Message Forums

Absolutely wrong. You can't load at the rear to compensate for noseweight. This is very dangerous.

Also, you don't want to reduce the noseweight anyway. The caravan is designed to have that much for stability.

You really cannot do this.

Jim

Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 14/9/2011

---

Absolutely wrong. You can't load at the rear to compensate for noseweight. This is very dangerous.

Also, you don't want to reduce the noseweight anyway. The caravan is designed to have that much for stability.

You really cannot do this.

Jim

---

But the nose weight of this van is not supposed to be 100Kg. If it is then it's possible that there is too much weight forward of the axle. If the noseweight of my Olympus was 100Kgs it probably would've taken out the rear suspension of by BMW seeing as the limit was 75 (considering we travel 4 up with dog in the boot as well). I never had any problems.

I agree that heavy weights shouldn't be put at the back of the van but as long as it's just behind the axle I can't see it being a problem. Every time you put something in the van you have to put something somewhere else to compensate. Some manipulation of the nose weight has to happen.

What is the noseweight then?  Legal minimum seems to be 58Kg at 4%, and the ideal range does go just over 100Kg at 7%.

I am very happy with manipulation of noseweight up to a point, but loading at the rear is definitely not on.

Neither is reducing noseweight below the ideal, just to accomodate the towcar.  That's part of the matching process.  It would be interesting to know what the noseweight recommended by the manufacturer actually is, but that's what we should be aiming for.

If the car won't cope with that, get a bigger car.

Jim

I did call Bailey and ask the question when I bought the van (due to all the talk of high nose weights on the net). I can't remember the exact amount but I do remember thinking it wouldn't be a problem for my 320d. I'm sure it was around the 75Kg mark. Bailey really should make it clear in the specs/dimensions I think...

The factory noseweight is 88Kgs without gas bottle not sure if it includes cushions so I dont know where they get 66Kgs from.

I did check with dealer and match sites but only after I bought did I find out there was a problem.

On our last trip I managed to get the noseweight down to 83Kgs with the gas bottle in the front locker, but it did not seem as balanced maybe that was just in my head.

I am now thinking about getting an old 4x4 and using it only for towing and bad weather if I can insure both vehicles but only be covered for the one im driving. 

Quote: Originally posted by Bilbo1 on 25/9/2011

---

The factory noseweight is 88Kgs without gas bottle not sure if it includes cushions so I dont know where they get 66Kgs From

---

I got the 88KGs from Kelly at Baileys during a phone call after I had already purchased the caravan, taking dealers word and towcar guide that the combination was a good match.

I am also thinking about a Rover, and chrysler 300 but I havent checked the insurance or service costs yet which could be expensive.