The nose weight of my Abbey County is about 95kgs this is 20 kgs to heavy. If I move the gas cylinders during towing to above the axle secured to the van floor,is this 1.Legal 2 Safe and 3 Will it help at all. Thanks!
How to lighten Nose Weight?
- Thread starter RAY_374407877
- Start date
Full gas bottles are very heavy. Why carry two, really is no need to do that Ray. You can by gas anywhere now. I only use calor because its available nationwide.. Cheer's Dan
I agree with danny,there is no real need to carry two bottles.I now buy calor gas in the new lighter aluminium bottles which weigh when full, nearly 2kgs lighter.The cost of refills is approx
hiya allan and christine. what size bottles are available in the aluminum. i have only seen the small bottles for b.b.qs
Hi Ray you can swap your calor bottle for the new propane calorlight 6kg which when full is about the same weight as an empty normal 7kg butane bottle but they only come as propane so you may have to change your connector & pigtail if you are using butane at present this is the way I have gone for the same reasons
Hi Ray,
I agree with others that it is worth cutting down on volume of gas carried and also best to use the lightweight cylinder options (calor or BP). Returning to your original questions however, given that even with those measures you still may have a noseweight problem,
1 - yes it is legal;
2 - very questionable;
3 - probably will not get you the full 20 kg you are looking for.
The safety issue is the important one. Just how are you going to secure a gas bottle of that mass so that it really is going to be safe. It needs strapping down to some strong anchoring points that just don't exist in most caravans inside, near the axle. I would be very surprised if this turned out to be the best answer to your problem.
Regards
Mike A
I agree with others that it is worth cutting down on volume of gas carried and also best to use the lightweight cylinder options (calor or BP). Returning to your original questions however, given that even with those measures you still may have a noseweight problem,
1 - yes it is legal;
2 - very questionable;
3 - probably will not get you the full 20 kg you are looking for.
The safety issue is the important one. Just how are you going to secure a gas bottle of that mass so that it really is going to be safe. It needs strapping down to some strong anchoring points that just don't exist in most caravans inside, near the axle. I would be very surprised if this turned out to be the best answer to your problem.
Regards
Mike A
Would it not be possible to move some of your internal load to slightly rear of the axle. The weight would still be roughly over the axle and would help the nose weight. I also carry 1 full and 1 empty bottle ready for exchanging for a refil on sight. The issue of cost arose previously regarding the lightweight bottle. If garages have lightweight bottles on their forecourt I have been able to exchange with no additional cost.
Helo again Ray, JUst a thought as I had terrible probs at first with nose weight, I found that the gauge was out, the van was not at the same level as it would be on the tow ball,& I was not putting the top of the gauge into the tow hitch. When I used a bathroom scale & made sure the van was level & inserted the broom stick(or whatever you use) into the the cup of the hitch it all got a lot better.
I actully used my noseweight gauge placed onto the bathroom scales & into the hitch, this way I was able to calibrate the noseweight gauge to the scales
hope this helps
I actully used my noseweight gauge placed onto the bathroom scales & into the hitch, this way I was able to calibrate the noseweight gauge to the scales
hope this helps
If you have a side mounted jockey wheel, you can lose a few Kg's by unclamping it, and carrying it in the car. ( It also makes it more difficult for van thieves at journey stops.)
Hi
We had issues with nose weight with our previous caravan. Have a look at what you have inside the van under the front seats, top front lockers, the drawer unit between the 2 front seats, in the front locker by the gas bottles, also when towing do you have any equipment etc between the front seats. Its surprising how much the hook up cable, awning pegs, books, kids toys etc weigh. Our hook up cable even now either travels in the back of the car or near the axile as does the bucket of awning pegs (we carry pegs for both grass and hard standing).
Hope this helps, good luck
Annette
We had issues with nose weight with our previous caravan. Have a look at what you have inside the van under the front seats, top front lockers, the drawer unit between the 2 front seats, in the front locker by the gas bottles, also when towing do you have any equipment etc between the front seats. Its surprising how much the hook up cable, awning pegs, books, kids toys etc weigh. Our hook up cable even now either travels in the back of the car or near the axile as does the bucket of awning pegs (we carry pegs for both grass and hard standing).
Hope this helps, good luck
Annette
My Elldis 2008 has a built in nose wt. indicator. Had lots of probs getting the wt down. Then I used a seperate guage, and bathroom scales with a post into the tow ball receptical.
built in = 95kg
guage = 75kg
scales = 75kg
So, double / triple check.
built in = 95kg
guage = 75kg
scales = 75kg
So, double / triple check.
At the risk of being accused of perpetuating the nanny state, gas bottles must be carried in a secure manner, They must be upright, Turned off, and in a ventilated space.
They should not be carried inside caravans, as if they become loose they will do a large amount of damage, and in becoming free that may damage the gas valve and cause a leak.
They should not be carried inside caravans, as if they become loose they will do a large amount of damage, and in becoming free that may damage the gas valve and cause a leak.
Hi Ray
We changed our gas bottles to BP lite (2x5kg) Then removed spare wheel to a wheel carrier just behind the axle. This made a vast difference
We changed our gas bottles to BP lite (2x5kg) Then removed spare wheel to a wheel carrier just behind the axle. This made a vast difference
I have a rear wash room with separate shower right at the back . I pack all my water containers etc in there and with the toilet flush tank full get perfect nose wieght. 2x6kgs of gas in front box too
When i ran the caravan stripped out to pull with my smaller car I had to put all the lounge soft furnishings in the wash room to get a good Nose wieght!
I know 'back-balancing' is frowned upon but how else do you reduce nose weight?
I suppose they mean don't add EXTRA weight to get balance.
When i ran the caravan stripped out to pull with my smaller car I had to put all the lounge soft furnishings in the wash room to get a good Nose wieght!
I know 'back-balancing' is frowned upon but how else do you reduce nose weight?
I suppose they mean don't add EXTRA weight to get balance.
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