To receive access to our eBook library, regular towing hints, tips sign up to our newsletter today! Without A Hitch is the place you can turn to for up-do-date information. September 3, Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on linkedin. Share on email. Prev Previous Essential Caravanning Equipment. Next Track Your Van Next. Vehicle Plate Compliance October 28, Camp For Longer! October 21, Having the ATM exceed manufacturer specifications can result in an unsafe caravan. So, minimise risk by towing and operating your caravan below ATM.
Should you need to file an insurance claim, your caravan and car insurers will verify that the ATM does not exceed vehicle towing capacity. The gross trailer mass GTM is also set by the manufacturer and refers to the weight transmitted from the caravan axle or axles to the ground. This number will be lower than the ATM because some weight distributes through the tow ball.
Exceeding the GTM can compromise your safety while on the road. The tow ball weight aligns with the caravan tare weight. It refers to how much pressure the caravan weight applies to the tow ball connected to your vehicle. The tow ball weight is measured when the caravan is empty aside from manufacturer specifications. Several factors can affect the tow ball weight, such as how you load the caravan and where water tanks, batteries, and caravan storage compartments are located.
Axle positions and the location of appliances are also taken into consideration. The maximum tow ball weight is the most force safely exerted on the caravan tow ball. This is also referred to as the maximum ball loading. The manufacturer specifies the maximum tow ball weight. You should never exceed this weight limit. The way your caravan is loaded can affect the maximum tow ball weight. The tow ball capacity of the caravan is separate from the tow ball capacity of the vehicle used to tow it. If these caravan weights vary noticeably, defer to the lowest capacity to ensure a secure tow.
The tow ball maximum weight is lower on some vehicles when the overall caravan weight increases, so check with your dealer when purchasing a vehicle you will use for towing. If the manufacturer does not specify this value, subtract the tare mass from the ATM to calculate it. Aftermarket accessories that add weight to the caravan include spare wheels, toolboxes, bike racks, and extra batteries.
Aggregate trailer mass ATM : This is the tare weight of the trailer plus its maximum payload when uncoupled from a vehicle. This is also referred to as gross trailer weight. Not to be confused with gross trailer weight, which is another name for ATM. Gross vehicle mass GVM : The total weight of the tow vehicle — the kerb weight plus payload including passengers, luggage and accessories.
Tare weight : This is the weight of an empty vehicle with all of its fluids but with only 10 litres of fuel in the tank. Most cars have an official towing capacity, which is declared by the manufacturer and refers to the maximum trailer ATM a vehicle can pull efficiently while remaining stable.
Braked towing capacity: This is the most common figure, and refers to the ATM of a trailer which has its own brakes. Unbraked towing capacity: This figure refers to towing a trailer without brakes and is usually significantly lower the braked towing capacity because the vehicle has to absorb much of the braking force.
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