Nose weight gauge

Hi there Gary..I recently purchased a nose weight gauge too...if at all possible take a reading before stowing anything in the van...make sure the van is on level ground before doing the tests...take time to do various tests while loading the van..its worth it...jot down on paper what the results are...ive taken the noseweight in various places and they do tend to vary..i'm quite pleased with the results ive had with mine..good luck...Bryan

I load my van as I require then measure the noseweight.

Car has a maximum of 90kgs and I like to tow at 80kgs.

Toilet chemicals and electric cable are then moved either to or from the front locker to get 80kgs.

I don't see the point of taking several readings as it is the final reading that counts.

Once you have done it once it won't vary much as long as you stow the van in the same manner, I only move bits to allow for the level of gas in the bottles to keep 80kgs.

We use a guage. We simply put it under the tow hitch and wind the jockey wheel up. I then put a little more pressure on the hitch so it moves down then slowing releasing it so the hitch 'bounces', it then settles down to the weight on the hitch.  After a few times of loading you just get used to how to load to have the right nosewieght.  Just remember to put the movable items over the wheels and keep the heavy stuff low.  For example just moving the cable just forward or back from the wheel arches will effect the nosewieght.  Another tip is to make should the load in the van does not shift if you have to break heavy when some numpty pulls out late from a junction so he's not behind a caravan.  Just drive steady and at a speed you feel safe at, forget those caravans who speed past you on the motorways.  It's not all dome and gloom, just enjoy your holiday and I hope you get some good weather.

Hi

When I swapped my 4x4 for a saloon a few years ago I bought a noseweight gauge it is a weigt 4 model. When weighing the noseweight before a trip I place the gauge under the hitch and then lift the jockey wheel to lower the hitch onto it. It is pretty easy to do once you have done it once. My Mondeo has a limit of 75kg so I like to get it spot on.

But how accurate are these gauges?

 I have seen somewhere that they are not very accurate and you are better taking the bathroom scales with you to be sure? 

As somebody before said. I find that once I have a set location for various things I stick with them and the nose weight varies very little, Because of the fridge position a few kilos od cheese/meat has little impact. I use a side locker outside for potatoes, eggs, onions and a kilo here or there has little impact. With gas usage I use two 3.9kg propanes. Difference between one full and empty is no more than 2kg. The recomendation is for a noseweight between 5% and 7% of van loaded weight. my MPTLM is around 1450kg. So for mr between 70 and 100 I load to about 75/77kg and that works for me. If my towbar max was 75kg I would go for 70kg and see how it tows. My max is 100kg (according to Nissan but the hand book advice is 75kg).

I don't carry a means of checking noseweight as I have found it varies so little. We are well packed when we leave as usually it is for a few weeks minimum and the weights tend to vary between .74kg and 78kg and so I only check before each major trip. We are always fully loaded, use the same packing location and the only real difference summer to winter is an electric fan.

I use a dedicated set of bathroom scales and a broom handle with a wooden block attached. It is cut to length to replicate towball height. The reason is simple and twofold. Firstly they are cheaper say £12 instead of  £30+. Secondly I can check the callibration. We have an accurate set of electronic bathroom scales that are checked occasionally (weight at pay scales 50p and check home scales. I weigh between 75 and 80kg with clothes. Weigh on electronic svales and check/adjust the cheaper set for caravan (usually within 1kg). I cannot validate the accuracy of a proper nose weight gauge as easily.

Thanks for your replies.. but can someone work it out for me please.  I haven't a clue, I just want an answer ;-)

My caravan has a MRO of 1196kg, MTPLM of 1410kg my car has a gross vehicle weight of 2300kg and the maximum towing weight is 1600kg.

Thanks again.

Thanks for your replies.. but can someone work it out for me please.  I haven't a clue, I just want an answer ;-)

My caravan has a MRO of 1196kg, MTPLM of 1410kg my car has a gross vehicle weight of 2300kg and the maximum towing weight is 1600kg.

Thanks again.

Not without knowing your car or it's nose weight limit, it's in the car handbook. If its a big 4x4 then it could be over 100Kg then your max limit is 100Kg, limited by the van chassis but your absolute max is the car noseweight limit if under 100Kg

Guidline is that noseweight is from 5% to 7% of actual weight of caravan. Working from your MPTLM of about  1400kg this would suggest a noseweight between 70kg and 98kg. The actual loading may be constrained by the capacity of the tow vehicle.