Post by Jim on Feb 9, 2005 23:58:35 GMT 10
Hi Guys,
A few days ago I saw someone ask in a thread how do you work out the towball weight of your van.
I can’t find (or remember) where the thread was but this may help anyone wishing to know the ball weight of their van.
An easy way to measure the ball weight of your van at home is with bathroom scales.
Method one..
Where the weight is within the range of the scales.
1.. With the van sitting level, put the caravan handbrake on (or chock the wheels).
2.. Find a decent lump of timber (such as a piece of 4x4 post,) that can stand up on the scales and fits between the scales and under the coupling with some clearance.
3.. Weigh the piece of timber and note the weight.
4.. Set the scales and your lump of timber under the coupling so when you wind the jockey wheel down slightly the weight will be taken on the top of the timber post.
5.. Note the weight on the scales and subtract the weight of the piece of timber you noted in ‘3’.
That’s your ball weight.
-----------------------------------------
Method two..
Use this method if the towball weight is more than the scales can read..
For this you’ll need to set up a lever using another couple of pieces of timber.
1.. Find a piece about a metre long and a second piece the same height as the scales (A brick or brick paver is often about the same height as bathroom scales)
2.. Mark the middle of the long piece of timber
3.. Place one end on the scales.
4.. Support the other end on the piece that’s the same height as the scales, so the timber bar is level.
5.. Stand your 4x4 post at the mid point and note the reading on the scales.
6.. Lower the coupling onto the post (as before).
7.. Subtract the initial reading of the timber pieces you noted in ‘5’..
8.. Multiply the result by two to obtain the ball weight.
-------------------------------------
Two shortcut methods are:
1.. Simply place the scales under the jockey wheel..
2.. Roll up to your local weighbridge, unhook from the car and only weigh the jockey wheel.
Note that this figure won’t be as accurate as when weighed at the coupling.
A few days ago I saw someone ask in a thread how do you work out the towball weight of your van.
I can’t find (or remember) where the thread was but this may help anyone wishing to know the ball weight of their van.
An easy way to measure the ball weight of your van at home is with bathroom scales.
Method one..
Where the weight is within the range of the scales.
1.. With the van sitting level, put the caravan handbrake on (or chock the wheels).
2.. Find a decent lump of timber (such as a piece of 4x4 post,) that can stand up on the scales and fits between the scales and under the coupling with some clearance.
3.. Weigh the piece of timber and note the weight.
4.. Set the scales and your lump of timber under the coupling so when you wind the jockey wheel down slightly the weight will be taken on the top of the timber post.
5.. Note the weight on the scales and subtract the weight of the piece of timber you noted in ‘3’.
That’s your ball weight.
-----------------------------------------
Method two..
Use this method if the towball weight is more than the scales can read..
For this you’ll need to set up a lever using another couple of pieces of timber.
1.. Find a piece about a metre long and a second piece the same height as the scales (A brick or brick paver is often about the same height as bathroom scales)
2.. Mark the middle of the long piece of timber
3.. Place one end on the scales.
4.. Support the other end on the piece that’s the same height as the scales, so the timber bar is level.
5.. Stand your 4x4 post at the mid point and note the reading on the scales.
6.. Lower the coupling onto the post (as before).
7.. Subtract the initial reading of the timber pieces you noted in ‘5’..
8.. Multiply the result by two to obtain the ball weight.
-------------------------------------
Two shortcut methods are:
1.. Simply place the scales under the jockey wheel..
2.. Roll up to your local weighbridge, unhook from the car and only weigh the jockey wheel.
Note that this figure won’t be as accurate as when weighed at the coupling.