High camper trailer ball weight

HI kim, is the ball weight ACTUALY 155kg? or is that the max.u are allowed? The ''rule'' is 10% of the totalgross weight on the ball. 1 tonne seems heavy for an empty camper, my 2c worth.. Phil

Hi,

No, it's a nancy pretend Offroad van. Only has a 9kg gas bottle and rack for a 20l water container which will never be used.

Regards

Kim

Captain,

Now we’re getting some where. I’ve yet to be convinced that expensive suspension upgrades are the way to go. The difference being (fitted) $370 air bags, $1400 suspension.

You’ve pretty much won me over on the air bags. However, this still leaves the articulation question when the van is not connected.

Regards

Kim

Hi Kim,

I don't think I have lost any articulation with the airbags when they are at 5psi. My rear tyres still just kiss the inner guards before and after I fitted airbags (have increased my tyre size from 265/70 (31") to 285/75 (33"). Once, I had my rear stabiliser bar lose a bolt (effectively disconnected) and I had an increase in rear tyre rubbing in the guard. Just proves that the stabilser bar has a noticable impact on wheel travel while the airbags had none in my experience.

Now for the comments regarding Weight Distribution Hitches (WDH's). For my setup, I do not believe they are warranted and you may be in the same boat! My reasoning for this is that as I run standard springs I theoreticaly need to balance the ~155kgs of ball weight over the vehicle. Now as I have a steel roo bar, winch and dual batteries, I have already added something like 100kgs to the front end while in the rear i have removed the 3rd row seats, but replaced them with cargo drawers, water tank and barrier (roughly no change - those seats were heavy!).

When "no van", I have added more weight on the front end and by the time I had the van to the back I have say 155 rear/100 front distribution which I feel is very optimal. And the proof is in the pudding, my van setup is very balanced and the rig very stable even when travelling at well above speed limits (only for overtaking, on cruise control at limit all other times).

Cheers

Captain

Hi,

As I said in my original post, there will be times when the van is used on formed dirt tracks or exiting a road to find a bush camp. In some instances, it is necessary to cross wash aways that couldn't be crossed using a normal coupling. Been there, done that.

Regards

Kim

Hi Gerry,

That's interesting. I was told a weight distribution system can't be used with the Trigg coupling.

Where did you get yours?

Regards Kim.

It should have no trouble doing it.

My HR hitch is rated to 2500kg with towball weight of 250kg.

The limiting factor in MOST cases is the ball weight from the manufacturer.

The only other thing I can think of is one of those smaller Box Hitches being fitted (about an Inch and a half by an Inch and a half) instead of the bigger 50mm by 50mm ones.

Sky Pilot, ball weight can be an issue on both the KK and Odyssey, depending on set up. I have a heap of stuff on my drawer bar (spare wheel, 2 AGMs, storage box, 4 gerries, 2 gas bottles, generator). Also have a second water tank slung under the CT forward of the axle, which carries 60 lt. The main (standard) tank is mostly rear of the axle and carries 140 lt. This is not the standard set up, but my modification.

When fully loaded (all tanks, gerries etc full), my ball weight is around 235KG, just above the rated max for my vehicle (225KG). I've only ever fully loaded the drawer bar for a short test drive and it still towed very well. Rear of vehicle dropped 35mm and front lifted 20mm. If I do a trip with this load, I would progressively empty gerries to get the weight down as I go.

I have upgraded springs (OME) and plan to install air bags.

The Odyssey can have the spare wheel slung on the back. The 'top of line' Export model has this standard as it also has the fridge on the front. This would make a big difference, probably reducing the ball weight by 40 KG or so.

You say your ball rating is 120KG. What is the rating for the vehicle? I'd have thought at least 200KG. If so, you might be better to get a new tow bar which matches with your vehicle capacity. Given that al the wireing is in place, you should be able to fit a Hayman Reese style bar for under $400.

My small amount of 'research' says the Prado can tow 2500KG with a ball weight max of 250KG. There are two ranges of tow packs. One has a ball weight of 120KG, the other 250KG.

Sky Pilot, if I have it right, it looks like you are up for a new tow bar, but will have no problems once you have it.

The export is at the top of my preference list right now, with the extra 60L tank and some larger capacity AGM batteries, so it will be a fair bit heavier than the standard one. According to Rhonda, with both tanks full, there is an extra 25kg on the towball from the extra tank and water. This takes into account the rear mounted swingaway spare which is standard on the export.
I just went out and checked the car - 1998 Prado 3.4L petrol. There are no towball weight figures in the handbook - just says check with your dealer. I do have a genuine HR towbar with a 50mm square hitch. There is a Hayman Reece sticker inside the drivers door that says 2500kg, 120kg down weight on tow ball. I obviously was not sold their top of the line model. It was back in 1998 and I didn't intend towing anything much heavier than a box trailer, so maybe I made a choice on it then. Bugger alsheimers.

Maybe before outlaying money , it might pay to visit your local friendly HR agent to check WHY , you did what you did. As you say , its their sticker. They can obviously then tell you whats different between the 2

SkyPilot, this is a post by Graeme666 on 25th Oct 2004:

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.

Might be worth checking out. Perhaps your bar is up to the task and just needs a new compliance plate.

Also, '10 Para' who posts on this site has a Odyssey Export. In fact, I think he has the first one built; which was made largely to his requested spec and was then added to the product range. He has covered most of Australia and NZ with it, so if you can find him it might be worth the effort.

Might already be on his way to NZ. I have his email address and will email him to look at this post.

Kind regards

Still in Oz for at least 3 weeks. I saw him this morning.