Understanding Caravan Ball Weight and Levelling: A Crucial Guide for Safe Towing

At Adelaide RV, we’re always striving to bring you the most accurate and helpful information about caravanning. That’s why we recently reached out to Aaron from Road Ahead Mobile Weigh, an expert in caravan weight distribution and towing dynamics. Together, we conducted some enlightening experiments to demonstrate the crucial relationship between caravan levelling and ball weight.

Why Ball Weight Matters

The ball weight of your caravan (the downward force exerted on your vehicle’s tow ball) is a critical factor in safe towing. It affects your vehicle’s handling, stability, and braking performance. However, many caravan owners don’t realise that this weight can change significantly based on how level your van is when hitched.

Single Axle Caravans: The Basics

We conducted experiments using a Supreme Territory single axle caravan to demonstrate how ball weight changes with different hitch heights:

1. When Level:

1. • Ball weight: 250kg (with full water tanks)

1. Nose Up (raised 170mm):

1. • Ball weight decreased to 236kg
   • This lighter ball weight can cause the van to sway more easily

1. Nose Down (lowered 170mm):

1. • Ball weight increased to 270kg
   • While a heavier ball weight can improve stability, it may exceed your vehicle’s limits

Key Takeaway: For single axle caravans, raising the front reduces ball weight, while lowering it increases ball weight.

Dual Axle Caravans: A Different Story

Interestingly, dual axle caravans behave differently. We tested a New Age Expedition to illustrate:

1. When Level:

1. • Ball weight: 222kg
   • Front axle: 1,357kg
   • Rear axle: 1,423kg

1. Nose Down (lowered 120mm):

1. • Ball weight decreased to 205kg
   • Front axle weight increased to 1,526kg
   • Rear axle weight decreased to 1,271kg

1. Nose Up (raised 85mm):

1. • Ball weight increased to 235kg
   • Front axle weight decreased to 1,227kg
   • Rear axle weight increased to 1,542kg

Key Takeaway: For dual axle caravans, lowering the front actually decreases ball weight, while raising it increases ball weight. This is due to how weight shifts between the two axles.

Why Proper Levelling is Crucial

1. Safety: Incorrect leveling can lead to exceeded weight limits on your vehicle or caravan axles.
2. Stability: Improper weight distribution can cause swaying and handling issues.
3. Comfort: A level caravan provides the best riding experience.
4. Legal Compliance: Staying within specified weight limits is a legal requirement.

Tips for Proper Caravan Levelling

1. Use a level on the drawbar or measure from the chassis to ensure your caravan is level when hitched.
2. Consider the natural sag of your tow vehicle when loaded.
3. Get your setup professionally weighed to understand your specific weight distribution.
4. Remember that weight distribution can change as you load your caravan – always recheck before trips.

Conclusion

Understanding how your caravan’s level affects ball weight and axle loads is crucial for safe and comfortable towing. While the principles differ between single and dual axle vans, the importance of proper leveling remains constant.

At Adelaide RV, we’re always here to help you get the most out of your caravan. Whether you need advice, weighing services, or caravan accessories to help with levelling, don’t hesitate to reach out to our expert team.

Happy and safe travels from all of us at Adelaide RV!