Tow Hitch?

Sorry Im sure hubby said 16ft. We havent picked it up yet, only just bought it last week.

Ive got the rego papers here it says Tare weight 1075 GVM 1375.

Seems very light but it's hard to argue with the rego papers?

Anyhow I'd run it over a weighbridge when you pick it up as a lot of vans are understated on their compliance plates.

I still reckon a hayman reese would be a good idea, just make sure you get the one that matches you van as there are different models available for different towball weights.

Hi. I agree with snailbait. Our rig is VERY similar to yours: a Prado (2500kg towing) and a van with Tare 1000kg ATM 1400kg. The van is single axle.
We were given a set of bars (originally sold as a GMH accessory) that we have used for the last 5 years. They are more than adequate for a drawbar download of 140kg (ie 10% of the ATM of the van). These bars are readily available, at a price well below the serious Hayman Reece stuff that people buy to use with a 3 tonne van behind a Land Cruiser.
I'd have to say the rig towns fine without the bars, but far better with them. The Prado has stiffer suspension than standard, and the rig does tend to pitch (fore and aft) a bit without the bars.

Sorry "tows better' not "towns better". With these bars (about $160 worth) plus a Tekonsha Prodigy controller, the rig has always been stable even in cross wind (say Hi to the road train!), heavy braking etc. So I'm sticking to my formula!!

Hi Von Helga

Jackaroo 1999 model rated to tow 2250kg, petrol or diesel

Cheers, Dave

GVM is rather pointless really, it is the ATM that counts. ATM minus GVM does give you the estimated ball weight. ATM is the weight you are towing.
The hayman reese site is the best for towbar specs etc. Check out the catalogue page for hitch specs.

There are two terms for maximum loaded weight that are used for caravans:

GTM - gross trailer mass - the maximum weight allowed on the wheels.

ATM - aggregate trailer mass - The aggregate of the weight on the wheels and the ball that you can load your van up to.

Some authorities do not have a separate field in their data base to record ATM so they insert the ATM figure in the GVM field.

The ATM and GTM of your caravan never change (at least until you have your van certified to amended weights.) Some people erroneously use these terms for the loaded weights of their vans. Using these terms in that way causes confusion. You should be using terms like total weight and axle weight when you weigh your van. ATM and GTM are just legal limits that your van must never exceed.

PeterD

I missed the bit about your calculation of ball weight. Seeing that ATM and GVM are the same thing you end up with a ball weight of zero. Often youcan work out the unladen ball weight by subtracting the GTM from the ATM, often you can not.

The only way can determine the ball weight is to subtract the axle weight from the total weight. This then only applies until you reload your van. It can change if you redistribute the load differently. People regularly change their load distribution to correct ball weight problems.

PeterD