NOSE WEIGHT

[John_374564913]

Can anybody tell me the nose weight when empty of

a Bailey GT60/620-6

it would be very much appreciated I read somewhere it was about 65 Kilos but not sure if this is correct or not for this twin axle bailey

John

 

[Sproket]

The most important thing is that you get it to the correct weight when loaded.

Example 1 :

Van nose weight = 100kg

Car towball weight = 80kg

Your nose weight when loaded must not exceed 80kg....

Example 2 :

Van nose weight = 100kg

Car towball weight = 150kg

Your nose weight must not exceed 100kg....

You have to use the lower of the two weights that you will have for your car & van

The only way you will find out how much your nose weight is empty, is to weigh it.......

If you have or use a towball mounted bike rack the loaded weight of all the bikes have to be taken into consideration when trying to get your nose weight correct.......

 

[John_374564913]

I am aware of what my car tow ball maximum limit is

unfortunately I have no data on the nose weight limit

Ex-Factory of the Bailey GT60/620-6

That is my question if anybody knows the Ex-factory weight as I cannot find it anywhere on the internet

John

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi John,

Some manufactures do publish ex-factory empty nose weights, but not all, and it is fairly useless figure as it is not a fixed value because as soon as you add virtually anything to the caravan the nose weight changes.

As Sprocket says you have to manage the nose weight to keep it inside the limits of the car and caravan chassis - even if it means adding ballast to the caravan to achieve it.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Our postings crossed.

I assume that for some reason you are collecting the caravan from the manufacture rather than a dealer. If you cant find or the manufacture wont tell you the ex factory nose weight, then you will have to take equipment with you to actually measure it.

Can I suggest that you take an Aquaroll (or equivalent) and means of wedging or lashing it, so you can use it to provide any ballast to achieve the required nose weight. You can add water to increase its mass.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I am aware of what my car tow ball maximum limit is

unfortunately I have no data on the nose weight limit

Ex-Factory of the Bailey GT60/620-6

That is my question if anybody knows the Ex-factory weight as I cannot find it anywhere on the internet

John

The nose weight limit of the caravan is not the same thing as its ex factory weight value.

The majority of touring caravans are fixed to Alko chassis, which seem to have a fairly universal nose weight limit of 100Kg.

That is usually far greater than is necessary for a good tow, and also most cars are limited to to less than that, typically only 75Kg.

The nose weight only has to be enough to maintain stability, but generally the onset of instability is delyed by higher nose loads

 

[catherine2]

Hi John

I just emailed baileys to find out the ex factory noseweight - I have a bailey ranger gt 460/2 and its noseweight is apparently 69kg.

 

[ProfJohnL]

hello Catherine,

Thanks for confirming that Bailey may offer ex works nose weights.

the fact that they quote yours as 69Kg, has absolutely no relevance to John's caravan which is a different model.

It will be purely coincidence if Johns has the same ex-factory NW as your own.

It is comforting to know that Bailey will quote NW figures, but it has no significance except when the caravan is collected from bailey factory.

 

[Garfield]

The max noseweight on the majority of Alko & similar tow hitches is 100 kg. from a legal point of view

minimum noseweight = 4% of trailer weight

Maximum noseweight = towcar manufacturers stated max OR tow hitch manufacturers stated max (usually 100kg stamped on the hitch)

Your bailey will probably be about 1700kg laden, 4% = 68kg so noseweight should probably be between 68 - 100kg, advice on atability usually suggests erring towards the max permissible

 

[swpostie]

Hi John,

For what it's worth, generally the suggested noseweight should equate to about 7% of the overall weight of the caravan.

So if you know the MIRO and the MTPLM you should be able to work out a sensible noseweight for the 'van when full or empty.

 

[Lutz]

Unless you drive a bigger 4x4 or a light weight caravan (under about 1100kg) it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve 7% without exceeding the towbar's noseweight limit.

 

[swpostie]

Well, that's the difficulty!

As Sproket pointed out, you have to take into account the maximum limit for both the caravan and the towbar - and use the lowest.

So, with that in mind, once you've calculated your 7% you'll probably check your towbar limit - and use that!

Unless, as you said, you are towing a fairly light caravan.

Presumably John is worried that the noseweight of his 'van, even when empty, exceeds the maximum weight for his towbar - so the 7% calculation may be some help.

It's no alternative to a noseweight guage (or set of bathroom scales) though.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Well, that's the difficulty!

As Sproket pointed out, you have to take into account the maximum limit for both the caravan and the towbar - and use the lowest.

So, with that in mind, once you've calculated your 7% you'll probably check your towbar limit - and use that!

Unless, as you said, you are towing a fairly light caravan.

Presumably John is worried that the noseweight of his 'van, even when empty, exceeds the maximum weight for his towbar - so the 7% calculation may be some help.

It's no alternative to a noseweight guage (or set of bathroom scales) though.

Hello Rupert

The 7% figure is another of those plucked from the air values like the 85% neither of which has any legal significance.

Garfield offer part of the legality, he should have added for the minimum nose weight

Nose weight should be a minimum of 25Kg or 4% of MPTLM which ever is greater.

Maximum noseweight = towcar manufacturers stated max OR tow hitch manufacturers stated max (usually 100kg stamped on the hitch)

 

[Steve L]

Sprocket has basically answered the question correctly. You do use the lower specified weight of the caravan Vs car weight specs as your upper limit of nose weight.

Now taking the actual enquiry from John regarding his Twin Axle Bailey 620-6 caravan. The 7% weight figure for that particular van would be over the weight specified for the caravan/tow car hitch weight.

So keeping to answering the actual question rather than digressing to theoretical waffle. It would be prudent to contact Bailey and find out what they say. Also by looking at the weight plate on the caravan you will usually find the nose weight specified there.

Now as John has said, using a heavy item as ballast, measure the nose weight and adjust the location of the weight to achieve the nose weight.

Having towed twins in the past, they tow with very little sway, and the yaw (up + down) is more concerning especially when going over speed humps.

I have found that between 65 + 75 Kgs of hitch weight is an ideal weight for our car to tow with.

Steve L.

 

[Lutz]

Sprocket has basically answered the question correctly. You do use the lower specified weight of the caravan Vs car weight specs as your upper limit of nose weight.

Now taking the actual enquiry from John regarding his Twin Axle Bailey 620-6 caravan. The 7% weight figure for that particular van would be over the weight specified for the caravan/tow car hitch weight.

So keeping to answering the actual question rather than digressing to theoretical waffle. It would be prudent to contact Bailey and find out what they say. Also by looking at the weight plate on the caravan you will usually find the nose weight specified there.

Now as John has said, using a heavy item as ballast, measure the nose weight and adjust the location of the weight to achieve the nose weight.

Having towed twins in the past, they tow with very little sway, and the yaw (up + down) is more concerning especially when going over speed humps.

I have found that between 65 + 75 Kgs of hitch weight is an ideal weight for our car to tow with.

Steve L.

Yaw is side to side, Steve. Up/down is pitch.

BTW, the noseweight that you will find on the weight plate of the caravan will be the maximum permissible, not the actual ex-works unladen noseweight.