3500kg motorhome

[Rogerlathbury]

Hi all, as only have B1 licence can only drive up to 3500kg motorhome.
Need a 4 berth and would like an A class. However payloads are very small, if we leave off a spare wheel and awning this saves substantially on weight.
Who thinks this is sensible, or do we really need these extras?

 

[Terry242]

Hi all, as only have B1 licence can only drive up to 3500kg motorhome.
Need a 4 berth and would like an A class. However payloads are very small, if we leave off a spare wheel and awning this saves substantially on weight.
Who thinks this is sensible, or do we really need these extras?

We've downsized to a Hymer Exsis-I578 which is 3500 with a 700kg payload. We find the payload adequate having gone from a1250kg payload, where to be honest, I ended up carrying a pile of never-to-be-used odds and sods. I accept that ours came fitted with a load of extras which all eat into the usable payload, but we get by. (I did pass within 3m of a weighbridge today in Segorbe, fuel a £ per litre, me and the misses had a chuckle)
By the way, I wouldn't touch Travelworld with a barge poll, had our van from them and the aftersales has been terrible.

Terry

 

[Rogerlathbury]

You would be able to negate the weight of the towbar by loading kit in the trailer that’s probably your best option in your situation, we regularly tow a car trailer with our Hymer B678 DL but have a really good payload.
there are those that would say a trailer is a pain when finding a site but not in our experience and we do winter in Spain regularly.
Good luck with your quest??

Thanks I'll look into this solution

 

[Rogerlathbury]

Many weight specs include driver, water, fuel, gas bottle so you might not need as much as you think.

Our factory payload info also includes the canopy so worth checking.

Maybe panicking for no real reason

 

[Snoopy]

Also you could get a pop up screen house, we bought a pro 4 sized one from Quest. instead of having an awning fitted?

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[Rogerlathbury]

We've downsized to a Hymer Exsis-I578 which is 3500 with a 700kg payload. We find the payload adequate having gone from a1250kg payload, where to be honest, I ended up carrying a pile of never-to-be-used odds and sods. I accept that ours came fitted with a load of extras which all eat into the usable payload, but we get by. (I did pass within 3m of a weighbridge today in Segorbe, fuel a £ per litre, me and the misses had a chuckle)
By the way, I wouldn't touch Travelworld with a barge poll, had our van from them and the aftersales has been terrible.

Terry

Would be happy to find over 600kg pay load !! Thanks for heads up with Travel World

 

[Rogerlathbury]

Also you could get a pop up screen house, we bought a pro 4 sized one from Quest. instead of having an awning fitted?

Approx what does that weigh?

 

[TUCANO]

We've downsized to a Hymer Exsis-I578 which is 3500 with a 700kg payload. We find the payload adequate having gone from a1250kg payload, where to be honest, I ended up carrying a pile of never-to-be-used odds and sods. I accept that ours came fitted with a load of extras which all eat into the usable payload, but we get by. (I did pass within 3m of a weighbridge today in Segorbe, fuel a £ per litre, me and the misses had a chuckle)
By the way, I wouldn't touch Travelworld with a barge poll, had our van from them and the aftersales has been terrible.

Terry

Did I say that I wouldn't recommend Campbells of Preston for anything to anyone

 

[M-J]

As said in many other threads though never believe factory payload figures as they are invariably wrong it’s always best to insist on a weigh bridge ticket before buying with individual axle weights??

Very true, but worth knowing to widen the search.

I think corado (by Hymer) payloads are pretty good for MHs under 3500kg

 

[Snoopy]

Approx what does that weigh?

it is 12.8 kg, so the box says cost us £245, but that included side share walls, plus open out at the front like a top porch canopy, we went on you tube, they showed demonstration, worth a look?

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[lorger]

You can do a 1 day course with test for under £400, I'd be going down that route.

 

[Rogerlathbury]

it is 12.8 kg, so the box says cost us £245, but that included side share walls, plus open out at the front like a top porch canopy, we went on you tube, they showed demonstration, worth a look?

Light and low price. Most wind out awnings are top end of £800 and weight over 40kg. Worth a look

 

[Rogerlathbury]

You can do a 1 day course with test for under £400, I'd be going down that route.

No good to me, had C1 but DVLA took it off me when I advised them I was insulin dependent. Tried to reapply after 5 months, two medicals and numerous forms have given up

 

[Rogerlathbury]

Very true, but worth knowing to widen the search.

I think corado (by Hymer) payloads are pretty good for MHs under 3500kg

Had a look at Carado but not keen

 

[lorger]

Never used them and no connection with them just did a quick google


<Broken link removed>

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[lorger]

No good to me, had C1 but DVLA took it off me when I advised them I was insulin dependent. Tried to reapply after 5 months, two medicals and numerous forms have given up

Sorry didn't realise that.

 

[Rogerlathbury]

Never used them and no connection with them just did a quick google


<Broken link removed>

Thanks but no good to me. Have fought with DVLA for 5 months with no result in sight

 

[Snoopy]

Had a look at Carado but not keen

We have a hymer camp C546. Gross payload 3400kg (5 berth)

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

You say 4 berth, is that adults and 2 children? Or 4 adults, whichever way they add to the payload.

 

[Lenny HB]

Then need a tow bar, not sure how much extra weight that would be

50-60kg.

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[Lenny HB]

We have a hymer camp C546. Gross payload 3400kg (5 berth)

Thats not possible in a 3500 kg van.

 

[Lenny HB]

Would be happy to find over 600kg pay load !! Thanks for heads up with Travel World

With A Class vans bare in mind you will need to add some basic extras e.g. With Hymer at least the Komfort pack and a few other bits that's at least a 100kg off your payload.

 

[AXO66]

If you go to France you NEED a spare and the tyre must match whatever is already fitted.
If you damage a tyre making it useless they will insist on fitting a matching pair of new tyres.

And Portugal .

 

[Snoopy]

Thats not possible in a 3500 kg van.

I know LennyHB, we had a!ready purchased our hymer last year, then I found this forum, all of Jim's advice ( information on payloads) got me and hubby in a spin, has overcab, dinette that becomes a double, side long seating bench, that is used as a sing!e bed, has 4 seatbelts on the dinette area
Just us and 1 grandchild,(3400kg. Then says 5400kg, presume train weight.
front axle 1750kg..rear axle 1900kg

 

[Jonno1103]

Hi all, as only have B1 licence can only drive up to 3500kg motorhome.
Need a 4 berth and would like an A class. However payloads are very small, if we leave off a spare wheel and awning this saves substantially on weight.
Who thinks this is sensible, or do we really need these extras?

I too only have B1. Depending on your budget there are a range of vans with decent payloads for 4 in the 3500kg range.
Etrusco built by Hymer have 4 berth vans their A class I 6900 SB has 542kg, their A 6600 overcab has 577kg and their T6900 low line, 600kg.

Roller team build a small 4 berth A class (my Avatar) with a 660 kg payload although this is more suited for two..

Auto Trail's new F series built very similar in style to Chausson, Roller Team etc have payloads from 640kg down to 500k, you could leave the spare wheel at home too which would raise it further. Most new vans now come with a fix and go kit anyway.

When looking at modern European vans their MTPLM's also include 20 litres of fresh water, travelling without this would give you another 20kg to use.

You could also consider a trailer upto 750kg.

Other options, I'm assuming you have kids here and the van will be used for holidays, most sites have laundry's so you could carry fewer clothes... I'm a big lad, 21 stone, my clothing and towel I travel in the van with come to 24kg's. We don't full time as we've only just turned 50 so don't need half the gear they carry.

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[Snoopy]

You say 4 berth, is that adults and 2 children? Or 4 adults, whichever way they add to the payload.

hi Jim that's 2 adults one child

 

[Jonno1103]

Light and low price. Most wind out awnings are top end of £800 and weight over 40kg. Worth a look
[/QUOTE

Most vans are fitted with 3-4m awnings. One of the most popular is Fiamma's F45S range below is a list of their various weights dependant on lengthfrom 1.9m to 4.5m. Most vans will have 3-3.5m wind out awnings fitted.

Description	Case Length A	Fabric Length B	Awning Extension C	Shade Area	Weight
F45S 190	185cm	169cm	100cm	1.7m2	11.5 kg
F45S 230	231cm	214cm	150cm	3.2m2	16.5 kg
F45S 260	263cm	247cm	200cm	4.9m2	19.5 kg
F45S 300	308cm	292cm	250cm	7.3m2	23 kg
F45S 350	348cm	331cm	250cm	8.3m2	25 kg
F45S 375	375cm	357cm	250cm	8.9m2	26 kg
F45S 400	398cm	381cm	250cm	9.5m2	27 kg
F45S 425	323cm	405cm	250cm	10.1m2	28.2 kg
F45S 450	448cm	431cm	250cm	10.8m2	29.5 kg

 

[Reallyretired]

On a trailer caravan some years back I had a lightweight awning. It fitted in the awning rail znd was in a sort of zipped bag. When unrolled the legs were inside the tube, very light and when up looked just like a normal wind out. It stayed on the side of the caravan when travelling.

 

[Lenny HB]

I know LennyHB, we had a!ready purchased our hymer last year, then I found this forum, all of Jim's advice ( information on payloads) got me and hubby in a spin, has overcab, dinette that becomes a double, side long seating bench, that is used as a sing!e bed, has 4 seatbelts on the dinette area
Just us and 1 grandchild,(3400kg. Then says 5400kg, presume train weight.
front axle 1750kg..rear axle 1900kg

I put the funny because you meant 3400 Gross weight (MAM) not payload.

 

[Snoopy]

I put the funny because you ment 3400 Gross weight (MAM) not payload.

You see that's why I need this forum!, Get all my bits mixed up, yes sorry gross weight, once we have been to the weighbridge
next weekend, will know what payload we have

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[Rogerlathbury]

I too only have B1. Depending on your budget there are a range of vans with decent payloads for 4 in the 3500kg range.
Etrusco built by Hymer have 4 berth vans their A class I 6900 SB has 542kg, their A 6600 overcab has 577kg and their T6900 low line, 600kg.

Roller team build a small 4 berth A class (my Avatar) with a 660 kg payload although this is more suited for two..

Auto Trail's new F series built very similar in style to Chausson, Roller Team etc have payloads from 640kg down to 500k, you could leave the spare wheel at home too which would raise it further. Most new vans now come with a fix and go kit anyway.

When looking at modern European vans their MTPLM's also include 20 litres of fresh water, travelling without this would give you another 20kg to use.

You could also consider a trailer upto 750kg.

Other options, I'm assuming you have kids here and the van will be used for holidays, most sites have laundry's so you could carry fewer clothes... I'm a big lad, 21 stone, my clothing and towel I travel in the van with come to 24kg's. We don't full time as we've only just turned 50 so don't need half the gear they carry.

Jonno, the problem we've found is that although 500 / 600kg is quoted on continental MH's by the time a UK/ right hand pack, camera, awning, spare wheel etc the payload is down to 300 / 400kg. Even with the manufacturers allowance (75kg driver, fuel, water etc) by the time 4 adults (on occasion) are added then.......