Increasing payload capacity of Ducato based Auto-Trail

[chippie]

Hi, I have a 2012 ducato based auto trail navajo which has been uprated from 3650to 3850kg, has anyone gone beyond this, I know it involves going to 16 inch wheels to get higher load rating, I have Dunlop semi air already on the rear, I'm going to speak to sv tech but wondering if anyone has personally done this and swapped rims etc to get higher payload.
chppie

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Hi, I have a 2012 ducato based auto trail navajo which has been uprated from 3650to 3850kg, has anyone gone beyond this, I know it involves going to 16 inch wheels to get higher load rating, I have Dunlop semi air already on the rear, I'm going to speak to sv tech but wondering if anyone has personally done this and swapped rims etc to get higher payload.
chppie

Also get a balance price from VWE. Van Weight Engineering. It's not always the case that you need 16" wheels, just higher specification on your existing 15" tyres.
Mike.

 

[chippie]

Thanks, looking at tyre specs I can't find anything that goes above 112 load ratimg on 15inch tyres which I have already but will contact your suggestion, thanks

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Thanks, looking at tyre specs I can't find anything that goes above 112 load ratimg on 15inch tyres which I have already but will contact your suggestion, thanks

112s give you 1120kg at each corner. So back axle gives you 2240, which I have with air bags and 112 tyres. Our total is 4090kg.

What is tyre load rating? | Tyre load index | Blackcircles.com

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Higher rated tyres are out there.
/Lassa_Tyres_All_Season_Van_Lassa_Multiways_C_225_70_R15_C_116_114Q_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_D_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_73dB
Mike.

 

[chippie]

I have spoken to svtech and it appears I can go to 4000kg by swapping front springs which was on my list of jobs to do anyway, sent off form, now waiting for confirmation.
out of interest I have ordered 4 new tyres from a local company who were £77 cheaper than black circle for the identical tyre.

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

I have spoken to svtech and it appears I can go to 4000kg by swapping front springs which was on my list of jobs to do anyway, sent off form, now waiting for confirmation.
out of interest I have ordered 4 new tyres from a local company who were £77 cheaper than black circle for the identical tyre.

Can you just add Sumo spring assister's to the front, that would be a much easier propositions.
Mike.

 

[chippie]

I'm not sure, they mentioned swapping the front springs for a particular type, waiting for there official response as they wanted VIN plate info etc

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I'm not sure, they mentioned swapping the front springs for a particular type, waiting for there official response as they wanted VIN plate info etc

Did you try VWE as well?

 

[chippie]

I have used the make contact form for them as could not find a phone number but had no response as yet.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I have used the make contact form for them as could not find a phone number but had no response as yet.

Email is best, they are a very hands on business, so easier for them to contact you as they find a bit of free time. Well worth the effort though cost wise. Good luck.
Mike.

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[chippie]

Thanks for that.

 

[dunnah01]

Not sure there's much point uprating the front, the rear is normally at the limit well before the front is reached

 

[chippie]

I sort of agree but I was looking at new front springs anyway so depending on what springs are required I may be able to do it as just a paper exercise if I fit the right springs now.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Not sure there's much point uprating the front, the rear is normally at the limit well before the front is reached

It would probably counteract the tendency for the front end to dive under heavy breaking, more so if fully loaded to 4 tonne.
Mike.

 

[dunnah01]

It would probably counteract the tendency for the front end to dive under heavy breaking, more so if fully loaded to 4 tonne.
Mike.

Maybe, but wouldn't do much to increase payload

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[bigtree]

I have spoken to svtech and it appears I can go to 4000kg by swapping front springs which was on my list of jobs to do anyway, sent off form, now waiting for confirmation.
out of interest I have ordered 4 new tyres from a local company who were £77 cheaper than black circle for the identical tyre.

I said this the other day, Black Circle aren’t cheap.

 

[bigtree]

Did you try VWE as well?

For me VWE were crap, just wasted my time. I used SV Tech at their suggestion.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Maybe, but wouldn't do much to increase payload

I've re-read my comments and have been unable to find any comment from me that suggested an increase to the front end suspension would be of much use in reference to any increased weight carrying. I have commented as much previously on similar threads. The upgrade of either fixed springs, or Sumo spring assister's would make for a more pleasant and safer ride as an all round package . The front end after the suggested weight upgrade will be working at near full capacity all time,and even more so in cornering and under braking when the weight gets transferred forwards.
It's certainly the upgrade I will be looking at next for my own van having fitted and benefited from semi air and tyre upgrades and also running at near 4000kg. I weigh my vans weight routinely and know if stopped and checked my front axle is within it's loading limits, but that's a standing weight, not a dynamic moving weight.
Mike.

 

[Smokaijo]

Hi, I have a 2012 ducato based auto trail navajo which has been uprated from 3650to 3850kg, has anyone gone beyond this, I know it involves going to 16 inch wheels to get higher load rating, I have Dunlop semi air already on the rear, I'm going to speak to sv tech but wondering if anyone has personally done this and swapped rims etc to get higher payload.
chppie

Yes we just updated our MH from 5000 to 5500 - firstly we put VB Air-suspension on it which helped greatly - our wheels were already given the green light and the SVB did the up plating after we got cert from VB.Air .
We are relieved and thrilled as we were nearing the limit thanks to extra solar heavy lithium battery and what with my big power- chair and our usual water & fuel load we were almost on 5 (ours is a fully converted Kontiki complete with cassette lift & profile bed).
The Air Suspension was a complete game changer so well worth the price as travel has never been so smooth and no more grounding out on out TAG axle.

 

[Clive Mott]

Running heavier increases loading on brakes, suspension, steering, chassis construction etc. Its not just wheels and tyres.

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[JaG]

Van Weight Engineering, the perfect solution to your dilemma. I used them and they were so helpful, provided everything I needed for DVLA and all done and dusted in just over a week.
My Autotrail Cheyenne 740SE had been uprated by SVTech from 3500kg to 3850kg. I had 16 inch wheels with 225/75/16, 8 ply rated at 112. When I weighed the motorhome empty, it was 3850kg, leaving 50kg for everything.
I went to VWE and with only one modification - changing tyres to Maxxis All Season 225/75/16 10 ply rated at 121 - enabled it to be uprated to 4400kg. So, why didn't SVTech do this in the first place?
I certainly recommend them for stress free upgrade, legally done and the motorhome is safe.

 

[zac]

Been wanting to get our fitted with Full air but it's just way too expensive, i wished i'd had it done when i first brought the vehicle though as at that time it was cheaper and i had the money. It would certainly help getting on and off of ferries as that's where we struggle the most with our tag, not massively but a little.

 

[Kayak Kid]

Recently uprated my 3500kg Motorhome to 4250kg max load via Van Weight Engineering. A simple process with VWE assistance.

The uprate involved me fitting a rear air suspension kit at £289 from Martech. I used Martech as VWE already had their specification information - so saved me sending that.
I also had to change my Fiat Alloy wheels which were 1000kg load/wheel, as the originals did not have a high enough load rate/wheel. I replaced these with near identical after market wheels (1200kg load/wheel) the cost easily covered by selling my original Fiat wheels. I would have had to change my original tyres which were 112kg/tyre load limit - but coincidentally I had changed to all season tyres previously, which were at the required loading of 121kg/tyre.

If I sell the vehicle at a later point, and wish to downplate it to 3500kg, it is a simple paper exercise which would require no physical changes - albeit it would have a more limited payload.

 

[nhamps]

I recently updated a Ducato based PVC from 3,500kg to 4,250kg with VWE without any mods required, although I have steel wheels.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Been wanting to get our fitted with Full air but it's just way too expensive, i wished i'd had it done when i first brought the vehicle though as at that time it was cheaper and i had the money. It would certainly help getting on and off of ferries as that's where we struggle the most with our tag, not massively but a little.

Can you not just fit semi air to rear ? That could be used to lift the rear end high enough.
Mike.

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[CamperManLez]

Hi, I have a 2012 ducato based auto trail navajo which has been uprated from 3650to 3850kg, has anyone gone beyond this, I know it involves going to 16 inch wheels to get higher load rating, I have Dunlop semi air already on the rear, I'm going to speak to sv tech but wondering if anyone has personally done this and swapped rims etc to get higher payload.
chppie

Check your chassis load plate, it will show the Max design weight for each axle (the sum of both is the max design vehicle weight). It looks like the recent 'upgrade' has gone to the design limit for your chassis. A lot of MH are built on the Light Chassis versions.

 

[Orion]

Check your chassis load plate, it will show the Max design weight for each axle (the sum of both is the max design vehicle weight). It looks like the recent 'upgrade' has gone to the design limit for your chassis. A lot of MH are built on the Light Chassis versions.

Not for the OP perhaps but some Fiat light chassis based vans can be relatively easily and cheaply up plated to 4250kg, with 1960kg front and 2400kg rear, depending on the original specification.

It appears that the versions with the 9 speed automatic may come from Fiat with uprated front suspension and (possibly) brakes. If it also has the O/E Fiat 1250kg rated alloys and suitable tyres, then with a good specification air assist on the rear the 4250kg can be achieved.

 

[zac]

Can you not just fit semi air to rear ? That could be used to lift the rear end high enough.
Mike.

could do but it's still very expensive and i know if i had the rear i would want the front done as well

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Rear full kit, including compressor ,

AIR SUSPENSION KIT FIAT DUCATO 1994 - 2023 RECOVERY TRUCK MOTORHOME CAMPERVAN | eBay

FIAT DUCATO. MAKE/MODEL: FIAT DUCATO / PEUGEOT BOXER/ CITROEN RELAY. MANUFACTURED FROM 1994- 2023. SEMI AIR SUSPENSION KIT DESIGNED TO NOW ALL OUR AIR SUSPENSION KITS 170/2 ARE FULLY CERTIFIED SAFETY B AND COMPLIANT WITH UK VOSA /DVLA REGULATIONS, NEW SERVICE PROVIDED BY US.

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Mike.

 

[Bessy765]

We had a 2012 Aspire 255 on the boxer chassis. We went from 215/70/r15 to 225/70/r15 with semi air.
with the highest rated tyres we could fine the max was 2240 kg over the rear axle and 3850kg weight.