Ball weight help

Hi Finny. First, the 10% figure (ball weight should be around 10% of the caravan weight) is, as far as I know, a rule of thumb, not a law.
Second, the loaded weight of a van with a Tare of 1390kg will be around 1700kg, which is far too much for your Mazda, whatever the ball weight.
Thirdly, the towbar company is quite entitled to manufacture a towbar which has a lesser spec than the vehicle. It sounds like you have purchased a towbar with am max ball weight of 90kg. The law says the allowable load is the lesser of (a) the vehicle manufacturer's rating; (b) the towbar rating and (c) the statutory limit.
I don't think the law has changed recently, finny.
Incidentally, I read last week that the Tribute share its auto transmission with the Ford Escape, and is prone to failure, especially when towing much over a tonne. If so, there's another reason not to overdo things.

The tow ball weight capability of the vehicle is specified by the manufacturer. Therefore the max towball weight you can load up to is (as mentioned) the lesser of the manufacturers towball weight and the designed towball weight of your towbar.

The rule of thumb with respect to towball weight compared to trailer weight is that the MAX tow ball weight should be 10% of the weight of the van - ideally though the van/trailer should be loaded so that about 5% of the weight should be on the ball. The tow ball weight of the van can be adjusted by where you stow items.

Garry

Hi Finny

I have the Ford version, and tow an off road camper weighing 650 Kg. empty, so when totally loaded I am aprox. 900 Kg.( not including water.) at that weight I have not had problems with gear box, or any other part.

We have towed aprox. 70.000 Km with this car, and some times I must admit we have been over the 1000Kg.

I personally think it will be a bit of a strain if you are towing 1600 Kg. and remember you still have to stop it.

Just my 5C.

Regards Robert.

hi finny,
Site Link Try this it helped me when i was looking at another tow vehicle. this was given to me by someone else on this forum and it has helped me,if you are looking at a genuine mazda towbar it should answer your question.Cheers.

I was just wondering how people weigh their actual towball weight? do they just whack it on a good set of bathroom scales?lol i want to weigh my camper trailer, any suggestions?

Finny

For starters you should be looking at the ATM of a van you are considering rather than the tare weight. Then you should consider the fact that many vans weigh heavier than their plated tare weight. The ATM of most single axle vans is generally specified at tare plus 300 kg, dual axle vans are plus 400 kg. hower some like Jayco add the weight of the water in the extra tank supplied in shower models.

There is legislation regarding ball weights. It states that the ball weight of the trailer must not exceed that specified on the tow bar or the tug manufacturers specification - which ever is the lesser. The ball weight on a vans compliance plate is only that as delivered unloaded, it has nothing to do with law or the weight that you have after loading - the only legislation is covered in my second sentence of this paragraph. The ball weight or your van when you load it depends on how you load it - not what is on the compliance plate.

Regarding caravan ball weights - these depend on how the van is built. European vans are deliberately designed and built with minimum weight at the ends, that's how they can be stable with 5 - 8% ball weight. Oz vans are not built with that philosophy, they have heavier front and back ends and thus require 10% plus ball weights. Those who add boxes and jerry cans at either
ends should be looking at 15% ball weight. This link describes how it works.

Regarding the use of WDH. Many manufacturers specify that WDH or Load Level Hitch Required. My info is that Mazda require you to use WDH. This one would be suitable for your application.

"finny posted:
"Garry, i just read an article about sway bars and weight distribution hitches, can this eliviate the problem i am having." - If the article you are referring to is one published in C & M stating that WDH reduces the ball weight, I suggest you take little credence to it. Legally the ball weight of a van does not change (unless you use a sky hook.) This article has been discredited by other experts and seen as BS by others.

I agree with you about twin cabs. I use a D40 Navara as my tug. It allows you to carry comfortable chairs plus other bulky items and you are not constricted to carrying those uncomfortable umbrella chairs. You can make yourself at camp sites if you can carry bulky items in the back of the truck rather than limiting yourself to smaller items that will fit into the boot of something smaller.

Wow all of the responses are alot more informative that i get from the sales yards, I think i am safer just to go with the hilux option as for what i want the tribute might not handle it as well as i thought.Now i realise why i like this website so much.
i will keep you posted about trying to talk the Mrs into that hilux....

For the 2005 Tribute, Mazda state the following:
Max Tow Weight 1600kg
Ball weight 10% of tow weight to a max off 160kg.
A WDH must be used.
The van you're looking at will be to heavy for the Tribute as it's ATM will exceed 1600kg.
ozjohn.

well after showing the Mrs the imperial she agreed to get the beloved Hilux, so it's a win win allround. So with the hilux's specs i am sure to have enough weight to play with.