Hi. I want to make my own nose weight guage, and have a sturdy broom handle ready to saw, but how long do I make it?
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
Making own nose weight guage
- Thread starter CrewOVtwo
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- Nov 11, 2009
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When on the scales the end of my pole is the same height as the tow ball.
Works fine for me and is more accurate than my Milenco bouncy gauge🫣
Works fine for me and is more accurate than my Milenco bouncy gauge🫣
- Nov 11, 2009
- 23,044
- 7,796
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- Mar 14, 2005
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Unless a "calibrated " nose load gauge comes with a certificate of calibration and information regarding its limits of uncertainty from a recognised test house and a date for next calibration it is not "calibrated" in any meaningful way.
Tests carried out in the past have shown how inaccurate consumer grade compression spring nose load gauges can be, and in practice domestic bathroom weighing were also far from ideal, but were better than nose load gauges and more consistent over time.
Because compression spring nose load gauges by their very nature compress (shorten) when loaded unless by coincidence the load auge happens to match the tow hitched load height, the gause is not reporting the actual nose load applied to the tow vehicle.
For mechanical reasons the rate of change of applied nose load relative to the height of the trailers hitch, is not a linear relation ship, And the rate of change of applied nose vs height for a twin axle outfit is very much greater than for a single axle trailer.
To avoid the danger of trying to use a broom handle stood on the top of bathroom scales, use the caravan step and back issues of PC magazine to raise the scales to the required height to support the hitch. Always chock the road wheels and release the brakes.
Or use a hydraulic bottle jack on the top of the scales to raise the hitch to the correct height. (Don't forget to subtract the weight of the jack from the reading. - or some scales can be tare'd)
Tests carried out in the past have shown how inaccurate consumer grade compression spring nose load gauges can be, and in practice domestic bathroom weighing were also far from ideal, but were better than nose load gauges and more consistent over time.
Because compression spring nose load gauges by their very nature compress (shorten) when loaded unless by coincidence the load auge happens to match the tow hitched load height, the gause is not reporting the actual nose load applied to the tow vehicle.
For mechanical reasons the rate of change of applied nose load relative to the height of the trailers hitch, is not a linear relation ship, And the rate of change of applied nose vs height for a twin axle outfit is very much greater than for a single axle trailer.
To avoid the danger of trying to use a broom handle stood on the top of bathroom scales, use the caravan step and back issues of PC magazine to raise the scales to the required height to support the hitch. Always chock the road wheels and release the brakes.
Or use a hydraulic bottle jack on the top of the scales to raise the hitch to the correct height. (Don't forget to subtract the weight of the jack from the reading. - or some scales can be tare'd)
- Jun 20, 2005
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Our very own Gagakev made this. Look no further! And his scales were once calibrated but like the rest of us can be compared to Fat Clubs scales which are professionally checked , recalibrated , every month.
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- Nov 11, 2009
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I used the word “calibrated” loosely in describing my approach. In no way would I consider my bathroom scales an appropriate means of “calibrating” a Milenco gauge. But for my purpose the scales and Milenco readings were compared which then enabled me to thereafter use the Milenco at home, storage or if required when touring.
- Jul 18, 2017
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Who cares if it is a couple of kg over the limit? After all when travelling along it may fluctuate from zero to over 200kg as it bounces along UK roads. LOL! 
- Nov 16, 2015
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I did mean fully - but then I only measure the noseweight just before I hitch it to the car - it's the only time it's fully laden.
Don't forget to stow the winding handle before taking the reading if seeking the precision some seem to "need" to achieve
Fortunately my rig can live with quite a range on noseweight, even tolerate us using up some LPG during a trip, without a reweigh and repack to come home.
In a more serious tone, getting the right towing state noseweight, that is within a tolerable range is as important at any state of being laden, not just "fully".
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I just use a Milenco bouncy scale. Life is too short to worry about a kilo here or there.
- Apr 20, 2009
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Still use it to this day, but only before the off at home, tooo heavy on the payload to carry around!!!!
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