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Hi All, I will apologize in advance if my story is to long winded but in the interest of sharing my pain for others to benefit, here goes.
3 years ago I bought an NT DID Exceed because of it's advertised 3,000kg towing capacity and then followed up 6 months later by purchasing a tandem caravan with a a compliance plate ATM of 2,458kg and ball weight of 130kg. Sounds like I did my research and made the right choices but since coming across this forum, conversations with fellow caravaners and belatedly "educating" myself I now no I'm in a whole lot of trouble for the following reasons.
Firstly, I didn't know of or bother reading the "fine print" in the NT specification related to ball weight nor did the MM dealer tell me about it (or the rear wheel hitting the coupling) when I mentioned I was planing to retire and buy a caravan.
Secondly, I was not aware of how caravan compliance plate ATM's and ball weights are derived. Which for those that don't already know is the caravan "empty" tare weight (empty of fluids etc) and with a manufacturers payload allowance which in my case was 400 kg's.
The sad reality is that having put my caravan on a weigh bridge I'm embarrassed to report it has an actual traveling ATM of 2,810 kg's and a ball weight of 300 kg's.
Why the difference? I can explain a big part of it but I'm scratching my head on the rest. The main influence on the weight, particularly ball weight is the fluids. My 286 kg's of water tanks, gas bottles and batteries are all forward of the axles. I've got approx 50 kg's of normal front boot/under bed stuff but as to the remaining 400 kg's + I can't see that in food or cloths. FYI, Emptying both water tanks only reduced ball weight to 270 kg's.
My axles are rated at 2,900 kg's so the caravan is legal and my total combined car/caravan gross (with fuel, Weaco, bikes etc in the back of the Pajero) leaves 650 kg's to spare but alarmingly I now know my Pajero & caravan combination is far from legal because of ball weight alone.
I'm currently investigating moving the water tanks to the rear behind the axles and adding 2 x 20 Ltr jerry cans to the rear bar but for those that have done there own testing on this, adding 250 kg's in this way to the rear will only take approx 80 kg's off the ball weight.
So in my case, MM aren't going to magically and retrospectively revise the NT ball weight to 250 kg's up to 3,000 kg's and I'm buggered if I can see how to get my total or ball weight within coo-ee of the Pajero spec so it's either a new tow vehicle (more likely) or a new caravan for me.
I'm pleased to here that MM dealers are more forthcoming to prospective buyers with all the towing specs and I know that caravan dealers are more cautious now days when advising on caravan/tow vehicle combinations but it is interesting what the threat of legal action and authorities ramping up roadside spot checks does to the behavior of industry people that should have known better in hindsight. For second had buyers I hope that sellers have a conscience.
I'm also at a loss to understand why caravan manufacturers aren't required too complete compliance plate weights both with and without fluids given the effect that location of water tanks, gas bottles and batteries have on ball weight. Doing so would totally inform the prospective purchaser or is that to much useful information?
There is a lot of conversation in various forums, magazines and caravan parks around what you pack and how you pack a caravan because quite rightly, payload and ball weight are important however, if like me, you mistakingly believe the compliance plate ball weight to be the starting point of your calculation then be warned.
In my case hindsight is a dangerous thing that won't help me but for prospective purchases of Pajero's and caravans, buyer beware and I hope that my long winded story helps educate those smarter than I was on looking behind the "advertised" numbers.
PS. Apart from the above, I'm very happy with my Pajero. It is absolutely brilliant at towing my set-up, at its current full towing weight. Very stable and comfortable on the road, effortless unless on the steepest of hills and relatively economical with fuel, just don't mention ball weight.
PPSS. Any advice or good luck wishes in explaining to she with whom I watch tv why I need to by a new tow vehicle would be great fully welcomed.
3 years ago I bought an NT DID Exceed because of it's advertised 3,000kg towing capacity and then followed up 6 months later by purchasing a tandem caravan with a a compliance plate ATM of 2,458kg and ball weight of 130kg. Sounds like I did my research and made the right choices but since coming across this forum, conversations with fellow caravaners and belatedly "educating" myself I now no I'm in a whole lot of trouble for the following reasons.
Firstly, I didn't know of or bother reading the "fine print" in the NT specification related to ball weight nor did the MM dealer tell me about it (or the rear wheel hitting the coupling) when I mentioned I was planing to retire and buy a caravan.
Secondly, I was not aware of how caravan compliance plate ATM's and ball weights are derived. Which for those that don't already know is the caravan "empty" tare weight (empty of fluids etc) and with a manufacturers payload allowance which in my case was 400 kg's.
The sad reality is that having put my caravan on a weigh bridge I'm embarrassed to report it has an actual traveling ATM of 2,810 kg's and a ball weight of 300 kg's.
Why the difference? I can explain a big part of it but I'm scratching my head on the rest. The main influence on the weight, particularly ball weight is the fluids. My 286 kg's of water tanks, gas bottles and batteries are all forward of the axles. I've got approx 50 kg's of normal front boot/under bed stuff but as to the remaining 400 kg's + I can't see that in food or cloths. FYI, Emptying both water tanks only reduced ball weight to 270 kg's.
My axles are rated at 2,900 kg's so the caravan is legal and my total combined car/caravan gross (with fuel, Weaco, bikes etc in the back of the Pajero) leaves 650 kg's to spare but alarmingly I now know my Pajero & caravan combination is far from legal because of ball weight alone.
I'm currently investigating moving the water tanks to the rear behind the axles and adding 2 x 20 Ltr jerry cans to the rear bar but for those that have done there own testing on this, adding 250 kg's in this way to the rear will only take approx 80 kg's off the ball weight.
So in my case, MM aren't going to magically and retrospectively revise the NT ball weight to 250 kg's up to 3,000 kg's and I'm buggered if I can see how to get my total or ball weight within coo-ee of the Pajero spec so it's either a new tow vehicle (more likely) or a new caravan for me.
I'm pleased to here that MM dealers are more forthcoming to prospective buyers with all the towing specs and I know that caravan dealers are more cautious now days when advising on caravan/tow vehicle combinations but it is interesting what the threat of legal action and authorities ramping up roadside spot checks does to the behavior of industry people that should have known better in hindsight. For second had buyers I hope that sellers have a conscience.
I'm also at a loss to understand why caravan manufacturers aren't required too complete compliance plate weights both with and without fluids given the effect that location of water tanks, gas bottles and batteries have on ball weight. Doing so would totally inform the prospective purchaser or is that to much useful information?
There is a lot of conversation in various forums, magazines and caravan parks around what you pack and how you pack a caravan because quite rightly, payload and ball weight are important however, if like me, you mistakingly believe the compliance plate ball weight to be the starting point of your calculation then be warned.
In my case hindsight is a dangerous thing that won't help me but for prospective purchases of Pajero's and caravans, buyer beware and I hope that my long winded story helps educate those smarter than I was on looking behind the "advertised" numbers.
PS. Apart from the above, I'm very happy with my Pajero. It is absolutely brilliant at towing my set-up, at its current full towing weight. Very stable and comfortable on the road, effortless unless on the steepest of hills and relatively economical with fuel, just don't mention ball weight.
PPSS. Any advice or good luck wishes in explaining to she with whom I watch tv why I need to by a new tow vehicle would be great fully welcomed.
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