Hi all, I wonder if I can benefit from your experience of nose weight gauges regarding their accuracy and use. Iv'e checked out quite a few on line including those fitted on the tow ball (Reich) and others fitted into the jockey wheel,plus the use of bathroom scales, but there seems to be a lot of disappointed users out there which I'd like to avoid if possible.

Many thanks
barny

Milenco are supposed to be good,

http://www.milenco.com/products/noseweight-gauge/

I have the Milenco unit and it works great. Very easy to use, place it under the hitch and give it a gentle nudge so that it gets over any stiction and read the value, easy.

Deleted by OP

There can be a problem using bathroom scales if you just have your vertical stick placed straight on the scales. The point load can distort the scale platform and give an inaccurate reading. I now use two pieces of wood below the scales to make sure the scales sit on a flat surface and a piece of wood flat on top of the scales that spans the whole width. The vertical post then bears on the flat wood, spreading the load evenly. A bit difficult to explain but easy to do. I get reliable and consistent results each time now.

The other other problem with bathroom scales is - how do you get the Eriba into the bathroom

Iv'e gone with the best reviews, which were for the Milenco, £30 from ebay inc. delivery.Milenco state that it is good for 1000 compressions after which they will recalibrate it.
Anyway, many thanks for your interest and input.

barny

Up the stairs and through the door

I use a spring operated nose weight gauge, I did notice that a lot of gauges start at 50kg. The general rule is no more than 7% of the loaded van as the nose weight. My old Puck 120 had a MTPLM of 500kg which equates to 35kg. The Puck was already nose heavy because the kitchen is in the front and it was almost impossible to keep it below 40kg...
I do the same as Pete, I load my Familia 320 the same way each time and generally it will be about the same weight, the gauge also travels with me in the locker. Just another tip, always make sure the van is on a level solid service otherwise you will get a false reading.

I'm sure you can get an 'app' for this - it's called a 'Knows Weight Gauge' - sorry, but it is Sunday afternoon and I still have to wait two weeks before we head out with the Puck for the first time this year.

For all those advocating the use of bathroom scales to accurately calculate nose weight might I be so bold as to suggest conducting the following experiment. This will necessitate the assistance of your wife of course (mine volunteered which made things easier all round) as the female of our species is always a touch more sensitive when it comes to weight.

I digress, however, and so returning to the subject in hand, place your bathroom scales anywhere on a flat surface - floor tiles which are slightly larger in dimension than the scales are ideal for this. Request your good lady to stand on the scales and then make a note of the reading. Follow this by moving the scales to an adjacent floor tile and repeat the exercise once more noting the reading.

If your bathroom scales (numerous over the years) are anything like ours, each and every position in which the scales are placed records a different reading. Please note that I opened this post by use of the word 'accurately' and from the series of measurements just taken you may be wondering which of them can be relied upon. Your wife is of course in a much better position to answer that question but my guess she will say the lowest measurement taken.