Thread: Towing Weights

Following with interest...

Has anybody figured out what the 'empty' weights on the D4 axles are? I would assume the car is front heavy when empty, so guessing at 55:45 split of the 2583kg kerb weight means:

Front has 1421, Rear has 1162

If we assume 200kg of payload is distributed front to rear (eg passengers) we come up to 1521/1262 (note, we're now exceeding the front axle limit)

Putting the balance of the 657 payload into the back, we get 1521/1719. There is an argument to be made that weight added behind the rear wheel would present a weight saving on the front axle (by way of a lever of course), but I've ignored that for now.

If I go back and set the kerb weight to be split 50:50, we get 1391.5 / 1848.5 when 200kg distributed and 457kg in the boot (or on the towball). All within limits, but the 50:50 ratio strikes me as somewhat unlikely?

Originally Posted by veebs

Following with interest...

Has anybody figured out what the 'empty' weights on the D4 axles are? I would assume the car is front heavy when empty, so guessing at 55:45 split of the 2583kg kerb weight means:

Front has 1421, Rear has 1162

If we assume 200kg of payload is distributed front to rear (eg passengers) we come up to 1521/1262 (note, we're now exceeding the front axle limit)

Putting the balance of the 657 payload into the back, we get 1521/1719. There is an argument to be made that weight added behind the rear wheel would present a weight saving on the front axle (by way of a lever of course), but I've ignored that for now.

If I go back and set the kerb weight to be split 50:50, we get 1391.5 / 1848.5 when 200kg distributed and 457kg in the boot (or on the towball). All within limits, but the 50:50 ratio strikes me as somewhat unlikely?

From LR

Maximum mass on each axle (front) 1,450kg


Maximum mass on each axle (rear) 1,855kg

For all models.

Mine is definitely heavier at the rear when empty but then it already has half its payload in add on goodies, such as Kaymar rear bar and LR fuel tank.

Originally Posted by Redback

From LR

Maximum mass on each axle (front) 1,450kg


Maximum mass on each axle (rear) 1,855kg

For all models.

Yep, these are the same maximums I was referring to

My point is, without knowing the empty axle weights, it's difficult to know how to distribute the weight in the car correctly, and avoid exceeding these figures.
That said, when LR says 'on each axle' (front) does it mean 1,450kg on each of the independent wheels, or as a total across both front wheels? (the latter makes more sense to me)

Originally Posted by veebs

Yep, these are the same maximums I was referring to

My point is, without knowing the empty axle weights, it's difficult to know how to distribute the weight in the car correctly, and avoid exceeding these figures.
That said, when LR says 'on each axle' (front) does it mean 1,450kg on each of the independent wheels, or as a total across both front wheels? (the latter makes more sense to me)

LR means 1450kg as a total across the front, hence the axle reference from the old days when an axle went all the way across.
Your point about not knowing the empty axle weights is a bit pointless unless you measure your actual vehicle since you may have all manner of extras added like bullbars, roof racks etc.
If you are going to weigh it I'd suggest a full tank of fuel, roughly what you cart around every day & the normal amount of passengers. That way you have a baseline to work from.
I weighed mine last Thursday with both main & second tanks full, the wife in the passenger seat, spare wheel on a carrier on the back, nothing else in the vehicle & 340kg on the ball (deliberately) with a 25ft van on the back. Front axle was 1180kg (270kg under) & the rear was 1760kg (125kg under). Overall vehicle on its own weighed 3000kg (240kg under nominated GVM).
I'll be doing a few more weighs as I experiment with the ball loading and van load layout.

Thanks Squiggle, fair point re needing to measure the specific vehicle - mine is as good as 'stock' so hadn't really considered the extras other people may have. Your results re weights do point out my assumption of these cars being front heavy is way off!

Without dimensions and applying the maths I would suggest 340kG on the ball would contribute to a reduction of about 130kG less on front axle.
This 130kG off the front is added to the 340kG on the ball, equating to extra 470kG added to the rear axle.
The above is based on approximations of 1200mm rear axle to ball, 2900mm rear axle to front axle.
Paul

Originally Posted by PRS

Without dimensions and applying the maths I would suggest 340kG on the ball would contribute to a reduction of about 130kG less on front axle.
This 130kG off the front is added to the 340kG on the ball, equating to extra 470kG added to the rear axle.
The above is based on approximations of 1200mm rear axle to ball, 2900mm rear axle to front axle.
Paul

That's an interesting observation Paul. I deliberately loaded the ball weight up to see what affect it had on the rear axle weight given the second tank (LRA 104 litre) & swing away rear wheel carrier (Front Runner).
I'll add the rear & front axle weights for the vehicle only to my next lot of checks. It'll be interesting to see what the results are.