Towing Weights?

1
IWe have been looking at changing our type of camping vehicle, and I
looked up the weights in my manufacturers handbook and the figures are
frighteningly inadequate!
With the heavy duty kit (from VW) the maximum ball weght is a measely
100kgs!
This provokes 2 questions - has anyone looked in to why this is so low?
and does anyone know of a towbar manufacturer who will still make a bar
for our busses?
TIA,
Andy.
2
I've got a Hayman Reece tow bar on mine which was already installed but
appears to be quite common in NSW. I drag a box trailer around with it
fully laden which weighs in occasionally @ 750kgs (I don't know what
weight this would correspond to on the tow ball) and have been doing so
for a few years towing it up short steep inclines at the local tip with
no problems. The load rating has worn off and been painted over in parts
but I will have a closer look tonight.

The tow bar is fixed to the passenger side chassis rail on one side and
the tow hook plus the chassis rail on the driver's side with a 50mm
diameter CHS running between the two.

This is the standard tow bar that seems to be used in NSW (Hayman Reece)
but I'm sure they have other stronger options for increased load
carrying capacity.

I just looked up their web site and they appear to have a rating of
1000kgs with a ball rating of 80kgs. There are stockists in South Oz
just check their web site @ http://www.haymanreece.com.au

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Scott
Terrigal NSW


-----Original Message-----
From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of raredownunder
Sent: Monday, 9 May 2005 9:58 PM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Towing Weights?

IWe have been looking at changing our type of camping vehicle, and I
looked up the weights in my manufacturers handbook and the figures are
frighteningly inadequate!
With the heavy duty kit (from VW) the maximum ball weght is a measely
100kgs!
This provokes 2 questions - has anyone looked in to why this is so low?
and does anyone know of a towbar manufacturer who will still make a bar
for our busses?
TIA,
Andy.






Yahoo! Groups Links
3
-Ive been towng a boat that weighs 1500kg and the tow ball weight is
under 100kg.If you go dual axel trailer there is less weight again and
you can use a weight distribution hitch that puts more weight over the
trailer wheels and off the tow ball.So 100kg tow ball on a VW is fine.

Chris.




- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "raredownunder"
<ruthandy@b...> wrote:
> IWe have been looking at changing our type of camping vehicle, and I
> looked up the weights in my manufacturers handbook and the figures
are
> frighteningly inadequate!
> With the heavy duty kit (from VW) the maximum ball weght is a
measely
> 100kgs!
> This provokes 2 questions - has anyone looked in to why this is so
low?
> and does anyone know of a towbar manufacturer who will still make a
bar
> for our busses?
> TIA,
> Andy.
4
Andy,

The rating of 100kg is the static vertical force applied to the twobar
ball. This is calculated as the maximum downforce that can be applied
without upsetting the normal downforces on the front and rear axles of
the vehicle without upsetting traction and steering.

The towing ability, ie the mass that the vehicle can tow, is
determined not only by the physical strength of the towbar itself but
also by the safe dynamics of the vehicle.

In Australia, this is also subject to Australian Design Rules, which
requires that all vehicles have stated (by the manufacturer) towing
towing capacities. In the case of the T3 Syncro, it is probably as
set out in the Owner's Handbook: 75kg weight on ball, 600kg unbraked
trailer weight and 2000kg braked trailer weight.

Les

--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "raredownunder"
<ruthandy@b...> wrote:
> IWe have been looking at changing our type of camping vehicle, and I
> looked up the weights in my manufacturers handbook and the figures
are
> frighteningly inadequate!
> With the heavy duty kit (from VW) the maximum ball weght is a
measely
> 100kgs!
> This provokes 2 questions - has anyone looked in to why this is so
low?
> and does anyone know of a towbar manufacturer who will still make a
bar
> for our busses?
> TIA,
> Andy.
5
The genuine towbar is rated at 2000kgs towing weight and the ball
weight is 100kgs. I have never seen a towbar with a heavier ball weight
than 100kgs. These specifications are for the genuine VW bar only. The
Haymen Reese bars for the syncro are rubbish and should be illegal as I
know of a few that have broken and are of a poor design.



--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "raredownunder"
<ruthandy@b...> wrote:
> IWe have been looking at changing our type of camping vehicle, and I
> looked up the weights in my manufacturers handbook and the figures
are
> frighteningly inadequate!
> With the heavy duty kit (from VW) the maximum ball weght is a measely
> 100kgs!
> This provokes 2 questions - has anyone looked in to why this is so
low?
> and does anyone know of a towbar manufacturer who will still make a
bar
> for our busses?
> TIA,
> Andy.