Confused by outfit matching?

[Gabsgrandad]

Now Bill are you taking this 100% serious? 😉 😉

 

[Dustydog]

Bill .
Where should SWMBO sit whilst carrying out this delicate test 😛

 

[philip_stevens]

Gafferbill's 10 tips on checking nose weight on single axle caravans.
The following will give inaccurate readings if not adhered to.

1: Clean caravan roof of bird excrement especially if the spread fore and aft of axle line is not even.
2: Make sure gutter above windows at front of caravan (if fitted) is dry and not full of debris.
3: Do not stand on A frame to take the readings.
4: Remember to detach the caravan from the tow car.
5: Readings must be taken whilst the caravan is on a level surface and stationary.
6: Handbrake must be off with both wheels chocked.
7: Hitch height during measurement must be the same as when attached to towing vehicle.
8: All steadies must be wound up and not touching the ground.
9: Do not take readings on days when wind speeds are above 20mph.
10: Remember to raise jockey wheel to obtain reading when using the acclaimed bathroom scales method.

Hope that helps 😉 😉

Just thinking physics :blink: with the fulcrum point being the main wheels.
Tip no.10.
If the jockey wheel is placed on the (hopefully fairly accurate) bathroom scales, the nose weight should be slightly more than the proscribed nose weight would be at the tow-hitch. If weighed at the jockey wheel, this should put you on the safe side of nose weight.

Please be gentle with my suggestion, as I am a newby. 🤔

 

[Gafferbill]

..........If the jockey wheel is placed on the (hopefully fairly accurate) bathroom scales.

.......you lost me there :huh:

Bill .
Where should SWMBO sit whilst carrying out this delicate test 😛

......at the bar of course whilst you toil on your knees. :lol:

Now Bill are you taking this 100% serious? 😉 😉

......Qui Moi? :huh:

 

[Mikek777]

I don't think VOSA will give a stuff as they are no more, it is DVSA NOW!

 

[ProfJohnL]

...Just thinking physics :blink: with the fulcrum point being the main wheels.
Tip no.10.
If the jockey wheel is placed on the (hopefully fairly accurate) bathroom scales, the nose weight should be slightly more than the proscribed nose weight would be at the tow-hitch. If weighed at the jockey wheel, this should put you on the safe side of nose weight.

Please be gentle with my suggestion, as I am a newby. 🤔

Hello Philip,

Being serious (as I don't have a sense of humour apparently)

Your observation is correct, but you could be surprised how much of a difference it can make. The other thing to consider for exactly the same reasons is the direction the jockey wheel is pointing, if it faces forward it increases the lever length if it faces backwards it reduces the lever length. This significant and would need to be considered.

However if you always make sure the jockey wheel faces the same way when measuring the load, then becasue the mechanical geometry of the outfit remains the same, the error (over-read) will always retain the same proportion to the real nose load.

If you can establish what that error is, the it becomes a nice and simple method checking nose load with teh minimum of equipment and the real added bonus of being able to easily and safely adjust the hitch height to exactly match the towed height.

The one caveat I would add, is not place the jockey wheel directly onto the bathroom scales, but to use a piece of plywood to spread the load just a bit.