Towing A'vans CONTINUED from last month

Our towing vehicle is a Toyota 4 Runner 4wd. We had a Seafarer Power Boat that our vehicle would tow, before purchasing the A'liner. Seafarer's are very heavy indeed. Actually much heavier than the Cruise Crafts and Haines Hunter type boats. Anyway, we had no problem towing that in the slightest. Like yourself, we got the shock of our life when we realized how much weight was on the ball of the A'liner.

The back of the car was well down when we first hitched up the A'liner (empty) upon taking delivery of it. So even at that early stage, we knew that we had to do something. I am only repeating bits and pieces of what Ian told me. I may have some of it wrong, so please make allowances for that. You would have to speak to Ian to clarify things. However, I think I have got it right for you.

It is because of the OPTIONS we have on the A'liner......e.g. Air-conditoning, Solar Panel, Higher Sides, Front Boot and the Off-Road Pack, which has heavier weight.

Also, because the wheels of the A'liner are set so far back, all the weight is forward. Apparently, the boat trailer was a design which distributed the weight better. It had something to do with the placement of the wheels and that was the reason we had no problem.

We had the A'liner weighed fully loaded by a Tow Bar Firm. Ian was present when they used the scales and it was 120kg.

So the end result is that we had a Heavy Duty Hayman Reese weight distribution towing package fitted. That makes the back of the car rise up. If we had our time over ordering the A'liner..........we would still get EXACTLY the same Model with the options we have. It was what we wanted and we would not have it any other way.

Because we had a 4WD, we knew we could go that way. However, someone with a smaller vehicle would definitely have to give it a big miss to order the same A'liner we have.

I would hate to think what some cars would look like at the rear, towing a set-up like we have. The backsides of the car would be dragging along the road.

We are 'happy little campers' now though.

I am staggered at the ball weight of your A'liner. Is that empty or loaded? If it is empty then something is drastically wrong. The current A'liners have a tare of 680 to 800 kgs PLUS options with a gvm of 980 to 1100 kgs NEVER EXCEED. First thing check your compliance plate to find out what your tare and gvm is. If your tare is say 700 and gvm is 1000 check your options if say you have an extra 100 kgs as options your effective tare is 800 kgs your max load by law is 300 kgs provided you do NOT exceed your gvm , 1000 kgs in this example so your max load would be 200 kgs.

My own van is tare 590 plus 140 options making 730 tare everything is weighed going into the van. Fully loaded I'm 880kgs and my gvm is 980. I have also checked it on a weighbridge.

Your ball weight should be 10 % +or - 10% of your loaded van. ( making mine 88 + or - 9 ball weight 79to97 kgs i load it to 80 kgs)

Above example 800 + 150 load making loaded van 950kgs. Tow ball 95+ or - 10 gives 85 to 105 kgs.

Even if your gvm was 1100 and you loaded it to that figure your tow ball would be 110 + or -11 gives 99 to 121 kgs. You must weigh your van on a weighbridge fully loaded, do not exceed your gvm, then balance your load in the van to give your tow ball weight anywhere in the range you then work out. In this case I would load it to 100 kgs.

What car do you run and what is your vertical towbar limit. Some cars have a vertical limit of 50 kgs.

I run a Vienta tow load limit 1200 kgs vertical load 110kgs limit.

Level rides DO NOT CHANGE your ball weight, they only level the car putting grip back on your front wheels.

Cheers

More Towing Info

In this years Caravan and Motorhome yearbook they have a big list of towing capacities for commonly used vehicles, I was looking at this and noticed the following;

Forester 1997 + tow capacity 1300 kgs ball weight 75 kgs

with 50mm hitch receiver 1300 kgs ball weight130kgs

Outback 1997 +tow capacity 1400kgs ball weight 90kgs

with 50mm hitch receiver 1400kgs ball weight 140kgs