Nose weight issues/concerns

Southwest123 replied on 25/08/2017 17:34

Southwest123

Posted on 25/08/2017 17:34

I am finding it very difficult to achieve the desired nose weight. The caravan is. Swift Challenger 550se - I need to achieve 85kg, but the weight is close to 100kg ( car is a Volvo V70). At the moment I have two 7kg gas cylinders and a spare wheel in the front locker and a 110 amp battery in the battery box,. Plus a motor mover. I can get close to 85kg by removing one of the cylinders (leaving this at home) and placing the spare wheel just over the axle on the caravan floor. I am still relatively new to touring and was wondering whether I should move weight E.g spare wheel further back beyond the axle, but this doesn't feel right.

I would add that when I got the weight right, the set up didn't feel right, the car/ caravan combination prefers the higher nose weight. Any advice or guidance welcome.

25 replies

Lutz replied on 26/08/2017 21:21

Lutz

Caravanner

Posted on 26/08/2017 21:21

Is there no space to store anything in transit between the axle and the rear washroom?

Deedlydave replied on 28/08/2017 16:07

Member

Deedlydave

Posted on 28/08/2017 16:07

Having spent today moving "stuff" around, including cushions off front sofas, so there are no additional items in front of axle, I still can't get nose weight below 105kgs - I might move everything into washroom!

xtrailman replied on 31/08/2017 07:16

xtrailman

Caravanner from South Yorkshire

Posted on 31/08/2017 07:16

Remove the wheel from the front locker and put it behind the axle, if your layout has a fixed bed then place it as far to the rear as possible.

Also the mains lead can easily be placed behind the axle, trust me the caravan will not be unstable, the reason your caravan is so nose heavy is partly due to the lack of fitments behind the axle, simply designed with too much weight up front.

I have practically everything behind the axle with my U1, just make sure you have the recommended 5 to 7% nose weight.

My present caravan a swift has the opposite problem due to the 40kg I carry with the bike rack, so my front locker is full with heavy gear, not much under the fixed bed, just to get up to 85kg NW.

Merve replied on 31/08/2017 20:26

Member

Merve

Caravanner from Leicestershire

Posted on 26/08/2017 07:57 by dmiller555

You are carrying a lot of gas, at least by my standards. Would it be possible to replace one cylinder with a small back-up cylinder in order to reduce the load?

Posted on 31/08/2017 20:26

Or even a Safefill? All you need is one Safefill.

Nige W replied on 01/09/2017 12:39

Staff

Nige W

Posted on 25/08/2017 18:04 by Broadside

Hi. I have a Swift Challenger Sport 564 and I tow with a Serento 2.5D XT. The max permitted weight on the tow bar is 120kg and the recommended (manufactures) nose weight of the caravan is 90kg.

I tow with a nose weight of 90kg and it tows comfortably with no problems but to achieve this nose weight I have put as little as possible in the front locker, ie only one cylinder and just bits and pieces, hoses, toilet fluid etc. If I take a spare cylinder I take it in the car as well as the awning, in order to keep the nose weight down.

This set up changes depending on the tow car, but I advise to keep the nose weight down to the recommended weight and to check the max weight permitted for your car/tow bar. I personally do not put any weight behind the axle to counter the nose weight as this can cause problems ie unsteadiness.

Putting weight over the axle should not cause any problem, such as spare wheel, awning. You should be able to check the manufactures max permitted nose weight on line. Hope this helps

Posted on 01/09/2017 12:39

Brilliant advice Broadside. The Club does not actually recommend putting a gas cylinder in the car due to health & safety.

EJB986 replied on 01/09/2017 14:10

Member

EJB986

Posted on 01/09/2017 12:39 by Nige W

Brilliant advice Broadside. The Club does not actually recommend putting a gas cylinder in the car due to health & safety.

Posted on 01/09/2017 14:10

If you do carry a cylinder in a car please ensure it is secured upright.

1 person likes this

rjb replied on 01/09/2017 15:48

rjb

Posted on 01/09/2017 15:48

If your water heater/boiler is under front seats be sure to drain it that will help nose weight

podimore replied on 05/09/2017 10:27

Member

podimore

Caravanner

Posted on 05/09/2017 10:27

Hi Southwest 123, We have just bought an elegance 580 and I seem to be able to get the 85 Kg nose weight I am also looking for, with normal loading. This includes mover in front of axle and 6 Kg light gas in locker. But the big difference to the Challanger is that the spare wheel (22 Kg) is in an underslung AlKo rack just behind the axle. You might consider a retrofit as I am sure all the chassis are fitted to take the rack.

Our last van, a Clubman SE had the same spare wheel arrangement and easily achieved ideal nose weight.

Happy tugging

Martin

Lutz replied on 05/09/2017 11:18

Lutz

Caravanner

Posted on 05/09/2017 11:18

Putting things into perspective, I find it a bit strange that some people religiously refuse to put anything behind the axle, but are perfectly happy with having the underslung spare wheel carrier there and a rear washroom which, with all its fittings, probably weighs more than most payload that one is likely to place inside the caravan.

2 people like this

EmilysDad replied on 05/09/2017 15:18

Member

EmilysDad

Caravanner

Posted on 05/09/2017 11:18 by Lutz

Putting things into perspective, I find it a bit strange that some people religiously refuse to put anything behind the axle, but are perfectly happy with having the underslung spare wheel carrier there and a rear washroom which, with all its fittings, probably weighs more than most payload that one is likely to place inside the caravan.

Posted on 05/09/2017 15:18

There's not much you can do about repositioning an end bathroom, but why purposely build a pendulum?

1 person likes this

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