Noseweights

moonchip
moonchip Forum Participant Posts: 106
edited January 2016 in Caravans #1

Good morning

Does anyone know if there is an 'optimal' noseweight to aim for ? I know what the maximum is for my car and I'm considerably below that

Any replies appreciated

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #2

    I'd tend to go for the car's max ..... providing it's not more than the caravan's hitch max

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #3

    Both my car and caravan are 100kgs.  I try to get about 95Kgs noseweight; the higher the better for stability.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #4

    Heavier the nose the greater the stability. Don't exceed the Alko hitch limit of 100 kg or the cars rated maximum. Shift weight forward if you are too low and be aware of the Club guidelines for the minimum (5% - 7% of MTPLM I believe, but somebody may correct
    me).

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #5

    Irrespective of the
    carrying capacity of the actual hitch fitted,
    I believe you will find most European caravans have     chassis
    limited to 100kgs noseweight.

    So even if your vehicle is able to carry above 100 kgs that is the limit.

    Most things considered, IMO the towing experience will be “better” using the maximum value the car can take up to that 100 kgs.

     

  • moonchip
    moonchip Forum Participant Posts: 106
    edited January 2016 #6

    Thanks very much - that helps a lot. In 'towing configuration' (ie, loaded, hitched & ready to go) my caravan has a noseweight of around 30kg towing with a 3 ltr Hilux. I'll play around and get some more weight onto the hitch. It tows perfectly but I can
    appreciate the target weight especially when running in rear wheel drive mode. Thanks very much for your replies

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #7

    30 Kgs is very low indeed and IMO far too close to inviting instability issues. For example induced by wind/ passing bow-waves slams into the van's front so unloading much of the hitch load. In German I believe the legal limit is 4% of the van's weight but
    not less than 25 kgs. I suspect you are under that as most vans are way over 750 kgs!

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited January 2016 #8

    As per hitchglitch 5-7% of MTPLM is recommended.

  • TheAdmiral
    TheAdmiral Forum Participant Posts: 506
    edited January 2016 #9

    As per hitchglitch 5-7% of MTPLM is recommended.

    I also agree.

  • Kerry Watkins
    Kerry Watkins Forum Participant Posts: 325
    100 Comments
    edited January 2016 #10

    We set our nose weight to 5% of the vans 1300kg and find this is fine for us

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #11

    Many modern vans have the opposite problem of excessive noseweight. I think in some cases this is due to the fact that they are pushing the limit for single axles with quite large rear overhangs.

    From my experience 30 kg nose weight would not be good for towing and much more prone to instability/sway. You really do need to load the gas locker and front lockers more, preferably shifting weight from the rear.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #12

    I can't recall the exact figures but with the van unladen it was around 55kg and the van feels a little skitish if I were to tow at speed in that configuration. 

  • moonchip
    moonchip Forum Participant Posts: 106
    edited January 2016 #13

    I put more weight in the front and am glad I did ! I towed back from Cumbria yesterday and the additional weight on the hitch was very appreciated. Speeds were down to 55, even 50 in places with high side & nose winds, and the 'revs' were considerably 'up' because of this

    I've since found out (back at home) that the 'ideal' noseweight for my caravan & car combination is 85 Kg, so I'll be making whatever adjustments are necessary to achieve this on my next outing

    Thank you very much for all your replies on this thread

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited January 2016 #14

    I've the same motor as you moonchip , the only time I have measured the nose weight and loaded the caravan accordingly it towwed horrable,

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited January 2016 #15

    I've the same motor as you moonchip , the only time I have measured the nose weight and loaded the caravan accordingly it towed horrable I stopped and threw all the gear back to the front of the caravan and it tows much better.

    Mine seems to prefer more wieght on the back,

    My Hilux always has weight in the back.

    Do you run yours lightly loaded?

     

  • moonchip
    moonchip Forum Participant Posts: 106
    edited January 2016 #16

    I've the same motor as you moonchip , the only time I have measured the nose weight and loaded the caravan accordingly it towed horrable I stopped and threw all the gear back to the front of the caravan and it tows much better.

    Mine seems to prefer more wieght on the back,

    My Hilux always has weight in the back.

    Do you run yours lightly loaded?

     

    Hello

    The back seats of the cab are always full of kit (which I could put in the caravan to increase nose weight).

    The buck (load area) is usually full though not always with heavy things. Next time I tow I'm going to try about 200Kg's and see if it makes any difference

    Thanks for your reply

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited January 2016 #17

    do you have a hard top on yours?

    i have a truckmann top with no side windows. I ve made a shelf at the back that runs half way up the load area which I find very handy rather than piling all the gear on top of each other.

    I often tow a 2.8 tonne trailler fully loaded, god knows what the nose weight is on that, have had the jockey wheel bending before.

     

  • Tirril
    Tirril Forum Participant Posts: 439 ✭
    100 Comments
    edited January 2016 #18

    I've the same motor as you moonchip , the only time I have measured the nose weight and loaded the caravan accordingly it towed horrable I stopped and threw all the gear back to the front of the caravan and it tows much better.

    Mine seems to prefer more wieght on the back,

    My Hilux always has weight in the back.

    Do you run yours lightly loaded?

     

    Hello

    The back seats of the cab are always full of kit (which I could put in the caravan to increase nose weight).

    The buck (load area) is usually full though not always with heavy things. Next time I tow I'm going to try about 200Kg's and see if it makes any difference

    Thanks for your reply

    Write your comments here... At 200 kg you will be well over any vehicle or trailer limit! Perhaps your front wheels will even be off the groundSmile

  • moonchip
    moonchip Forum Participant Posts: 106
    edited February 2016 #19

    I've the same motor as you moonchip , the only time I have measured the nose weight and loaded the caravan accordingly it towed horrable I stopped and threw all the gear back to the front of the caravan and it tows much better.

    Mine seems to prefer more wieght on the back,

    My Hilux always has weight in the back.

    Do you run yours lightly loaded?

     

    Hello

    The back seats of the cab are always full of kit (which I could put in the caravan to increase nose weight).

    The buck (load area) is usually full though not always with heavy things. Next time I tow I'm going to try about 200Kg's and see if it makes any difference

    Thanks for your reply

    Write your comments here... At 200 kg you will be well over any vehicle or trailer limit! Perhaps your front wheels will even be off the groundSmile

    You must have softer suspension than mine. 600 Kg of paving slabs and the suspension on mine is only just starting to 'give'
    Happy

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2016 #20

    At 200 kg you will be well over any vehicle or trailer limit! Perhaps your front wheels will even be off the groundSmile

    You must have softer suspension than mine. 600 Kg of paving slabs and the suspension on mine is only just starting to 'give'
    Happy

    Whether the suspension 'gives' or not doesn't change the weight distribution between the front and rear axle, though. A car can sit perfectly level and yet the permissible rear axle load can still be exceeded.

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited February 2016 #21

    seeing as it has a one tonne payload, you're going to be going some to overload the back axle of a Hilux with a caravan.

  • moonchip
    moonchip Forum Participant Posts: 106
    edited February 2016 #22

    UPDATE :

    3rd trip away of 2016, this time showing a noseweight of 81Kg and approx. 180Kg in the buck of the Hilux.

    The extra weight in both has made a considerable difference. It was stable before but now is much more so. Thoroughly rock-solid stable at 60 mph even with strong head, side & tail winds. Also now completely unaffected by passing HGV's & coaches

    Thanks so much for all your replies - really apprecaited

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