I'm currently camped near Swan Hill in NW Victoria and on the way here I noticed a weighbridge just north of Kerang, as I shall be returning that way in a couple of weeks I'd like to take the opportunity to weigh my rig.
Now: just occasionally, very occasionally, governments do something obvious and sensible and in this case it is to leave some weighbridges in Victoria, which are only used for truck weight compliance in a working mode when not being used for compliance purposes in order the public may weigh their vehicles free of charge and the Kerang weighbridge is such a one. An amazing and rare piece of common sense!
I'm thinking of weighing in the following manner with the tow vehicle and caravan coupled:
Vehicle front axel
Vehicle both axels
Vehicle and caravan
Caravan
----
I think this will give me all the weights I need excepting the tow ball weight which I can measure with a spring balance - they are not perfect I know but should be good enough for this exercise.
The reason I don't wish to uncouple or use the jocky wheel for tow ball weight is that my bloody top price Al-Ko jocky wheel has failed AGAIN - the third failure in four years! And until I can sort it out coupling/uncoupling involves the use of the car jack.
Your comments please?
Craig1 said
02:19 PM Apr 2, 2023
do the back axle if you can
yobarr said
02:26 PM Apr 2, 2023
Mike Harding wrote:
I'm currently camped near Swan Hill in NW Victoria and on the way here I noticed a weighbridge just north of Kerang, as I shall be returning that way in a couple of weeks I'd like to take the opportunity to weigh my rig.
Now: just occasionally, very occasionally, governments do something obvious and sensible and in this case it is to leave some weighbridges in Victoria, which are only used for truck weight compliance in a working mode when not being used for compliance purposes in order the public may weigh their vehicles free of charge and the Kerang weighbridge is such a one. An amazing and rare piece of common sense!
I'm thinking of weighing in the following manner with the tow vehicle and caravan coupled:
Vehicle front axel
Vehicle both axels
Vehicle and caravan
Caravan
----
I think this will give me all the weights I need excepting the tow ball weight which I can measure with a spring balance - they are not perfect I know but should be good enough for this exercise.
The reason I don't wish to uncouple or use the jocky wheel for tow ball weight is that my bloody top price Al-Ko jocky wheel has failed AGAIN - the third failure in four years! And until I can sort it out coupling/uncoupling involves the use of the car jack.
Your comments please?
Hi Mike. Doesn't really matter but there's no need to weigh "caravan" (4th weigh) as the weight on wheels of van can be determined by deducting "vehicle both axles" (2nd weigh) from "vehicle and caravan. ( 3rd weigh).
Weight on rear axle of car is easily determined by deducting front axle weight from total weight of car.
Next time you're near a weighbridge, without van but similarly loaded car, weigh car to calculate rear axle weight not towing.
Divide the difference between the two rear axle weights that you have by 1.4 to get approximate towball weight of van.
Whatever is the difference between your two rear axle weights (van and no van) and your calculated towball weight is how much weight has been removed from your car's front axle by towball weight, and transferred to rear of car.
Not a 100% accurate method by any means, but at least you'll get an idea. Don't have my records on me but I seem to recall that your car's rear axle carrying capacity is 1600kg?
Good luck with your weighing. Cheers
Are We Lost said
02:49 PM Apr 2, 2023
As Yobarr said, but I like to weigh each axle as a more accurate method. Usually weighbridges have 20kg increments so individual weights helps a little. For a dual axle van however, I would have doubts on the weighbridge accuracy with just one axle on the very edge of the weighbridge. So I have just weighed the axle pair.
KJB said
02:58 PM Apr 2, 2023
Are We Lost wrote:
As Yobarr said, but I like to weigh each axle as a more accurate method. Usually weighbridges have 20kg increments so individual weights helps a little. For a dual axle van however, I would have doubts on the weighbridge accuracy with just one axle on the very edge of the weighbridge. So I have just weighed the axle pair.
Weigh the Tandem group axles individually and then as a pair......simple to compare as far as accuracy is concerned. All easy to do .
For anyone travelling in Central/Western Victoria there is also a "free" Weighbridge on the East bound lane of the Western Hwy, East of Ballarat at Leigh Creek (about opposite Kryal Castle). KB
Mike Harding said
03:04 PM Apr 2, 2023
Thanks guys.
Agreed, weighing the van is not necessary but it gives a confirmation check.
It is a twin axle van but I'm not concerned about weight distribution as the axles are so close together.
Good idea Yobarr about weighing the tow vehicle separately at some other time. And yes, it is 1600kg for the Trailblazer rear axle which is a bit low but I should be OK with that. (He said confidently) :)
yobarr said
03:07 PM Apr 2, 2023
KJB wrote:
Are We Lost wrote:
As Yobarr said, but I like to weigh each axle as a more accurate method. Usually weighbridges have 20kg increments so individual weights helps a little. For a dual axle van however, I would have doubts on the weighbridge accuracy with just one axle on the very edge of the weighbridge. So I have just weighed the axle pair.
Weigh the Tandem group axles individually and then as a pair......simple to compare as far as accuracy is concerned. All easy to do .
For anyone travelling in Central/Western Victoria there is also a "free" Weighbridge on the East bound lane of the Western Hwy, East of Ballarat at Leigh Creek (about opposite Kryal Castle). KB
Hi Kerry. Weighing axles individually with non-load sharing suspension will give different results at each end of the weighbridge as deck will never be level with approach and exit, so less weight on one axle or another. Same as such a van MUST be level when being towed or you'll get either excess ball weight or front-axle steer. Cheers
KJB said
03:36 PM Apr 2, 2023
yobarr wrote:
KJB wrote:
Are We Lost wrote:
As Yobarr said, but I like to weigh each axle as a more accurate method. Usually weighbridges have 20kg increments so individual weights helps a little. For a dual axle van however, I would have doubts on the weighbridge accuracy with just one axle on the very edge of the weighbridge. So I have just weighed the axle pair.
Weigh the Tandem group axles individually and then as a pair......simple to compare as far as accuracy is concerned. All easy to do .
For anyone travelling in Central/Western Victoria there is also a "free" Weighbridge on the East bound lane of the Western Hwy, East of Ballarat at Leigh Creek (about opposite Kryal Castle). KB
Hi Kerry. Weighing axles individually with non-load sharing suspension will give different results at each end of the weighbridge as deck will never be level with approach and exit, so less weight on one axle or another. Same as such a van MUST be level when being towed or you'll get either excess ball weight or front-axle steer. Cheers
Yep, agree. I was assuming the van has "load sharing" suspension. (it is a wonder that "non load sharing" axle groups are still allowed to be built/registered)
I'm currently camped near Swan Hill in NW Victoria and on the way here I noticed a weighbridge just north of Kerang, as I shall be returning that way in a couple of weeks I'd like to take the opportunity to weigh my rig.
Now: just occasionally, very occasionally, governments do something obvious and sensible and in this case it is to leave some weighbridges in Victoria, which are only used for truck weight compliance in a working mode when not being used for compliance purposes in order the public may weigh their vehicles free of charge and the Kerang weighbridge is such a one. An amazing and rare piece of common sense!
I'm thinking of weighing in the following manner with the tow vehicle and caravan coupled:
Vehicle front axel
Vehicle both axels
Vehicle and caravan
Caravan
----
I think this will give me all the weights I need excepting the tow ball weight which I can measure with a spring balance - they are not perfect I know but should be good enough for this exercise.
The reason I don't wish to uncouple or use the jocky wheel for tow ball weight is that my bloody top price Al-Ko jocky wheel has failed AGAIN - the third failure in four years! And until I can sort it out coupling/uncoupling involves the use of the car jack.
Your comments please?
Hi Mike. Doesn't really matter but there's no need to weigh "caravan" (4th weigh) as the weight on wheels of van can be determined by deducting "vehicle both axles" (2nd weigh) from "vehicle and caravan. ( 3rd weigh).
Weight on rear axle of car is easily determined by deducting front axle weight from total weight of car.
Next time you're near a weighbridge, without van but similarly loaded car, weigh car to calculate rear axle weight not towing.
Divide the difference between the two rear axle weights that you have by 1.4 to get approximate towball weight of van.
Whatever is the difference between your two rear axle weights (van and no van) and your calculated towball weight is how much weight has been removed from your car's front axle by towball weight, and transferred to rear of car.
Not a 100% accurate method by any means, but at least you'll get an idea. Don't have my records on me but I seem to recall that your car's rear axle carrying capacity is 1600kg?
Good luck with your weighing. Cheers
Weigh the Tandem group axles individually and then as a pair......simple to compare as far as accuracy is concerned. All easy to do .
For anyone travelling in Central/Western Victoria there is also a "free" Weighbridge on the East bound lane of the Western Hwy, East of Ballarat at Leigh Creek (about opposite Kryal Castle). KB
Thanks guys.
Agreed, weighing the van is not necessary but it gives a confirmation check.
It is a twin axle van but I'm not concerned about weight distribution as the axles are so close together.
Good idea Yobarr about weighing the tow vehicle separately at some other time. And yes, it is 1600kg for the Trailblazer rear axle which is a bit low but I should be OK with that. (He said confidently) :)
Hi Kerry. Weighing axles individually with non-load sharing suspension will give different results at each end of the weighbridge as deck will never be level with approach and exit, so less weight on one axle or another. Same as such a van MUST be level when being towed or you'll get either excess ball weight or front-axle steer. Cheers
Yep, agree. I was assuming the van has "load sharing" suspension. (it is a wonder that "non load sharing" axle groups are still allowed to be built/registered)