Noseweight

Freddy55
Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810 ✭
1000 Comments Name Dropper
edited March 2018 in Caravans #1

Hello folks.

I picked up the caravan from Newton Abbot today, where I’ve had it stored for the last five years or so. I was advised to set the noseweight as heavy as I could, within the weight restriction of the car. The car is a Ford Kuga, with a recommended maximum of 100kgs on the ball. So, I set it to 100kgs. Whilst I had no issues with general stability, it did lurch a bit over uneven surfaces. Any thoughts?

Cheers...Freddy.

Comments

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited March 2018 #2

    You do not need to keep the noseweight as heavy as that, the recommendation is 5-7% of the caravans weight. Personally I would aim for around 75/80Kgs this leaves room for error and the more nosewight the more wear and tear on the cars rear suspension. 

  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810 ✭
    1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #3

    Ta 👍I’ve just checked, and it transpires that 6% of the weight of the caravan works out at 75kgs. 

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2018 #4

    Is that 6% of empty or loaded caravan?  6% of 1126 = 67.56 (my MIRO) and 6% of 1326 (my max) = 79.56.  I tow at 85 - 90kgs noseweight.

    Freddy don't forget to check the condition/age of your tyres after 5 years storage; they will probably need replacing.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2018 #5

    Noseweight is a bit of a mirage.  What we weigh is the "static" noseweight on a level surface.  On a slope, up or down, it is different.  Then we start moving the caravan about and all the simple calculations go out the window.

    My twin axle weighs 1800Kg and has a nose weight (static) of over 100kg. Yet when I move it using the motor mover the jockey wheel often rises up off the ground (negative nose weight). I think this will be due to weight at the rear end, but with it being a washroom not a lot can be done to lighten things there.

    Measuring nose weight when in motion, especially over uneven surfaces, would require equipment which we as users most probably would not have available. So my guess is that it can actually vary plus or minus over 100% of the static value. So lurching is all part of the act.

  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810 ✭
    1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #6

    Hiya folks, thanks for the replies.

    When calculating the noseweight, I was basing it on the stated MIRO, 1264kgs. I don’t carry much inside, so shouldn’t be too far off? When I set the noseweight, it was on level ground, so should be reasonably accurate. I did have to mess around a bit to achieve the 100kgs, it was initially around 110kgs. I have a gazebo inside, which I moved from the front to the back. Pretty much the only other thing I can do to get the noseweight down is to remove the half empty 6kg gas bottle.

    And yes, I have new tyres 👍

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