I have Mazda6 Hatchback noseweight 75kgs I am looking at a Vanroyce 450et 1993yr. and when I searched the web it came up with a noseweight of 90kg does this rule this van out if it is correct or can I adjust this by carrying only one lightweight gas cylinder rather than two standard ones and avoiding putting less in the front locker. Can anyone conferm what the noseweight is for this van it seems High to me at 90kgs
The noseweight of the car ain`t bad, you know. If you keep the caravan weight down to a minimum, then I`d load the nose to 80 or so. Place heavier stuff as far forward in the car as possible . . . .and see how stable she is. . . I have this feeling that some may not agree wi me on this.
------------- Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer
That was what I thought the the match otherwise appears to be ok and I load heavy things into the rear seat footwell the dog is quite happy with that stops him falling in there . I will ring the CCClub and see if they agree could be interesting?
Quote: Originally posted by peterws on 13/10/2012
The noseweight of the car ain`t bad, you know. If you keep the caravan weight down to a minimum, then I`d load the nose to 80 or so. Place heavier stuff as far forward in the car as possible . . . .and see how stable she is. . . I have this feeling that some may not agree wi me on this.
If the noseweight is loaded to 80kg then the driver would be breaking the law and could ( theoretically ) get points on his licence or doing so. So he should set out to achieve a noseweight of 75kg or just less which should not be difficult , if it were mine I would load the van exactly as I wanted it with everything in its place and then check the noseweight, if it is too high then that is the time to move things about. Something as simple as putting an awning on the caravn floor a foot or o behind the axle can have a measure able effect, removing things from the front locker and putting them in the car is very effective. It is just a case of rearranging things to achieve the right level.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
I told ya . . . . ha ha I could feel it coming . . .
"It is just a case of rearranging things to achieve the right level."
Absolutely not, my friend. I may be a novice but I know you do NOT load the rear of the caravan to achieve an acceptable noseweight. No way.
With the ups and downs of the road surfaces, the N.W. will vary anyway; The stated noseweight includes a considerable allowance for load in the car, otherwise it would be a nonsense, so to up it slightly supposing gross weight is well down, shouldn`t be such a big deal.. As far as breaking the law is concerned, I `m not sure if you`re correct in this. But you might be . . . !
------------- Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer
I told ya . . . . ha ha I could feel it coming . . .
"It is just a case of rearranging things to achieve the right level."
Absolutely not, my friend. I may be a novice but I know you do NOT load the rear of the caravan to achieve an acceptable noseweight. No way.
With the ups and downs of the road surfaces, the N.W. will vary anyway; The stated noseweight includes a considerable allowance for load in the car, otherwise it would be a nonsense, so to up it slightly supposing gross weight is well down, shouldn`t be such a big deal.. As far as breaking the law is concerned, I `m not sure if you`re correct in this. But you might be . . . !
Excuse me but could you please point out where I have suggested loading the rear of the caravan? After 20 years of towing i am very aware of what is acceptable and what is not. Despite your disparaging remarks it IS only a question of rearranging things to get the correct noseweight. Placing heavy items just behind the axle is very acceptable since it places them in the centre if the van near to the centre of gravity, removing things from the van and putting them in the car is also to do with rearranging the load and items removed from in front of the axle will reduce the noseweight.
If you are not aware of the limits placed on you by the weights plated on the car and the consequences of exceeding them you should be, and the noseweight limit on a car that is less than 15 years old must be plated on the towbar. If you are not aware of this it makes me wonder how qualified you are to comment on this topic at all. To make things absolutely clear items loaded into the car are carried in the individual axle loads for the car, and these axle loads are also plated on the car, they have no bearing at all on the noseweight on the towbar. The plated noseweight is a static measure of the actual downward force that is acting directly on the towball and its mounting and this has also to be allowed for in the loading of the car as it will alter the actual axle loadingd. It is set to allow for the dynamic differences which driving along will make, any attempt to measure the dynamic values accurately would be difficult to say the least.
I would suggest that you as a novice listen very carefully to the advice given by people who have experience, I know I did and what is more I still do. We never ever stop learning.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Overloading the tow bar will reduce the traction on the front wheels making braking possibly unsafe and if it is a front wheel drive car making movement on a wet site nigh on impossible.
"and the noseweight limit on a car that is less than 15 years old must be plated on the towbar."
Where might this be? There`s an ISO figure given on mine, (top of the socket) which was fitted last year by a professional, but that`s all. Sorry if I sounded disrespectful in any way; not intentional. . . Never is, but it happens. She sez .. .
------------- Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer
Thanks for the reply's. Have been caravanning for almost 50 yrs but in that time have only had three vans the first a Sprite Alpine lasted 30years followed by a ABI sprinter 350 which I traded in in 2008 for my first new van a Avondale Arrow 470'2 Which Leaked like a sieve Guy at Columbian Caravans as promised to have its replacment a 1993 Vanroyce 450 et ready by March. Anyway in the old days you made your own towbar and made sure the van was nose heavy putting the heavy things over the axle or just in front that was good enough thats why this rinkly is asking advice
thanks everyone
If you stop learning your dead
You soon find out if it`s not heavy enouh when ya drive it! . . I found out the hard way with a boat. Nearly lost it over the brow of a hill. Artic coming in the opposite direction. I used all the road to control it and am lucky to be here now. A week later, a guy I knew lost his boat at the same place. .
Enjoy your van, man!
------------- Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer
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Topic: noseweight
