/7/2016 at 8:25pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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If you want to be scientific it is better to have a heavy weight close to the axle than a lighter weight further from the axle.

The moment of inertia is the square of the distance of the weight from the axle multiplied by the weight.

The effect on nose weight is proportional to the distance the weight is placed.

So:
20kg 1m from the axle has a moment of inertia of 20.
10kg 2m from the axle has a moment of inertia of 40.

The effect on nose weight of these will both be the same.

The moment of inertia has a big impact on snaking.

chrisn7

08/7/2016 at 9:04pm
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011

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Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 07/7/2016
Hi, what nose weight are you getting when you measure it, and what's your target nose weight?

Agreed, more information is needed. In addition to the above, how are you measuring the noseweight?

Hairywol

09/7/2016 at 12:40pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Challenger Sport 524 + Volvo V90 D5

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When I first got my caravan balancing the noseweight was a nightmare - it's amazing what difference moving fairly light stuff a little bit will make.

We have a side dinette model with the dinette slightly aft the axle. I keep heavy items such as toolkit, fire extinguisher, awning pegs under the seat, which helps balance out the stuff in the front locker. Aquaroll and Wastemaster go in the rear shower cubicle along with the awning groundsheet.

Finally, to balance the nosewight (86Kg in my case) I move the awning fore or aft on the floor from the axle.

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Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.

TheHeadGardener

09/7/2016 at 3:03pm
Location: Lake District
Outfit: Devon Aztec

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Hi Caroline,

We've got a Lunar Quasar and also had big problems getting the noseweight down to 75kg. I took out one of the two gas bottles, and changed the remaining one for a 'Lite' version. Like you, virtually nothing in the front lockers but we don't overload the back of the van either.

I find the best solution is to put heavy items in a couple of large tubs directly over the axle (yes, it blocks the route to the bathroom but that's not really a problem whilst travelling). On site the tubs are unpacked and serve as handy 'coffee tables' in the awning until it is time to go home.

hope this helps.

Kelper

09/7/2016 at 4:53pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480

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Have you got a pic of your 'tubs' ... or where you got them?
Do they move whilst in transit?

TheHeadGardener

09/7/2016 at 8:44pm
Location: Lake District
Outfit: Devon Aztec

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Hi Kelper,
I don't have any pictures but if you like I'll pop into the van tomorrow and take a couple for you.

They are terribly luxurious (not!). Two for £10 from Poundstretcher

and no, they did not move during travel.

TheHeadGardener

09/7/2016 at 8:46pm
Location: Lake District
Outfit: Devon Aztec

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Err - me again...

If I'm going to upload some pictures for Kelper please can anyone suggest the best (easiest) site to host them on?

I don't have a Facebook account and do not want one. Would Instagram work?

Thanks

Jax365

10/7/2016 at 9:57am
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi

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Quote: Originally posted by TheHeadGardener on 09/7/2016
Err - me again...

If I'm going to upload some pictures for Kelper please can anyone suggest the best (easiest) site to host them on?

I don't have a Facebook account and do not want one. Would Instagram work?

Thanks

You could upload them to your gallery page for a little while, then the OP could just click on your gallery images to view them.

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jaiash

10/7/2016 at 10:57am
Location: nr Derby
Outfit: Phoenix 440+

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or find them on the Poundstretcher site and post a link

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Grahame

TheHeadGardener

10/7/2016 at 11:54am
Location: Lake District
Outfit: Devon Aztec

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Quote: Originally posted by jaiash on 10/7/2016
or find them on the Poundstretcher site and post a link

Thanks Grahame, raining too hard right now to want to go down to the caravan so hopefully this link will work

http://www.poundstretcher.co.uk/60l-plastic-colour-storage-box-box

They don't have anything like the strength of a Really Useful Tub, but have worked well so far.

We find the trick is to make sure they are placed over the axle. Last trip out I managed to hit exactly 75kg (measured with a Milenco gauge) and that was with a completely full fridge.

Kelper

10/7/2016 at 12:31pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480

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Thanks for that.
When you said a tub, I pictured something circular ... lol!
We have storage containers like that one.
Easiest way to store photos for downloading, I find, is via Photobucket ... it's free. Here's the link

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