Towball Weights

Submitted: Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 17:42

ThreadID: 17300 Views:3113 Replies:3 FollowUps:2

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Graeme666

I have been reading some past posts about towball weights and the confusion that the compliance plates on pre-1998 towbars causes. When I bought my Prado in 1998 I had a Hayman-Reese towbar fitted. After buying my camper-trailer early this year I noticed that the compliance plate on the towbar showed a maximum of 120kg towball weight, with a sticker advising that this could be increased to the manufacturers recommendation with the correct weight-distribution hitch. The vehicle is rated at 2500kg towing and 250kg towball weight. As the camper towball weight is considerably more than 120kg, I got in touch with Hayman-Reese. It seems that the towbar was made before the new national towing regulations came into effect and HR confirmed that the bar is rated to take up to 250kg. Through Lloyds Caravans in Canberra, I was able to have a new compliance plate fitted, showing a maximum ball weight of 250kg. Lloyds checked the towbar and ordered a new compliance plate from HR. HR also provided a letter, which is now with the vehicle owner's manual confirming the maximum tow and ball weights. I suggest that anyone else who has the lower limitation stamped on towbars made before '98 or '99 get in touch with Hayman Reese. I did so by e-mail and got a very quick and comprehensive response.

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Reply By: Member - Scrubba (NSW) - Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 19:42

Monday, Oct 25, 2004 at 19:42

On the subject of trailer ball weights, how can I use a set of bathroom scales that goes to maximum of 100kg to calculate a trailer's ball weight.
Maybe using levers or something? Split the weight between two points then multiply the part that's on the scales by two?

Someone will know this... won't they?

AnswerID: 81614

Follow Up By: Flash - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 08:23

Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 08:23

That works fine if you do it carefully and measure accurately.

You use a piece of wood with a brick or something on one side and scales on the other. The weight needs to be taken at an accurate point on the wood on something with a small "footprint" like a piece of water pipe or similar- If you have it all halfway just double the figure- or you could go 2/3 etc- fairly simple mathematics. Works well if care is taken.

FollowupID: 340871

Follow Up By: Anthony - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 17:13

Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004 at 17:13

My answer to the problem was ...

Use two bath room scales witha piece of wood resting across both scales. The wood then take the ball weight from the trailer. The ball weight measured is the total of the two weight readings from each scale.

I bought a second set of scales from Bunnings for $10-00.

Cheers Anthony

(PS sorry for the double posting)

FollowupID: 340949