Noseweight advice

DaveAldi replied on 22/10/2017 12:38

DaveAldi

Posted on 22/10/2017 12:38

I tow a 2013 Coachman Pastiche 560/4 with a MTPLM of 1630kgs. I've recently changed my towcar from a Hyundai Santa Fe (Kerbweight 1977kgs and max noseweight 100kgs) to a Skoda Kodiaq Edition 4x4 (Kerbweight 1798kgs and max noseweight 80kgs). Considering the Kodiaq is the current towcar of the year I have been very disappointed with the towing stability of my outfit and despite careful loading and checking of tyre pressures I've had a few episodes of snaking (between 50 and 60 mph in the absence of strong winds), including one event where the car's towing stability assist activated the ABS to bring it under control. The caravan is fitted with ATC and an Al-Ko stabiliser hitch.

I purchased a noseweight gauge and found that the noseweight of my Coachman when totally emptied for winter (apart from two standard gas bottles in the front locker) was over 100kgs.

Please can anyone offer advice, firstly on whether I'm expecting too much of my towcar at a 90% match (bearing in mind I have 30 years towing experience) and secondly whether it's normal to have to remove gas bottles and add "ballast" behind the axle of an empty caravan to reduce the noseweight to an acceptable level. If I remove the gas bottles from the front locker, where is the safest place to carry them?

Thanks in advance to anyone with useful advice.

167 replies

Cornersteady replied on 09/11/2017 20:36

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner from Tyne & Wear

Posted on 09/11/2017 17:58 by Lutz

Of course the baby is acting on the see saw but to get the see saw level again that weight is not sufficient. The added weight that is needed at the end of the see saw to do so is the noseweight.

For the car's towbar it is irrelevant how heavy or light the A-frame is or where the gas bottles are located, for example. It only experiences a resultant force due to the distribution of the various loads within the caravan and that is the noseweight.

Posted on 09/11/2017 20:36

Finally ten out of ten, you got there, noseweight is a resultant force. You have used the correct terminology. The weight on the nose itself does not equal zero but the resultant of all the forces acting on the nose can be.

lornalou1 replied on 09/11/2017 20:46

lornalou1

Caravanner from Lancashire

Posted on 09/11/2017 20:46

OMG don't mention babies again. 10k replies, somebody could make a film about that.

Cornersteady replied on 09/11/2017 20:46

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner from Tyne & Wear

Posted on 09/11/2017 19:28 by Tinwheeler

Who could overlook Sunday Departures. Didn’t it reach in excess of 10k posts?

Youve seen nothing yet, LL.

Posted on 09/11/2017 20:46

ahhhh Sunday departures. Happy days

EmilysDad replied on 09/11/2017 22:22

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EmilysDad

Caravanner

Posted on 09/11/2017 20:36 by Cornersteady

Finally ten out of ten, you got there, noseweight is a resultant force. You have used the correct terminology. The weight on the nose itself does not equal zero but the resultant of all the forces acting on the nose can be.

Posted on 09/11/2017 22:22

Christ! You need to get out more Corners ..... I'm glad you never taught me maths ...... you seem to excell at pedantry

1 person likes this

Lutz replied on 09/11/2017 22:39

Lutz

Caravanner

Posted on 09/11/2017 20:36 by Cornersteady

Finally ten out of ten, you got there, noseweight is a resultant force. You have used the correct terminology. The weight on the nose itself does not equal zero but the resultant of all the forces acting on the nose can be.

Posted on 09/11/2017 22:39

Of course it's the resultant force. It's so obvious that it shouldn't be necessary to even mention the word 'resultant'. Who cares what the A-frame (or the baby) weighs? The towbar certainly doesn't so its not part of the noseweight (or how do you define noseweight?).

3 people like this

Heethers replied on 10/11/2017 09:04

Member

Heethers

Motorhomer from Cheshire

Posted on 10/11/2017 09:04

My 460 VIP 2014 when measured with all equipment comes out at 90kg on a milenco gauge that's with 2 calor lite bottles in front and all the equipment for siting the van in the front locker, all heavy stuff in the car including food. In the van clothes cooking utensils and bedding in the van plus aqua roles and waste master

Cornersteady replied on 10/11/2017 11:48

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner from Tyne & Wear

Posted on 09/11/2017 22:22 by EmilysDad

Christ! You need to get out more Corners ..... I'm glad you never taught me maths ...... you seem to excell at pedantry

Posted on 10/11/2017 11:48

I don't think you'd be in my school MM

EmilysDad replied on 10/11/2017 11:51

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EmilysDad

Caravanner

Posted on 10/11/2017 11:48 by Cornersteady

I don't think you'd be in my school MM

Posted on 10/11/2017 11:51

Good

Cornersteady replied on 10/11/2017 11:56

Member

Cornersteady

Caravanner from Tyne & Wear

Posted on 09/11/2017 22:39 by Lutz

Of course it's the resultant force. It's so obvious that it shouldn't be necessary to even mention the word 'resultant'. Who cares what the A-frame (or the baby) weighs? The towbar certainly doesn't so its not part of the noseweight (or how do you define noseweight?).

Posted on 10/11/2017 11:56

I think you have shot you self in the foot again , the towbar doesn't weight anything? once again really? try dropping it in your other (unshot) foot. Everything weights something on this planet. Try standing on the tow bar and see if it affect noseweight? I think it would, but if you are correct who care what the towbar weights?

Also we haven't covered the effect of gravity (or g) varying with height? But I expect that is too obvious for you?

I'll close but I have noticed how engineers always use the obvious word (actually the height of hubris to think what is obvious to you is the same to everyone else) while mathematicians/physicists use precise language. I suppose we do all the background work for you

I wonder how many engineering accidents have been caused by the use of that word when designing something? You know - who cares what the A frame weights it won't have an effect.