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tow ball weight again

Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 14:57

Member - Graeme M (WA)

my previous reply may not have been clear...by tow ball I meant the tow hitch of the trailer...as long as the trailer / caravan is supported directly ...or as close as possible....under the tow hitch (where the ball inserts) and it is at the normal towing level and with its normal load then the weight bearing down on the platfrom / bathroom scale etc can only be the same weight as if it was on the ball of the towing vehicle....with the trailer / caravan connected up to your vehicle try placing the scales under the A frame as close as you can to the hitch/ ball and simply use a hydraulic jack on top of the scales to lift it clear...take the reading minus the jack weight...there it is as accurate as you will ever need

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ThreadID: 43951 Replies: 5
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AnswerID: 231441   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 15:15

Wayne-o replied:

unscrew the tow ball and weigh it in some kitchen scales, i think they weigh about a kilo............haha

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AnswerID: 231475   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 19:10

Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 replied:

If you put a scale under the jockey wheel you be close enough. If you want to be more accurate put a piece of pipe in the coupling and place a scale under that. Most scales go to 120kg so you should be right.

Reiner
In Tassie 2008
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AnswerID: 231500   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 20:28

D-Jack replied:

Not many people's tow ball weight will be undr 120kgs, especially in a caravan as per original post
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FollowupID: 492489   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 22:17

lifeisgood posted:

Didnt see Reiners baby caravan did you ? LOL
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FollowupID: 492499   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 22:37

D-Jack posted:

120kg might work for a Teardrop, but probably not for most well equipped caravans
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AnswerID: 231591   Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 04, 2007 at 08:43

Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 replied:

If you tow-ball weight is over 120kg I would hate to tow what ever it is you're towing. Have a look what the legal downweight is for most towbars/cars.
Most modern cars have a 60 or 80kg limit.
And if one scale is not enough borrow one from next door and use two:-)

Reiner ( towball weight 25kg total weight 340kg and loving it)
In Tassie 2008
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AnswerID: 234957   Submitted: Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 17:44

peason replied:

If you suspect that your ball weight is greater than 120 kg.... you could go to a public weighbridge. Park your tow vehicle so that is not on the bridge. Get 2 weights....one with the van connected to your vehicle......and the other with it disconnected and the jockey wheel on the bridge. The difference should be your ball weight.
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