RV FEATURE
The water tank setup on our test van.
EVERY RV IS DIFFERENT
Now, it’s important to note that every RV
setup is different. How full water tanks affect
ball weight depends on many variables, from
the position of the axles on the chassis to the
length of the van and the size and position of
the tanks in relation to the axles. immediately forward of the axle. If it has
two tanks, the second tank will probably be
secured immediately aft of the axle.
Our test van was quite ‘typical’, however,
reminiscent of many standard vans being
sold today. So let’s apply it to a real-world
scenario. Assume an automatic Toyota
Prado, with a 3000kg towing capacity and a
300kg maximum towball download. At first
glance, you might assume it to be a perfectly
reasonable tow vehicle for this van. The results were… anticlimactic. With the
tanks empty, my Milenco scale showed a ball
weight of approximately 160kg (it’s not a
digital scale).
But with both tanks full and both jerry can
holders loaded up, we’re left with 43kg to
accommodate other items, and we haven’t
even talked about the gas in the two 9kg gas
cylinders that were mounted on the drawbar.
Forget about mounting a bike rack and a
couple of bikes to the A-frame.
(A solution, of course, would be to travel
with only one tank full, but that defeats the
purpose of having dual tanks.)
SINGLE-AXLE VANS
For one simple reason, most single-axle vans
don’t suffer from this watery worry. Peer
underneath a van with one axle and you
will probably find the water tank positioned
18 \
This is the case with my personal van. And
so I tested how filling first the front tank, and
then the rear tank, affected the ball weight.
Filling the 60L tank forward of the axle yielded
the same measurement, as did then filling the
tank rear of the axle, give or take a couple
of kilograms (which barely registered on the
scale anyway).
SUMMING UP
Don’t take our figures for gospel. As stated,
there are numerous variables when it comes
to ball weight. Our aim was to show how
the simple act of filling a van’s water tanks,
as intended by the van’s manufacturer, will
affect ball weight, and even potentially
bring it uncomfortably close to the vehicle’s
towball maximum.
So get out your portable ball weight scale, or
run your van past the weigh bridge – we think
you’ll be surprised by the result.