Q. If a caravans plate is stamped with a ball weight, which most are, is that.the tare weight at the coupling when built, or is it the manufacturers maximum recomendation for maximin load on coupling. Ive never bought a new van so have never weighed the coupling.
Id be interested to read others views.
TIA.
Kezngaz.
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Commitment shows. Quality is what is done when no one is looking.
Its really a fictitious number dreamed up by some formula. To the extent Jayco had so many incorrect ball weights, compliance plate issues over it, they now leave that figure blank.
If only one weight is shown as Ball Weight, it is generally the ball weight of the van, in the Tare condition, and will usually equate to the ATM of the van less the GCM.
Some manufacturers do also show what they "claim" to be the Maximum Ball Weight.
Jayco were one of these, and their Maximum Ball Weight was the Tare Ball Weight + 10% of the nominal Load Allowance they had allowed. This equated to an additional 30 kg on a single axle non shower van, 40 kg on a tandem axle non shower van, and 47 kg on a shower tandem.
As Iana says, this practice at Jayco caused a lot of issues, as Ball Weight, once the van is being loaded, is not an exact or quotable science, so they decided to cease showing a Maximum weight, and leave the figure to be set by the owner, loading the van guided by the vehicles allowable tow ball load. This was because it is very difficult to load the van with a full load and only get 10% of that weight onto the ball.
Hope that helps.
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
Unless it's a small van.
Try to keep around 180kg or more on drawbar.
My last van was 6.5mtr 2.8ish ton.
I kept my drawbar a lot over 300kg's. for stability
Whatever you have/get.
Take it over scales empty. than again when loaded. get the two variances.
Then you know where you stand. and whether.
legal AND safe, on the roads.
THEN
Adjust both to suit..(Veh/van) Making sure that Vehicle is minimum
400kg with larger vans. 250ish with small vans.
HEAVIER than the van.
Remember. the heavier YOU are in relation to trailer.
the more conrol you have over it when things go wrong.
Trailer HEAVIER then you. Look out.
It'll control you. Regardless of horsepower under the bonnet.
Its really a fictitious number dreamed up by some formula. To the extent Jayco had so many incorrect ball weights, compliance plate issues over it, they now leave that figure blank.
Hi Iana, and everyone.
Let me get this Right. You are saying Jayco has done away with their Ball Weight on their Compliance plates??????????????? Does this mean I can take our van back and demand a replacement plate,(still under Warranty) and have it replaced. With a new plate less the Ball Weight left blank.
I have 240kg Max stamped on ours. Not Happy. While away for ten weeks we were over this on most parts of our trip. We towed with the 200TTD cruiser with a rating of 350kg.Towed and tracked perfectly.
Jim
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Sunday 30th of October 2016 09:49:49 PM
They issued me with a new compliance plate, I think mine is stamped 350kg. I was told by the Jayco agent the ball weights were being left blank. It is not a requirement to have that value stamped on the compliance plate.
The requirement for information on the trailer plate is specified in VSB-01. Here is the extract of the requirement from this document
The vehicle plate must show at least the following information: Manufacturer's or Importers Name (whichever party takes responsibility for the certification statement); Trailer Model; Vehicle Identification Number (specified in Section 4); Date of Manufacture (month/year, e.g. 02/08); Aggregate Trailer Mass (kg); and The Certification Statement (specified below).
Other info can be included on the plate but is not required by law.
As a general rule any ball weight listed on the plate is the measured weight when the van is weighed to ascertain the tare weight. If it is anything else then that must be specified by other wording included in that section on the plate.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
They issued me with a new compliance plate, I think mine is stamped 350kg. I was told by the Jayco agent the ball weights were being left blank. It is not a requirement to have that value stamped on the compliance plate.
The requirement for information on the trailer plate is specified in VSB-01. Here is the extract of the requirement from this document
The vehicle plate must show at least the following information: Manufacturer's or Importers Name (whichever party takes responsibility for the certification statement); Trailer Model; Vehicle Identification Number (specified in Section 4); Date of Manufacture (month/year, e.g. 02/08); Aggregate Trailer Mass (kg); and The Certification Statement (specified below).
Other info can be included on the plate but is not required by law.
As a general rule any ball weight listed on the plate is the measured weight when the van is weighed to ascertain the tare weight. If it is anything else then that must be specified by other wording included in that section on the plate.
Thanks PeterD.
So it is the measured weight of the unladen coupling.
Is it correct to presume the maximum is then set by the tow vehicles tow bar rating?
TIA Kezngaz.
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Commitment shows. Quality is what is done when no one is looking.
Its really a fictitious number dreamed up by some formula. To the extent Jayco had so many incorrect ball weights, compliance plate issues over it, they now leave that figure blank.
Not entirely correct Iana. The blank section on Jayco Vans is the Tare weight not the ball weight. The reason this was left blank at the factory is because one particularly officious motor registry refused to register new Jayco vans if it were one kilo over the brochure tare. Now as we all appreciate, that's an extra tube of silicon. So what happens when someone asks for a washing machine, extra solar panel and battery? The answer is to leave it blank on the compliance plate and issue weighbridge certificates for all new vans to be held by the owners.
The ball weight stamped on the compliance plate can only be the empty weight and around 10% of total payload should be added as a worst case scenario to arrive at the laden ball weight
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Landrover Discovery 4 towing a New Age Manta Ray MR19E
Ok Iana. I didn't mean to discredit you but do feel it of benefit, where I may have some knowledge, to help put right small misunderstandings. The Jayco agent wasn't fully correct as it is the Tare weight which is missing from Jayco compliance plates for good reason and not because Jayco are muddled over their own weights. Each Van I sell and deliver carries a weighbridge certificate with it which is in fact very accurate and pertaining to the van the customer has bought and up-specced perhaps. No hard feelings but its all too easy to assume that the manufacturer is unsure or confused and in this case that's an unfair assumptions.
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Landrover Discovery 4 towing a New Age Manta Ray MR19E
Having just arrived at work I thought I would check out the compliance plates on a Jayco. I do stand corrected Iana. N/A is stamped in the ball weight field as you have indicated on new vans. But the field is labelled "Maximum Tow Ball Weight" and to my thinking this is not applicable to the trailer but more so the towing vehicle. I guess "technically" you could have a poorly designed trailer weighing 1000kg with 350 Kg on the ball and it MAY? tow OK ish. You would be legal so long as the tow vehicle is rated at the 350 Kg. I have just checked a random weighbridge certificate and the actual ball weight of that specific van is printed there as weighed at the Factory thereby removing any grey areas.
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Landrover Discovery 4 towing a New Age Manta Ray MR19E
The answer is to leave it blank on the compliance plate and issue weighbridge certificates for all new vans to be held by the owners.
