Hi to everyone. This is my first post after joining in the last couple of days. Would appreciate some advice please. We are buying a JB caravan from the factory outlet at Caboolture, north of Brisbane pick up in February hence the research before the final plans are signed off. We are buying a 20'6" Dirt Roader ie. suitable for graded unsealed roads to and from national parks etc. No Cape York stuff. We also want to benefit from free camping as well as caravan parks so we want to carry enough water to accommodate the free camping lifestyle as much as possible. The van comes with two 95 litre fresh water tanks located in front of the duel axles and a grey water tank, also 95 litres will be in front of them. We have a MY15 GLX Pajero with a maximum tow ball weight for this size van of 180 kgs. The Tare of 2300 kgs and an atm is 2700 kgs with a tow ball weight of 120 kgs is on the same model van in the yard but without the extra tanks. Would it be safe to move one 95 litre water tank to just behind the rear axle as well as installing a 65 litre water tank between the axles without upsetting the balance or the safe towing capabilities of the van? The designer says it would be ok but I would be glad to hear from anybody who has first hand experience in a similar setup.
Hi Dreamweaver,
We have 5 x 95 litre water tanks on our van, the rear tank is positioned about 3/4 metre forward of the extreme rear of the van. However, it is a heavy duty off road van. The rear tank always gets used first (does not take weight off the ball, which can cause sway) and then work forward. You should be OK, even with the added tank which is only 65 litres.. The grey water tank is really just a redistribution of water from the other tanks.
Hope this is of some help.
Cheers,
Robyn
Well said Robyn could not improve on that.Now,Blair, do yourself a favour and spend the $70 ish and buy a towball scale so you can be always aware of your loadings.I would also suggest that once you are home and settled in ,fill all your tanks and put some weighty stuff in the van so as to do a "mock load" and then bugger off to a weighbridge and get a reading ,that way you are 100% sure from the word go . Welcome to the team .Cheers John
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Westy. Some people I know are like slinkies. They look really funny when you push them downstairs !
Thanks Robyn and John for your quick replies. That makes me feel better about rearranging the tanks and I certainly will be getting a towball scale John. All the best to you both.
Welcome to the gang Dreamweaver, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I have a similar set up and size tanks to yours however to keep weight a bit more even I had the grey water tank fitted to the rear side of twin axles under the ensuite area. All works well for me.
Keep Safe out there.
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Not a post re moving tanks, although I did do that on our previous van to balance a very heavy ball weight, without any problems or instability issues.
My post is to say for you to get an increase in the load allowance from the 400 kg you are talking about. Your water, with the additional tank is going to take up 255 kg of your load allowance, the HWS will take 25 kg, your gas will take 18 kg. That will leave you just over 100 kg for food clothes and all the other paraphernalia that we like to carry, and that will not be enough for you.
I would look at getting it set at least to 500 kg, and if possible 600 kg, although this may put ATM beyond the Pajero if fully loaded.
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done!
Thanks for the great feedback everyone. Yes we are getting the ATM of the van increased from 2700 kgs to 2900 kgs to legally accommodate the extra weight. Bearing in mind the towing capacity of the Pajero is rated to 3000 kgs we still would like to keep the van as light as possible. I thought about having the grey water tank installed behind the rear axle but I'm sure the designer said that it had to go in the front so it could drain naturally (???). Can't put a pump in the grey water tank which I can understand. The extra tank between the axles is a "nice to have" and one which we may or may not fill depending on where we go and for how long. What I was really worried about was how all the moving and adding of tanks would affect the towball weight.
I'd be very wary of shifting the tanks as this may reduce your ball weight which is already on the light side, based on 180 kgs for a van with an ATM of 2700 kgs.
Thanks Bill. Yes something I have to be very careful of. My thoughts are to have the waste water tank placed just behind the rear axle and leave the two water tanks at the front.
i have 4 95 ltr fresh tanks under my van and so to keep the balance i can pull water from individual tanks also if i know i won't need 400 odd ptrs of water i can just fill what i need . works for me
I have had a grey water tank removed from the front and put behind the axles as that is where the shower and all the water pipes are, otherwise you are pushing uphill
The chassis manf need to look at grey water tanks and put a hole in the rear to allow the pipework to go thru it and run downhill into the top of the tank
Ken
Thanks Ken. Yes that's what I though would be best as well. I'll check with the designer again closer to when we get the van built. I can't see it affecting the balance too much if the grey water tank is close up against the rear axle. And besides it probably wouldn't be there long as you would dispose of the water asap (responsibly of course) when you leave the site.
my trusty dolly i only fill that much water if i know i won't need it or theres none there .i also have 2 100 ltr water bags to fill them up once I'm there . i got about 500 kg pay load
