What is nose weight, and why does it matter?
Did you know that the downward force caused by the load on the tow ball is known as the nose weight?
Nose weight matters because if it’s not sufficient, the rear of the caravan rises and can sway or snake, especially in windy conditions. Alternatively, the front of your vehicle lifts, leading to unsteady handling if the nose weight is too high.
The recommended nose weight for maximum stability is between 5% and 7% of the caravan’s laden weight. So if a fully loaded caravan weighs 1400kg, the ideal nose weight is between 70kg and 98kg.
However, the noseweight should not exceed the lowest maximum figure from the following three sources:
- the caravan chassis manufacturer
- the towing vehicle manufacturer
- the towbar manufacturer
Top Tip! We recommend checking the tow ball load when you buy a new or used caravan, changing your towing vehicle, and ideally, before each journey.
How to measure your caravan’s nose weight
You can use a sturdy set of bathroom scales, a purpose-made spring-loaded mechanical noseweight gauge or an electronic gauge.
If you choose a mechanical gauge, buy a good-quality device like the Milenco. The Milenco is precision calibrated and meets the British standard BS7961. Moreover, the indicator remains accurate to within 2kg after 1000 uses. Unfortunately, similar devices are out by as much as 30kg after the same use.
Ensure your caravan is level to get an accurate noseweight reading. If the hitch is raised, the reading will be light. Conversely, if the hitch is low, the reading will be high.
Measuring nose weight with bathroom scales
Park your caravan on a hard, flat surface and chock the wheels. The noseweight can push the scales into soft turf, leading to an inaccurate reading.
Place a piece of wood on the scales for protection. Set the caravan steadies to half height and wind the jockey wheel to lower the hitch head until it rests on the scales. Ensure the jockey wheel clears the floor, then record the measurement on the scales.
Measuring nose weight with a mechanical gauge
Once again, park your caravan on a hard, flat surface and chock the wheels. Raise the steadies and place the top of the nose weight gauge into the hitch head. Ensure the unit is vertical and the base plate is flat on the floor.
Wind the jockey wheel until it clears the floor. Then, record the measurement on the barrel.
Measuring nose weight with an electronic gauge
Instead of springs, electronic gauges use load cell technology and built-in software to calculate nose weight.
If you have a vertical column-style design, follow the procedure we explained for using mechanical gauges.
Alternatively, you can purchase a compact unit like the REICH TLC digital towbar load device. The REICH unit is located between the hitch and the tow ball. To use the device, chock the wheels, raise the caravan steadies, and then wind the jockey wheel to create space between the tow hitch and the tow ball. Now, place the device onto the tow ball and lower the hitch. Make sure the jockey wheel clears the ground before recording the measurement.
How to adjust your caravan’s nose weight
Generally, a heavier tow ball load results in a more stable towing experience — as long as you don’t exceed the maximum load on the tow ball.
If you need to lighten the tow ball pressure, move heavy items inside your caravan to the rear. If this doesn’t work, you have two options:
Move some of your gear from the caravan into the towing vehicle. If you don’t have the space, consider leaving some of your stuff behind.
Top Tip! Only start a journey if the nose weight is within safe limits. In some cases, the vehicle handling and towing stability deteriorate significantly when the noseweight is too low or high. You may also invalidate your insurance in the case of an accident.
That’s it. We hope you enjoyed reading our how to check caravan nose weight guide. Now you know the importance of nose weight, how to measure it, and how to adjust it. Happy caravanning!