tow ball weight

[budget]

hi guys and girls,
a bit slack i know but in the hope someone out there has one,can anyone tell me the tow ball weight of a standard golf lindwood gtx.
in standard i obviously mean just the everyday mode,hoses ,jack,detergent and the like in the boot and a few chairs and stuff under the bed.
thank you paul

[budget]

oops sorry my vehicle is a bow x5 e53.
on some checking 120 kgs came up does that sound right?,nothing on the tow bar

[ParamountCruiser]

The only way you will know is to measure it.

Here is a method of measuring it : http://caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=6557

[Old Techo]

I used to measure it this way... http://candm.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?p=25617#p25617

But now I do it this way... http://www.candm.com.au/forum/viewtopic ... 79#p148279

[PeterD]

oops sorry my vehicle is a bow x5 e53.

Please explain, Google does not produce results.

Even if there was a ball weight stamped on the compliance plate the way you load the van will alter the ball weight. You are loading up a see-saw. As others have stated the only way to know is to measure it.

[Old Techo]

PD, try BMW not the BOW given.

[PeterD]

That makes sense, now back to the OP

on some checking 120 kgs came up does that sound right?,nothing on the tow bar

Budget, What is the "nothing on the tow bar" refer to, the drawbar of the van or the tow bar on the tug? If you have an approved tow bar on the tug it must have a compliance plate on it stating both the maximum towing weight and the ball weight. My reference to vehicle towing mass guide for the X5-E53 is 2700 kg with 120 kg maximum on the ball. This appears to refer to the standard tow bar. There is also listed under the heading "Conditions" - "270kg if stamped HD towbar is used."

The Linwoods were made back in the days when vans were built to have tow ball loadings of around 10% of the all up weight. My reckoning is you would need to fit one of those stamped HD tow bars to tow the Linwood. Make sure the tow bar has a compliance plate that reflects the 270 kg maximum tow ball weight.