Caravan weight help please.

Submitted: Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 13:43

ThreadID: 100701 Views:2460 Replies:4 FollowUps:5

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Yaren G

Hi all, we are about to go on a trip with the caravan and it turns out our Nissan Patrol has an issue so we have to take the Ford Escape.

Problem is we don't really know the weight of our van. The rego says 1ton tare but the guy we bought it off said he didn't think that was right, he had kinda guessed when he registered it a long time ago.

It's an early 1970s Ambassador aluminium 15ft van.
If anyone knows approx weight I'd really appreciate your input.

Be well!

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Reply By: baz&pud (tassie) - Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 14:07

Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 14:07

Why not go to the local weigh bridge and get an accurate figure, better than a guess.
Cheers.
Baz

Go caravaning, life is so much shorter than death.

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AnswerID: 505312

Follow Up By: Yaren G - Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 14:14

Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 14:14

I've no knowledge of any anywhere remotely near where I live of along the path we are going, otherwise that would be ideal of course.

I just thought someone on here might have one that they have dove just that with and could share their results.

FollowupID: 782249

Reply By: Axle - Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 14:51

Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 14:51

G/Day, Mate, We had a mid 70s Millard alluminium 15ft van, and it had a tare weight of 860Kg.

Cheers Axle.

AnswerID: 505316

Follow Up By: Yaren G - Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:05

Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:05

Excellent, cheers mate. That gives me something to go by. The 1tone tare thing would likely be a the max its likely to be......probably. Should tow easy enough with the Escape then.

Ill definitely do a weigh bridge mission some time when I'm back as the other fella suggested just to get a more exact figure too. About to leave so at least it gives me a ballpark figure to go by for now.

Thank you!!

FollowupID: 782254

Reply By: disco driver - Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:16

Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:16

Yaren,
Are you aware that Ford Escape and Mazda Tribune automatics both have serious issues with transmission overheating (BOILING) when towing.

It's not been known to happen in the manual versions.

Keep your load as light as possible and don't let it get to hot and you might be OK.

Disco.

AnswerID: 505320

Follow Up By: Yaren G - Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:25

Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:25

Did not know of that. Yikes!!

Hmmm, its only a 4 hour trip, gonna have to hope for the best.

FollowupID: 782257

Follow Up By: Yaren G - Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:42

Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:42

Do you know and more info in year models affected? I did a search but found nothing definitive on it, outside of the 2010-2013 models, but they are no longer based on the Mazda I don't believe. Called Ford and they didn't know of any problems. Definitely keen to know as much as possible.

FollowupID: 782259

Reply By: Rockape - Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:23

Friday, Feb 22, 2013 at 15:23

Mate,
Axles help is very good but you still don't know the loaded weight of the van.

Here is a link to Australian public weighbridges. Often a Quarry or grain silos will let you use theirs if you ring and ask nicely. Simsmetal in Mackay just ask for a donation to the local volunteer marine rescue.

Australian public weighbridges

AnswerID: 505322