Tow ball weight
Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 13:23
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shelz351
G'day,
Could someone tell me how to measure the weight on my towball while my caravan is hooked up please.
Thanks
shelz351
Reply By: Member Boroma 604 - Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 14:11
Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 14:11
Gooday,
can tell you 2 methods. First ring nearest Dealer & see if they have a set of Ball Weight Scales & if they will do it, & how much $. You unhitch & place ball on scales.
2 Go to a Registerd Weighbridge with Caravan in tow, drive on so towing vehicle is off
bridge but caravan wheels aren't, they note the weight. Then reverse enough so the caravan wheels are still on, unhitch caravan, insert Jockey wheel making sure that is also on the
bridge & get them to note that. Difference between the two readings will give you the Ball weight on your tow vehicle.
Hitch up & drive
home with the Certicficate they will give you. Will possibly be a fee too.
Cheers Boroma604.
AnswerID:
231431
Reply By: DIO - Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 14:14
Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 14:14
Here's a few sites that might help you figure it out:
Caravan & Camping SA
Harding Caravans
Services
The following should also give you some idea of the aspects of weight and distribution on the towball/towbar system:
The only way you could get these figures would be to take the van to a weighbridge. You need to weigh the van on the
bridge without the car. In other words with the van wheels and jockey wheel on the
bridge and then weigh it again with just the van wheels on the
bridge. Doesn't matter if the van is on the car or jockey at that stage as long as only the van wheels are on the
bridge.
If you subtract the weight on just the wheels of the van from the total weight including that on the jockey wheel you will then have the ball load.
AnswerID:
231433
Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 15:33
Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 15:33
Shouldn't you also ensure that the jockey wheel is set at the same height as the coupling on the towing vehcle. I have noticed that the higher you lift the coupling the easier it is to lift.
Perhaps you could park the van with the wheels just off the weighbridge and the jockey wheel on. Might save a step.
Duncs
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Bucky (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 16:21
Tuesday, Apr 03, 2007 at 16:21
10% of the total weight on the ball..
I use my bathroom scales,,,My next door neighblou has a jack with a scale on it ,, they cost a little more, but you can measure all wheels too. They are brilliant
But you need to know the weight of the van / camper that is loaded ,, hence the weigh
bridge.
Rough rule of thumb,, if you can lift the jockey wheel, with a bit of an effort, then you are close.
Cheers Mate
Bucky
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