MTPLM

[CyberCynth]

ProfJohnL: Thanks for your comprehensive reply; I really must treat myself to a set of bathroom scales and check the noseweight of my Gobur. I have just looked in the handbook for the noseweight, but can't find it, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that it's ridiculously low, at about 50kg. With two 15kg gas bottles that's over half my limit. Yikes. (However it does say the MIRO includes a 20kg gas bottle, the EHU lead and toilet flush liquid.) The Gobur feels as steady as a rock when towing, the only time I've had a slight wobble was in very high side winds, so I'm hoping my gas box contents are not too excessive.

It would be very unusual indeed for a caravan manufacture to give you the "noseweight", All they can possibly quote is the maximum nose weight the hitch can endure, and possibly,the ex works nose weight. You will find the maximum nose weight on the data plate for the hitch ( thats and EU requirement). The ex works nose weight is of very little value because as soon as you put anything into the caravan the nose weight will change. You have arrange the items in the caravan to trim the nose weight to what you want.

The caravan industry suggest you should aim for a nose weight of about 5 to 7% of the caravans weight. For convenience use 5 to 7% of the MTPLM. However do not exceed the manufacturer's maximum nose weight limit.

Right, Prof, have at last got the right end of the stick.... Looked in the leaflet about the Skoda, and that's where I'd seen the 50kg noseweight figure. So, I will have to be sure to weigh what I have in the front locker and ensure I'm not overloading. But, as have said already, and happily, my ex-Gobur owning pal Gozza concurs, these folders are as steady as a rock on the road, I don't think I can be doing too much wrong.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Cynth
You don't weigh what's in the front locker, you weigh the down force on the coupling head ie the caravan nose weight (one method is a cut-down broom handle on a set of bathroom scales). This has to be less than 50 kg. You then start removing items from the front locker until the noseweight is less than 50 kg. The other way is to add heavy items to floor level behind the axle. You didn't have an awing at the Woosiefest, so not sure if you have one. This could be in the van behind the axle if you haven't reached the van's maximum weight (MTPLM).

 

[CyberCynth]

Cynth
You don't weigh what's in the front locker, you weigh the down force on the coupling head ie the caravan nose weight (one method is a cut-down broom handle on a set of bathroom scales). This has to be less than 50 kg. You then start removing items from the front locker until the noseweight is less than 50 kg. The other way is to add heavy items to floor level behind the axle. You didn't have an awing at the Woosiefest, so not sure if you have one. This could be in the van behind the axle if you haven't reached the van's maximum weight (MTPLM).

Haven't got a broom handle - how about four candles........?!

I have got an awning, but very seldom use it now I have the Gobur with on-board loo. Even so, there wouldn't be enough room to stash it in the 'van, as all the wall cupboards have to stow in the lockers and on the floor between the benches. So there is very little space for fitting in anything to counteract the weight at the front of the Gobur. Most of my stuff is in the car when I'm towing, except the few items in the front box, which are all on the heavy side unfortunately. It's rather ironic that with a fairly generous loading margin (215kg) I haven't got room to use it! Although the alternative may be to stow the cupboards in the car for travelling, and put the awning or other heavy items in the 'van, near or behind the axle. All sounds like too much faffing about to me.......

 

[RogerL]

"Nah, fork handles!"

To get an approximate idea of the noseweight, use bathroom scales under the jockey wheel, with a piece of wood between to spread the load and adjust the jockey to get the hitch at towing height - it won't be accurate because the jockey isn't quite in the same position as the hitch but it gives an easy way to get the hitch height correct for weighing - the reading will be higher than the true noseweight because the jockey is nearer the main wheels than the hitch.

 

[Gozza]

Of course if you're feeling brave you could always use maffs to calculate the nose weight from the jockey wheel weight!

If I've got this right, if
Weight on jockey wheel = J
Distance from axle to jockey wheel = D
Distance from axle to hitch - H

Then nose weight should be J x (D/H)

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Of course if you're feeling brave you could always use maffs to calculate the nose weight from the jockey wheel weight!

If I've got this right, if
Weight on jockey wheel = J
Distance from axle to jockey wheel = D
Distance from axle to hitch - H

Then nose weight should be J x (D/H)

Just a 'moment', let me think.

Yep, that's O K, where
All right = O K

 

[ProfJohnL]

Both Roger and Gozza are right.

I have been contemplating suggesting the use of the jockey wheel, as it provides one of the key features that I criticize the retail product for not having adjustable height, and its always available. There are jokey wheels with weight gauges built in, but they also fail one of my criteria and that is the scale graduation is coarse and the accuracy is unknown.

Using the jockey wheel on bathroom scales, you have to be aware the direction the wheel points also affects the reading.

Using a block of wood to spread the load of the wheel is a sensible, but to reduce error, if the block of wood supports the heel of the jockey wheel it would enhance consitency

As Roger correctly points out, using the jockey wheel position will always give a raised reading. The reading will be consistently proportionally higher than the actual nose weight. The difference is determined by the calculation that Gozza has provided. So once calculated and the correction multiplication factor remains constant for that caravan.

In practice the difference will only be a few Kg so here is an opportunity to set your nose weight by using the jockey wheel post, Provided the reading does not go above your maximum limit you can now be certain your actual nose weight will be within your legal allowance even allowing for inaccuracies in bathroom scales calibration.

 

[Gozza]

There are jokey wheels with weight gauges built in.

Please tell me that typo was intentional? :woohoo: :cheer:

 

[CyberCynth]

There are jokey wheels with weight gauges built in.

Please tell me that typo was intentional? :woohoo: :cheer:

Made me chuckle, anyway! :lol:

 

[ProfJohnL]

Sorry to disappoint, It wasn't intentional, but perhaps its rather apt