The maximum tow ball weight for your vehicle is set by the vehicle manufacturer and or the tow bar manufacturer you will often find it written on a specification plate on the tow bar or some times on a sticker attached in the cars door frame. failing this you may need to contact the vehicle manufacturer.
Landy
PS also try looking in the car hand book.
-- Edited by landy on Sunday 26th of February 2012 03:59:11 PM
-- Edited by landy on Sunday 26th of February 2012 06:16:39 PM
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Weights of the van should be on the compliance plate of the van located on the A Frame BAILEY. As a general rule the tow ball weight is around 10% of gross weight, i.e. if the van has a gross of 2.5 tone then tow ball would be around 250kg.. I stand corrected of course. If you have a problem you could always take the van to a public weighbridge then work out the 10%. If that all makes sense.
I don't remember seeing you on here so if I haven't already, WELCOME from me, enjoy.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
if its an older van it probably won't have the towball weight marked on the compliance plate (our 2004 model does not so we got it weighed at a dealer using scales designed for that purpose) and found we had 40kg's too much weight on the front when fully loaded. The max weight for the tow ball is usually marked on the vehicle tow hitch The way I understand the 10% rule is that for safe towing the towball weight should be at least 10% of the vans total weight. If it was determined by the towing capacity of the vehicle as opposed to the actual tow hitch we could have 300 k'gs when in fact its stamped 250k'gs on the car's tow hitch Having said that don't always believe what is written on the compliance plate and get it weighed endependently to be sure.
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
Easiest way for us to work it out we went to the RAA and asked the technician gave him the car model etc and the van details he soon told us if the set up was O.K.. Helena.
Your not the first and certainly won't be the last that had incorrect TARE - Ball Weight etc stamped on a VIN Plate. Until such time as the authorities crack down in this misrepresentation and fraudulent behavior, the deception will continue. Ozjohn.
-- Edited by ozjohn on Monday 27th of February 2012 02:46:23 PM
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
Caravan Manufacturers do not set the Ball Weight except in the case of an extremely small number that have a Maximum ball weight stamped on the ViN Plate.
Unless the VIN Plate says Maxumum, then any ball weight shown on the VIN Plate (Not a legal requirement) will be either the unladen vans ball weight or the diffeernce between the ATM & GTM. These ball weights are flawed as they have no relevance to what the actual ball weight will be for the laden van and or how the load is distributed.
Max ball weight is the lesser of the weights detirminied by the vehicle manufactuirer, tow bar manufacturer or a trailer manufacturer who states maximum.
Cheers Ozjohn.
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
Do not believe the manufacturer have it tested mine stated that it was 250kg empty. When we had it tested empty it was 360kg the manufacturers stuffed up big time.
Can anybody tell me where do you stand legally if you have purchased a van with an incorrect vin plate only to find out that it is way too heavy to tow with our vehicle. I can not afford to replace the vehicle, but also means I will lose thousands selling the van that is not 12 months old.
My understanding is that you need to be able to prove that you relied on information provided by the manufacturer/dealer in making your decision about the tow vehicle. If the information which they provided proves to be false or misleading you may have a case. We currently have legal action pending against our van's manufacturer and dealer on the same issue. The van supplied had a tow ball weight considerably outside of the range stated in their specifications.
False declaration as to measures, weights, etc "No person shall, by means of words, description, or other indication, direct or indirect, make any false declaration or statement, or wilfully mislead any person as to the number, quantity, measure, gauge, or weight of any articles sold or delivered by him".
Cheers Ozjohn.
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
