Nose weight calibration

[Buckman]

On another forum I came across an interesting subject. The consumer had purchased a Milenco Nose weight gauge many years ago and on their last outing they noticed that it seemed to be horribly wrong. On checking they noticed that it was way past its calibration date so they contacted Milenco about having the nose weight gauge recalibrated.

This was the answer from Milenco;

This is a service that we no longer provide. The Nose weight Gauge is the British standard BS7961 which means it is still between 3% accuracy even after 1000 compressions. If you feel that your Nose weight goes beyond that then we would recommend you purchase a new gauge.

Surely if manufacturer is selling an item that needs calibration, then the manufacturer or retailer should offer the service for recalibration instead of the consumer having to chuck the item into the landfill?

 

[otherclive]

On another forum I came across an interesting subject. The consumer had purchased a Milenco Nose weight gauge many years ago and on their last outing they noticed that it seemed to be horribly wrong. On checking they noticed that it was way past its calibration date so they contacted Milenco about having the nose weight gauge recalibrated.

This was the answer from Milenco;

This is a service that we no longer provide. The Nose weight Gauge is the British standard BS7961 which means it is still between 3% accuracy even after 1000 compressions. If you feel that your Nose weight goes beyond that then we would recommend you purchase a new gauge.

Surely if manufacturer is selling an item that needs calibration, then the manufacturer or retailer should offer the service for recalibration instead of the consumer having to chuck the item into the landfill?

When I first bought the Milenco calibrated gauge I checked it against a good set of bathroom scales. It was within 2% so I just went with that comparison and thereafter used the noseweight gauge. And to pre empt the next question, “ yes” the bathroom scales were accurate based on checks carried out in airports various 😂
So the OP could calibrate his gauge using bathroom scales.

It’s no different from the approach adopted by Safefill regarding the periodic inspection of their bottles. There isn’t a system. Although nowadays periodically they contact a registered owner offering to carry out an inspection. But frequency of such inspections is any bodies guess.

 

[Sam Vimes]

On another forum I came across an interesting subject. The consumer had purchased a Milenco Nose weight gauge many years ago and on their last outing they noticed that it seemed to be horribly wrong. On checking they noticed that it was way past its calibration date so they contacted Milenco about having the nose weight gauge recalibrated.

This was the answer from Milenco;

This is a service that we no longer provide. The Nose weight Gauge is the British standard BS7961 which means it is still between 3% accuracy even after 1000 compressions. If you feel that your Nose weight goes beyond that then we would recommend you purchase a new gauge.

Surely if manufacturer is selling an item that needs calibration, then the manufacturer or retailer should offer the service for recalibration instead of the consumer having to chuck the item into the landfill?

The issue could be that a calibration service would cost more than buying a new one and few would be prepared to pay.

Wasteful yes but I don't think absolute accuracy is needed anyway.

 

[Raywood]

I do think you are correct about the cost being too great. I had a quick look on line and they were about £45, I doubt that calibration would be cheaper.

 

[Lutz]

As Sam Vimes wrote, I don't think there's any need for calibration of a load that isn't that critical anyway. A 5% change in noseweight should be neither here nor there and that's a bigger variance than what Milenco guarantee.

 

[Martin_E]

You could probably get one calibrated for around £18-£23 + vat I suspect there are lots of places this could be done, for example companies who carry out calibration for garages for jacks etc, known weights being applied

 

[ProfJohnL]

You can do your own checks by applying weights of known value to see the gauge reports the correct load.

 

[Martin_E]

You can do your own checks by applying weights of known value to see the gauge reports the correct load.

This is true, I guess it depends if someone is looking for an official calibration certificate.

 

[ProfJohnL]

This is true, I guess it depends if someone is looking for an official calibration certificate.

As the device does not come with a "Calibration" certificate (i.e. dated and signed by the person doing the calibration, and including the make and model and serial number of the equipment used to do the calibration, and when it was last calibrated itself....... I doubt you could even get a recalibration certificate that has any metrology credentials.

 

[Martin_E]

As the device does not come with a "Calibration" certificate (i.e. dated and signed by the person doing the calibration, and including the make and model and serial number of the equipment used to do the calibration, and when it was last calibrated itself....... I doubt you could even get a recalibration certificate that has any metrology credentials.

If I am honest I can’t remember if mine came with a certificate or not, it did state on the description at the time that it was calibrated.

My air jack didn’t come with a certificate but it goes for certification every year as does other kit I use

 

[ProfJohnL]

A load gauge is a measuring device, and calibration confirms its continued operation within the manufacturers specifications and establishes its uncertainty of measurement compared to known standards to allow users to understand its limits of performance

Air jack and other tools that do not involve measuring criteria cannot be calibrated, but they may still need to be certified to be safe to use.

 

[Dustydog]

Spring loaded devices like the Milenco are a waste of money imo. I had one decades ago
. Pressing my little finger on the hitch added 20kgs. My specialised Reich TA guage is still accurate comparing it annually with Gagakev’s bathroom scales contraption. Kev’s is still the best and frankly one of the most accurate

 

[Martin_E]

A load gauge is a measuring device, and calibration confirms its continued operation within the manufacturers specifications and establishes its uncertainty of measurement compared to known standards to allow users to understand its limits of performance

Air jack and other tools that do not involve measuring criteria cannot be calibrated, but they may still need to be certified to be safe to use.

Air Jack was a bad example.

But the point being you could have a 10 year old torque wrench or scales or whatever that have no calibration certs or calibration history certified and tested by the appropriate professionals, if I remember correctly I pay £15 per item plus vat for calibration and weight testing of equipment

 

[Buckman]

Spring loaded devices like the Milenco are a waste of money imo. I had one decades ago
. Pressing my little finger on the hitch added 20kgs. My specialised Reich TA guage is still accurate comparing it annually with Gagakev’s bathroom scales contraption. Kev’s is still the best and frankly one of the most accurate

Our Milenco is now nearly 6 years old. When purchased it was checked using the age old method and found to be within about 3%. Again when checked about a year or so ago it was about the same so hardly a waste of money as it is as accurate as the Reich TA gauge. We did have the Reich nose weight gauge prior to the Milenco.

 

[Dustydog]

Our Milenco is now nearly 6 years old. When purchased it was checked using the age old method and found to be within about 3%. Again when checked about a year or so ago it was about the same so hardly a waste of money as it is as accurate as the Reich TA gauge. We did have the Reich nose weight gauge prior to the Milenco.

I guess we both speak as we find , some good some bad , like caravans😜

 

[ProfJohnL]

Our Milenco is now nearly 6 years old. When purchased it was checked using the age old method and found to be within about 3%.

What is your age old method?

 

[Buckman]

What is your age old method?

As per your suggestion in the past.

 

[Robert_374373903]

Much has been spoken about these gauges and the old bathroom scales are still used. However just by looking at your rig when loaded if it is level you are nearly there. plus when connecting if you find the car sinks quite a bit it is not. Although my caravan nose weight is 100lb my car is only 75lb so adjust the load accordingly. As for price I had two so tried to sell one and ending up letting it go for £5.

 

[Dustydog]

Much has been spoken about these gauges and the old bathroom scales are still used. However just by looking at your rig when loaded if it is level you are nearly there. plus when connecting if you find the car sinks quite a bit it is not. Although my caravan nose weight is 100lb my car is only 75lb so adjust the load accordingly. As for price I had two so tried to sell one and ending up letting it go for £5.

Robert I get your point but looks can be deceptive especially with a long SA or TA.
My outfit looks level but the rear suspension gives a little . Recently we changed our leisure chairs stored under the bed. Once fully loaded for the next trip I took the NL with the Reich and bathroom scales. Both readings were less than 3 kg apart. But the NL was lighter than before. Two new chairs proved lighter than the original four. I know my latest loading is well within tolerance at 100kgs.
Even If I hadn’t measured it the outfit still looked good but clearly with a heavier NL.

 

[ProfJohnL]

...However just by looking at your rig when loaded if it is level you are nearly there. plus when connecting if you find the car sinks quite a bit it is not. ...

A caravan that looks level means absolutely nothing other than it looks level.

There are EU directives that set out the range for heights of loaded tow balls on normal cars the range crosses over the the range allowed for the height of trailer hitches height when the trailer is level.

In general most combinations will tow with the trailer slightly nose down but at one extreme of the ranges some outfit will actually be slightly nose up, and are perfectly acceptable.

There is no substitute for measuring nose load to ensure you keep within the manufacturers limits.

 

[Hutch]

So it is not just VOSPA that do weight checks, the CAA, do them as well.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Look more like levelling ramps to me
😁

 

[Buckman]

So it is not just VOSPA that do weight checks, the CAA, do them as well.

View attachment 5831

CAA = Central African Airways who have closed down.