Nose weight ratio

Zapata
Zapata Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited September 2016 in Caravans #1

Just used the C/Club outfit matching service, there is supposed to be a glossary of terms but this is not available/working !

The stated nose weight ratio  is 110%, apart from the fact that a ratio is not stricly a percentage, what does the term mean?

Thanks

Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #2

    No idea where to find CC matching in order to advise. 

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #3

    Sorry I have no idea,

     

  • NevChap
    NevChap Forum Participant Posts: 180
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #4

    The noseweight ratio refers to the ratio between the nose weight of the caravan and the noseweight limit stated by the car manufacturer. For instance if a caravan has a desired nose weight of 70 kg and the car recommends a 70kg noseweight limit the ratio
    would be 100%. If the caravan noseweight is above the car's noseweight limit it would have a ratio above 100%. That said noseweights for caravans are not fixed and can/will vary depending on loading etc. Use the matching as a guide but only way to really be
    certa is to use a noseweight gauge when the caravan is loaded.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #5

    I can see the ratio if it relates to the ex works noseweight (although it would be of no practical use)  but as you say the actual noseweight will vary according to the user rendering this 110% figure meaningless.

  • Robster2007
    Robster2007 Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited September 2016 #6

    That all sounds a bit academic to me, or I am being daft, not an uncommon situation.

    Surely noseweight is simple and should never exceed the lower of either the car/towbar maximum or caravan stated noseweight maximum!

    For my rig car is 150Kg, Van is 100Kg so maximum noseweight is 100Kg.



    Robin

  • bigherb
    bigherb Forum Participant Posts: 65
    edited September 2016 #7

    I can see the ratio if it relates to the ex works noseweight (although it would be of no practical use)

    It does if the ex works noseweight it higher than the maximum permisible noseweight of the towing vehicle.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #8

    No caravan I would think will have a max nose weight of more than 100kg, a as that is the limit you will find stamped on the alco coupling head (not sure of winterhof) our c/van has ex works nose weight of 60kg ,our car has 85kg weight limit on the hook,
    when loaded the van always seems to be 80kg nose weight ,a any thing above 85 kg on the hook will over the 100 % 

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #9

    I thought that the ratio was that of the nose weight to weight of the caravan and the desired figure was 7%

  • Robster2007
    Robster2007 Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited September 2016 #10

    I thought that the ratio was that of the nose weight to weight of the caravan and the desired figure was 7%

    That is a guide and best practice.

    Actually there are two hard limits that should never be exceeded.

    One is the maximum for your two bar, as I have said before mine is 150Kg, the other is the maximum nose weight of your van, which should be on your plate, ALKO normally has a Max of 100Kg, although some vans will have a lower limit specified, I believe some
    newer ALKO designs can go higher but these are rare.

    You should never exceed the lower of these two limits.

    So which ever is the lower, your car/towbar or your caravan is actually your maximum noseweight and all other calculations and percentages are irelevant!

    This I had read before doing the CC course but was repeated on the course several times as people seemed to think they could pick either of the two numbers or the calculated %!  Worried

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited September 2016 #11

    I thought that the ratio was that of the nose weight to weight of the caravan and the desired figure was 7%

    Write

    I believe you are correct, but how does that work with heavier vans? Mine, like many twin axle and larger singles, has an mptl of 1800.kg. 7% is 126kg, exceeding the Alko towbar limit.

    My Bailey has an ex factory noseweight of 90kg. Took me a long time to extract this info from the salesman before I bought the van. My tug has a limit of 140kg, which is rather academic.

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