Hello and newbie nose weight question

Peter,your situation is not uncommon. In general it is better to have as much nose weight as your vehicle can cope with, without exceeding the vehicle nose weight limit but at the end of the day if you still have too much nose weight you have no option but to move things further back or into the tow vehicle if it has enough weight capacity.

Do you mean fresh water tank? or water heater? if so where is it located and how much does it hold mine holds 40 litres so if full would weigh 40kgs. So if mounted in front locker would make a substantial difference to noseweight

The best thing to move is the spare wheel, could you carry it in the car, or inside the van?  I would not move the gas bottle.

Which van do you have ?

I reckon you are talking about water in the HW tank, it does not necessarily  need to be emptied, but can be if necessary.

If it is a cold water tank, then you should empty it.

Thanks everyone, its an old Lunar Clubman 475ck, the tank is under the seats on the left (as seen from front) it does the HW but might store some cold too.  I don't have a manual for it so everything is a voyage of self discovery!

A cold water tank would be separate and much bigger, so your HW one will probably hold max 10litres of water, which will be cold until you heat it up.

If you do decide to empty it (NB, you MUST drain everything down for winter or risk frost damage)  Remember to keep the electric element switched off until you have refilled it.

Lunar do not seem to have handbooks on-line, but you may find some help here.....

http://www.lunarcaravans.com/owners-lounge

I would contact Lunar and ask about a handbook.

Do you know the model year?

So in answer to your question the hot water system when full would only add 10kg max to your noseweight more likely about 8kgs as it is not right at the front.

Thanks KjellNN, I will contact Lunar and see if I can get a manual.  its a 2001 model.

So I guess  jeffcc, if I am needing to the 8kg to get down to where I need to be it would be one way to do it.  Might put nose weight scale on and do a before and after draining.

Is nose weight such a big deal to get right or am I being obsessive?

What is the nose weight limit for your car?  If  less than 100kg, you must not exceed the car's limit.

The AlKo hitch usually has a 100kg limit,so if that is less than your car, you must not exceed that. 

Otherwise you want it to be as near as possible to the limit.

Once you have achieved the correct weight, if you always load the van the same way you do not need to check it every time you tow.

Welcome to caravanning. I always drain the hot water tank and then fill it on site. I know it is not a lot of weight, but if you are having problems with noseweight every little helps. What items are you putting in the 'van and where are they situated?