Esterel folder nose weight

[Martin_374307534]

I've just bought a 1994 Esterel Top Volume 2 berth folding caravan, my first caravan.When I checked the nose weight with the van carrying its normal load,including a gas bottle and battery,using bathroom scales and a stick,it came out at just 32.4 kg. This seems very light compared to other vans I've read about.Does anyone know if this is correct?

Thanks

 

[warbulator]

no real expert but most web pages suggest 7% of towed weight as nose weight. full water carrier to alter fulcrum/balance may help

 

[Martin_374307534]

Sorry to sound dumb,but is it better to have a heavier nose weight for stability, while keeping within the car/caravan limits?

 

[Lutz]

The short answer is a most definite 'yes'.

 

[Martin_374307534]

So with a car which has a maximum weight of 70kg on the tow bar(Rover 45), I should aim for a maximum of 59.5kg NW on the van,using the 85% rule?

 

[MikeP]

With the Esterel's low profile, lack of wind resistance and low centre of gravity a noseweight of 32kg shouldn't be a problem. I can't find any specs, but as long as you've got a towcar of Astra/Escort weight/size and above you should be OK.

It's good practice to calculate your weights compared to the car's spec. If you're well within it, then it's reassuring (but NOT a reason to be complacent!) If you're borderline, then you know to be extra careful in certain situations.

 

[MikeP]

Sorry, I didn't see that you had posting while I was composing.

No, that's not how the 85% guideline works. I can't find the weight of an Esterel Top, but I would guess at a max of around 800kg. So 7% would be 56kg max on the nose, as long as both the caravan and car specs can accommodate this. If not, then you should not exceed the lower limit of either car or caravan.

A Rover 45 and an Esterel look like a great match, and as long as you don't drop below (say) 30kg then you should be fine. I used to tow a 400kg trailer tent, and on some journeys it barely had 10kg noseweight. It wasn't a problem.

 

[Martin_374307534]

Thanks for the advice,one and all. I should be able to keep my pride and joy in a straight line, and the right way up now!

 

[MikeP]

Believe me, you are low risk! The best (worst) one I ever saw was on a site in Forfar. A 1.3 Escort arrived with a 4-berth caravan. Almost folded in half in the middle it was - today's prolific speed humps would have ripped the jockey wheel off.

But some people still overload. We saw a Volvo estate leaving a site in Langres, towing a huge twin axle and with 4 bikes on a towball mounted carrier. Yes, the bikes fouled the caravan on every turn. Some people appear not to think ...

 

[MikeP]

Believe me, you are low risk! The best (worst) one I ever saw was on a site in Forfar. A 1.3 Escort arrived with a 4-berth caravan. Almost folded in half in the middle it was - today's prolific speed humps would have ripped the jockey wheel off.

But some people still overload. We saw a Volvo estate leaving a site in Langres, towing a huge twin axle and with 4 bikes on a towball mounted carrier. Yes, the bikes fouled the caravan on every turn. Some people appear not to think ...

Meant to say, Forfar was 1990, Langres was 2004.

 

[Martin_374307534]

Thanks for the clarification,Mike P. I forgot to add the weight of the mains lead in the front locker when I checked the NW, so that should bring the weight up a bit without going over the limit. I expect I'm being over cautious, but it's a bit late to say 'If only' when your van is going away in a skip.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Martin

It seems you are becoming confused about how to apply the various bits of guidance on maximum weights and loads.

Lets deal with 85% figure. This relates to the maximum weight of the caravan expressed as a percentage of the tow vehicles kerb weight.

First of all this is not a rule it is a guideline offered by the UK caravan industry. It has no basis in law, and no country uses or recognises it. However, I do believe that in term of conventional caravans it does make a sensible target, especially for an inexperienced tower.

What you are allowed to tow is determined by your licence categories, and the maximum permitted tow weight as defined by the vehicle manufacture for each make and model of car.

The nose weight is a separate issue. There is a legal requirement which I believe is defined as a minimum of 4% of the MPTLM of the trailer or 25Kg which ever is greater. The upper limit is defined by the towbar rating of the car, or the hitch limit of the trailer which ever is lower. So you have a window of legally acceptable nose weights. The 85% figure has no bearing on this figure.

In general it is suggested that you achieve a nose weight which is towards the maximum that your combination will allow.

'Practical Caravan' has a straight forward guide to towing law at the following address

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/legal/index.html

 

[Martin_374307534]

So with my van's MPTLM of 850kg, and both my car and towbars maximum of 70kg,that leaves with me with a range of 34.5 to 70kg NW.

 

[Lutz]

So with my van's MPTLM of 850kg, and both my car and towbars maximum of 70kg,that leaves with me with a range of 34.5 to 70kg NW.

Yes, the law requires the noseweight to be at least 4% of the weight of the trailer and no less than 25kg but I'd always aim for the highest that the spec for car and caravan respectively allow, which in your case would be 70kg.

 

[popupJohn]

We had an Esterel 39 (made around 1989) for about 10 years with never a problem towing.

I didn`t even know about nose weights for most of those years but knew that it should always be nose heavy.

Most of the time if it would go in the gas box and was heavy thats where it went (we probably overloaded the front end many times). Even when towing empty at the start or end of a season with much weight removed for storage reasons there was never any cause for concern.

They are very stable and well behaved behind a car so your on pretty safe ground towing as long as you understand towing rules better than I did in those days.

Enjoy it

 

[Martin_374307534]

Once again,thanks for the help and advice everyone.If I'd known caravanners were such a chummy lot, I'd have ditched my soggy old tent years ago.