Mel
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- Mar 17, 2007
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I view my bathroom scales with distrust and suspicion as they consistently refuse to cooperate with my “get fitter” plan.
Mel
Mel
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- Mar 14, 2005
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Buckmans comment that says his nose load gauge is "calibrated" is quoting the manufacturers statement about the device. As far as I can establish, the act of "calibration" simply compares the gauges ability to consistently display the result of various compressive loads applied to the device.
The device works simply by the applied load compressing the internal spring until the resultant spring reaction matches the applied load, with the gauge settling to a length which points to a load scale.
Fundamentally , the gauge changes its length under load. This means the applied hitch will settle at a different height depending on the load it imparts on the gauge.
For reasons that are to complex to explain in this reply, the nose load actually produced by a trailer varies if the height of the hitch is changed. This fact is recognised by the the regulations that cover towhitches, and why the regulations tell you that the measurement of nose load must be carried out with the trailer hitch set at the same horizontal height above the ground as when it is hitched to the tow vehicle.
None of the commercially available compression spring nose load gauges meets this standard as they dont include the adjustment of the settled measurement height to match the tow vehicles load hitch height.
It would be purely serendipity if a particular gauges did settle at the actual towing height for a particular towing outfit. Consequently none of the commercially available gauges would be considered fit for purpose especially if there was a legal case, where both methodology of the measurement and the device used would have to meet a scientific requirement for calibration would both be very important to the courts.
Is there a real concern about this, In general It seems not, but the use of most of these gauges only provide "ball park" indications of nose load, and at bets are better than nothing. However the worst example can be highly inconsistent and inaccurate.
We have the AL-KO premium jockey wheel with the built in nose weight gauge, it comes with instruction how to calibrate for your particular caravan, in our case 84kg on the AL-KO jockey wheel equates to 70kg nose weight, I have double checked with the old fashioned bathroom scales method it is reasonably accurate. I tend to run at 65kg on the nose our outfit is stable at this weight no pitching.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Does the prescribed methodology tell you to orientate the the wheel in a particular direction relative to the caravans direction when checking the nose load?
I use our digital bathroom scales, these don't for all sensible purposes deflect under load, so used with a purpose made wood pillar the van is always checked set at the "right" height.
A big additional plus being bathroom scales are designed to be used with weights of around the correct area we need to explore with our caravans.
I can't see anything but unwanted issues with a hitch gauge rated up to 400 kgs, this is territory in my case 4 times higher than I will need.
I would much prefer a gauge optimised for weighing the value levels I will use it for.
I would not buy nor take if free a hitch gauge of any sort based on a mechanical spring balance, technology in load cells has moved on, and for good reasons.
A big additional plus being bathroom scales are designed to be used with weights of around the correct area we need to explore with our caravans.
I can't see anything but unwanted issues with a hitch gauge rated up to 400 kgs, this is territory in my case 4 times higher than I will need.
I would much prefer a gauge optimised for weighing the value levels I will use it for.
I would not buy nor take if free a hitch gauge of any sort based on a mechanical spring balance, technology in load cells has moved on, and for good reasons.
- Jul 18, 2017
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- Nov 11, 2009
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If it can measure up to 400kg unless your car has a very high noseweight limit the gauge will be working well down its range which isn’t recommended.
- Jul 18, 2017
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Why would I be wanting to use it on the car? If you have issues with a Milenco calibrated nose weight gauge please contact Milenco because I cannot answer your question.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Well in my experience it’s the car towball that accepts the caravans noseload which you measure. I think the “calibrated “ nose gauge has been discussed ad infinitum so I’m not going to add further comment other than to refer to Prof Johns post at #29 and JTQ at #32.
- Jul 18, 2017
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Sadly some people make comments about quality about an item when they have never ever owned or used the item in question.
- Nov 11, 2009
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It’s not the quality it’s just that it is good practice when using instruments to align their working ranges with the variables to be measured. If I had tyres at 30 psi I’d look for a gauge around 50-60 psi not 200 psi. Oh and I did have a Milenco gauge (130kg) that I “self calibrated” using the bathroom scale approach. This gave me confidence in that the bathroom scales were regularly used to weigh luggage for airline check in.
It is certainly not a prerequisite to have owned or used a product to be versed in understanding much about them and to be in a position to constructively comment on them, be that their quality, functionality or other aspects.
Its what engineers, particularly those involved in designing and consulting are tasked with, assessing products, studying them and or their specifications, leading to forming soundly based opinions.
Hopefully here we can also constructively discuss products without buying them and using them, not leave any comment to the reserves of the few who did? Importantly, IMO freely without risking being put down.
A danger with that unique order of entitlement, only ownership, is we will only have views of those who did or did not not adequately research what they acquired, whether the final outcome was good, tolerable or bad.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Nothing stated, all these devices are a guide nothing less, I never leave the jockey wheel under load apart from checking the nose weight or moving the caravan for obvious reasons.
- Apr 20, 2009
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- Mar 14, 2005
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I am asking you as you are the one that wrote a long rambling post decrying nose weight gauges after someone inquired about our Milenco nose weight gauge.
Were you suggesting that people should dump their nose weight gauge because you had decided they were not good enough to use despite probably having never tested on?
What makes you think that using a bathroom scale is even possibly close to being accurate? LOL!
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