Large Caravan TARE weights

**Wilyms** · 5th September 2018, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by dirvine

I agree Mick. All the "popular" Twin Cabs are less weight than a 3.5t van. But what I am also pointing out is that with full petrol, a few accessories, and two "average" weight passengers, they cannot tow a 3.5t van legally as they exceed the GCM.

It really boils down to marketing vs engineering

Marketing says: our competitor says it can tow 3500kg, engineering can you help?

engineering says: yep sure thing, we can match that but it will mean vehicle payload will suffer

Marketing: sounds great and we just won’t mention that other stuff

so the headline says 3500kg towing capacity but the real world capability is no where near unless it’s just you and a folding chair in the tow vehicle

**weeds** · 5th September 2018, 06:10 PM

Toyota and hi-lux probably had it about right with the lower towing capacity...but have been force to up towing capacity to 3500 to slow down the loss of sales to the other dual cab brigade.

**Wilyms** · 5th September 2018, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Again, you are posting opinion without reference.
Where is this caravan council thing and do they have any legal jurisdiction?
Link please.

Not CCA but an interesting article with an attempt at referencing

Towball Weight and Trailer Stability

This one references CCA

Tow Vehicle and Caravan Weight - Caravan Buyers Guide

i think we’ve done the legal jurisdiction stuff to death now.

**Mick_Marsh** · 5th September 2018, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Wilyms

Not CCA but an interesting article with an attempt at referencing

Towball Weight and Trailer Stability

This one references CCA

Tow Vehicle and Caravan Weight - Caravan Buyers Guide

i think weÂ’ve done the legal jurisdiction stuff to death now.

UK Â– Recommendations of the Camping and Caravanning Club of the UK (relates to tow vehicle kerb weight)
Germany Â– Federal Legislation for caravans with brakes and shock absorbers (relates to tow vehicle kerb weight)
Australia Â– Recommendations of the Caravan Council of Australia (relates to tow vehicle GVM)

Yep. Overseas laws or opinion.
I tell you what, to make things more uniform, lets adopt the South Africas towing laws.

Can I legally tow more than one trailer? What would I need to Consider? | Car Insurance

**trout1105** · 6th September 2018, 03:48 AM

Originally Posted by Fatso

You can not compare a Semi or B-Doulble which is configured totaly different to a Vehicle with a caravan swinging off a tow bar . There is plenty of technical pappers to confirm that the difference in weights should be in the tugs favour , you just have to look . I can suggest a read of Colllin Rivers technical books on thie subject .

Simple Common sense will tell you that the tug should be heavier than the trailer because the braking sytems on your average van/trailer is Nowhere near as efficiant as the braking sytems on a semi trailer or B double.
YES it is only my opinion But that opinion is based on experiance Not from reading a book or social media.

**loanrangie** · 6th September 2018, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by trout1105

Simple Common sense will tell you that the tug should be heavier than the trailer because the braking sytems on your average van/trailer is Nowhere near as efficiant as the braking sytems on a semi trailer or B double.
YES it is only my opinion But that opinion is based on experiance Not from reading a book or social media.

To me that would be common sense but just look at all these block of flats on wheels that people tow , usually heavier that tug. Most cat trailers with a car on weight a lot more than the tug as well.

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 6th September 2018, 06:50 AM

I would be interested in a "drive" of a 3500kg van,,
just to see how much better 4 x 12" (than 4 x 10's) brakes are..
can they BE twice as effective?

t'is funny sitting outside a pub watching all the vans roll into town up to their first stop sign/lights,,
and seeing which ones had set their brake controller for highway speed and forgotten to change it

dumb redarcs...

**Fatso** · 6th September 2018, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by trout1105

Simple Common sense will tell you that the tug should be heavier than the trailer because the braking sytems on your average van/trailer is Nowhere near as efficiant as the braking sytems on a semi trailer or B double.
YES it is only my opinion But that opinion is based on experiance Not from reading a book or social media.

In my opinion your opinion describing laws of science is the opinion of many teck writers , and of course its my opinion that experiance is tantamount . But thats only my opinion .

.

**Rextheute** · 6th September 2018, 10:36 AM

Knock yourselves out .....

vsb1 - Google Search

Pedro , a little light reading !

AL-KO Electric Drum Brake Kits

Bigger Brakes are more a capacity issue than a stopping issue ....Although in my exprience the 12 inchers do pull up okay , but have a tendency to lock up if the trailer is a bit 'light'

**vbrab** · 6th September 2018, 08:22 PM

Mick is correct in that there is no specific ADR thats specifies a trailer has to have <10%+ on the tow ball, however, the front axle, or front axle of any set of axles cannot be before the centre of the trailer, and the weight behind the front axle must be less than what is in front of the leading axle.
That is the interpretation (and I stress it is an interpretation), of the design rules from engineers who design and draft trailers for a living. Goty that from 2 of them and all they do is draft trailers from light domestic to trucking grade.
The biggest cause of trailer "sway" is where the load is behind the leading axle, and it seems that good engineering was working to limit that possibility, by building the trailer accordingly for starters.
That said, the rules vary between states, and in WA, the licencing police were quite adamant that they wanted to see 10%+ on the tow ball, or they would not licence my trailer.
I built with a tri axle and wanted to put front axle forward of centre with the two rear axles behind centre, but seems they were not happy with that either, so i ended up with maybe 8% on the tow ball (after I "adjust" the spare wheel location).

Bottom line is, smart drivers load their trailers being mindful of load distribution and towing limts of their vehicle, but a great many drivers appear totally oblivious to any such concerns, and that is likely what the police are starting to target.

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