Thread: Tow ball weight

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

I bought a tow ball weight scale post for $50.
Hayman Reese Tow Ball Weight Scale

Yes, I got it on sale.

Is it anything approaching accurate?

Originally Posted by incisor

Is it anything approaching accurate?

I'll have to test it and compare it with something of a known accuracy.

my current box that follows us usually travels at around 2.3t, 260kg ball weight (yep I know, over), 19' body, 4 wheel independent air suspension (load sharing front to rear) with air specific shocks - they provide more the double the resistance during the expansion stroke compared to compression. It's a toy hauler (with a difference) and sometimes (~20% time) runs at around 2.7t still 260kg ball. Sometimes (like this christmas) it was under 2.0t. Tows better than anything else I've experienced which includes several coil sprung vans out there.

Most people, including myself, would be extremely impressed by how well the rig handles with no WDH, it did several trips west with out WDH (where the foundations are shot), this was before I put together a new tongue (Van drawbar is significantly higher). It seriously tracks like its on rails, happily sits at 110 all day. Thing is.... it is even better with WDH, so why stop with "that'll do" - not really in my range of thinking, if it can be better, i will strive for that.

As this one sits higher, the old HR tongue wouldn't do, so I've changed tongues and in the process learnt a couple things - mainly HR changed their products in 2011 and the new and old don't mix . Pre 2011 has 5/8 bolts in the adjustable head, new one have 3/4. When i dismantled the old one the 5/8 bolts were bent. There was a long shank available that fitted the L322 for the old WDH (mine is sold), however HR Aus are not bringing in the extended shank for the new kits. They are cheaper from HR US even when including freight anyway....

Also changed my method of weighing - since the Port Motorway extension was finished, we now have access to a free weighbridge - now technically I'm not sure that we really "have access" as I've recently noticed the "Trucks Only" painted on the entry way but hey, it's live 24/7 and unmanned . I only use it on Sundays when Port traffic is nearly zero. As it is a pad in the road I can muck about, experiment and get heaps of measurements. Some interesting figures have come from this and it has enabled me to get the balance just nice including equal side to side load within 10kg.
The most interesting of these is what happens when you drop 260kg on the towball. Weight on the rear tyres goes up by 430kg!!! Throw some gear (a t-shirt for example) in the back of the car and the rear axle is over weight, and must be getting close to the max load on 20" tyres - 160kg of this is coming OFF the front tyres, and I can confirm that makes a very big difference to the point at which the front will aquaplane. And I'm not going to start explaining the advantage you get from the resistance in the vertical plain....

I know it needs a bit more than a t-shirt to put me over weight, but with our gear in the car (+ on the roof) and two people in the back seat, I'm overweight on the rear axle without WHD.

As I've mentioned before, LR never had an issue with WDH and air suspension until the D3 brought that stupid cast hitch receiver to the market. Someone posted the tech bulletin that LR issued for the D2 with air suspension advising that the factory receiver should be replaced with the stronger HR product (which is what the dealer to mine back in the day) - there was no mention of not using it. Both VW and Jeep actively promote the use of WDH with air.

towbar.jpg

Originally Posted by CSBrisie

I noticed today my L322 has a plate affixed to the tow bar assembly from "WESTFALIA Automotive GmbH", which provides Weight in pounds for towing of 7700 (3500kg) and 770 tongue weight (350kg). Interesting. I assume LR are being conservative with their 250Kg down load on the tow bar, ie the tow bar is manufactured to accept a 350kg download; but vehicle dynamics may not support this (not enough weight on front axle).

cheers

remember the legal ball weight is the LOWEST of the following

• Car specifications (in owners manual)
• Tow bar hitch receiver manufacturers specifications (for these cars it's per point above as the receiver is factory fit)
• Tongue specifications (which is what you are listing above
• Trailer manufacturer specifications - which is actually not a required spec and as such most won't have one.

So, if the owners handbook states 250kg it doesn't mater that the tongue says 350. From what I understand, 250 was a euro standard, D2 & D1 was the same (my old D1 was 4000kg/250kg). Or they may have noticed what I have regarding axle limits.

Appreciate the further instructions Harlie.

You said originally that the battery (on the L322) would need to be disconnected when fitting the weight distribution hitch,
does this need to be done everytime? or once you have it properly marked, should you be able to fit it without a battery disconnect?

yes - to set it up initially you need to disable the suspension - then mark the chain (I use a zip tie). Leaving the Driver's door open usually does it but I didn't trust that.

Or - put the front tyres on a weighbridge, can see exactly whats going on then - the one on the Port motorway is a pad in the concrete so you are on flat ground, it's only the size of a quad axle group, so car and trailer don't fit together.

You might want a US part number for the shank....

Originally Posted by harlie

You might want a US part number for the shank....

Thanks Harlie,

I would love a part number if you had it handy. Thanks again.

Hi.

Just thought I'd add this info that I looked up in my owners handbook (handbook details above). I have a RRTDV8 MY08 Vogue Luxury.

I was a little concerned when I read that the stated ball weight was 250kgs as I had asked the salesperson before purchasing what the stated ball weight was and he said 350kgs and max trailer weight 3500kgs.

Reading from the handbook I was relieved to read that in Australia the vehicle has a maximum tow hitch load of 350kgs but in all other markets only 140 kgs. I'll be keeping this little bit of info in the vehicle always in case I get pulled over for a check when I'm towing!

Cheers
Steve