MOTORHOME AVERAGE PAYLOAD

[Jim]

i just had a go with the autotrail 'configure my van' and the 734 says only 163kg left before i tick anything ??

and a bit more looking on their site shows the tracker FB with Gross weight of 3500kg and a MIRO of 3275kg

OK so using our rule of thumb figures we can check to see how feasible that is. Remove 75kg from their MIRO and we are left with 3200 and a payload of 300 KG

Agreed Van essentials. 180 KG
Person 1 is 14st 89kg +22kg allowance = 111 KG
Person 2 is 11st 70KG + +22kg allowance = 92 KG
Water 20 Litres. 20 KG
Max weight carried 403 KG

We are 100 KG over!

Clearly, in this instance, we would need to upgrade to the 3650 KG version to be legal And If our license doesn't allow it we'll need to look elsewhere.

 

[pandas]

Barbecue Carri Cheff + tongs etc
Basic toolkit
Bedding
Beers x 4
Bicycles lightweight x2
Bike rack
Chairs x 2
Crockery
Cutlery
Dry Food Goods
Fist Aid Kit
Fridge Contents
Grey water bucket
Hose and adapters
Houshold Cleaning
Kettle
Levelling ramps
Pegs and Mallet
Satnav
Alarm
Sauce pans
Second battery
11kg Gas spare
Inverter
silver screens
Solar and Regulator
Table
Toaster
toilet chemical Tank and Rinse
Toilet Roll x 2
warning triangle
Windbreak
Wine bottles x 2

Sorry Jim I think you have muddied the water with your list of essentials.
In my humble opinion the word ‘essentials’ is misleading within context of the discussion.
I would see it as: the vehicle as supplied by the manufacturer. Any dealer options added ie fixed - solar panels, second battery, etc.
Then add the driver @ 75kg, full fuel tank, 20 Litres water (does vary), electrical cable, one full tank of gas - not just the bottle. Then the difference is up to you to take what you want to meet the plate criteria. If you classify it essential or not is again up to you - I would never carry less than 12 bottles of wine for example which is essential in my world.

 

[Jim]

hen the difference is up to you to take what you want to meet the plate criteria.

Yes exactly, and we've been asking what most people take with them and we've come up with an average 180KG. Of course we can dump stuff or choose not to take the wife. Were trying to find an average real-world payload, right now excluding passengers thats 180 KG

 

[funflair]

I think the scandal is that we specced a van at Dusseldorf and added 1000kg to the MIRO lucky it had 2200kg payload?

Martin

 

[pandas]

Yes exactly, and we've been asking what most people take with them and we've come up with an average 180KG. Of course we can dump stuff or choose not to take the wife. Were trying to find an average real-world payload, right now excluding passengers thats 180 KG

Yes I know but isn’t a second battery a fixture as is a toilet cassette- that’s why I am slightly confused with the list.

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[Jim]

Yes I know but isn’t a second battery a fixture as is a toilet cassette- that’s why I am slightly confused with the list.

We've asked people what they routinely carry, and added a weight to those items. If the second battery that most have is retrofitted then like it or not, it eats into your payload.

 

[pandas]

We've asked people what they routinely carry, and added a weight to those items. If the second battery that most have is retrofitted then like it or not, it eats into your payload.

I agree and don’t wish to pour water on what you are setting up which is a great idea. I am simply suggesting that dealer fixed items should be an item separate from the other stuff. It might be linked with a canopy, an additional gas bottle, satellite dish. But you are doing the work so go for for it and well done.

 

[Reallyretired]

I would agree, having been caught without one, that a spare wheel is an essential. If not provided by the manufacturer needs to be added. About 35kg I would estimate 17inch steel wheel and tyre.
Also I dont know anyone who only carries a single gas bottle.

 

[Jim]

dealer fixed items should be an item separate from the other stuff.

Why, will they weigh any different?

 

[grumps147]

Rather than blaming the makers I think it might be more like the Big Motorhome Overload Scandal

I think I will now send for the popcorn.

Oops, too late.

First time time I have ever seen a genuine attempt to address this issue, and I am not by any way insinuating that the traditional reporters and their publications are in any way tied to manufacturers. That would be cynical.

There is already a little of ‘but I don’t have this/I have this’ creeping in.

I have no doubt Jim will take into account and amend for any essential items, but this is the first time I have seen a realistic assessment of requirements that will in particular aid new motorhomers, especially those with children and pets.

Well done Jim.

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[Jim]

I agree and don’t wish to pour water on what you are setting up which is a great idea. I am simply suggesting that dealer fixed items should be an item separate from the other stuff. It might be linked with a canopy, an additional gas bottle, satellite dish. But you are doing the work so go for for it and well done.

Essentially, ask a bunch of people what they carry or have fitted in their motorhome. (No matter who fitted it) Exclude the extremes and find an average payload for the average van and the average passenger.

Apply our figures to the motorhome payloads available. Initial findings seem to indicate that if you are careful, two people have enough payload even in the smallest vans, however families in sub 3650 KG vans are going to struggle to stay safe and legal,

 

[Lenny HB]

I think the scandal is that we specced a van at Dusseldorf and added 1000kg to the MIRO lucky it had 2200kg payload?

Martin

Palace or a Loft?

 

[StephDeLux]

I also don't think there is a scandal. I see lots of unreasonnable expectations, most notably on French MH forums where they think it normal to drive a 7.5m MH with a family and a B license. Most of them know they are overloaded but don't care.

I see many people considering things as minimal, but maybe they are more nice-to-have than really essentials.

I think the situation is pretty simple.

B driving license: less than 7 meters MH, no awning, no bicycles, no Sat TV, no second battery and replace the one battery with a lithium, you're good to go comfortably for 2 people, even overweight like we are and you can even choose one of the heavy extras (but only one), like an awning OR a Sat TV OR bicycles. Our one heavy extra is the cooker with grill and oven.

C1 driving license: you're good to go full stop

 

[Lenny HB]

I find the biggest joke is expecting you to travel with 20Lt of water. I wouldn't dream of setting of without a full tank in our case only 160Lt. Can't do without our morning shower.

From experience for two people you need at least 700 kg payload on a German van maybe only 500-600 on a Brit van as more stuff is standard. That is assuming the ex factory wait is correct. Apart from Hymer most vans are a 100-150kg over so the payload needs to be increased by that amount.

 

[Jim]

I travel with the bare minimum of water I require, usually just under 230L

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[Lenny HB]

I also don't think there is a scandal. I see lots of unreasonnable expectations, most notably on French MH forums where they think it normal to drive a 7.5m MH with a family and a B license. Most of them know they are overloaded but don't care.

French family in a hire van next to us on an Aire last year. 7.2m @3500kg. 4 adults, 4 full size bikes on the rack huge BBQ in the locker. They must have been a few hundred kilos over.

 

[thebriars]

Also I dont know anyone who only carries a single gas bottle.

I do. When the first bottle is refillable, and there is an accurate gauge for the gas, why would you need a second bottle?

 

[funflair]

Palace or a Loft?

That was a Palace but would have added the same to a Loft, gas tank, jacks, full air, telmar, extra fuel tank +++

 

[andy63]

Ive been of the opinion for a good while that all coachbuilt motorhomes of 3500kg
Will struggle with a decent payload..more so these days with solar and battery capacity been so important to run the wealth of modern gadgets that appear to be so popular.. ie microwaves , coffee machines and the rest..and that's in spite of the manufacturers doing away with the spare wheel and associated kit, and introducing lighter and lighter boards in the furniture construction to the point they are barley fit
And my own experience sort of bears that out.. ..by the time I had the van the way i wanted it...

Chausson 620 welcome on a ford base..
3500kg max weight.... 3049 kg Miro with the +/-5% clause... which actually means they could get away with selling a motorhome with a payload of from about 600kg to as little as 300kg..
In my case I stripped out their gas locker and fitted an underslung 44l lpg tank, two 140w solar pannels and added a second battery..
I bought a spare wheel and carry a jack..
Fitted some extra storage cupboards made from lightweight ply..
Added a roof rack carrying system for a kayak...
I carry a 2kw genny and the usual hook up lead , water hose and small tool kit..
I filled with derv, gas and fresh water and took it to the weigh bridge...

No bike, kayak , clothes or food
it came in at 3650 kg
So i up plated to 4000kg to allow for the stuff I mentioned above...
Andy..

 

[Speve]

indeed but on the tracker FB passengers personal allowance is only 91kg...do people who own trackers carry 2kg less

We used to own a 2013 Tracker FB and the only way we could use it was uprate to 3850 kg and even then when we decided we wanted to fit a tow bar by the time that was added you could hardly tow anything so we parted company with it after two great years of travel for a Hymer.???

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[Candapack]

It's only because of forums like this that I became aware of the importance of MIRO, MGW, payload etc. Manufacturers and dealers are no help at all.

 

[596]

Lets hope the police don't read the article and see easy picking to boost the coffers for Boris, might see more weight checks going to and from the Tunnel and Dover as well as around the country, motorhome shows would be a good bet

 

[596]

This self levelling system also measures your weight, I have been looking at it but it weighs around 69kg itself so kind of doesn't help really payload wise

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[596]

Mats, we have turtle mats although not heavy, with mud on or wet they are after use, all adds up

 

[MR. FUSION]

Is a spare wheel essential?

Yes, unless you have a lot of time and money and consider camping on a roadside fun......

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[596]

For goodness sake, we pay a small fortune for a motorhome and have to spend our time weighing every friggin thing, what a waste of life ALL motorhomes should be built for the modern era and not just essentials giving a payload of around 1,000kg so most people don't need to think, I am not against a Motorhome Own Brand that does the essentials as long as people know what they are buying. THAT is why I am choosing what I am and having it upgraded, if anyone thinks I am going to spend whatever beats of my heart or breaths I have left running around weighing things, worrying or working out whether I can fit that bottle of wine in the it just isn't going to happen, I have done that for 9 years and had enough

 

[pandas]

This is more like it..why worry!

 

[MR. FUSION]

Lets hope the police don't read the article and see easy picking to boost the coffers for Boris, might see more weight checks going to and from the Tunnel and Dover as well as around the country, motorhome shows would be a good bet

There are already built in road weighing sensors linked to cameras on trial in some areas. If you are overweight it has nothing to do with Boris, but you are breaking the law.

 

[Lenny HB]

For goodness sake, we pay a small fortune for a motorhome and have to spend our time weighing every friggin thing, what a waste of life ALL motorhomes should be built for the modern era and not just essentials giving a payload of around 1,000kg so most people don't need to think, I am not against a Motorhome Own Brand that does the essentials as long as people know what they are buying. THAT is why I am choosing what I am and having it upgraded, if anyone thinks I am going to spend whatever beats of my heart or breaths I have left running around weighing things, worrying or working out whether I can fit that bottle of wine in the it just isn't going to happen, I have done that for 9 years and had enough

That's why we bought one with over 1350kg payload, usually have about 400 kg spare so don't have to worry about what we chuck in.

 

[Themselves]

Most of the above comments resonate. Had to uprate the current van. The blurb when we bought it stated categorically the garage could take 350 kilo. Well, it may be structurally capable but the rear axle capacity says not. I don’t know why we are lied to so much. It’s not that much more to purchase a van with a decent capacity instead of prating about afterwards uprating the thing.

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