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

 

[Geoff51]

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.

Sensible advice Mike. Also I afree vwe are v good. They work from their van so some folks need to understand that before commenting. They were brilliant with me and my uprating.

 

[bigtree]

It's funny the number of people that think VWE are brilliant, I know of one Carthago that he uprated beyond it's legal maximum. He also F*****d me about over uprating mine. He told me everything what was required and I got the work done, filled out his form,he then wanted pictures of the air suspension fitted and the installer to prove that it would take the weight. As far as I'm concerned that was his job to calculate that, he cost me time which I never had to get the paperwork away to the DVLA prior to my Autumn tour. Fortunately SV Tech did the uprate quickly, although I never sent the certification away until I got home as I wanted to have my V5 with me. Thumbs down for VWE from me, maximum for a Chic eline is 4.8t, he uprated the other to 5t. I think he did others the same but I don't have definite proof of that.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

That's odd, all I needed to do send was a picture of the uprated tyres fitted, and the air bags in place, along with the van in question, It could have been photos of any van I suppose, but the whole process could not have been easier, all done at a very economical price. I don't recall a deluge of funster's having as equally torrid experience as you've had, so on balance I'm more than happy to extol their virtues.
Mike.

 

[Orion]

That's odd, all I needed to do send was a picture of the uprated tyres fitted, and the air bags in place, along with the van in question, It could have been photos of any van I suppose, but the whole process could not have been easier, all done at a very economical price. I don't recall a deluge of funster's having as equally torrid experience as you've had, so on balance I'm more than happy to extol their virtues.
Mike.

Ditto for me. After filling out the enquiry form I submitted photos of the VIN plate and corresponding windscreen number, plus components already in place such as the Fiat front suspension for the auto, twin pot brake calipers, and scans of the V5C and the latest weighbridge ticket. The pic of the rear air installed was accompanied by the Dunlop ‘Manufacturers Certificate of European Confirmity’, so I presume it all provided the necessary data and evidence for Dee to do the calculations and provide the required engineers report. I don’t have any issues with that and it was all concluded very speedily. YMMV of course.

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[Googlebot]

I used VWE and can’t praise them enough.

I moan when companies are awful, so praise them when they aren’t.

 

[Haybob]

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.

Hi Chippie I have an autotrail apache with SV Tech air bag suspension to the rear rated at 3850kg. I can offer no assistance on your upgrade! I am however, in the market for a couple of new tyres 215/70 R15 109R, I currently have continental vanco campers. Can you please let me know what tyres you bought, the price and where from. Sounds like you got a great deal.

Thanks Rob

 

[chippie]

Hi Chippie I have an autotrail apache with SV Tech air bag suspension to the rear rated at 3850kg. I can offer no assistance on your upgrade! I am however, in the market for a couple of new tyres 215/70 R15 109R, I currently have continental vanco campers. Can you please let me know what tyres you bought, the price and where from. Sounds like you got a great deal.

Thanks Rob

They were from a company called tyre pros which is actually part of kwik fit who also had the same offer, i had michelin camping cross climates..to get the best rate book on line, I was sat outside the tyre bay when I ordered them...included in the qoute will be valves which can't be removed, if you don't want them ask fitters not too change, mine were high pressure valves which they don't stock, once fitted I called tyre pros booking line, they then confirmed I had no new valves fitted and the refund applied immediately, all done in 5 minutes, they have a deal running till march, buy 2 or more michelin tyres and get 10% discount and also a Michelin travel kit which is a simple on line application once tyres are fitted...locally the tyres were at a competitive price even before the 10% discount.

 

[chippie]

If your rear axle plated weight is 2240kg like mine you need tyres with a load rating of at lesst 112 which I believe is the highest load rating you can get, or easily for 15inch rims...I had 225-70-R15 112

 

[JaG]

If your rear axle plated weight is 2240kg like mine you need tyres with a load rating of at lesst 112 which I believe is the highest load rating you can get, or easily for 15inch rims...I had 225-70-R15 112

Mine is also 2240. To get mine replated to 4400kg I have Maxxis 225/75/16, 121, 10 ply. They have been on about six months now and am really happy with their grip, especially on wet grass.

https://www.tyres.net/maxxis-vansma...7556?rows=20&ID=psm_tn_uk_idealo&Country=TNUK

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[Minxy]

He told me everything what was required and I got the work done, filled out his form,he then wanted pictures of the air suspension fitted and the installer to prove that it would take the weight.

Of course he needed photos, how else would he know you'd had it fitted? Once that was confirmed then he was legally able to provide you with the approval cert, until then nothing was official.

 

[bigtree]

Of course he needed photos, how else would he know you'd had it fitted? Once that was confirmed then he was legally able to provide you with the approval cert, until then nothing was official.

He never asked for that at any time in the correspondence or paperwork, I could have easily provided it as I was under the van when it was getting installed but didn’t take any pictures. The guy is a pillock as far as I’m concerned, his colleague even suggested I use SV Tech, they never asked for pictures.
What do you think about him uprating other vans beyond their legal limits ?

 

[Minxy]

He never asked for that at any time in the correspondence or paperwork, I could have easily provided it as I was under the van when it was getting installed but didn’t take any pictures. The guy is a pillock as far as I’m concerned, his colleague even suggested I use SV Tech, they never asked for pictures.
What do you think about him uprating other vans beyond their legal limits ?

I haven't seen the paperwork VWE produce as mine was done via the dealer (through SVTech) as the dealer cocked up on the weight they agreed to uprate to as part of the deal, however I can't understand why you would think they wouldn't need proof that you had done the required mods, it may not be that they requested the photos then as you had told them you were having it done, if it was already fitted I'm sure they would have asked for photos at that point instead. It's far better to have the evidence than to just 'trust' that it's been done - for us SVTech wanted photos & fitting confirmation by the installer before they would issue the certificate to us so it wouldn't have been any different with them. I can't understand why you are getting so hot and bothered about having to take some photos to prove your MH will be road legal at the new weight.

As I'm no engineer I can't comment on the uprating calculations but there were similar issues with other engineers too when they 'disagreed', it's down to the company/person doing the calculations and giving their official approval to go to the DVLA as to what they decide is correct and what they are willing to stand behind. I seem to recall that SVTech tend to uprate to a lower amount than some others so maybe it's SVTech who are being over cautious rather than VWE being 'wrong'?

 

[Minxy]

I know of one Carthago that he uprated beyond it's legal maximum.

Can you give the info of exactly what was done regarding this, making sweeping statements like that doesn't clarify the issue.

 

[bigtree]

I haven't seen the paperwork VWE produce as mine was done via the dealer (through SVTech) as the dealer cocked up on the weight they agreed to uprate to as part of the deal, however I can't understand why you would think they wouldn't need proof that you had done the required mods, it may not be that they requested the photos then as you had told them you were having it done, if it was already fitted I'm sure they would have asked for photos at that point instead. It's far better to have the evidence than to just 'trust' that it's been done - for us SVTech wanted photos & fitting confirmation by the installer before they would issue the certificate to us so it wouldn't have been any different with them. I can't understand why you are getting so hot and bothered about having to take some photos to prove your MH will be road legal at the new weight.

As I'm no engineer I can't comment on the uprating calculations but there were similar issues with other engineers too when they 'disagreed', it's down to the company/person doing the calculations and giving their official approval to go to the DVLA as to what they decide is correct and what they are willing to stand behind. I seem to recall that SVTech tend to uprate to a lower amount than some others so maybe it's SVTech who are being over cautious rather than VWE being 'wrong'?

It's in the Carthago paperwork that the maximum is 4.8t, even Dee was told that that was the maximum by Fiat/Alko. I emailed him my invoice/receipt proving that the work was done as my van is 30 miles away in storage and i wasn't driving there to crawl around under the van taking pics. If he had told me everything required to start with it wouldn't have been a problem but like you with your broken down van we nearly never got away in the autumn due to his behavour.

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[bigtree]

Can you give the info of exactly what was done regarding this, making sweeping statements like that doesn't clarify the issue.

I'll message, I'm not posting the funsters name on here.

 

[Haybob]

If your rear axle plated weight is 2240kg like mine you need tyres with a load rating of at lesst 112 which I believe is the highest load rating you can get, or easily for 15inch rims...I had 225-70-R15 112

Dear Chippie, thanks for passing on details of your tyre purchase I will check tyre pros out. Just checked out my axle ratings Axle 1 is 1850kg and axle 2 2000kg so with a load rating of 109 mine are thankfully still compliant. Cheers Rob