Nosewieght - brakes on or off?

[Alan_374319286]

Just got our new van and are having a problem getting the noseweight correct. I have a guage ( the one with the red top) and it states clearly that the handbrake should be appied. I seem to remenber someone saying that the handbrake should be off and wheels chocked. As I am getting different readings on and off, which is correct?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Alan,

I am of the view that the wheels should be chocked and the hand brake should be off.

My reason for adopting this view is; that caravan must be free to rotate on its axle. If it is restricted through the action of the brakes, it will affect the force created at the tow hitch.

The effect may either increase of decrease the apparent nose load, depending on which way the caravan was moving when the brakes were applied.

In reality the effect may not very large, but it could make the difference between being legal of not.

It is only fair to point out that there are other factors that will also affect the nose load, so it is important to keep things as consistent and repeatable as possible.

The caravan must be on level ground, the tow hitch must be at the same height as when it is attached to the car and the load must be transferred through a vertical pole.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Can't disagree with JohnL but I always leave the brake on as I have to check on a slope but with the van level and I find that I can raise/lower the van by hand(s) when on the gauge so that it finds the level .

I have doubts as to the precise accuracy of the gauges and feel that they are only giving an idea approx noseweight anyway so any affect on accuracy with/without the brakes is marginal

 

[WatsonJohnG]

This is what C & CC say

With the caravan

brake fully on and the

steadies raised, lower

the coupling on to the

bathroom scales using

the broom handle.

As soon as the

jockey wheel lifts free

from the ground read

the weight off the

scales. Make sure that

the caravan is level

while taking the

reading.

If you don't know

what the noseweight

of your caravan should

be then as a guide

ensure it doesn't

exceed seven per cent

of the actual laden

weight of the caravan.

Adjusting the

position of items

inside on either side of

the axle will help you

achieve the ideal

noseweight.

Generally speaking,

the higher the

noseweight, without

exceeding the car and

caravan's limit, the

more stable your unit

will

 

[Lutz]

Although theoretically having the brakes on could affect the noseweight reading due to resistance to movement, this movement is so small that it would easily be taken up by compliance in the axle and the tyres. Any effect on noseweight would therefore be negligible. It's easy enough to verify for yourself by trying both conditions (brakes on/off).

 

[Alan_374319286]

Although theoretically having the brakes on could affect the noseweight reading due to resistance to movement, this movement is so small that it would easily be taken up by compliance in the axle and the tyres. Any effect on noseweight would therefore be negligible. It's easy enough to verify for yourself by trying both conditions (brakes on/off).

Hello

Thanks for your advice, I have had a thought that as we don't travel with the handbrake on, then surely the real weight must be as in a travelling condition. I am on a flat surface and the height of the hitch is as close as I can get to the same as my towball, I have to trust that the guage is accurate, I may test it against the bathroom scales I havn't had another chance to check and I need a new bottle of gas so will try again with a full gas load.

Alan