I was just speaking to our Mechanic here and he was saying even lifting the wheel 4cm will def shift the weight to the other wheels and how does the Reich know how to calculate this.
When I spoke about it, he was very dubious if it would work properly, and how exact would it be
I addressed the issue of the height of the device in an earlier response.
Interesting read here from around 2011, one of the users compared the difference to the Reich and weighbridge and the Reich was 5kg heavier, but was happy. There is the point of finding a very level ground and using a plank on the opposite side etc
HiI bought a Reich Caravan Weight Control last week and thought I'd share my experiences as there has been previous forum interest in these. I had dithered long about whether to go the considerable expense of buying one of these or to take the car/'van to the local weighbridge but decided that th...
www.caravantalk.co.uk
They also mentioned it needs sent for calibration every 2 years and sent to the MFTR, not sure how well it would be calibrated on return with all the knocks and bangs through logistics.
Only the purchaser can decide if having a home weighbridge (Reich or otherwise) system at home makes financial sense to them. A lot will depend on how close they're loading to their
max weight limits, and how much hassle there is using a public weighbridge.
Based on your postings over the months, it seems you could be using most of your loading margin, and thus there is a greater chance you might unintentionally exceed one or more limits without realising it. Having a convenient way of checking at home before each trip could be a better way than trying to use a public weighbridge.
The disadvantage of the home system, is its uncertainty of measurement or put another way its accuracy. It won't be calibrated, and evidence from its readings would not carry any legal authority, but using a home system from a good manufacture would certainly be good enough to show the ballpark weights and loads sufficient to warn the user to review what they're loading and where they're locating it.
Even though the Reich is claimed to have a 3% accuracy, that does not tell the whole story. Having worked in the Quality Assurance business, the 3% claim by itself is not sufficient to quantify the uncertainty of measurement and how to apply it.
For example; Good quality Digital measurement systems should specify their expression of uncertainty and the user will then know how to apply it. There typically two types of expression:-
The reading +/- X% of the reading +/- a number of of least significant digits.
Or
The reading X% of the full scale length +/- a number of of least significant digits.
The difference between the outcomes of these adjustments can be quite significant.
Reich does not tell you which interpretation to put on the reading.
Public weighbridges should indicate the possible reading error of their measurements on the printed ticket.
As Sam V has pointed out you are unlikely to get any really precise actual reading of your caravan weight from a weighbridge. So in reality your only looking for something that will approximate to a weigh bridge, and these devices will probably be more than adequate for it.
As for recalibration, I know of a business that does use one of these for vans that tow trailers, and has had it recalibrated, but it hasn't drifted outside of its range over a number of years, so it seems to be a durable design. I certainly would not be worried by transit damage provided it is sensibly packed. But equally for domestic caravaning it's unlikely to be abused in terms of its weight limit being exceeded, so it I doubt its accuracy would drift too far and thus it probably isn't worth having it officially recalibrated. Alternatively if you have a substantial heavy item that you could weigh on it, then periodically use that to check for any drift.
Just for clarity, when a vehicle is given a weight or load limit value those values are absolute with no tolerance. It is up to the driver to ensure the all such limits are observed. and to account for the potential inaccuracy of the measurement device.
Whilst the Reich may not have a legally conforming statement of accuracy, it's still going to be about as good a most caravanners can reasonably get without using a a public weighbridge. or specialised weighing systems.
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