Weighbridge Day February 23, 2019

[Martin de Jager]

Some interesting definitions quoted from https://www.caravansa.co.za/
'Tare: This is also known as ‘dry weight’. The tare of your car or caravan is the mass of the vehicle without passengers, fuel or luggage, but including all standard fittings.
Payload: This is the maximum mass the vehicle, caravan or trailer may carry, including passengers, fuel and luggage.
Gross vehicle mass (GVM): This is the sum of the tare and payload, and equals the maximum permissible, fully loaded mass of the vehicle.
Gross combination mass (GCM): As the term implies, it is the sum of the GVM of the towcar and the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum towing capacity for that vehicle – that is, the mass of the fully laden tow vehicle plus the maximum towing capacity as stated by the manufacturer.
Towbar static load: The maximum permissible downward force on a towbar is specified as its static load.
Towbar maximum drawing capacity: Towbar manufacturers specify what maximum mass of trailer or caravan may be towed with a particular towbar.

Noseweight: The mass of a caravan or trailer measured at the tow hitch. By law in South Africa it has to be between 25 kg and 100 kg.

Manufacturer’s maximum towing capacity: Vehicle manufacturers specify the maximum towing capacity, in kilograms, that their vehicles can handle. (i.e. GCM – GVM = towing capacity).

Here are two brake-related concepts that also need to be understood:

Braked trailer: Certain caravans and trailers come standard with what is known as an ‘overrun’ brake system, and are then classed as ‘braked’ trailers or caravans. (South African law stipulates that all caravans and trailers with a GVM above 750 kg must be braked.) In simple terms, overrun brakes are activated when the tow vehicle’s brakes are applied: a shock absorber behind the caravan’s coupling compresses with the forward force of the caravan, which activates the overrun brakes

mechanically by means of cables. This causes the caravan or trailer to brake simultaneously with, or fractionally after, the towcar.

Service (additional) brakes: These aren’t common in South Africa. Most often referred to as ‘service brakes’, they are hydraulic, vacuum or electrical braking systems for caravans or trailers. Such a system needs to be fitted to a caravan or trailer if it has a GVM in excess of the tare of the towcar. All three types are engaged by depressing the brake pedal on the towcar, and some systems can be independently controlled from inside the car with a switch or lever.

Important pointers



Insurance claims resulting from accidents while towing may face serious challenges if any of the following apply:
The towbar or drop-plate fitted to your towcar by an aftermarket accessory supplier is not SABS-approved.
You use an approved drop-plate and approved towbar from an aftermarket accessory supplier, but they have not been approved together as a unit.
You exceed the maximum drawing capacity of the towbar.
You exceed the maximum towing capacity of the towcar as advertised by the manufacturer.
The GVM of your overrun-braked caravan or trailer is more than the tare of your towcar.
The GVM of your unbraked caravan or trailer is more than half the tare of your towcar.

[Martin de Jager]

Quoted from, http://www.brinktowingsystems.co.za/towingtips.php
When the caravan is hitched onto the towing vehicle it should be level with the car, or better, slightly nose down. The caravan should never be ‘nose-high’ at the towball and any trailer should be heavier at the towball. This vertical load varies from vehicle to vehicle but should be between 45 and 75 kilograms and never more than 100 kg – this is the maximum legally allowed, though some Brink towbars are tested to over double that and indicate this fact on the towbar’s Type plate.

This weight ‘at the ball’ can be measured with a conventional bathroom scale, using the maximum rating for that vehicle printed on the Type plate as your guideline (taking cognisance of the 100 kg legal limit).

[Bugger]

Syncro Camper

[Martin de Jager]

Manny,
interesting a previous weighbridge weighed me like this, lighter on the back, fuel tank not as full, no fridge or cooler box,
front 1280kg, rear 1080kg , total 2300kg.
latest on the front 1250kg, different winch and rope synthetic against steel at the time.

[Rabbiddog RIP 7/6/21]

Jip so another falls, all the arrangements made, pity.

Down to 15...

Sorry bud I really wanted to be there.

[Martin de Jager]

no problem,