Technical information

Chapter 2 CARAVAN & TOW VEHICLE

Note:

i. Please take care to ensure that you have allowed for the masses of all

items you intend to carry in the caravan. E.g. optional equipment,

essential habitation equipment and personal effects such as clothing,

food, bicycles, sailboard, sports equipment etc.

The actual laden mass of the caravan as towed should thus not exceed the

maximum technically permissible laden mass. The actual laden mass can

be measured on a public weighbridge.

N.B. Beware weighbridges although regularly checked can give varying

(inaccurate) results.

Nose Weight: That part of the weight of the caravan supported by the

rear of the towing vehicle. This is sometimes defined as the “static load at

the coupling head”. The maximum nose weight for a caravan will be

limited by either the towing vehicle tow hitch limits or the maximum

load to which the caravan hitch is specified.

Caution: The towing vehicle and towing hitch handbooks/manufacturers must

be consulted for their specification prior to towing.

Warning: the maximum static nose weight for all Bailey caravans is

100Kg. This should never be exceeded regardless of whether the towing

vehicle’s upper limit is greater.

It is recommended that the nose weight should be varied to find the

optimum for towing dependent upon the actual laden weight of the

caravan. Experience has shown that the nose weight should be

approximately 7% of the actual laden weight (i.e. between 50 and 100 kg).

Measurement of nose weight

Nose weight may be measured using a proprietary brand of nose weight

indicator. Such equipment is obtainable from your Bailey Dealer.