Noseweight gauges
I am a newbie to caravaning and want to ensure I get the right nose weight (I am happy that I understand the correct figure)
I am looking at purchasing a guage but am torn between the Milenco or Maypole.
The Maypole seems to be good value but am wary of buying 'cheap & cheerful' that cannot be relied upon to give me an accurate reading.
Any thoughts or recommendations please ?
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I can't help I'm afraid. I bought a sturdy pair of kitchen scales and along with a piece of timber and a length of broom handle prefer to use that since I can easily check calibration using my own body weight measured on our proper bathroom scales. I always pack in the same way and no longer check as I know that I will be over 85kg and under 90kg which is fine for me
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I bought the Milenco on the basis that it's the only one that has been calibrated. OK, so a bit more money but it seems to do the job. I haven't checked it against anything else, so I can't vouch for its accuracy - but it does seem consistent in that if I know Ros has gone more overboard than usual with the amount of clothes she's put in the rear wardrobes, it does reflect it!
I've learned the hard way - many times - that 'cheap 'n cheerful' doesn't work and you're usually better off getting what you believe to be the best in the first place.
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am i being a bit thick, but if it only weighs in the range 50kgs - 100 kgs how do you determine how much over weight you are if you should exceed 100kgs . If the guage is maxed out you would have to selectively take/move items around until you found the 100 kgs weight. If it measured to 150kgs it would be more practical as you would be able to see exactly how much the weight had reduced by take/move just one item .
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PYRAMID HD CARAVAN TRAILER NOSE WEIGHT GAUGE NOSEWEIGHT model B0150
got the above as a present many years ago, see on Amazon that it is not available, so no idea re cost, used to use bathroom scales, but the above product is in a nice carry bag and is about the size of a telescope so all good.
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Not interested in carrying a noseweight gauge even in a nice bag. For me it is totally pointless. As we tour on trips of 4 to 7 weeks we always carry the same things in the same location. The only thing that change over our trips is a few kg of gas in front locker and the odd half kilo of potatoes in a wet locker. If OH's wardrobe is not fully loaded then she has not finished packing.
I check noseweight once a year
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It would make no difference to me. OH wardrobe full. The top locker for my tee shirts and sweaters full. half a dozen pairs of trousers in my wardrobe - maybe a couple replaced by lighter weight ones. always a couple of pairs of shorts, spare shoes and a pair of sandals. Outdoor coats and jackets hang on a hanger attached to headrest posts. One might come inside in inclement weather.
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Wow, all that! Easy, you've got it made.
We carry enough clothes for 2 weeks for the two of us in 3 overhead lockers. Outer wear is of the type that packs into small bags and gets shoved in odd corners.
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Wow!!! dont think i own that many items of clothing, very very seldom wear trousers, in shorts even during winter months in the UK, normally take 1 pair of shower proof long trousers. have a 5 berth cvan, only bought to accomodate Gkids, now most of top lockers are only half full/empty, 2 spare sleeping bags under front bunks for when daughter joins us in Spain, wardrobe we share, outdoor clothing/wellies/keep colds go in shower (middle of cvan) which has never been used, bike is our only clutter, but cant go without my bike. Did once consider removing rear bunk to reduce weight but thought it might affect the balance of the van, combination of 2xgas bottles in front locker and rear bunk means i dont have to be too careful when keeping to nose weight of 100kgs. I do use my guage before leaving for 3 month trip, but nearly always checks in at approx 90Kgs, used to use bathroom scales before somebody bought me the gauge.
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The only time my noseweight changes is when I take my glasses off.
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Have a Milenco gauge. Check before each trip to get about 90 - 95kgs, it's nearly always about there when I check., but don't bother for rest of time as always pack the same.
Blimey Easy that's a lot of stuff! For 4 - 6 weeks continental touring I wear jeans/warm jumper for start of trip, have a pair of smartish slacks in wardrobe just in case, couple of jumpers, a few T shirts and shorts, sandals, (wearing causal shoes at start of trip) waterproof jacket, underwear etc and that's about it. OH needs rest of space!
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I probably have about 14 tee shirts and perhaps (in summer) 4 short sleeved shirts. It cuts down on the need for too regular clothes washing. Once upon a time I would simply have grabbed half a dozen of our tops and tee shirts and the odd pair of slacks etc and handwashed. Arthritis means that is now far harder.
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I dont thnk I would carry it when touring but good to establish the right loading before setting off and then stick to the same storage arrangement as stated.
How much do people carry in their car ?
Just two of us but a limited payload (with motormovers , battery & gas could be only 100 Kg's) would help to maximise what could go in the 'van ?
I am thinking Aquaroll , Wastemaster , Chairs etc
What about the idea of carrying the vans' spare wheel (must weigh 10 Kg's) ?
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How long is a piece of string? Depends on makes and models and I suppose any towcar hitch limits. Some have reported 120kg noseweight empty. Mine was 63kg and a little twitchy but not a problem driven with care over a 40 mile non motorway route. However when I wanted to take it 150 mile to Alde down the motorway and it was empty I loaded a couple of 30 pack coles at front of 'van and a container of timed foods.
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Most modern c/vans are now fitted with hitch head stablisers and ATC so do not worry to much, if towing it empty, just ensure the atc led has changed from red to green when connecting in the 13pin plug , dealer should show you
Ps get them to give you a green (usually) plug holder, as it is not unknown for the plug and socket to mis a line again ask your dealer to also show you how to re aline
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In car - a Tiguan: awning (if using), table, aquaroll, water container, hitchlock, cable, small travelling water container and box of books.
Yes good idea to get a plug aligner, I have had to use it and rescued someone once who did not have one.
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Don't forget the overall weight of the fully loaded caravan is just as important as checking the nose weight. I was staggered at how overweight my caravan was when I checked it on a weighbridge. This was on the way back to my storage site with most of our personal clothes and food removed.
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The correct nose weight is important for outfit stability. It is a good practice to check it before you use the van. After a while I am sure you will find out how different positions of items in your van affect the nose weight. If you caravan in the UK there is an argument that many people take sufficient clothing to suit all weathers and so the load doesn't significantly change. If you intend to purchase a gauge, you should get one that is calibrated. If you don't, you may as well just guess. Bathroom scales are OK for an indication, but without a calibration, they are just that, an indication and not a measurement.
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