I've owned a Milenco nose weight gauge for numerous years now but the last trip out it appeared that my nose weight gauge was giving false readings and was compressing much further than normal. After doing some research I found out that Milenco apply a calibration date on the larger diameter of the tube towards the base which mine is 2016 (7 years overdue) so decided to contact Milenco customer services asking for advice as to where I can send the nose weight gauge for calibration. This was their reply by e-mail:
This is not a service that we no longer provide.
The Nose weight Gauge is the British standard BS7961 which means it is still between 3% accuracy even after 1000 compressions.
If you feel that your Nose weight goes beyond that then we would recommend you purchase a new gauge.
The Milenco nose weight gauge is the most expensive compression gauge on the market and yet it's now just another one of those added items that goes to landfill as scrap metal. Furthermore, it seems absolutely pointless Milenco stamping a calibration date on the device when they no longer provide the service or have a contractor that does in the interest of the customer.
However, around 50 quid for a new Milenco nose weight gauge makes you wonder if it's now worth the investment.
I'm assuming, that more than likely, for a number of years now a calibration date has not been stamped on the gauge.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
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Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Very interesting as we have a Milenco heavy duty calibrated gauge bought in 2016 as our caravan nose weight exceeds 100kg. We only use it now and then if we remove or add something to the caravan and it may alter the weight distribution.
Not good marketing for Milenco if word gets out that they do nto offer a calibration service for products that they sell.
I recently acquired a Milenco nose weight gauge s/h but in new unused condition (certainly no signs of use on inspection), supposed only to be a year or so old. Well the calibration expiry is June 2032, so it would appear they were at least until quite recently still putting calibration expiry dates on them!
I'd be surprised in this throwaway world if many people ever bothered to return them for re-calibration. It's a weighty lump, so P and P both ways is going to come to something, then the calibration charge on top, probably too close to the price of a (certainly if discounted from rrp) new one for many to bother. Possibly accounts for Milenco discontinuing the service.
If you suspect yours is now grossly inaccurate, use it on top of some bathroom scales and compare the readings. The bathroom scales are unlikely to be perfectly accurate, but equally unlikely to be horrendously wrong either, try more than one set if you can borrow some others and take the average reading, it is unlikely to be far off, gives a good comparison check. Could also see if you can borrow other nose weight scales from someone in your area or on a camp site to do a comparison reading.
I've heard from a number of sources (not just Milenco's publicity!) that other uncalibrated gauges are inaccurate from the outset, let alone after use, which is why I spent more on the Milenco one (even s/h still far more expensive than other brands!) as the gauge of choice.
I'm one of those with a horribly overweight nose weight on an empty van (Mira spec) which even exceeds the caravan chassis max by about 15Kg, let alone my car/towbar, so not quite paranoid, but very diligent and cautious with maintaining correct nose and other weights, all my weights are pushing limits, so not a lot of latitude! Generally check mine start of every season and whenever I have a rearrangement of payload.
I have never been one who believes you get what you pay for. Sometimes it's true, but often it isn't. No matter what the product, if it's a well-known brand you are paying 50% of the price for the name.
I bought a cheap unbranded battery drill just for winding the steadies on my caravan, and I had recently bought a big-brand drill for general work around the home. I am now using the "cheapie" for everything as the branded one that cost 3 times as much gave up ages ago. The battery doesn't hold a charge long! I have probably been using the cheapie for twice as long as the branded one and it's still going strong. Battery still lasts ages between charges.
I can't remember what make my nose-weight gauge is, but it's not Milenco. I don't use it all that often, unless I change something about the loading of the 'van.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 24/5/2023
After checking it would seem that the cost of re-calibration far outweighs the cost of purchasing a new one.
No surprise there then. Everything seems to be "disposable" these days for that very reason.
As an update, I've recently purchased a new set of bathroom scales with just kilo's on the scale dial (not digital scales) and going to use the scales and pole method, see what the reading is then use the Milenco nose weight gauge in comparison and see how it compares for accuracy. If it shows to be too far off the scale then I will probably just go out and buy another Milenco nose weight gauge and scrap the old one off as I think after all these years I've had more than my money's worth out of it anyway.
Thanks for the feedback on this thread but after reading the replies it now makes sense as to why Milenco don't offer the calibration service as like you say, it's not cost effective and not much more to purchase a new one.
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Topic: Nose Weight Gauge Calibration
via mobile 24/5/2023 at 8:46pm
