Towbar Ratings

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Ive seen some big caravans towed by 90s Prados yet my Toyota factory Hayman Reece towbar only has a ball weight of 120kg and Tare 2250.
Does anybody know their ball are Tare weight for comparison? What brand towbar etc?
Id be interested to know what else is avaliable to increase my ball weight limit.
120kg seems a bit light on and there must be a heavy duty towbar to suit the 90s.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Towbar Ratings

Zook, on my 120 I've got the standard genuine Toyota hitch and the tounge/ball is rated at 250kg ball weight (regardless of up or down) and the breaking weight is 2500kg. I also have a HR tounge but nothing on it to indicate weights. A quick look on the HR site seems to confirm (assuming you have the standard interlock ball mount/tounge) that it is only rated to 2250 but doesn't mentioned anything about ball weight.

I would assume some of these bigger vans are dual axel and probably balanced pretty well so the ball weight might be a lot lower than you think. I have been looking at a Challange Camper with the spare wheel stored on the rear and the bay weight is supposed to only be 40kgs. Just remember that the ball weight should be subtracted from your vehicles ability to carry load when you head anywhere near a monitored weighbridge.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Towbar Ratings

The maximun towing limit on the 90 series is 2500kg, however this will depend on what towbar you have fitted, this also reflects the ball weight, which in general is 10% of the maximum tow weight.

[dhula Member Find all posts View Profile Close dhula]

Re: Towbar Ratings

I have a genuine accessories toyota bar that was fitted when i got the car brand new in 02. It has a max ball load of 250 and a max weight of 2500

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Towbar Ratings

Thanks for that guys, my tow towbar is rated at Tare 2250kg and ball at 120kgs. Our new Jayco caravan is 94kg on the towball unladen and a tare weight of 1450kgs unladen. I see some huge vans coming through Alice all the time pulled by 90s and I have come to the conclusion that I must have a light duty towbar fitted. If anybody can have a look at the rating of their 90s towbar and let me know what brand and ball weight you have as I may have to upgrade mine so we are legally towing our caravan,

Zook.

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Towbar Ratings

Read the other posts again and answered my Q. Looks like ill be on the lookout for a suitable towbar before we take off next year. I need to increase the ball weight as the Tare weight for the towbar is within the limit. Other then that Id have to load the van and see if the ball weight stays under the limit. I have a feeling it wont as the only place to store our gen set is in the front boot.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Towbar Ratings

Hi just wondering what is ment by ball weight is that the maximum weight on the ball its self. . if so how do you figure out the ball weight of your trailer can they do that at a weigh bridge ?

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Towbar Ratings

Hi just wondering what is ment by ball weight is that the maximum weight on the ball its self. . if so how do you figure out the ball weight of your trailer can they do that at a weigh bridge ?

My understanding is it is a SWL for the weight of the trailer to be carried on the ball instead of the axel and then tyres of the trailer. If you run your vehcile through a Weighbridge they should be able to work out but iut should be listed on the ball. Any weight that is carried by the ball is taken off the maximum weight that the vehicle can carry.

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Towbar Ratings

I understand that the 120s has a different rated chassis and that the 120 gets a 250kg limit for the ball which is great, I just happen to have a 90s. I will get myself down to the weighbridge to determine the over all legal limit of the vehicle and caravan. Ive been reading up a bit of how to find the ball weight by using bathroom scales and a block of timber. This is the issue here, the ball weight. The tow bar is within the tare weight of 2250kg that's its pulling which gives me about 700kg or so of extra weight in the van. Once the van is loaded and then I can see if the tow ball weight will be under the or over the maximum limit. Ive got some months to go before we take off (February, March 2011), so I'm hoping to get theses issues sorted before we head South. Don't want to be caught out by the fuzz or have a prang and not get insurance cover. That would be the pits, interesting thought though, each state has its different rules and regs about towing caravans. I was going to add some of the rules from the different states, but ive left that mag at work. Next time.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Towbar Ratings

Don't know if any of the following is of use to you:
Commercial Vehicle Weights Explained
RACQ: Trailer & Tow vehicle specifications explained
Towing Your Caravan (A bit of detail about ball weight and distribution hitches)

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

Re: Towbar Ratings

If your going to use a weighbridge to check your trailer/van mass then its quite simple to check tow ball weight at the same time.

First weigh the complete set up, Prado and Trailer. => Total weight Prado & trailer

Then move the Prado off the weighbridge but with the trailer still attached but still located on the weighbridge. => trailer Mass LESS towball weight

Then disconnect the trailer from your Prado leaving the trailer ONLY on the weighbridge (including jockey wheel) => trailer mass

The difference between the second weight and the third is your towball weight.

From these three figures you can also work out how close (or over!) your vehicles gross mass you are with the trailer on and off.

You might be a bit surprised at how much extra weight your carrying :shock: .

Lee

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Towbar Ratings

Thanks for the info guys.

[Rattles Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rattles]

Re: Towbar Ratings

the 120kg Rating on the Receiver can be upgraded from 120kg to 250kg by contacting H.R.
the early HR receivers the compliance plate covered both Tongue and Tow bar the 120 kg actually
applies to the tongue on later bars both have their own plates.
HR will send a new plate and documentation and have the new plate installed by their agent
at no cost. They did for me about 5 years ago