| 1. |
Identify the Aggregate Trailer
Mass (ATM) of your caravan. The ATM is the total mass of the
van and whatever you add as payload e.g. water, gas, food
and luggage. The ATM is specified by the manufacturer or you
can use the table below as a guideline only.
| Single
Axle |
Tandem
Axle |
| Length |
Weight |
| 12' |
1200 kg |
| 13 |
1300 kg |
| 14 |
1500 kg |
| 15 |
1500 kg |
| 16 |
1600 kg |
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| Length |
Weight |
| 17' |
1900 kg |
| 18' |
2000 kg |
| 19' |
> 2000 kg |
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| 2. |
Identify the towball weight of your fully
loaded caravan. This is the weight on the back of your car
or on the jockey wheel if the van is uncoupled. Usually you
can expect the towball weight to be around 10% of the
ATM. A more accurate measurement is preferred. Take the van
to a weighbridge, come to Hardings and borrow our towball
weight scales or use your own bathroom scales if their
capacity is adequate. If not, you can extend the effective
range of your own scales by following the following
procedure below.
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|
| 1. |
Place your bathroom scales and a
brick or paver(s) the same thickness
900mm apart. |
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| 2. |
Place piece of pipe on top of both
the scales and the brick and rest a
strong plank at least 1200mm across
them. Zero the scales. |
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| 3. |
Rest the jockey wheel on the plank
300mm from the brick as shown above. |
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| 4. |
Multiply the scale reading by 3 to
obtain the towball weight. NB. The caravan should be level and
ideally fully loaded with water in the
tank(s).
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| 3. |
Now that you know the caravan ATM and towball
weight, use the
Hayman Reese Product Search Function under Towbars and
Hitch Receivers to analyse the options for your vehicle.
Look closely at the ratings in the right hand column. |
| 4. |
Choose a suitable towbar or hitch receiver to
accommodate your caravan.
Important: Where the towball weight exceeds 125kg, it
is recommended that you fit a hitch receiver to allow the
use of a heavy duty weight distributing hitch.
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Standard Towbars |
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Click to
view
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- lower cost
- bolt-on tongue
- lifetime warranty
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Medium Duty |
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Click to
view
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- "RL" series
- 40mm socket
- quick release tongue
- lifetime warranty
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Hitch Receivers |
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Click to
view
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- "R" series
- 50mm socket
- quick release tongue
- lifetime warranty
- suits heavy duty weight distributing
hitch
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Back to Preparing to Tow |
