|
|
Post by rockinrob on Jan 11, 2014 12:11:01 GMT 10
Hi All, I am new to the site with my recently acquired 20ft Franklin Freeway.
I am unable to find out what it weighs and if my VT commodore station wagon is heavy enough to tow it.
My only other option for towing is a 1990 Mazda BT50 tray ute.
Any comments or suggestions.
Cheers
Rockin Rob
|
|
|
|
Post by Franklin1 on Jan 11, 2014 14:47:05 GMT 10
G'day rockinrob, and welcome to the forum!  A ballpark tare weight calculated for your van is 20ft multiplied by 52kgs per foot; or 1040kgs Tare. I presume your van is a tandem axle van, which would be given a loading allowance by the rego authorities of 400kgs. That would give you an Aggregate Trailer Mass of 1040 + 400 = 1440kgs. You could probably even round that up to a neat 1500kgs, and still not be too far from the truth. You'll get varying opinions, but it's not uncommon to have the tow vehicle using not more than 75% of it's towing weight capacity. This means that if the van ATM is 1500kgs, then the tow vehicle and associated towing equipment should be rated to tow at least 2000kgs. The tow hitch would need to also be capable of withstanding a ball weight of 150kgs (10% of the ATM). You would have to check the vehicle specs to see how they would cope with the weight examples given here. cheers, Al. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2014 9:22:23 GMT 10
Hi rockinrob,
as Al said ,your van will weigh about 1500kg loaded.
The legal tow weight for a commodore is 1600kg on a standard towbar,and 2100kg on a heavy duty (ie Hayman Reese)bar.
sSo therefore you need to be aware of the legal ramifications of your outfit re insurance and safety.
Ball weight is also an issue with the commodore,so please do nt exceed that.You can weigh your vans ballweight by putting a piece of wood between 2 sets of scales and lowering the jockey wheel onto the wood,adding the scales weghts together and that will give you ballweight.
Good luck and safe caravanning.
Cheers
hughdeani
|
|
