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Offline tracker

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Ball Weight.
« on: February 25, 2016, 04:54:20 PM »
G'day all,
             I did a search on this subject and it said the last comment was 120 days ago....i hope thats right for i don't want to plough up soil that is already turned....but here goes...... I just purchased a Hayman Reese ball weight scale....backed the Ecomate Forward fold out on to level ground and placed the scales under hitch let the jockey wheel down ....and bugger me dead.......200 kg's.....Have i got reason to be a little worried ....Tug is a BT 50......Any of you educated  guy's can give me advise on this.....I have towed this trailer from Mackay to the Tip and back........
                                                       Cheers Tracker.
« Last Edit: February 25, 2016, 05:19:26 PM by tracker »
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Offline Bad Scott

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2016, 05:17:47 PM »
Well it is thirsty work towing and camping :D
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Offline tracker

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2016, 05:21:49 PM »
Quote from: SJindustries on February 25, 2016, 05:17:47 PM
Well it is thirsty work towing and camping :D

        Sounds like your suggesting i carry a lot of beer......If so.....I resemble that.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2016, 05:25:45 PM »
Quote from: tracker on February 25, 2016, 05:21:49 PM
        Sounds like your suggesting i carry a lot of beer......If so.....I resemble that.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Gotta have reserves and reserves for the reserves and red wine supplies :D :D Thats why I have a ute :D
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Offline Champin

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2016, 05:28:47 PM »
I'd be interesred to know mine also. Rear folds and I suppose forward folds seem to all have a fairly heavy draw bar. I'm guessing mine is up around 250kg loaded up with supplies, which is getting too close to my allowable 300kg. Be easy to overload if you're not thinking. I did notice however that the rear water tank level makes a difference, 160ltr = 160kg so if you're close to your max ball weight with full tank, would that make you over the limit on the way home with empty tanks?
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Offline GBC

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2016, 05:29:47 PM »
Sounds about right.
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Offline tracker

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2016, 05:44:04 PM »
Quote from: SJindustries on February 25, 2016, 05:25:45 PM
Gotta have reserves and reserves for the reserves and red wine supplies :D :D Thats why I have a ute :D

       Gezzz Mate......i don't have a ute....I have a BT50....... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Offline briann532

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2016, 06:01:35 PM »
To be perfectly honest its a simple explanation really..............

You can counterbalance the drawbar weight by adding beer and wine to the back section of the camper.
Obviously the more the better!!!!
Now of course consumption takes an effect on this problem so you need to maintain your stocks of beer counterbalance fluid.
If the problem persists, there are several places you can purchase some extra heavy duty pre dug fire pits to act as ballast or of course some dot paintings.

Or of course you could go with the witchcraft belief of 10% weight of the camper on the drawbar, making sure it is within the limits of the tugs ball.
If you are over this you may need to try transferring some heavier weight to the rear???
I know some people have spoken of airbags in the rear, BUT...........there's a can of worms I'm too scared to open.............

Does the BT look like its sagging when towing?

Cheers
Brian
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Offline MDS69

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2016, 08:47:12 PM »
I believe a heavier ball weight is preferred over a lighter one making sure you are still within allowances.
I have read those weight scales can be inaccurate too.
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Offline mike and tracy davis

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2016, 09:18:43 PM »
Ball weight scales can be inaccurate but not that much that it will make a difference, the worst I have  come across is 10% which is 9/10th's of bugger all, so don't be to bothered about this myth spread about by a retailer Mr whoever's product who doesn't like his "copied" product being copied!

Cheers Mike :cheers:
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Offline tracker

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2016, 04:56:23 AM »


     Does the BT look like its sagging when towing?

Cheers
Brian

      No Brian but i did have new TJM suspension up grade when we arrived back from our trip to the Tip.
                                                           
                                                          Cheers Tracker.
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Offline swanny

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Re: Ball Weight.
« Reply #11 on: February 26, 2016, 07:21:05 AM »
As a comparison for you, I checked my Adventure off Road CT prior to heading of to the cape 18 months back, and to my surprise it was up around the 180kg mark, not that it was a prob, but just surprising....

Then I had a good look at the draw bar, I then relised that my storage/fridge box with the gear in it for an extended trip adds up, 60lt Engle, EU2 Honda genny, annex walls, sun screen, floor mat, and other bits and pieces.....and it really all made sense that there was a bit of weight on the draw bar....

That said I had no probs at any stage....

I have since moved on from my CT, and now have a dual axel semi off road van, I only the other day checked the tow ball weight to find im just on 220kgs......pretty good really, when thinking your CT is 200kg.....I have a couple of water tanks, one mounted to the rear which will help distribute the weight better I think.....but again not a lot to worry about....
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