ball down weights for towing

Cruiser, common sense went out the window when the ego of mine is bigger than yours came in,,,

G'day all, time for a little clarification! There are two totally different things we are talking about here. 1. G.V.M. Gross Vehicle Mass. This is the all up weight of the vehicle fully laden, ie, my 100 series RV petrol has G.V.M. of 3,180 kg, it weighs 2,640 kg full of fuel and tools ready to roll. That leaves a payload of 540 kg (passengers and luggage). 2. G.C.M. Gross Combined Mass. This is the combined weight of the fully loaded Cruiser and fully loaded trailer, in this case the cruisers G.C.M. is 6,680kg (here in Tassie). This means I can both legally and safely tow a 3,500kg trailer with this vehicle. To tow a 3,500kg trailer, about 350kg is required on the ball for stability. At this time a weight distribution hitch must be used and this help keep the rig level and stops the headlights spot lighting possums. Here in Tasmania, and I have been told this is a "national" rule, The maximum weight you are allowed to tow is either, Manufacturer's recommendation, or, towbar manufacturers recommendation or 1.5 times the unladen vehicle weight, whichever one is the LEAST! Please advise me if this is different where you live. To load a 2,500kg trailer with 120kg on the ball will be criminally dangerous to say the least. Hope this clarifies the situation for all. Cheers.

P.G, Those figures might look great, but in your own words, if you have a payload of 540 kg, then ANY weight on the towbar reduces your payload by that amount. So whether you have 150, 250 or 350 on your bar, you are reducing your carrying capacity. Your vehicle is carrying that weight!

Too many people believe that payload only refers to stuff they stick inside their vehicle, conveniently forgetting about roofracks, bullbars, winches, longrange tanks, etc. etc.

Hi Bill my disco did a good job but i can assure you that a 1999 series 1 has a ball weight of 150kgs. call bill kelso of hayne and reece . he knowns because it was his company that assured me that with their gear my disco had a ball weight of 250kgs but then changed the story by saying that they refered to series 2 - i was just refering to a 1999 discovery. as you say -does the job but illegially. affraid that as a father i could not go on the road without having done everything possible to ensure the safety of myself my family and other road users and at least if all else fails i will have the backing of an insurance company to meet my obligations. why should i expect their backing if i cheat - old saying you can fool others but you cannot fool yourself merry christmass regards peter

ps. have a new pajero did its great - non of the disco teething problems like water in the oil-headlights falling out-oil leaks and that was week one. quite a supprise have nothing to complain about except that it is slow to refule but then i get 10k to the ltr not 3k per ltr in the v8 - bit of a difference .
guess what mitsubishi will fix the slow fill problem for me free of cost . what a shock after the treatment i have lived with from both land rover australia - stewart webster and haynes & reese.

G'day Peter. The static ballweight for my 100 series is 350kg. The word static meaning downward weight on the towball WITHOUT any weight distribution devices.

Cruiser1 mentioned earlier that the weight placed on the towball should be deducted from the total load. That is correct, UNLESS, a weight distribution hitch is used. These devices place half their rating back onto the trailer axle(s) and the other half to the front axle of the tow vehicle. eg, my adjustable 750lb (340kg) weight distribution (Hayman Reece) hitch can transfer 170kg back on to the trailer axle thus removing that amount of weight from the towball, allowing for more luggage in the vehicle. Hayman Reece make several different rated distribution hitches for specific applications. A little while ago a few caravan manufacturer's were designing big tandem axle caravans with front bedrooms. In order to do this the axle sets were moved rearward. This gave a spacious interior, sleek external lines and over 300kg ball weight! Many people were caught out by this and today those designs are now longer generally available (special order now I'm told) because only some full size Nissan's and Toyota's are legal to tow them. One caravan dealer told me I could tow these vans with a Falcon Wagon "set up properly"! Good thing I did my homework!

John wrote that he believed the maximum ball weight in NSW is 120kg. I doubt that is true, for if it was it would not be safe to tow a trailer weighing much more than 12-1,300kg.

The 10% rule will show itself to be just that, a rule. Less than around 10% and a heavy trailer on the towball will try to push the back of the tow vehicle around, more than around 10% will have the back sinking, the front rising, light wandering steering and the headlights starting to look for possums in their natural habitat! By the way, who actually adjusts their headlights with their trailer on the towball?

An interesting side note is when I add the maximum specified axle weights (manufacturers figures 1,550kg front & 1,950kg rear) of my 100 series together, it exceeds my G.V.M. by exactly 350kg. Isn't that interesting!

By the way I am not being silly or funny about what I wrote! Blusterers like me get these facts by going straight to the proper sources and listening to what I'm told, reading relevant legislation, road rules and ADR's! I do stay away from retailers! Vehicle Manufacture's (Toyota), Towbar Manufacturer's (Trailboss & Hayman Reece), and Transport Tasmania are only too happy to pass on the relevant information. I suggest if you ever get away from your computer monitor and drive your 4WD around a bit, you could get the same relevant information for yourself! Merry Christmas to you too.

got a shock at my 711 servo the other day he has had fast fill fitted to each bowser except one. the fast fill would never fit into my tank so i am looking forward to the change over at my 7500 k oil change. glad yours is fine regards

Hello again Peter.

Did I check with my insurance company (AAMI) .... Absolutely, today (just in case something had changed I didn't know about) ..... and ...... I have 100 percent coverage, Australia wide with up to the maximum ball weight permitted for the vehicle!

As I stated, my 100 series has a manufacturers rated ball weight capacity of 350 kg. My 100 series has a Towhitch manufacturers plate says the maximum rated ball weight is 350kg. Now unless I missed something major along the way, if both vehicle and towhitch manufacturers say I can have a ball weight of 350kg and Transport Tasmania tell me they reply on what is stamped on the plate affixed to the towbar, why wouldn't an insurance company cover me?

A weight distribution hitch merely levels the outfit and remove up to 170kg from the ball, allowing for more luggage, as I wrote in my last reply.

And expert? NO, If you read my first threat properly you would realise I was caught with the Prado. Never again! These days I check EVERYTHING twice, buy once and NEVER take notice of Sales people! CHEERS.

Goodonya PG. I too am with AAMI and the answer to the questions I ask are always...'if it's legal according to Transport Tas, it's OK by us'. I have always found them very good to deal with and don't tend to inflict their perception of the law onto their customers. Cheers and Merry Christmas!