Friday, Sep 26, 2014 at 13:34
Thanks for your reply. To your question – “ Is that a problem ?” Boy I say it is. First let me say the CT is great, and the stated specs of 160 kg is with gas bottles (empty), batteries etc – as delivered. Also the 220 kgs is without the third Battery I ordered. As delivered with the battery it is 235kgs. Earlier this year I was able to get a Pajero as a company vehicle as I knew I needed something decent if I was getting a new CT as planned and wanted to get off road a bit. When I received the camper, I took up to our factory in the Mid North of SA where I could open and season the canvas over a few days. On leaving I took it over the licensed weighbridge we have. At this stage the CT was loaded with my basic camping gear, plates etc. (later weighed to be 80kgs). Weight of CT on jockey wheel – 1.74 tn, weight of CT axle (attached to vehicle) 1.48mt – Ball weight 260 kgs. Could not believe it – did it again – same. Did it at the other end of weighbridge – same. Drove the 3 hrs
home, going I can’t even legally tow this thing
home, and how did it get from 160kgs to 260kgs, what is it going to be loaded with food etc. The only additional items this model has from standard as far as weight is concerned is a weber Q on a slide (20kgs), Alumin box (approx25ks), third battery 27kgs.
That weekend I started pulling it apart, removed all the extras (Battery/Webber/box) and camping gear to get the thing back to the “standard model” supposed to be 160kg. Could only get it down to 200kgs.
Quote from the website –“Ball weight 160kgs (most 4WDs have a ball weight capacity of 250kg or more leaving plenty of leeway for safe towing)” ??
In my pre- purchase research, I visited the Qld rep and showroom and went thru the camper with him for a few hours and we discussed tow vehicle I had – Pajero and his comment was that would be fine. Visited them at the
Adelaide show and spent few hours with the Vic rep – again Pajero would be fine. Then flew to
Melbourne and visited the Vic showroom, where we went thru it all again. And Yes Pajero would be fine. He tow’s deliveries to SA all the time with his Prado.
Thru all my weighing, it turns that that between 50%-70% of what is put in the CT reports to the ball and there is no real storage area in the back to store anything of weight. “Thought of lead bars” A jerry can full of 20kgs of water will add almost 15 kgs to the ball.
I did ring complete
campsite querying the delivered weight. At the time he was in his car driving to a
Melbourne show – so it was difficult to discuss in any length, but was told that –Yes- they are a heavy CT, no real explanation why such a difference in ball weight other than saying I did have that 3rd battery and weber etc. and that really I would need a Landcruiser, BT 50,
Ranger, Colorado or Grand Jeep.
Well I wasn’t about to spend another 100k on a Landcruiser. We were in the process of trading in the wife’s Mazda 3 for a new one. Want to guess her reaction when I said “how would you like a Mazda BT50 instead” !!!!! I’m stuck with the Pajero for the next two years, and I’m sure the boss ain’t going to
fork out for a Landcruiser.
In the end we purchased a Jeep Grand Cherokee for her. Didn’t like that at first – but it does actually seem to be quite a good vehicle. Suspect it will lack a bit of toughness. Anyway after getting that , new tyres, and a
suspension upgrade we took off on our first major trip – up the
Oodnadatta track/ Alice Uluru etc. Even with a
suspension upgrade, poor old jeep was dragging is arse a bit, and have since fitted airbags as
well. Seems to have helped a little, but yet to fully load it all up.
Ball weight – fully loaded with Food etc 300kgs. (empty Jerry cans , fill the three of them up and ?).
So YES – it was a problem.
My main worry is – How many of these are being towed with Prado’s and Pajero’s and people don’t even know they are over their legal limit.
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