Caravan Weight Scale

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Best Caravan Weight Scales in Australia – Know Your Load!

Are you worried about your weight?

Every caravan owner knows that it’s important to keep an eye on their payload. Firstly, they don’t want to break the law by exceeding the limit. Of course, they also want to stay safe and respect other road users.

But how do you check your weight if you think you’re close to the maximum?

Caravan scales are a simple solution that will help you plan for your journey. They provide clarity and remove stress as you prepare for your holiday. There are different types of scales so keep this in mind as we go through the guide.

Let’s look at some of the best caravan weight scales in Australia.

 

Reich Caravan Weight Control Scale Orange 1500KG

Fastway 8" Flash Integrated Scale Ball Mount

Towsafe Towball Weight Scales

Towball Weight Scale - 350KG


Our pick
Reich Caravan Weight Control Scale Orange 1500KG
Fastway 8
Best Value
Towsafe Towball Weight Scales
Towball Weight Scale - 350KG

*Using coupon CRCSAVE20

1500kg per wheel

450kg tongue weight

100-350kg weight scale

100-350kg weight scale

3 x 1.5 V Alkaline Type AAA

N/A

N/A

N/A

1 Year

1 Year

1 Year

1 Year

Best Caravan Weight Scales Australia

Reich Caravan Weight Control Scale Orange 1500KG

Reich Caravan Weight Control Scale Orange 1500KG

Our Pick

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Maximum weight of 1,500kg per wheel
  • Digital readings
  • Suitable for all vehicles
  • Three programmes
  • One year warranty
Cons
  • Batteries required
  • Expensive

There are several types of caravan weight scales in this guide. However, the Reich Caravan Weight Control Scale is unique in being electronic. It requires batteries (3 x AAA) but there’s no need to recharge it.

One of the best features of this scale is that it has a maximum weight-bearing of 1,500kg per wheel. All you need to do is drive over the scales with each tire. Then it will calculate the entire mass of the caravan.

This style of measurement is excellent for helping to prevent uneven weight distribution. If you’ve ever towed a caravan across a bridge on a windy day, you’ll know how disconcerting it can be.

Another point is that you can choose from three different measuring programs.

One is designed specifically for motorhomes. The others are for single-axle caravans with a support wheel and finally, caravans with tandem axles.

As it’s digital, it’s easy to use. There aren’t a lot of negatives apart from the fact that it’s useless without batteries. It’s also fairly expensive. On the bright side, it’s compatible with almost every land vehicle.

Fastway 8" Flash Integrated Scale Ball Mount

Fastway 8

Runner Up

Pros
  • Made from aircraft-grade aluminium
  • Anti-theft locking pins
  • 450kg tongue weight
  • Easy to adjust
  • One year warranty
Cons
  • Very expensive

This towball weight scale measures the tongue weight of your caravan.

Most tongue weight scales determine weight up to 400kg but the Fastway takes it to 450kg. This makes it suitable for most caravans and helps you to balance your load.

It’s easy to set up. Remember that the tongue weight must be between the vehicle’s towing capacity, the receiver hitch, and 10-15% of the trailer weight.

The product includes anti-theft locking pins for increased security. It’s also easy to adjust, lock, and unlock.

Meanwhile, it’s an extraordinarily robust piece of kit. Fastway makes their caravan scales from aircraft-grade aluminium. This shouldn’t rust easily and will last for a long time.

Aluminium has another advantage over steel - the joints won’t weaken over time. This towball weight scale is suitable for 2” receivers and includes 50mm and 70mm chrome hitch balls.

The main problem with this product is that it’s so expensive. At around $750 it’s the most expensive option out of all the caravan scales in this guide. The Fastway comes with a 1 year warranty.

Towsafe Towball Weight Scales

Towsafe Towball Weight Scales

Best Value

Pros
  • Tested to Australian safety standards
  • Scale calibration of 100-350kg
  • Easy to read gauge
  • Compact
  • Heavy-duty metal construction
  • Inexpensive
Cons
  • It may not be as accurate as more expensive products

If you don’t want to spend a fortune, don’t worry. There are still plenty of decent options out there that will do a similar job.

Towball scales like this Towsafe product are available at a much cheaper price. This one costs just shy of $100 and comes with a 1 year warranty. It’s a no-frills product but that’s exactly what most people want.

It has a scale calibration of 100-350kg in 10kg increments. This should be suitable for most caravan users unless you know that you’re taking your payload to the limit.

Towsafe uses a heavy-duty metal construction to ensure that it has a long life and won’t let you down. Furthermore, the scale is easy-to-read.

The only downside is that the scale may not be as precise as more expensive alternatives but it’s still a great towball weight scale.

Loadmaster Towball Weight Scale - 350KG

Towball Weight Scale - 350KG

Honourable Mention

Pros
  • Very cheap
  • 100-350kg weight scale
  • One year warranty
Cons
  • May deviate after several uses

The final entry in this guide is also the cheapest.

Caravan ball weight scales like this offering from Loadmaster are a decent budget option. You can find this product for less than $50 with a 1 year warranty.

However, do bear in mind that you get what you pay for.

This towball weight scale doesn’t have bells and whistles like the first couple of products we looked at. But it is simple and effective.

Like the Towsafe Towball Weight Scale, it also measures between 100-350kg. It’s cheaper than the Towsafe but there are more question marks about its long-term reliability and durability.

Everybody should keep caravan scales at home or in their van to measure their load before they set out. If you want a basic model then this might be the product for you.

However, it may be worth forking out an extra $20 for the Towsafe because it has a better reputation.

Types of Scales

As you will have noticed, there are multiple styles of caravan ball weight scales on the market. Depending on your budget and your style of caravan certain scales may fit your needs better than others.

Read on for a quick breakdown of the main types.

Weight Control Scales

These caravan scales are expensive but they are very effective.

Like the Reich scale, they are usually battery-operated and can bear up to 1,500kg. The best aspect of them is the ability to adjust your weight limits and evenly divide them between multiple vehicles.

Tongue Weight Scales

Also referred to as a nose weight gauge, these help you to balance the weight of your caravan. There shouldn’t be too much of a load on the front or the back of your trailer. One of the great advantages is that they’re light and easy to stow.

Typically, they’re a lot cheaper too.

Towball Weight Scales

These precise scales measure the weight exerted on the tow hitch. Usually, 10-15% of the caravan’s weight should be on the tow hitch. Tow weight scales like the Fastway show the weight up to 350kgs.

Typically, they are expensive but they’re more accurate than tongue weight scales. Usually, they’re more robust with a longer lifespan too.

In the end, you get what you pay for.

Stay Safe

These days, caravans weigh more than ever, thanks to appliances like washing machines, microwaves, ovens, TVs and air conditioners filling our vehicles.

You must use caravan weight scales to ensure you’re not breaking laws. These differ from state to state in Australia so check ahead before you set out.

The other aspect to remember is that it’s not just about you. If your caravan is overloaded or too light, it will endanger other road users and that’s not forgivable.

Depending on the style of scale you choose, ensure that it meets Australian safety standards at a bare minimum. Even if you know that you’re not worried about overloading your van, it’s a good idea to keep a cheap scale in your van.

Final Thoughts

Don’t underestimate the importance of caravan scales. Along with towing mirrors and reversing cameras, they are a crucial safety tool for your van.

It doesn’t matter what style you choose as long as you have one. Protect yourself and fellow road users from unnecessary risks. Avoid an unpleasant encounter with the police. And also lessen the risk of wear-and-tear on your caravan.

Good caravan weight scales will help you to deal with these issues.

The first couple of options in this guide are premium products but they are more precise. If you have a more heavily loaded caravan, it may be a good idea to invest in these because they’ll give you accurate readings.

The Reich caravan weight control is useful because you can use it for other vehicles. However, the Fastway may be the most accurate scale and the best for your van’s long-term security.

There are cheaper options available. Towsafe’s offering does the job cheaply and effectively. If you just want something basic then this is the product for you.

As ever, if you have any questions about these products, please leave a comment below.


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Our Testing Process

In creating this article, we have completed a rigorous review process on the best caravan weight scales out there, comparing 7 products in total, and reading hundreds of reviews from fellow campers to help form our opinions.

The primary goal of our research is to help figure which product is right for you, the user. We systematically go through all of the available options on the market to determine which ones are worthy of our list.

Here’s a full list of the options we considered for this article. Please note that we have never accepted free products from manufacturers.

Full List Of Considered Products

Ball Weight Scale Towsafe 100
Camec Tow Ball Weight Scales (400KG)
Reich Caravan Weight Control Scale Yellow 1000KG
Roadsafe Towsafe Tow Ball Weight Scale
TAG Tow Ball Weight Scale
Tow Ball Weight Scales
Towsafe Tow Ball Weight Scales


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Louis

While Louis does most of his trips near his home in south-east Queensland, he has been camping as far afield as South America and Africa. He loves researching, testing and experimenting with camping gear whenever possible.

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