Noseweight advice

Noseweight decreases with increasing speed because the exposed frontal area of the caravan above the roof of the towing vehicle is so much higher than its axle, resulting in quite a significant moment about the axle caused by aerodynamic drag.

Noseweight will also change instantaneously if the caravan pitches at all.

Noseweight will also reduce slightly if the towball is raised. That is why it is important to compensate for this reduction by setting the noseweight with the hitch at the same height as when the caravan is attached to the car. However, if that is done, it doesn't matter how high or low the towball is. There is no reason why it should.

followed that up to:

That is why it is important to compensate for this reduction by setting the noseweight with the hitch at the same height as when the caravan is attached to the car.

what do you mean?

I think some here are a little bit too pedantic about nose weight, I suggest that a weight within 10Kg of the recommended weight is close enough.

actually just been thinking about that and I think you are confusing the weight on the car with actual nose weight? Yes the caravan will pitch the hitch upwards and pull the tow ball upwards therefore 'appearing' to make the weight on the rear car axle less, it could even lift the rear car tyres off the ground   but the actual nose weight (vertical force acting on the hitch) hasn't really changed has it? It is just supported by different means. I think you mean the effect of the nose weight changes not the actual weight (force)

maybe I think too 'pure' for you engineers  

its not the size of the engine, its the weight of the whole car that counts. engine size just make the whole towing thing easier and less strain on engine and running gear.

The static noseweight, if that is what you mean by actual noseweight, only changes (decreases) as the hitch is raised and increases as the hitch is lowered, but what I was referring to were dynamic changes which most definitely affect the forces going through the hitch and towball.

Noseweight reduces as the hitch is raised and increases as the hitch is lowered, so in order to return to the desired noseweight when towing one would have to compensate for the said reduction or increase, as the case may be.

In other words, it would be incorrect to set the noseweight with the caravan level if it is not also level when hitched to the car.

but what change are we talking about here? I have no measurements but the hitch could pivot say a max of 5 degrees either way? On a say 4m pivot to the CoM that reduces the horizontal distance to the vertical nose weight force by about 8cm? Not a great effect on the moment causing the nose weight in the first place? 

You have a nice day, too, LL.