Driving back from a holiday my wire and i, thought we would call in to Warnervale weigh bridge just off the M1 motorway. I was happy with the results since its the first time to weigh my rig with my new Pathfinder fully loaded in holiday mode. The results are.....Disconnected..car 2.34. 80% petrol tank full..... van 1.92. ( manufacture weights, car 2750 kg. van 2000kg atm.......Connected car 2.34....car axle front, 1.16..rear 1.30........T/ball 120, Adria tow ball plate weight 120kg max. Car axle manufacture weight rating Front 1335...Rear 1530kg. Mind you I go out of my way to even out the load in the car and van. Not bad I thought for a 22f twin axle van with all the comforts, and tows like a dream, heaps of grunt. love it.
Wazza.
-- Edited by Bulldozer on Friday 3rd of November 2023 02:07:02 PM
-- Edited by Bulldozer on Friday 3rd of November 2023 02:10:12 PM
yobarr said
04:04 PM Nov 3, 2023
Bulldozer wrote:
Driving back from a holiday my wire and i, thought we would call in to Warnervale weigh bridge just off the M1 motorway. I was happy with the results since its the first time to weigh my rig with my new Pathfinder fully loaded in holiday mode. The results are.....Disconnected.. car 2.34 80% petrol tank full..... van 1.92. ( manufacture weights, car 2750 kg. van 2000kg atm.......Connected car 2.34 ..car axle front,1.16.. rear 1.30 ......T/ball 120, Adria tow ball plate weight 120kg max. Car axle manufacture weight rating Front 1335...Rear 1530kg. Mind you I go out of my way to even out the load in the car and van. Not bad I thought for a 22f twin axle van with all the comforts, and tows like a dream, heaps of grunt. love it.
Wazza.
Hi Warren, my first reaction was "Whaaaat! Only 6% towball weight" . However, further study of your figures shows that the car has weight on wheels of 2340kg Disconnected, BUT ALSO 2.34 ton connected?
Probably you meant to write "2.46 Connected", as this is the total of 2.34 plus you 120kg towball weight.
However, because the weight on the car wheels is 36% greater than is the weight on the wheels of the van, you can probably get away with your low towball weight, although after all my year on various towed combinations there's no way known you'd ever see me towing a PIG trailer at 6% towball weight. No way Jose!
Tare on your car is 1960kg, I think, so including fuel and passengers you had loaded only 380kg into the car. Well done. Good to see that you're trying to be responsible with your weights. Happy travelling! Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Friday 3rd of November 2023 05:09:46 PM
Bulldozer said
05:00 PM Nov 3, 2023
Thanks yobarr , you are correct! connected weight of the car is actually 2.48. Believe me at 110kph ( not that I drive at that) this thing is a dream , so stable. I normally sit on 90-95. every van especialy the 200 series loaded to the hilt ,fly past me.I must drive slow. My to ball scales usually say 130 -140kg.
yobarr said
05:23 PM Nov 3, 2023
Bulldozer wrote:
Thanks yobarr , you are correct! connected weight of the car is actually 2.48. Believe me at 110kph ( not that I drive at that) this thing is a dream , so stable. I normally sit on 90-95. every van especialy the 200 series loaded to the hilt ,fly past me.I must drive slow. My to ball scales usually say 130 -140kg.
Yes, that's about what I do, sometimes only 85kmh. No rush. We're on holiday, but being a truckie I'm well aware of the protocols involved in getting others past, and safely on their way.
So many caravanners dawdle along at 70-75kmh, in a world of their own, hands white knuckled gripping the steering wheel at 9 and 3, staring straight ahead, no mirrors, no idea, no apparent brain, and not a care in the world. "I'm right Jack.Up you!"
UNTIL there's a passing lane. Then it's "Pedal to the metal", and they're gone!
But only until the passing lane ends, when they drop back to 70-75, maintaining their mobile road block.
But they're all good drivers. Just gotta ask them! Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Friday 3rd of November 2023 08:28:27 PM
Eaglemax said
08:43 PM Nov 3, 2023
Hi Wazza,
Good to see an Adria owner's report and new Pathfinder.
The new Nissan has a 9 speed torque converter auto replacing the CVT which I think is a good move and rare to see nowadays as the CVT is easier to manufacture but less loved.
I own a Jurgens so lightweight vans I take much interest in. They usually take some innovation to keep the load down. Eg if it's the model I think it is, a tare of 1650kg and ATM of 2000kg load allowance of 350kg for a 22ft van -130kg for water might be a challenge but the trade off towing only 2t can have its positives.
I'm glad you have a suitably heavy tow vehicle as Yobarr said, it helps with the low towball weight of 6%. In the review in the link below they list a number of suitable SUV type towcars, they even mention the Kia Sportage (my car 2022 model) BUT (and they mention it) the Sportage has a maximum towing capacity of 1900kg. So load in the Adria van would be reduced to 250kg - 130kg water... 120kg left! And 100kg towball weight (max for that Kia) means 5% towball weight. For them to suggest that is extraordinary and bordering on irresponsible imo, but common for people to look only at the ATM and not consider TBW and all factors. These are the sort of journalistic reports that are disappointing.
I tow a Jurgens sungazer with 6% ball weight around 1700kg ATM and like yours we have the ALKO friction hitch. We also have ESC and loaded up the cars GVM is 2250kg with 490kg load allowance. So like your rig the extra weight of car to van ATM is security with stability in mind.
Extra water in our case is carried in the boot 95L with pump. So if you do have an issue with weight a partially filled tank in the van is an option plus bladder.
Another benefit as you've proven is not stressing about axle weights and you're maximising your economy.
Enjoy
https://www.timetoroam.com.au/caravan-review-adria-adora-612/
Tony.
Bulldozer said
12:57 AM Nov 4, 2023
Hi Tony, you are on the money! My tare is 1600, ATM is 2000, But with my 2015 Adria 612 a lot of stuff from new is extra weight. eg, ducted A/C, Cartridge awning, spare wheel, ect, ect. but water tanks 130 lts and hot water sys are full so the manual says. So that doesn't give me a lot of payload. I drive with my water tanks empty because I only stay in caravan parks. But if I did free camp , maybe one day, the boss dictates the terms, I would have to swap a few things back into the Pathy. As it is now a lot of weight is on the back seat floor area, even though there is a heap of room in the cargo section at the rear. I'm paranoid about weights. The park I was staying at the guy next to me said to me, do you like my big tool/storage box that I fitted onto the draw bar? I just said very nice, but I said you have to watch your weights? He said thats ok because I don't drive far. End of conversation. It's amazing how many owners out there think like that. When you start talking weights most just walk away. BTW Tony that 9 speed close ratio with a fairly low ratio final drive ZF auto is a cracker, I just turn the knob to towing mode and away I go. 1st and 2nd ratio is low perfect for towing, it gets off the mark with little effort.
-- Edited by Bulldozer on Saturday 4th of November 2023 01:05:15 AM
Driving back from a holiday my wire and i, thought we would call in to Warnervale weigh bridge just off the M1 motorway. I was happy with the results since its the first time to weigh my rig with my new Pathfinder fully loaded in holiday mode. The results are.....Disconnected..car 2.34. 80% petrol tank full..... van 1.92. ( manufacture weights, car 2750 kg. van 2000kg atm.......Connected car 2.34....car axle front, 1.16..rear 1.30........T/ball 120, Adria tow ball plate weight 120kg max. Car axle manufacture weight rating Front 1335...Rear 1530kg. Mind you I go out of my way to even out the load in the car and van. Not bad I thought for a 22f twin axle van with all the comforts, and tows like a dream, heaps of grunt. love it.
Wazza.
-- Edited by Bulldozer on Friday 3rd of November 2023 02:07:02 PM
-- Edited by Bulldozer on Friday 3rd of November 2023 02:10:12 PM
Hi Warren, my first reaction was "Whaaaat! Only 6% towball weight" . However, further study of your figures shows that the car has weight on wheels of 2340kg Disconnected, BUT ALSO 2.34 ton connected?
Probably you meant to write "2.46 Connected", as this is the total of 2.34 plus you 120kg towball weight.
However, because the weight on the car wheels is 36% greater than is the weight on the wheels of the van, you can probably get away with your low towball weight, although after all my year on various towed combinations there's no way known you'd ever see me towing a PIG trailer at 6% towball weight. No way Jose!
Tare on your car is 1960kg, I think, so including fuel and passengers you had loaded only 380kg into the car. Well done. Good to see that you're trying to be responsible with your weights. Happy travelling! Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Friday 3rd of November 2023 05:09:46 PM
Yes, that's about what I do, sometimes only 85kmh. No rush. We're on holiday, but being a truckie I'm well aware of the protocols involved in getting others past, and safely on their way.
So many caravanners dawdle along at 70-75kmh, in a world of their own, hands white knuckled gripping the steering wheel at 9 and 3, staring straight ahead, no mirrors, no idea, no apparent brain, and not a care in the world. "I'm right Jack.Up you!"
UNTIL there's a passing lane. Then it's "Pedal to the metal", and they're gone!
But only until the passing lane ends, when they drop back to 70-75, maintaining their mobile road block.
But they're all good drivers. Just gotta ask them! Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Friday 3rd of November 2023 08:28:27 PM
Hi Tony, you are on the money! My tare is 1600, ATM is 2000, But with my 2015 Adria 612 a lot of stuff from new is extra weight. eg, ducted A/C, Cartridge awning, spare wheel, ect, ect. but water tanks 130 lts and hot water sys are full so the manual says. So that doesn't give me a lot of payload. I drive with my water tanks empty because I only stay in caravan parks. But if I did free camp , maybe one day, the boss dictates the terms, I would have to swap a few things back into the Pathy. As it is now a lot of weight is on the back seat floor area, even though there is a heap of room in the cargo section at the rear. I'm paranoid about weights. The park I was staying at the guy next to me said to me, do you like my big tool/storage box that I fitted onto the draw bar? I just said very nice, but I said you have to watch your weights? He said thats ok because I don't drive far. End of conversation. It's amazing how many owners out there think like that. When you start talking weights most just walk away. BTW Tony that 9 speed close ratio with a fairly low ratio final drive ZF auto is a cracker, I just turn the knob to towing mode and away I go. 1st and 2nd ratio is low perfect for towing, it gets off the mark with little effort.
-- Edited by Bulldozer on Saturday 4th of November 2023 01:05:15 AM