Towage at the Ball

Speaking of Kimberly,the mate Brad left at 4 am this morning for 10 weeks in the Kimberly. Wish I went with him.

Crawfy, Cameron and Paul

I've been away for a few days and have just caught up with your postings. Load placement in caravans, tandem or single, require load balancing to get the ball weight right (within limits set by the manufacturer). Too heavy and braking and steering is affected adversely, too light and the tail wags the dog. Getting it right it just one of those things. While weight distribution systems like Hayman Reese help, there is no substitution for a properly distributed load to achieve the appropriate ball weight. The HR or other systems should not be used to compensate for a poorly distributed load. Crawfy, is 150 kg the only number mentioned in your manual for ball weight or is there some additional statement involved? I am curious on that one.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>is 150 kg the only number mentioned in your manual for ball weight or is there some additional statement involved?[/b][/quote]

Hi Myles

That figure is unfortunately all there is. As I said before, this has been discussed a lot in the past because other owners have some concerns over the insurance side of towing. There are two threads in the Australian section of the LRE forum which also deal with this and are probably of interest to all. Note in particular the fact the 03 spec Defenders seem to be delivered with a sticker on them that limits the towball weight to 150kg, despite Landrover advertising 250kg.

Anyway, the two threads are here and here.


Paul [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Oooh, it gets even more interesting. 8O

here

I haven't read that in my owners manual. Maybe it's a USA thing. :?

I hope I haven't got $600 worth of Hayman Reese weight distribution hitch for nothing.


Paul [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

so, the problem is the FRAME/CHASIS is not strong enough?

8O :?

I have been through the silly saga of static ball weight over the last 6 months. I'm now legal but no exactly happy.

I bought a 20ft caravan in 2003 that weighs about 1900Kg fully loaded , ball weight about 190Kg.

I own a 300Tdi and knew from the outset that it would not be the most powerful vehicle to tow the van. I can't overtake at 100Kms per hour but its been around OZ twice now and I'll put up with the limitations....

After my first trip I noticed the sticker on my KMAR rear step says static ball weight 120Kg. I had already purchased the HAYMEN REECE weight distribution hitch but was told it doesn't actually change the ball weight. Still grapling with the technical side of that but surfice to say it levels the car perfectly.

Next step was to refer to the manual... it talks about 150Kg and some other stuff... cant be bothered going out to the car at the moment. Took it to a lawyer friend and expalined the issue. He confirmed that the statements were saying recommended load was 150Kg , but if you go more ensure you don't overload the rear axle. As I don't carry rear passengers and when towing the gears all in the caravan then I am definately not overloading the rear axle.

However.... the KMAR sticker creates the legal problem as they state MAX BALL LOAD 120Kgs. A potential insurance issue.

I rang around the tow bar manufacturers and the best I could find was the hitch sold by ARB which has a MAX ball wieght of 200Kg. $500+ later new hitch on the DISCO and I'm legal.

Note: the new Haymen Reece hitches are rated at 150Kg but I have seen some on the series I disco's that say 250Kg... not sure how this occurred.

Darren

G'day

A little more information to share on this thread. I was talking to the Sales Manager of one of Australia's leading and respected manufacturers of off-road trailer hitches and suspensions systems the other day and in the conversation we talked about the ball weight issue. His view, based on a very long history in the business, was that closer to the 5% figure rather than the 10% was the better option for safe and comfortable towing.