Confused Again

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Confused Again

Cadpete · Guru

Van compliance plate is for the van chassis - ie not to exceed 172Kg download

Vehicle plate is for the vehicle chassis..

If the vehicle value is greater than the van value, you still cannot exceed the van value, but could tow a heavier rated van.

Young Simmo · Guru

uncle wombat, I'll give you my experience and you can weigh it up however you like. We had a 23 foot Viscount Caravan(Empty Gross 1450 Kg) for 10 years. Took it around the block twice, and up the middle and no dramas. It was always on the back of my 1992 Troopy and I had a policy of maintain what I estimated to be about 80 or 90 Kgs down force on my tow ball. I stood beside the hitch, and grabbed it with one hand hung down beside me, and if I could just barely lift it, that was good. Also it is not hard to move a few things back and forth to get a reasonable balance and put it back when you get there. I know we are all different but that was my way and no scratches or arguments just happy motoring.

KFT · Guru

uncle wombat wrote:
Hi all, I'm having a debate over, yes "weight" (pardon the pun) for it :- Tow ball weight downloads. If a van compliance plate says for eg: 172 kg tow ball download then you cant exceed that right?
Others are saying it doesn't matter if your vehicle plate says more.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Uncle Wombat

In my experience the ball mass figure given on the van plate is usually the ball weight at Tare(van empty). About 10% of your maximum caravan weight(ATM) is a good figure to start with as a ball mass.

The only figures you should not exceed are:

1. Caravan ATM

2. Tow capacity of towing vehicle

3. Max ball mass download of towbar on towing vehicle.

hope that helps

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

wot Frank said

Keep this website and take the time to read this site fully - it contains all the facts and information for towing -

http://www.towingguide.com.au/index.html

I snipped this from that site for you info -

Towing 01.JPG

It is common for the towball weight stated on the compliance plate on the van to be a number arrived at mathematically and not have any bearing on the actual towball weight after the van is loaded - dependent how that load is distributed within the van.

It is usually calculated as ATM of van less TARE of van = theoretical towball weight. When you have the van loaded you should not exceed the ATM and the actual towball weight should not exceed the vehicle manufacturer's stated maximum towball weight.

Similarly, the LOADED WEIGHT of the van (which must be less or equal to the ATM) should not exceed the vehicle manufacturer's stated maximum allowable towing weight ... determined from the owner's manual or specifications. That maximum allowable towing weight will need to include any calculation dictated by the manufacturer regarding any 'payload' included in the vehicle - the GVM.

The following article, although covering whether a stated towing capacity of 3,500Kg is valid, does contain good advice on how to be wary of loading the van and vehicle and the impact on the vehicle's actual ability.

https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/why-a-3500kg-tow-rating-may-not-really-be-a-3500kg-tow-rating/

Cheers - John

Young Simmo · Guru

The bottom line is what is the tow vehicle up to, no one size fits all. If your tow vehicle is a Falcon sedan keep it to 30 Kgs on the tow ball, if it is a Troopy or Land Cruiser ute maybe up to 300 Kgs. My 23 foot Viscount Van towed equally as good on the back of my Ex WA Police Falcon Panel van, as it did on the Troopy. I am speaking from experience and never looked at a compliance plate in my life, in fact where do you find it.

I went from Ex WA Police Falcon Panel van to Troopy because my darling looked left, instead of left and right at an intersection in Alice Springs.

Simmo.

I apologise to all the technicians but, I consider myself to be a bit of realist.

OK, come get me.

Maybe I might get off if the 2% are having a snoooooooooze.

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thank you for your comments they helped

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Funny how theory takes over from common sense these days .. Bit like that part in The Castle .. It just doesn't seem right ..
We put things down to experience .. The legal system these days .. Lol

Desert Dweller · Guru

It took us a while to really work things out as far as our vans balance was concerned & also to notice how many rigs looked definitely overweight just like their owners.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Hang on you seen me ? Ahahahah

Cooper12 · Member

The other thing that must not be exceeded is GCVM (Gross Combination Vehicle Mass). That is the fully loaded weight of the tow vehicle plus the fully loaded weight of the caravan.

John

Young Simmo · Guru

Wow, I'm not sure about all this frightening technical brain release. Over about 20 years we have had about 6 or 7 caravans, been around the block 3 times, done Carnarvon to Adelaide and back , Kalgoorlie to Nullagine and back and forth all around WA Goldfields. We just hooked up and went. Never a problem and still alive to talk about it. But I suppose if people want to get caught up in all that Teck Stuff, that is their choice but you can survive without it. Frankly I would rather worry about the closing time of the local pub.

Simmo.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Yeah Simmo ... understand what ya mean

but then again, we don't put our kids standing up in the back of the ute any more and drive into town either. cry

cheers - John