Hi
Had too much spare time so decide to
check the tow ball weight of my 2012
Kimberley Kamper Limited Edition.
I purchased at great expense a "Tow Safe Ball Weigh Scales" 100 kg to 350 kg from Repco for $60.
They record the weight by compressing a spring, so not fancy technology.
I reckon there could be an error of plus or minus 10%. I repeated each weigh 3 times.
I stripped the camper bare except for the 6 x 35 amp battery pack and 10 lt (kg) of water in the
water tank.
The weight at the tow ball was 183 kg, pretty close to the upper limit specified by KK in their spec of 180 kg.
I then loaded the camper as shown below.
Location Weight Kg
1) Front RH Gull Wing 43 kg (Awnings, ground mats, tent pegs, BBQ plate, tackle box, misc)
2) Front Locker 74 kg (20lt jerry water, 20lt jerry diesel, 5lt oil, jacking blocks, saucepans)
3) 2 x Gas bottles 23 kg
4) Front LH Gull Wings 70 kg (Pantry, Fridge, fridge contents, misc storage box, detergents and sauces)
Awning poles 10 kg
Solar panels 13 kg
Under bed 60 kg (3 drawers, tables and stools, misc, plus bedding)
tool locker 8 kg
Kitchen draws 11 kg
Water Tank 100 kg
Total 412 kg
The tow ball weight for the fully loaded camper was 260 kg .
It is very important to place the scales exactly at the tongue.
Interestingly for every centimeter that you are short of the tongue your reading will be 1 kg heavier.
It becomes apparent that is why KK offer the A frame extension of 300 mm (30 cm) as a standard fitting because it reduced the tongue load by around 30 kg.
Also interestingly for my camper on level ground, I can only get an effective 95 lt from my 120 lt
water tank.
Regards Craig