Thanks guys for the cavtual numbers for tow weights etc... I know
there are limits etc.. and as within them dont need to rem the actual
off the top of my head...unless something changes
. I tried to get the tow hitch weight of my last trailer but it maxed out the scales. Wondered why I struggled to lift it
If dig will find most 'accidents' are not because of over weight but bad loading
Again a very critical but not legal and as far as I understand not covered under manufactures specs etc.. at best a 'recommendation'
If you have any issue with going down a hill and bit snake ....or snake at any time, reason will most likely be not enough weight on the hitch..
And even at illegal speeds up over 110kmh.. then you know you have it right
Think PJC posted some time back a U Tube on it.
For the general caravan boat, 2cub house trailer, around the 85/95kg vertical weight AT the height of the ball when you (approx same weight ) stand on it.
Standing on it height is even more critical on a duel axle..
Simply measured with bathrooms scales , a bit of 3x2 as spacer under the hitch.
Couple examples:
When brought our boat, duel axle, towing home on the motorway, got bit stuck in an outsde lane and had to feed back into the left lane.. doing so resulted in a slight , only slight snake for very short period.
The Rubber winch post V had been shimmed way back with 4x4...Did the above with scales,
Re shimmed and next trip to the ramp which included hills straights open road, tested, and re shimmed 2 more times on way out and back...Could travel nps well over 110km /hr and not feel it on the back of the Big Horn.. except weight up steep hills.
Then upgraded to the SSangyoung ute...and checked ball height was lower .. heavier right? I thought so.. wrong!...This changes the balance and on a duel axle just a few mm can go from 85kg to 15kg nps... limit was about 60km even on the flat open road.
When the weight is take off the back wheels things change fast.
I did the bathroom scales stand on hitch height, normal load in tray (I was 86kg back then), checked the hitch and 15kg was on the ball !
Then worked out I needed to increase the ball height 45mm to get to 95 kg (85 being target , little heavier is ok.
Removing the V rubber shim did very little
Local certified engineering shop cut and re set to 37mm higher.. which was all that could be obtained due to the curve of the hitch... and in 'theory' with the scales would give me 80 to 85 kg... normal load in ute tray.
So once again I can whizz around cnrs up down hills and combo of these to 110km/hr nps...have gone to 120 and suspect, nothing actually there but by 'feel' that is absolute limit.
I had to tow a m8s digger and bobcat from Manrewa to Doubltless bay, about 500km think is couple months back.. told him when he loads up his trailer how to and make sure the ball height /weight is right... A dream trip..solid as.
Last moment morning leaving, he hired a heavy duel axle transporter and put a car on it, estimated the weight on ball, hitched to his ssangyoung ute and my wife to tow.
She had never towed anything in her life except a mt house trailer around the block and learnt to back.
The whole trip, due to inexperience, not knowing much better, whys hows etc, and sensible caution she did not go over 75 tops 80km/hr and 70km going down hills.
She was Thrown in the deep end and did not drown..
Put someone bit gungho behind the wheel and would guarantee something bad would have happened..
So long post, bit of story, may be interesting or not, a little real life reality personal examples to these things to think about ???
Bad loading , or more correctly , bad hitch weight will get you into far more strife than being outside manufactures tow 'weight, yet inside legal braking distance...And because bad hitch weight its then the insurance etc start jumping up and down...
Be inside the legal braking distance
Inside legal speed limits
Drive with lot distance up front.. enough that if look around, something happens ahead, you only need to slow, not use brakes..
With good hitch weight.
Not PhD BS stuff.
and there are no claims or issues.
Kandrew wrote:
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