Hi All,

I have taken on board feedback from the forum and have completed what I hope (touch wood) will be a final Version 5.0 of my Microsoft Excel-based Towing Weights Analyser.  A few calculation bugs have been removed and  other refinements made. A significant change is the incorporation of extra features to  analyse  data related to the usage of Weight Distribution Hitches (WDH). Version 5.0 also contains a set of step by step instructions for someone who may have never taken towing weights on a public weighbridge, to do so and enter the results into the Analyser.

In summary, you can now use the Analyser to:                                                                                                                                                                                                               

1.       Record your rigs  weights data that may be obtained from a weighbridge, your caravan's and equipment's compliance plates and from other sources such as user manuals and equipment manufacturers' websites;

2.       Analyse and identify any non-compliance(s) with regards to your tow vehicle and caravan towing weights and masses;

3.       Using a set of tow ball weight scales, adjust your load placement in your caravan and tow vehicle to check compliances and achieve a safe balance;

4.       Calculate the effect of full, part full or empty water tanks on your weights;

5.       Calculate the effect of Tow Bar Overhang (TBO) on your tow vehicle's axle loads to ensure in particular that the multiplied ball load does not result in your rear axle load exceeding its maximum load and front axle lifting excessively, thus jeopardising safe and effective front wheel traction and steering;

6.       Estimate a WDH distribution of the multiplied ball load (MBL) from your rear axle to your front axle and to your caravan axle and the load that remains on your rear axle. This feature requires you to estimate/predict what distribution percentages to each axle assembly you believe your WDH will achieve or you want to achieve depending on what adjustment and tensioning you can apply to it. Typical ranges of WDH distribution percentages obtained from limited sampling data are shown BUT noting that some WDH manufacturers quote comparatively more balanced distribution across the three axle assemblies, it is recommended you verify possibly WDH percentage distribution with your WDH manufacturer/supplier; and,

7.       Determine, using the WDH estimator as per point 6. above, whether or not a WDH could better balance your loading and/or resolve any non-compliances you have and what percentage of weight distributions you would need to achieve in order to do so.

Also attached is a very simple spreadsheet to record tow vehicle and caravan heights/distances and achieve their correct balance within as they adjust a Hayman Reese WDH. Fitting instructions aside, it can be used to record distances/heights for any WDH.

I am sorry if my Analyser seems at first glance to have a lot of data showing in it and perhaps a lot of new terminology for some  laymen (and others) to quickly grasp but I think that anyone who is not familiar with towing needs to spend a little bit of time and effort to clearly understand what towing compliance really entails.

I have asked forum admin to remove all previous versions of the Analyser and recommend that you download v5.0 and delete previous download to ensure that you are using a bug free version.

Cheers,

Phillip