towbar weight (1 Viewer)

Khizzie

Free Member
Jul 26, 2014
3,794
5,695
Le Repaire,Thiviers,France
Funster No
32,561
MH
Autocriuse stargazer
Exp
since 2002
Hi I am thinking of having a towbar fitted to my van ,but am concerned about the extra weight ..van has been on weigh bridge an with half a tank of fuel ,no water and nothing else weighs 3050kg.vehicle plated at 3400 kg so leaves little or nothing after being loaded . So the question is how much does a towbar on average weigh.?? Roy
 

MikeD

Free Member
Dec 21, 2011
3,936
3,697
London
Funster No
19,230
MH
IH PVC
Exp
Since 2012
I was told 35kg for the type approved towbar on my Autotrail Tracker 2012. (y)(y)
 

Badknee

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 25, 2014
7,395
409,001
notloB
Funster No
33,046
MH
Vantage Neo
Exp
Living the dream.
Mine has the ability to carry a m/cycle so is more like 50kg. 3400kg is an odd weight as I thought most were 3500kg unless uprated?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

tonka

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 2, 2008
10,797
21,441
Cannock, Staffs
Funster No
3,141
MH
A class Burstner 800
Exp
Since 2000
Be aware that depending on the length of overhang from the rear axle to the back of the van, extra weight will be added due to the cantilever effect.. Ie a 35kg bar may total 40kg once fitted.. Short overhangs suffer less but on longer vans it can increase by up to 30%. There is an online calculator for it somewhere.

here's one..
http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/motorhome_axle_loads.html
 
OP
OP
Khizzie

Khizzie

Free Member
Jul 26, 2014
3,794
5,695
Le Repaire,Thiviers,France
Funster No
32,561
MH
Autocriuse stargazer
Exp
since 2002
Be aware that depending on the length of overhang from the rear axle to the back of the van, extra weight will be added due to the cantilever effect.. Ie a 35kg bar may total 40kg once fitted.. Short overhangs suffer less but on longer vans it can increase by up to 30%. There is an online calculator for it somewhere.

here's one..
http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/motorhome_axle_loads.html

Thanks @tonka that's just what I needed to calculate the max I can sensibly fit..Roy
 
OP
OP
Khizzie

Khizzie

Free Member
Jul 26, 2014
3,794
5,695
Le Repaire,Thiviers,France
Funster No
32,561
MH
Autocriuse stargazer
Exp
since 2002
Mine has the ability to carry a m/cycle so is more like 50kg. 3400kg is an odd weight as I thought most were 3500kg unless uprated?

Cheers @Badknee I will have a look again at plate myself as the plated kg was what I was told by weigh bridge personnel..i am sure you're right as on v5 it states 3500kg. Roy

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Badknee

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 25, 2014
7,395
409,001
notloB
Funster No
33,046
MH
Vantage Neo
Exp
Living the dream.
Cheers @Badknee I will have a look again at plate myself as the plated kg was what I was told by weigh bridge personnel..i am sure you're right as on v5 it states 3500kg. Roy
Your base vehicle Roy may well show up on his records as 3400 but converted to coachbuilt they are usually 3500 as the habitation part is much heavier than a panel van body naturally. There is an easy way to get it upped to 3750/3800kgs, it's just a paper exercise. Some of which is paper money. :LOL:
 

dave newell

Free Member
Oct 31, 2008
3,262
4,369
Telford, Shropshire
Funster No
4,733
MH
Home converted PVC
Exp
26yrs
Its not unusual for some vans to be built on the lighter chassis options as a cost saving exercise. I've seen Hymers on 3300KG chassis before now, Elddis/Compass often used the 3300 or 3400 KG chassis option and so have Autocruise in the past. It sohuld be a simple paper exercise to uprate to 3500KG overall but this won't increase your rear axle limit which is often the sticking point on these lighter chassis variants. Check your rear axle limit and get it on a weighbridge to establish what your rear axle weight is now.

D.
 

dave newell

Free Member
Oct 31, 2008
3,262
4,369
Telford, Shropshire
Funster No
4,733
MH
Home converted PVC
Exp
26yrs
Your base vehicle Roy may well show up on his records as 3400 but converted to coachbuilt they are usually 3500 as the habitation part is much heavier than a panel van body naturally. There is an easy way to get it upped to 3750/3800kgs, it's just a paper exercise. Some of which is paper money. :LOL:

A 3500kg chassis can usually be uprated to 3850 or so but a 3400 is not that simple, its likely to need air suspension and or bigger tyres to go higher than 3600 ish.

D.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

JeanLuc

Free Member
Nov 17, 2008
3,304
2,199
Warwickshire
Funster No
4,952
MH
Hymer B630 Star-Line
Exp
Since 2007
You have already had great advice so this addition is just for fun.
In answer to your original question, "bloody heavy"! My Hymer had a tow bar fitted when we bought it. A couple of years ago I decided to have it removed and when I collected the van after a service, the fitter said "your tow-bar is leaning against the wall over there" (with a smile on his face). Thinking I would just load it into the garage and take it home for storage, I grabbed hold and tried to lift it. I could barely get it off the ground without 'breaking sweat '
 

DBK

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 9, 2013
17,969
47,804
Plympton, Devon
Funster No
24,219
MH
PVC, Murvi Morocco
Exp
2013
If you are worried about the weight of the towbar on its own then fitting one might be a bad idea! :) It is not just the towbar you should be worried about but what you are going to attach to it needs to be taken into account. You also need to look at your rear axle limit as this might be exceeded even though the whole vehicle is under the 3400 kg limit.
 
OP
OP
Khizzie

Khizzie

Free Member
Jul 26, 2014
3,794
5,695
Le Repaire,Thiviers,France
Funster No
32,561
MH
Autocriuse stargazer
Exp
since 2002
Thanks all for you very valuable advice ..having been supplied with information I asked for I now am aware of what I need to do .thanks again. Roy

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

lunarman

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 23, 2008
2,147
2,438
South Glos
Funster No
4,151
MH
C Class
Exp
since 1994
@Khizzie If your van is as shown in your avatar then @Taran_Las has a similar van which was originally 3400kg, his has been uprated to 3700kg he should be able to tell you what is needed.

John
 
OP
OP
Khizzie

Khizzie

Free Member
Jul 26, 2014
3,794
5,695
Le Repaire,Thiviers,France
Funster No
32,561
MH
Autocriuse stargazer
Exp
since 2002
@Khizzie If your van is as shown in your avatar then @Taran_Las has a similar van which was originally 3400kg, his has been uprated to 3700kg he should be able to tell you what is needed.

John
Cheers John ,yes same van..the only thing that I need to know I suppose that if its uprated to whatever, over the 3500 kg.does that mean I have to have a c1 license again ad I am over 70 and never asked to keep my original.???
 
Mar 26, 2009
8,130
11,168
Yr Wyddgrug
Funster No
6,057
MH
Hymer B678DL
Exp
Since 2009
A 3500kg chassis can usually be uprated to 3850 or so but a 3400 is not that simple, its likely to need air suspension and or bigger tyres to go higher than 3600 ish.

D.

As Dave said - to uprate my Peugeot from 3300 I had air assistance added. It could then be uprated to 3700.

And I believe you would need C1 to drive over 3500.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Khizzie

Khizzie

Free Member
Jul 26, 2014
3,794
5,695
Le Repaire,Thiviers,France
Funster No
32,561
MH
Autocriuse stargazer
Exp
since 2002
As Dave said - to uprate my Peugeot from 3300 I had air assistance added. It could then be uprated to 3700.

And I believe you would need C1 to drive over 3500.

Thanks for that.,I think I am going to have a total rethink about the towbar as I really don't want to spend out mega bucks for something I will only use for taking my bikes to shows etc..it was a thought just save my son towing the trailer with the car each time....so I will give it a good deal more thought ...thanks again to everyone for their invaluable advice. Roy
 

Peter A Forbes

Free Member
Nov 23, 2014
270
184
Rushden, Northants, UK
Funster No
34,314
MH
Mercedes 614D
Exp
10+
It isn't that big a job to retain your C1 licence, but you will need the full medical as per form D4 to be completed. You will need group C1+E if you are going to tow as well.

I'm about to go through the process but cannot complete before my 70th birthday as I have some issues hanging over from my heart operation last summer, but DVLA have made it clear that I can apply after the 70th birthday to get it back on my licence.

The medical is annually after that.

Peter
 
OP
OP
Khizzie

Khizzie

Free Member
Jul 26, 2014
3,794
5,695
Le Repaire,Thiviers,France
Funster No
32,561
MH
Autocriuse stargazer
Exp
since 2002
It isn't that big a job to retain your C1 licence, but you will need the full medical as per form D4 to be completed. You will need group C1+E if you are going to tow as well.

I'm about to go through the process but cannot complete before my 70th birthday as I have some issues hanging over from my heart operation last summer, but DVLA have made it clear that I can apply after the 70th birthday to get it back on my licence.

The medical is annually after that.

Peter
Thanks Peter exactly the same as it was with my lgv license which I also gave up,I shan't be applying,or having a towbar fitted as having now gone deeper into the costs etc its not cost effective for the little use I would give it .but thankyou for your input.Roy

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top