Jockey Wheels with Nose gauge

A nose gauge is something that I used quite frequently at first but as I got to know how to load our caravan to achieve the correct nose weight I used it less, in fact hardly ever. 

Unless you can get it for free don't bother.  Bathroom scales and a piece of wood under the hook probably more accurate.  I load my caravan the same way each time so have a pretty good idea of the noseweight - I aim for 90kgs + (my max allowed is 100kgs)

Hi All

So general feeling is waste of time then? we do own the yellow milenco one and as you say tend not to use it so much but thought with new van may be worth investing in?

We have one, and have found that depending on how long a tour we are on, affects the way the c/van gets loaded,they it also seems better when manoeuvring as it is wider and the spring tends to make a smoother ride.

They are quite heavy so we always carry it in the van when traveling

We have an Alko one fitted. It is much better constructed, has a wider wheel and also acts as suspension when moving the van with the power mover. As a result it puts a lot less strain on both the jockey and the hitch when manovering the van, particularly in the deep gravel where we store it.

The above were  the main reason we bought it. It is a bonus that it also displays load on the hitch.

In answer to your question, if you only want it for the weighing aspect, it is probably not worth the money.

Although I have a noseweight gauge I have always felt that the bathroom scale and piece of wood method is more accurate. However, and thinking about the jockey wheel noseweight system, couldn't I just put the existing jockey wheel onto the bathroom scales and not bother about the bit of wood that could quite easily damage the stabiliser pads if the wood is located in the hitch? The reading, I think, should show less as the jockey wheel is nearer to the caravan wheels but if I know what the equivalent weight should be, (eg 90kg at the hitch = 87kg at the jockey wheel), then it should be an easier and quite accurate method.

Anyone got any scientific thoughts that either proves or disproves this theory / idea?

I use scales method. I don't put the wooden 'stick' in the cup of the hitch but on the flat area behind. Makes the reading a bit lower but probably only 2kg at most if say 3'' behind cup. I would not wish to place under jockey wheel as it seems more faff.

I've always used a separate Millenco guage which always appeared to have good reviews.  I did read that the integrated Alko jockey wheel guage got less accurate with use.

David 

We bought one from Towsure, which indicated the weight, in coloured bands, just beneath the crank handle. It broke almost immediately, and so did the replacement. So while it’s obviously much easier to use than some of the above suggestions, it wasn’t fit for purpose. The market leader for portable nose weight gauges is the Milenco, which being light and compact, is probably the next best thing to a dedicated fixture such as weighing jockey wheels.

Block of wood and bathroom scales - cheap and effective. What's not to like?