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Subject Topic: Going away without Awning (weight)
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PersonDave+Maria
07/3/2013 at 1:48pm
 Location: Wigan
 Outfit: 2003 Swift Accord 490 2010 Honda CR-V View Dave+Maria's Profile View Profile   Reply to Dave+Maria Reply   Quote Dave+Maria Quote  
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Hello

We are going away in a couple of weeks but without the awning & associated equipment. Now doing this will alter the weight distribution I have managed to get right, how do you keep the nose weight below the max weight limit if you travel without extra weight of awning/chairs etc etc to balance it out, as we have a nose heavy van.

When we picked the van up with nothing in, nose weight was at 125kgs so ended up placing stuff behind the axle to reduce it (not best to do I know).

Thanks

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Dave + Maria


Personclever
07/3/2013 at 2:28pm
 Location: Derbyshire
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Quote: Originally posted by Dave+Maria on 07/3/2013
When we picked the van up with nothing in, nose weight was at 125kgs so ended up placing stuff behind the axle to reduce it (not best to do I know).


Are you sure ?
125kgs is very high with nothing in!
Have you got much in the front locker ? (Gas bottles etc)


PersonDave+Maria
07/3/2013 at 2:49pm
 Location: Wigan
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I am pretty sure it was 125kg,


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Dave + Maria


PersonDaveCoaches
07/3/2013 at 3:42pm
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There have been a lot of posts over the years with Bailey owners really struggling to get sensible nose weights.


Personclever
07/3/2013 at 4:35pm
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Quote: Originally posted by DaveCoaches on 07/3/2013There have been a lot of posts over the years with Bailey owners really struggling to get sensible nose weights.
But they have a Swift !?


Dave + Maria - Are you using a nose weight gauge or the good old bathroom scale method ?


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Personjaiash
07/3/2013 at 4:35pm
 Location: nr Derby
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Except he has a 2003 Swift!


Personmickeyb
07/3/2013 at 8:03pm
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125kgs noseweight empty sound wrong to me, think Dave better do another check. Most saloon/estate cars have a 75kgs limit so that would make it virtually untowable except with a landie or similar.........Mick


PersonDave+Maria
07/3/2013 at 9:18pm
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i used bathroom scales, it could of been 112.5kgs thinking about it, but I can get the weight down to 78kgs with awning in over the axle, eco groundsheet, BBQ, step &2 chairs behind the axle, I only have 2 calor lite bottles in the front locker and had to move the spare wheel from front locker to underslung in an alko carrier. to get it at 78kgs

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Dave + Maria


Personclever
08/3/2013 at 12:26am
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Sounds like you had batter take the awning with you then !

Your only other option would be to move the gas bottles, but I think they would be a lot safer left where they are.

Did you make sure the hitch is at the height of the ball on the car when you measured it ?


PersonDave+Maria
08/3/2013 at 7:14am
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yeah the post i use is the same height of the towball including scales.

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Dave + Maria


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Personjohnks
08/3/2013 at 7:52am
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I think you need to buy a proper noseweight guage.



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John


PersonPickled Onion
08/3/2013 at 10:00am
 Location: Near Alton Towers
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Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 08/3/2013

I think you need to buy a proper noseweight guage.


A noseweight guage is not a bad investment for anyone really and a reasonable one isn't that expensive.

Dave


Personadrian06
08/3/2013 at 12:46pm
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Yup, we bought a noseweight guage years ago, following advice on the site. Probably one of the most useful bits of kit we have bought in years. It has enabled us to have a much more comfortable and safe towing life.

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Adrian


Personjaiash
08/3/2013 at 2:07pm
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Do you really need two gas bottles? We have a single smaller size BP gaslite and it has lasted us 18 weeks so far.


Personclever
08/3/2013 at 7:48pm
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Quote: Originally posted by jaiash on 08/3/2013
Do you really need two gas bottles? We have a single smaller size BP gaslite and it has lasted us 18 weeks so far.


Good point - We only have one and we are in our second year with it. The gauge still shows as full !


Problem is, even with one bottle they will still be way over the limit without putting something heavy just behind the axle.



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