Dropped a deposit on a Carthago chic e line.

[bobnick]

I have been waiting 10 months for warranty work to be done on our bailey.
It's in there as i type having bits done from the origonal snag list.
Waiting for parts is all i get.
So i think all MHs no matter what make or age will have some issues.
It's how the dealer looks after you and the van after buying that counts.

 

[EuroTrotters]

That is the question.

You will be entitled to your deposit back. Only has to be one simple fault or discrepancy.

I flew to London to buy a car. It was not as described. Money back on card the save day and I got the train home to Manchester.

 

[Madventurer]

I have a 2016 Carthago E-line 50, with air suspension on rear axle. This takes it up to 4800 kg gvw. My ktm 790 adventure fits in the garage ok. Carthago claim the garage will take 450 kg. However now my partner wants her motorcycle with us, on our trip to Morocco. So I am looking into getting a towbar fitted. I have been told the section of chassis under the garage is not Al-ko as I was led to believe. It is only 3mm steel section which stops 400mm from the rear of the motorhome. This has to be replaced to fit a towbar. So if you are buying a carthago motorhome make sure it has a genuine, Al-Ko chassis that correctly supports the garage and will take a towbar.

 

[bigtree]

I have a 2016 Carthago E-line 50, with air suspension on rear axle. This takes it up to 4800 kg gvw. My ktm 790 adventure fits in the garage ok. Carthago claim the garage will take 450 kg. However now my partner wants her motorcycle with us, on our trip to Morocco. So I am looking into getting a towbar fitted. I have been told the section of chassis under the garage is not Al-ko as I was led to believe. It is only 3mm steel section which stops 400mm from the rear of the motorhome. This has to be replaced to fit a towbar. So if you are buying a carthago motorhome make sure it has a genuine, Al-Ko chassis that correctly supports the garage and will take a towbar.

Was it just air suspension you got fitted or did you uprate the wheels and tyres too ?

 

[gus-lopez]

So if you are buying a carthago motorhome make sure it has a genuine, Al-Ko chassis that correctly supports the garage and will take a towbar.

To my knowledge none of the alko chassis go fully to the rear The last part is always just floor supports & any tow bar has to have full length extensions going all the way to the main chassis. this can be up to 2,5m.

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[Madventurer]

I am not sure if the alloy wheels are uprated, but tyres standard. This attached shows the increased weight capacity. I received no certificate and the vin plate was not changed to show this.

 

[bigtree]

I am not sure if the alloy wheels are uprated, but tyres standard. This attached shows the increased weight capacity. I received no certificate and the vin plate was not changed to show this.

View attachment 737416 View attachment 737417 View attachment 737418

It does say you have the uprated alloy wheels,so I suppose they will have 121 tyres, They should have changed the plate too so that it shows 4800kg. If you get stopped and weighed you could be in trouble.

 

[camoyboy]

The standard FIAT alloys are rated up to 1250 kg, so max 2500 Kg for the rear axle. The tyres will also need to be changed from 116 to 121 load rating. Towbars are another minefield. Most suppliers require chequerplate on the garage floor, and the extensions are bolted through the floor and chequerplate when a towbar is fitted.

 

[camoyboy]

I am not sure if the alloy wheels are uprated, but tyres standard. This attached shows the increased weight capacity. I received no certificate and the vin plate was not changed to show this.

View attachment 737416 View attachment 737417 View attachment 737418

If your van was supplied from Carthago at 4800 kg then the Carthago "Stufe 3" plate will show this. Where is your 3rd plate fitted? Normally inside the cab door opening. Also does your V5 show 4800 kg? If you cannot show a plate on your vehicle to match the V5 then the vehicle is illegal, as already mentioned.

 

[Ditcha]

It does say you have the uprated alloy wheels,so I suppose they will have 121 tyres, They should have changed the plate too so that it shows 4800kg. If you get stopped and weighed you could be in trouble.

There should be a separate sticker from Carthago this is normally attached to the c of c from the manufacturer and the dealer forgets to attach it as part of the pre delivery.

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[Madventurer]

Yes you are correct. 121/120 tyres are fitted. So the rear axle will take 2800 kg. I cannot see how the garage can take a payload of 450kg, with the standard weak support. I am having this removed and the proper chassis extension fitted with towbar. About £1800 ! As you say this is bolted through the checkerplate flooring.

 

[Gordo]

We placed an order on a new E-line toward the end of last year but cancelled it when we calculated the empty weight with the obvious extras (using Carthago’s official weights from their price list). We worked out that with full fuel and water it would be pretty much illegal before we went anywhere or packed anything in. Dealer agreed and said the only answer is to get the tag axle which was another £10k and we didn’t want that. It’s interesting that the Carthago website is now littered with warnings about their van weights…., (and that’s assuming they’re correct - as others have said, they’re usually heavier than stated).

I’d only consider that one if they can prove the weight to you before you go ahead (total and for each axle when empty). It’s not just total weight but weight on the back axle, especially if you’re thinking of putting a motorbike in it, and consider the amplified impact as you move the weight further from the rear axle). PM me and I’ll dig out the calcs I used and the price list info if it helps.

We went for a used C-Tourer (I 149 LE) instead and are really pleased with it. Still had to update it to 4,500kg which, when full and packed with all our usual tat gives us 300kg to play with). The E is beautiful but I’m amazed they’re allowed to sell the single axle as standard.

Good luck!

Gordo

 

[Lenny HB]

I don't have the weight figures to hand but our C-Tourer was considerably over the empty weight Carthago claimed on the paperwork..

The smaller vans, CompactLine & C Tourer are always around 130kg over I don't know about the bigger vans.
They take advantage of the 5% so they can shout we have loads of payload

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes you are correct. 121/120 tyres are fitted. So the rear axle will take 2800 kg. I cannot see how the garage can take a payload of 450kg, with the standard weak support. I am having this removed and the proper chassis extension fitted with towbar. About £1800 ! As you say this is bolted through the checkerplate flooring.

But with what wheel rims steel are OK with the Fiat alloys Carthago fit you will be limited to 2500 kg.

 

[Ditcha]

Yes you are correct. 121/120 tyres are fitted. So the rear axle will take 2800 kg. I cannot see how the garage can take a payload of 450kg, with the standard weak support. I am having this removed and the proper chassis extension fitted with towbar. About £1800 ! As you say this is bolted through the checkerplate flooring.

I thought the rear axle could only be taken to 2700kg ?

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[bigtree]

But with what wheel rims steel are OK with the Fiat alloys Carthago fit you will be limited to 2500 kg.

His first picture that is highlighted states 4 alloys with increased load.

 

[G7UXG]

Carthagos seem to be well built and quite heavy. Add on a few extras and they’re even heavier. A 7.9 metre Carthago on a single rear axle is always going to be pushing the limits and require careful loading to avoid being overweight or over the rear axle limit. Tag axle is the way to go to get the weight capacity, or an S Plus on an Iveco chassis.

My E Line 64 is 8.9 metres and that’s pushing the limits on a 5000kg tag axle chassis. I’ve no idea why the factory think it’s OK to turn them out without updating them to 5500kg as standard. I’ve added VB semi air to the rear of mine and updated it to 5500kg via SV Tech. The rear axles are 1600kg each as standard and increased to 1800kg each with the update, so no problems with wheels or tyres either.

 

[Vansflyer]

The smaller vans, CompactLine & C Tourer are always around 130kg over I don't know about the bigger vans.
They take advantage of the 5% so they can shout we have loads of payload

Agreed and the buggers still keep doing it and misleading us customers. Very wrong IMHO.

 

[BJKD]

I have been waiting 10 months for warranty work to be done on our bailey.
It's in there as i type having bits done from the origonal snag list.
Waiting for parts is all i get.
So i think all MHs no matter what make or age will have some issues.
It's how the dealer looks after you and the van after buying that counts.

 

[G1969]

We have put a deposit on the Carthago e line I 50 that 3a's Leisure are selling, just wondering if the previous owner is on here ?

So did you buy it, and if so what's your thoughts?

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[bigtree]

So did you buy it, and if so what's your thoughts?

Not got it yet, the dealer is taking forever to fit some extras and pdi it.

 

[bigtree]

Lovely looking motorhome. Hope you are as happy with your choice as we are.

I hope so.

 

[bigtree]

Have you used them since change of ownership? I’ve heard a range of views. Didn’t realise you were out our way!

We live in Not Glasgow.