We just got a real shock with the towball weight of our Coromal Princeton 602.
We were told the van’s towball weight would be between 140kg to 160kg. We have a Land Rover Series 1, towball rating of 150kg. We were hoping it might come in just over, with careful packing. Kitchen is at the front, shower/
toilet at rear (not full ensuite). Air-con is forward of the axle. We have relocated the spare wheel to the back of the van. We've two gas bottles in the front boot (one was full, the other three quarters), two water tanks (each 90 litres), situated just to the front the axle, however, one was empty when we had it weighed. Took it along to have hitch put on yesterday and SHOCK HORROR, we weighed in at 320kg. Came
home very carefully and very despondent.
We're now considering our options. We obviously will have to upgrade the vehicle but want to move to a Land Rover Series 2 which has a towball weight rating of 250kg. So that’s our magic number.
Our plan is to try to re-distribute the weight as much as we can in the van. Suggestions made to us so far include moving water tanks to the rear of the van, taking out one gas bottle completely, and putting the other in the vehicle. We will also move heavy stuff like golf clubs (total 35 kg) to the back of the vehicle - they were under the bed right over the axle, for the weigh-in.
Compliance plate shows we have tare of 1773, GTM of 1996, and ATM of 2230. (We believe there is 90kg. in the water, about 40kg under the bed and then a scattering of pots, pans and crockery). As we understand it, that allows us to load 457 kg (i.e 2230–1773) into the van. Therefore if we have loaded evenly, with preference to the back, we thought our tow ball weight would have fallen as it should to 234 or lower, remembering it came in at 320!
Has anyone had experience in having to lessen the weight in a Coromal by doing what we are thinking? How much effect does moving water tanks, and any other actions have on the overall towball weight? Does anyone know of anything else we can do to improve the weight situation in the van. Will we come within a “bull’s roar” of what we need to?
Any hints or advice would be greatly appreciated.