What this calculator works out
This calculator gives the noseweight as a percentage of the loaded caravan weight, compares it against your target, and states how much weight to move forward or back.
Noseweight is the downward force the caravan's hitch places on the towball. Too little causes instability at speed; too much overloads the car's rear suspension and unloads the front.
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Before you measure
- Measure with the caravan loaded as it will travel, and level on its jockey wheel.
- 5 to 7% of the caravan's actual laden weight is the usual recommended range.
- The car's maximum noseweight and the towbar's rating both apply as separate limits. Whichever is lowest governs.
- A proper noseweight gauge is inexpensive. Bathroom scales under the hitch are a common improvisation and are frequently out of range.
Noseweight is set by load distribution, not by total weight. Moving a full awning bag from the rear locker to over the axle changes the noseweight substantially without changing what is packed. Heavy items belong low and close to the axle; the ends of the caravan are where weight does most harm to stability.
How this calculator works
A percentage, a target and the difference:
Actual = noseweight ÷ loaded caravan weight × 100
Target noseweight = loaded weight × target ÷ 100
Adjustment = target noseweight − actual noseweightThe adjustment figure tells you how much weight to shift, not how much to add — moving 23 kg from behind the axle to in front of it will change the noseweight by considerably more than 23 kg, because of the leverage involved.
Worked example: 75 kg on a 1,400 kg caravan
Using the default figures — 75 kg measured noseweight, 1,400 kg loaded, targeting 7%:
- Actual noseweight: 5.36%
- Target at 7%: 98 kg
- Add to the nose: 23 kg
5.36% is inside the 5 to 7% range and at its lower end, which is where snaking becomes more likely at motorway speeds. Moving a heavy item from the rear locker to the front is usually enough. Note that 98 kg may exceed the car's maximum noseweight — many are limited to 75 or 100 kg — in which case the car's limit governs and the target must come down.
Common mistakes
- Measuring unloaded. Noseweight must be checked as the caravan will travel.
- Ignoring the car's maximum. It is frequently lower than 7% of the caravan.
- Using bathroom scales. Most domestic scales are out of range and inaccurate at the top end.
- Loading heavy items at the ends. They destabilise the caravan disproportionately.
- Measuring on a slope. The caravan must be level.
Frequently asked questions
What is the right noseweight?
Between 5 and 7% of the caravan's actual laden weight is the usual guidance, subject to the car's maximum noseweight and the towbar rating — whichever is lowest. Some manufacturers give their own recommendation for a specific caravan, and that takes precedence over a general percentage.
How do I measure it?
A noseweight gauge placed under the coupling with the caravan level and loaded. They cost little and read directly in kilograms. The bathroom scales method — scales under the hitch with a length of timber — works in principle but most domestic scales top out below the weight being measured and are least accurate there.
What happens if noseweight is too low?
The caravan becomes prone to snaking, a side-to-side oscillation that builds with speed and can become uncontrollable. Low noseweight is the more dangerous error of the two, which is why the guidance sets a minimum as well as a maximum.
What happens if it is too high?
The car's rear suspension compresses, lifting the front and reducing steering and braking grip on the front wheels. Headlights point upwards and dazzle oncoming drivers. It also risks exceeding the car's rear axle limit, which is a separate and frequently overlooked constraint.
Is what I enter stored?
No. Weights are processed in your browser and never transmitted or retained.
Related tools
References
- GOV.UK — towing safety, weight limits and vehicle loading requirements
- Health and Safety Executive — safe loading and load distribution guidance
Sources are checked at publication and can change — how I choose and check references.