tow ball weight

fredcam · Veteran Member

tow ball weight

Plendo · Guru

Hi Fred, conventional wisdom says the ball weight should be around 10% of your total van weight, some people state 10 to 12%, others quote 7 to 10%.

My personal experience tells me that 7% was not comfortable (felt very nervous), I am now a touch over 10%, and it feels good.

BTW I tow with a Discovery which has the same suspension platform as your sport, so I expect 10% would work well for you as well.

fredcam · Veteran Member

plendo thanks for you help l got the safe tow ball and it show 200kg cheers

Plendo · Guru

Sounds good Fred, I would try to pack weight forward to get close to 240Kg (10%). Then you can adjust it now once you know how it feels.

fredcam · Veteran Member

plendo l got a gentrax 4.4 generator which weight is about 32kg l'm thinking of takeing off gas cycle and putting generator box across the a frame and put the generator and gas cycle in box and put jerry cans at back on bump a bar near spare tyre which is rate at 90kg what do think cheers fred

PJK · Senior Member

Fred, what do you carry in the jerry cans??
If it is fuel, I think it is illegal to have fuel mounted on the rear of your van.

egards

Peter
PJK

Plendo · Guru

Fred, I hate to deliver bad news, but you should not put any fuel containter on your back bumper, they are regarded as un protected fuel containers. Suggest adding fuel container(s) to A frame, that would solve your ball weight straight away.

I would try to limit the amount of weight you add to the back bumper (does nasty things to van dynamics).

If you also add your generator on the front, it will take you way over 10%, but that is not really a bad thing. Just make sure you stay under your max ball weight.

Be mindful of your total van weight as well, if you think you are getting close, contact Royal Flair (Ian Grant from memory) and ask them if they have any scope to increase the ATM with the current suspension, they MAY be happy to re plate your van.

KeenTravellers · Veteran Member

hey guys
Here is a quick way to check van weights - ball weights...the 10% rule really is not the rule...
There is another link to the ADR on Van and how to accurately determine the facts - but I can find where I put it.
So here is basically the same thing.
http://www.caravancouncil.com.au/#!compliance/c1pna
Subheading - Ratings & Masses

Oops thats not the link I wanted....sorry

Cheers
KT

-- Edited by KeenTravellers on Sunday 24th of August 2014 08:18:13 PM

-- Edited by KeenTravellers on Sunday 24th of August 2014 08:20:07 PM

fredcam · Veteran Member

thanks peter l look in to it and let you know l store the generator in the car all in the van in the shower and put the jerry cans on the front cheers

fredcam · Veteran Member

thanks KT l look at it cheers fred

fredcam · Veteran Member

hi gang fred here l fill my two 90LT water tanks up and my ball weight from 200kg went to 205kg l am putting my tool box on the A fame and putting my gas bottle inside with my generator and bolting jerry can holders on each end on the box generator will be used outside the box not inside what do yours think

Plendo · Guru

With your water if I understand correctly there was 5kg difference in ball weight between full and empty tanks, that is excellent, it means your tanks are close to the axle(s) in your van. Exactly where you want them.

IF you put your gas bottle inside a container (like your bax), please make sure you have plenty of openings at the bottom of the box so any gas that leaks can escape. I think from memory there is a requirement for a vent hole at least 1 inch in diameter. There are specifications for gas bottles and fittings in moveable structure, it would be worth tracking them down before you commit to anything.

fredcam · Veteran Member

plendo that's right the water tanks are just in front of the dual axle and lm putting 3 air vent on the back of box