Noseweights

[Andy_5039823]

Hi after some advise on noseweight.

Just changed the van and when I collected new one it towed like a dream, no pitching at all. Checked nw before loading it - 35Kg. Loaded it up set nw to 80Kg (90 limit on car) and now it pitches quite a bit.

I know that you should run as much nw to car or van limit which ever lower but what is the effects and safety implications of too little noseweight?

Cheers Andy

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Andy

What do you tow with?

generally the rule of thumb on noseweight is 7% of caravan's mtplm, subject to your car manufacturer's recommended maximum.

35kgs seems very light to me. Is your caravan only 500kgs??

It may be you have exceeded your cars noseweight limit which may caus ethe pitching.

You can stiffen the rear suspension with some of the proprietry spring assistors but not beyond the manufacturers recommendation.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Rita1]

What is the nose weight of van if car is 90 does not mean you can have caravan nose at that

Poss got the caravan nose to heavy

 

[rob_jax]

Andy,

Increasing the nose-weight increases stability, but it also increases vertical coupling (pitching) between the caravan and the car.

We have a German designed caravan and because of the longer A-frame and the 4% recommendation for that style of caravan - typically we tow at 35kg - and pitching is almost absent. We've towed with nose-weights between 25kg and 45 kg (and one occasion with 5kg), and noticed no difference to stability - but there will have been a difference, it just never bit.

If your caravan has a longer A-frame compared to the UK norm, then a lower nose-weight is a possibility - speak with the manufacturer's technical people.

Robert

 

[Sid1]

Hi Andy

I believe that there is a minimum limit on nose weight of 5% of caravan weight. It may apply to laden weight. Which would be interesting. eg 1200Kg = 60Kg nw min

Laden 1500Kg = 75Kg

Car noseweight say 60Kg max = 10 Kg overweight.

CARAVAN CLUB recommend 7% so makes it worse.

It seems to me that there are a number anomylies. If caravan is empty, no gas, batteries or anything else then I presume this is the minimum nose weight that is required on the caravan.

However, caravans can be supplied with weights in excess of this. Maybe modifications, water heater etc have been installed that upset the balance.

If you travel with battery and gas bottles the weight could actually exceed your vehicle nose weight. I have this problem and cannot install battery or gas in their respective lockers.

I will make sure that the dealer gives me all the details before I buy my next caravan.

I would adjust to suit your car and caravan combination but research minimum nose weight LAW. Most advice is only by recommendation and as such doesn't necessarily apply. Although, research has been made by caravan club and many other people and it would be prudent to at least inspect the details.

Sid

 

[JTS]

Hi Andy, noeweights can be argued about, have been argued about and I recken will always be argued about. 5,7,10% even the experts have admitted that the formula used to determine noseweights could be flawed. There are some very important points to remember and stick to.1-Your caravan must be nose heavy.2-Never exceed the limit of your towing hitch.3-Ensure that your caravan is loaded evenly,too much at the rear and front will make your caravan act like a see-saw.Your caravan should easily accept your battery and gas bottles in the proper storage spaces (this is a saftey facter) and then load with heavy items overthe axle and the lighter items to the rear and front. Its trial and error, I spent an afternoon gradually moving my load till I was satisfied and my van towed comfortably. You say you were under your cars limit. I would start by checking how you have loaded. The clue is how it towed before you loaded. Remeber noseheavy. I tow under the 7%, Italy last year, Spain the year before, Southern France this year and a comfortable ride at all times. God luck.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi Andy.

There are various nose weight suggestions around, ranging from 4 to 7%, but as far as I can ascertain theses are only guidelines and were often suggested many years ago and have little relevance to to-days cars and trailers.

Practical caravan have words of wisdom at

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/legal/index.html
And they quote 25Kg as a minimum or 4% which ever is greater.

 

[Andy5Z]

Hi all who hae replied and thankyou very much for doing so. Very good of you all. Apologies for delay on my part, I have had to get a new pc!

Anyway I tow an Abbey Vogue 2-berth MTPLW 1350 with a BMW 530d Touring Kerbweight 1800kg. The car has a 90kg noseweight limit.

I have recently changed to this van, I fitted one of my gas bottles when I collected it and towed it 40 miles or so to a cl for a shakedown weekend. It towed like a dream with virtually no pitching. On arrival I checked nose weight - 35kg!

Before returning home with van now loaded with all the ness gear - which had been in the car on outwards trip - I had a noseweight of 80kg. However the homewards journey it was pitching much more noticibly than on outwards trip!

As JTS says I could be guilty of too much at extreme ends of van, even if within all limits! I shall try removing all but bottles from front locker and see what difference that makes.

Thanks once again to you all for your suggestions and advice - I really appreciate it.

Andy