Caravan and VW T6 ball weight

[Unclebob]

I've seen plenty of pics of monster caravans being towed by transporters here, and my question is "how?". More specifically, how do you manage to keep the ball weight to 100kg (which as I understand it is the max weight you can put on any T6 towball), while also maintaining the recommended 10% of the total load on the ball as seems to be recommended?

We're looking at buying a tiny tiny caravan (
WINTON 10 - Ezytrail Camper Trailers PTY LTD ) so I didn't think there would be any issue. Not so.

Tare is 1050kg so 10% of that is already over 100kg before adding any gear, and with a starting ball weight of 70kg, keeping ball weight under 100kg when the main storage areas are forward of the axle will be tough.

Jayco (popular brand in Australia) said they wouldn't sell us a Jpod (basically a bed on wheels) because it had a ball weight of 80kg which meant it wouldn't be fit for purpose.

 

[Deleted Member]

I’ve not heard of the 10% tow hitch rule before, only the 85% of the kerb weight of the towing vehicle.

You’re correct in the 100kg max nose weight, no matter what brand of hitch you have on a T6.

I tow an Adria which is about the biggest and heaviest single axle caravan you can get, with the gas bottle in the back of my van and not in the locker I can get to around 90kg’s on the nose, tested with a gauge or you can use bathroom scales and a chock of wood (need the brakes off though for accuracy).

 

[radson]

I've seen plenty of pics of monster caravans being towed by transporters here, and my question is "how?". More specifically, how do you manage to keep the ball weight to 100kg (which as I understand it is the max weight you can put on any T6 towball), while also maintaining the recommended 10% of the total load on the ball as seems to be recommended?

We're looking at buying a tiny tiny caravan (
WINTON 10 - Ezytrail Camper Trailers PTY LTD ) so I didn't think there would be any issue. Not so.

Tare is 1050kg so 10% of that is already over 100kg before adding any gear, and with a starting ball weight of 70kg, keeping ball weight under 100kg when the main storage areas are forward of the axle will be tough.

Jayco (popular brand in Australia) said they wouldn't sell us a Jpod (basically a bed on wheels) because it had a ball weight of 80kg which meant it wouldn't be fit for purpose.

Another Aussie here. I dont get it either

 

[RobertO2023]

Max tow ball wt is 100kg period. I do a lot of towing both caravan and triple axle car transporter. My rule has always been to measure the trailer nose weight accurately and set it to 50kg. That way you have well balanced set up keeping both tow vehicle and trailer in a level in a stable position. Remembering irrespective of nose weight an incorrectly balanced trailer is very dangerous and of course in the event of an accident will invalidate your insurance. I see way too many incompetent drivers towing badly loaded trailers - mostly caravans!

 

[cgtmiles]

Do any cars have a ball weight over 100kgs? The latest camping and caravanning club newsletter has a review of the Hyundai Kona towing a caravan weighting 1154kg (not the biggest but it was a hybrid suv). It has a max weight of 80kg

 

[RobertO2023]

Every tow vehicle will have predetermined max tow ball weight which is set by the manufacturer. Towing capacity is also set by the manufacturers. Guidelines and recommendations suggested by Caravan clubs do not override the manufacturers specifications.
So according to some clubs the trailer should not exceed 80% of the weight of the tow vehicle. This is a sensible guide but not a legal requirement. In addition I would weigh the trailer with everything on board ie not the empty weight. Then weigh the tow vehicle ensuring it does not exceed the manufacturers gross weight. Then do your calculations making sure you are not overloaded.
I bet not many people have ever been to a public weigh bridge

 

[Deleted Member]

I saw a vehicle recently with 150kg nose weight, can’t remember what it was though.

 

[BikerPa]

FF Range Rover & current Discovery have 150kg nose weight on towbar.
New Defender 90/110 also is 150kg
130 is lower at 120kg, if any of those were what you were looking at @Insert Coin

 

[dubber36]

My Amarok had a nose weight of 120kg.

As for the 80/85% advisory outfit match, I'm sure it's to protect the inexperienced towing caravans twice a year. Towing a big slab sided box is more about the aero effects and the tow vehicle not being wagged by a wind buffeted trailer.

My Caravelle actually handled a 2000kg caravan better than the Amarok due to punching a better hole through the air for it.