Weight Distribution and Transfer

[old Jack]

Hi Denis,


Only way to know 100% accurate is to weigh the front and rear axles on a weigh bridge or with wheel scales.
Service Manual states tare is between 2085kg and 2100kg depending on factory options, without dealer fitted accessories or a full tank of fuel, I do not think this covers the 7 seater either. Your Owners Handbook will have your tare weight in the specifications section. I seem to recall the PS front axle weight with a factory nudge bar was around the 1100kg so 50% to 53% as an estimate.



If you PM "Mundy 55" he has a great spread sheet where you add your data in and it calculates axle loads and weight distribution for vehicle and trailer/caravan. He has posted it but I cannot find the link.


OJ.

[PaulMcG]

(Mr.) OJ

I came across your post on this in a search on WDH's. Thanks for a comprehensive explanation.

I'm just in the process of going from a camper trailer, about 1400kg ATM, to a van, possibly about 2300-2400ATM. Obviously I am going to use a WDH with this heavier tow load, and I've done all calculations and am happy to be well within all weight limits of vehicle, trailer, and combination.

However, I just can't get my head around a final concept:-

Let's say trailer has an ATM of 2,200kg, made up of a combination of 2,000kg GTM, and 200kg ball weight. Now I fit a WDH, which effectively transfers some of the ball weight back to the trailer axles.
If I have the van fully loaded with water tanks full, etc. and am at my limit of 2,200 ATM prior to use of the WDH, does this effectively mean I will now exceed the trailer's GTM, when that extra mass is transferred to the trailer's wheels.

Perhaps I am overthinking this, but I am just trying have a full understanding of all potential limits and complications prior to making any final decisions on vans. Can safely say that I won't get a sensible answer from a caravan salesman.

Thanks in advance for any reply, many of your posts have been a source of valuable information to me over the years.

Paul

[Ian H]

I'll chip in here and let you know that when I weighed my set up with the WDH off and then on, it transferred 160kg off the rear axle. 100kg went to the front wheels and 60kg to the van wheels (single axle). Depending on how tight you pull the hitch, that's the sort of difference it can make.

[old Jack]

Ideally the WDH should be adjusted so that all the weight transferred off the front axle is returned back to the front axle, at the same time some of the towball weight will be transferred back to the trailer axle. Best way to gauge this is measure the front EBH ride height from centre of hub to under wheel arch in a vertical line before the towball load is applied then once the towball load is applied adjust the WDH so the front axle EBH returns back to the unhitched height. Too many people put excessive loads on their WDH to compensate for weak rear coils, all this does is put extra load on the towbar, it's attachment to the vehicle and the trailer coupling.
You do not need fancy scales just a tape measure!

OJ.

[PaulMcG]

Thanks Ian for the reply, that was pretty much what I was after.

Thanks OJ, yeah that's how I have set up a WDH on a previous vehicle, just measuring front ride height before and after hitching.