nose wieght problem!

[WiltshirePete]

Why don't UK manufacturers follow the continental makers and use a longer A frame? This has the double benefit of reducing hitch weight and increasing stability at the same time, and allows space for a crosswise bicycle rack on the front of the caravan. OK so the total length of the van is a couple of feet longer for a given body length, but I have not found any disadvantage with this, apart from maybe going into the next price band on the odd ferry.

 

[Arrow1]

If nose-weight is a problem at 85kg... be carful going for a new Bailey.. I bought an Olympus 464 last month only to find that the noseweight at the coupling is 100kg !!.. Luckily my X-trail can cope with that (but that's the limit), but it means I cannot leave the gas cylinders in the gas locker or the noseweight goes over 110kg and strains the towbar fittings and car mounting points.. and insurance would be issue in an incident. I don't know why the heck Bailey did this.. search for cars that will do a 100kg noseweight or more and you'll find you can count them on one hand. Counterbalancing with load distribution would be likely to increase the pendulum effect so is not really an option. Ask at the dealers and they will tell you to counterbalance to compensate.. if they even know the noseweight, that is!!! Lovely van though !

 

[Arrow1]

If nose-weight is a problem at 85kg... be carful going for a new Bailey.. I bought an Olympus 464 last month only to find that the noseweight at the coupling is 100kg !!.. Luckily my X-trail can cope with that (but that's the limit), but it means I cannot leave the gas cylinders in the gas locker or the noseweight goes over 110kg and strains the towbar fittings and car mounting points.. and insurance would be issue in an incident. I don't know why the heck Bailey did this.. search for cars that will do a 100kg noseweight or more and you'll find you can count them on one hand. Counterbalancing with load distribution would be likely to increase the pendulum effect so is not really an option. Ask at the dealers and they will tell you to counterbalance to compensate.. if they even know the noseweight, that is!!! Lovely van though !

Also means I cannot put my bikes on the Witter rack I have on the coupling bracket.. again, I'd go well over the 100kg limit.

 

[kelvin3]

Just to update how I have got on.

This is with no clothes in:

Two (quite heavy) airbeds in the back cupboard under the sink + sm fold up cloth chair (in bag type)

The complete awning (+ bedroom, ground sheet etc) in one bag and placed has far back as possible.

Awning poles down the side of loo + two larger cloth chairs (again in bag type) these also lock in the awning bag.

The spare just inside the door

the loo flush filled with water and the aqua roll in the shower (no water).

6 cans of bodingtons, 4 bottle of plonk, 2 bottles of lemonade, bottle of squash, coffee, tea etc in the cupboard just behind the axle.

Microwave on the floor over the axle plus two cloth loungers

nose wieght = 63Kg

At this my thoughts are that I can adjust the balance by moving the spare. there will not be many clothes as we donot take many clothes with us (more wieght in the number of pairs of knickers my other half takes but this is another story and too much information)also there is nothing in the car?

I am concerned about all this wieght on the back but untill I reverse the mover I will have to live with it!