Any ideas about load levellers

simonp · Veteran Member

Any ideas about load levellers

Rip and Rosie · Guru

welcome simonp.

I'll be watching this topic with interest, and a glass of wine.

Baz421 · Guru

Hi Simon

a recent thread has some info for you,, see link

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t56812339/wdh-or-not/

Cheers Baz

PeterD · Guru

Baz, that link is talking about ESC on the van not ESC on the tug.

I think your salesman is not very switched on. WDH is reported to interfere self levelling type suspension, I have never heard of interfering to vehicle dynamics systems.

Baz421 · Guru

Thanks Pete,, I'm not up with ESC at all.

Phil C · Guru

Frankly, I cant see it interfering with anything, yes it changes the dynamics of the vehicle and van combo but one would think the system would be self adjusting for ute tray load and other load events. Methinks Mr Ford salesman needs to do some reading. Both ESC systems are autonomous and have their own sensors etc. I wouldn't be without my WDH. "very interesting"...

simonp · Veteran Member

Just been informed that there is a notice on the inside of the drivers door that prohibits the use of them. That's good enough for me!

deverall11 · Guru

simonp wrote:
Just been informed that there is a notice on the inside of the drivers door that prohibits the use of them. That's good enough for me!

Load levellers are exactly just that. They level the vehicle once the van is attached. I would be getting more information regarding this 'notice'. Further more, if you are going to tow a van with a reasonable weight, I hope we are not near you when it all comes undone and you become a cropper.

Good luck, Larry

-- Edited by deverall11 on Wednesday 12th of March 2014 02:06:17 PM

JANDI · Newbie

simonp.... you should disregard the post from deverall11. Thats just plain nasty. If the notice on your vehicle door is a genuine factory one then dont use a WDH. You will void your insurance on the tug and possibly the van if you do. IF your van does not have a lot of weight on the ball, and IF all you want is your tug levelled back up, and If you have rear coil springs on the tug, you can go with air bag assist rear suspension. About $500 fitted by Pedders. Best for coil springs, can be used for leaf springs but not as good. If you have a lot of weight on the ball and you cant use a WDH you may have to get rid of the tug as unsafe. The new AlKo ESC may be an option also. But it wont help a saggy arse..... Good luck !!!

deverall11 · Guru

JANDI wrote:
simonp.... you should disregard the post from deverall11. Thats just plain nasty. If the notice on your vehicle door is a genuine factory one then dont use a WDH. You will void your insurance on the tug and possibly the van if you do. IF your van does not have a lot of weight on the ball, and IF all you want is your tug levelled back up, and If you have rear coil springs on the tug, you can go with air bag assist rear suspension. About $500 fitted by Pedders. Best for coil springs, can be used for leaf springs but not as good. If you have a lot of weight on the ball and you cant use a WDH you may have to get rid of the tug as unsafe. The new AlKo ESC may be an option also. But it wont help a saggy arse..... Good luck !!!

Jandi, you are a newbie and sounds like you do not understand the full extent of WDH. It's not all about levelling the vehicle, it also about putting weight back on the from wheels and taking the load off the tow ball.

This what could happen if you get it wrong JANDI:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SsSZVTanqQ&app=desktop

PeterD · Guru

JANDI wrote:
If the notice on your vehicle door is a genuine factory one then dont use a WDH. You will void your insurance on the tug and possibly the van if you do.

Not necessarily, these notices are often put there as they are not confident about their OEM bars. Check with HR regarding the fitting of their bars on your tug. They warrant their own equipment. If they are willing to allow WDH on their hitch receivers then you will have full warranty on the bar and any damage to the chassis.

Just remember that if you are not using WDH your allowable loading will be reduced must be reduced by more than just the weight of the tow ball. That is because you are loading the ball weight a long way back from the axle. This reduces the weight on the front axle. In turn this weight is imposed on the rear axle. Nissan does not support the use of WDH on their hitch receivers. The following is how they deal with this weight transfer:

D40 4WD Dual Cab models
Towball download Vehicle Mass
150kg GVM** (All variants)
200kg Reduced loaded vehicle mass below GVM** by 60kg
250kg Reduced loaded vehicle mass below GVM** by 130kg
300kg Reduced loaded vehicle mass below GVM** by 200kg
GVM = Gross Vehicle Mass
If the loaded vehicle mass is reduced as shown in the table, the towball download can be increased correspondingly.
Accordingly, if the laden mass is 180kg less than the GVM,** a towball download of 200kg is approved (2WD). Different
trailer types and different trailer manufacturers have varying towball downloads. The customer will need to contact the
trailer manufacturer for information as to the download. Nissan is not able to make any recommendation on the use
or suitability of load-levelling or weight distribution devices to be fitted to the vehicle. Customers should contact the
manufacturers of these devices for further information.

After you have reduced the maximum vehicle mass by one of those figures you still have to subtract the ball loading from your load allowance.

If you are not going to employ WDH then it is up to you to do calculations on your new maximum vehicle mass in the same manner as Nissan have done for their customers. There is nothing unique about loading capacities of Nissans. The laws of physics apply to all vehicles.

deverall11 · Guru

PeterD, Thank goodness for commonsense. Thank you Peter.
Larry

JANDI · Newbie

Well, you certainly dont have to be an Einstien to figure it out. Its all pretty simple and just a matter of leverage and pivot points. But after all is said and done if the manufacturer of the tug bans the use of a WDH, then if there is an insurance claim, that is one of the first things they look at, as well as the ATM and the ball weight of the van as to the specs of the tug. They will refuse a claim if they possibly can. Unfortunately it is a fact, and no amount of dogmatic comment will change that. Incidentally, as we have travelled around this lovely country we continually seem to run into people such as one who has posted here. Full of their own importance and only too ready to belittle others for their opinions. Stuck in the ways of outdated technology and ever willing to impose themselves and their opinions on others. So..... this is my last post. I have better things to do.....