MOTORHOME AVERAGE PAYLOAD

[VanWolf]

It is a little different for us self builders as we are or should be in control of the weight although too many aren't. Our self build on a new LWB Crafter was getting heavy. I made the mistake of not weighing it from new and using VW's spec which said 2065-2450 and assuming the middle. Shortly before completion I put it on the weigh bridge and it came out at 3250. I have since had it re-plated to 3900 (sum of both axles from the factory) and now ready to go with fuel, water, tables, chairs, screens and so on it goes 3450 which allows 450 kilos for me and her, the dog and occasional bikes. I also had air assist fitted which helps the rear suspension and gives it a stance more akin to an empty van. I have heard stories of people with extra long extra high vans looking for conversions but they have a payload of a sack of spuds.

 

[Theonlysue]

The extras on my hymer totalled over 600kg. These were factory fitted options.
Auto gearbox extra. Awning extra. Carpets extra, and this is before I've added my own bits. 3 gel batteries 117kg. Solar.2 gas bottles. 1 chihuahua 3kg lol
Even metallic paint can add a huge amount.
Hymers include onex11kg aluminium gas bottle in their calculations.

 

[Minxy]

I think you missed the thrust of my reasoning Vis;- ,""" the other Medical reasons would remain, but would remove an extra cost (My last medical was £96) to those who have made their contribution to the country and now wish to enjoy their remaining days.""

One`s entitlements can be removed on the recommendation of the medical profession at any age. THIS is entirely DISCRIMINATORY on the basis of AGE. And age alone.

Ah, so you are objecting to the cost of the medical? Yes I totally agree with that.

 

[Minxy]

I hear you Minxy Girl, but " A little over the max weight " is a bit misleading when Rimor will up-rate my bus' max weight to 3650 if I pay them some cash. No air suspension, new springs, no new shocks, nothing. Just a bit of cash. So I don't really worry about being overweight from safety point of view.

I don't think I was misleading as I did stipulate:

A little over the max weight and the suspension, brakes, steering etc should work as intended, but if you are quite a bit over it could seriously affect handling.

The concern is not so much as you state as you are still within the base vehicle's capabilities BUT there will be some out there that are well over the absolute max for the base vehicle even allowing for some built-in 'tolerance' over the max by the manufacturer, there will be those who are well over and don't seem to give a toss ... if they never weight it how on earth do they know?

 

[DDJC]

I don't think I was misleading as I did stipulate:

The concern is not so much as you state as you are still within the base vehicle's capabilities BUT there will be some out there that are well over the absolute max for the base vehicle even allowing for some built-in 'tolerance' over the max by the manufacturer, there will be those who are well over and don't seem to give a toss ... if they never weight it how on earth do they know?

I do understand and agree with your wider point. If I came across as abrupt, then I'm sorry . but my point is that an extra 150 kg for a few hundred quid, is a heck of a lot of tolerance. Or wine and cheese if you prefer.

By using our toad as a mule, we do not worry about weight. But if folk don't want a toad, why not a small trailer? Many 3000-3500 mohos can tow up to 2000kg and a little trailer might weigh 250 kg with a payload of 250 more. You can do that on a post-Jan 1997 B licence.

Yor wider point is however a bigger deal. For me there are two issues.

One, the automatic discriminatory age cut-off. Bloody outrageous.
Two, the lack of a 3500-5000kg motorhome-only licence category. I've got a pre Jan 1997 licence but my wife hasn't. She took the BE test and now we can both drive the moho+toad. But she is maxxed at 3500, while I am not. Neither of us are ever going to 'rope down a load', or couple up to the trailer without the other one present. It's daft and the government (Boris appears to be in a giving mood) needs to be lobbied hard to sort it out.

Frankly, it is the only cause that would get me to march on parliament, glue myself to a pink boat or fly drones...

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[PeteH]

Ah, so you are objecting to the cost of the medical? Yes I totally agree with that.

To be fair The cost is not (totally) MY issue. AGE DISCRIMINATION IS. It really gets my Goat.

I have even written to my MP on the subject, But he is a waste of space on any day!.

 

[Minxy]

I do understand and agree with your wider point. If I came across as abrupt, then I'm sorry . but my point is that an extra 150 kg for a few hundred quid, is a heck of a lot of tolerance. Or wine and cheese if you prefer.

Nothing to apologise for, I'd rather be asked to clarify stuff than have people confused. As for uprating, I agree and it doesn't even have to cost a few hundred quid either if you use the chap I 'found'.

By using our toad as a mule, we do not worry about weight. But if folk don't want a toad, why not a small trailer? Many 3000-3500 mohos can tow up to 2000kg and a little trailer might weigh 250 kg with a payload of 250 more. You can do that on a post-Jan 1997 B licence.

Trouble is that comes at a 'price', as well as speed limit wise it also costs more if you go abroad as you get charged for the trailer/toad, also it can limit where you can park etc.

Yor wider point is however a bigger deal. For me there are two issues.

One, the automatic discriminatory age cut-off. Bloody outrageous.
Two, the lack of a 3500-5000kg motorhome-only licence category. I've got a pre Jan 1997 licence but my wife hasn't. She took the BE test and now we can both drive the moho+toad. But she is maxxed at 3500, while I am not. Neither of us are ever going to 'rope down a load', or couple up to the trailer without the other one present. It's daft and the government (Boris appears to be in a giving mood) needs to be lobbied hard to sort it out.

I agree, it's madness that to drive a slightly heavier MH you have to take a full HGV test.

 

[Minxy]

To be fair The cost is not (totally) MY issue. AGE DISCRIMINATION IS. It really gets my Goat.

I have even written to my MP on the subject, But he is a waste of space on any day!.

I appreciate that too but we all know of 'older' people who shouldn't be driving a car never mind a MH so how these are 'weeded' out otherwise I don't know. What would you suggest?

 

[TR5]

No one mentioned an Awning ! Wind breakers,

Wind breakers, Gaviscon doesn't weight much!

 

[PeteH]

I appreciate that too but we all know of 'older' people who shouldn't be driving a car never mind a MH so how these are 'weeded' out otherwise I don't know. What would you suggest?

It`s exactly the same for any person in the UK regardless of age. There are Many "youngsters" who IMV should be weeded out from driving too. Making AGE the bar is DISCRIMINATORY. There are many far younger than 70 who are driving with Issues that would be an automatic bar IF KNOWN.

If you want to, by all means make it mandatory for ALL drivers regardles of age to have a medical every (X) years. but do not DISCRIMINATE Just on age grounds.

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[GeoffC]

A while after buying my 3500kg motorhome an opportunity arose to take it to a weighbridge. I emptied it of stuff and water. But it contained carpets, 2 full gas bottles, GB pack (oven), air con, shower seat, microwave, fitted fiama awning, 2x TVs. It weighed 3800. I'm planning on enquiring about having it replated but to be fair, I don't know if that's possible or whether it would actually bring me within legal bounds anyway. I'd have to say, even when the van has been loaded to the max for a month trip to the continent, it didn't struggle or feel/look overloaded. It felt ok when cornering or braking etc. However, my worry is that I may be subject to some random weigh bridge stop or, god forbid, I could be involved in an accident and forced to be weighed afterwards and considered to be at blame. I would have to admit that I knew it was overweight. So I'm going to seriously look at the replating.

 

[Phill D]

A while after buying my 3500kg motorhome an opportunity arose to take it to a weighbridge. I emptied it of stuff and water. But it contained carpets, 2 full gas bottles, GB pack (oven), air con, shower seat, microwave, fitted fiama awning, 2x TVs. It weighed 3800. I'm planning on enquiring about having it replated but to be fair, I don't know if that's possible or whether it would actually bring me within legal bounds anyway. I'd have to say, even when the van has been loaded to the max for a month trip to the continent, it didn't struggle or feel/look overloaded. It felt ok when cornering or braking etc. However, my worry is that I may be subject to some random weigh bridge stop or, god forbid, I could be involved in an accident and forced to be weighed afterwards and considered to be at blame. I would have to admit that I knew it was overweight. So I'm going to seriously look at the replating.

unless you are already mounted on the heavy chassis with the 16" wheels and down plated chances are you may need wheel , tyres, beefed up suspension...

 

[Jim]

A while after buying my 3500kg motorhome an opportunity arose to take it to a weighbridge. I emptied it of stuff and water. But it contained carpets, 2 full gas bottles, GB pack (oven), air con, shower seat, microwave, fitted fiama awning, 2x TVs. It weighed 3800. I'm planning on enquiring about having it replated but to be fair, I don't know if that's possible or whether it would actually bring me within legal bounds anyway. I'd have to say, even when the van has been loaded to the max for a month trip to the continent, it didn't struggle or feel/look overloaded. It felt ok when cornering or braking etc. However, my worry is that I may be subject to some random weigh bridge stop or, god forbid, I could be involved in an accident and forced to be weighed afterwards and considered to be at blame. I would have to admit that I knew it was overweight. So I'm going to seriously look at the replating.

Did you have a MIRO figure in your original specification? Were the extras you mention fitted from new?

 

[GeoffC]

Well it was in the brochure as something like 3150. Unfortunately I haven't got it with me. I don't know if that included the oven. I then had the Aircon, awning and shower seat fitted by the dealer before collection. Obviously I put the gas bottles in.
Something that has been troubling me is that the weighbridge was at a waste disposal site, that took in skips. There is an outside chance it was calibrated towards weighing more. I wonder...could I take it to a public weighbridge without fear of getting prosecuted once I drive off it.
I have also been considering fitting air suspension in order to minimize the risk of ripping off the massive overhang when negotiating slopes and driveways...but again that would add more weight I guess.

 

[Minxy]

GeoffC what chassis is it on, the light or the heavy? If the latter you should be able to go up to 4500kg with no mods.

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[Terry242]

Avoiding being fined etc should NOT be the main concern for being overweight, instead it should be whether or not the vehicle is safe to drive! A little over the max weight and the suspension, brakes, steering etc should work as intended, but if you are quite a bit over it could seriously affect handling.

So if you don't have a clue what your MH weighs how on earth do you know you are still 'safe'?

My motorhome has a plated weight of 3500k and the payload is quoted at 700kilos.
However, it has 2 separate plates on the chassis indicating 3850k which will give a payload of 1050kilos.
I know I carry some crap but not that much. So weighing it is not on my priority list.

Terry

 

[Tony50]

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

We carry all above plus a Privacy Room and full water tank ,and fuel tank all on a 4.4 Tonne over a weigh bridge it was 20 kg overloaded on the rear axle !!
Most Specifications also state weights are subject to + or - 5% which makes a big difference if it's + 5%
Tony A

 

[Minxy]

My motorhome has a plated weight of 3500k and the payload is quoted at 700kilos.
However, it has 2 separate plates on the chassis indicating 3850k which will give a payload of 1050kilos.
I know I carry some crap but not that much. So weighing it is not on my priority list.

Terry

But what is it registered at - 3500kg or 3850kg? Unless you've down-rated it, it will be at 3850kg as the 2 subsequent plates will take precedence over the first one therefore it should be at 3850kg and you'll benefit from cheaper road tax (£165 pa). If however you have it registered at 3500kg but it still has the other plates on really you should have another plate showing it being downrated to be 'legal' I believe.

 

[Terry242]

The extras on my hymer totalled over 600kg. These were factory fitted options.
Auto gearbox extra. Awning extra. Carpets extra, and this is before I've added my own bits. 3 gel batteries 117kg. Solar.2 gas bottles. 1 chihuahua 3kg lol
Even metallic paint can add a huge amount.
Hymers include onex11kg aluminium gas bottle in their calculations.

Hymer quote silver body paint as 10kilos

Terry

 

[Loveshack]

If a 3500Kg van can be easily replated to 3850Kg or more, ( just by a paper process), why don’t all vans leave the factory with this rating.
I’ve obviously missed something? Is it to do with driving licence issues?

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[Larrynwin]

If a 3500Kg van can be easily replated to 3850Kg or more, ( just by a paper process), why don’t all vans leave the factory with this rating.
I’ve obviously missed something? Is it to do with driving licence issues?

Yes!

 

[596]

Yes!

And age, over 70 require a medical

 

[Larrynwin]

And age, over 70 require a medical

Been through that which of course can create licence issues .

 

[barsteward]

Costco do a 5 litre box of Rioja-alike which is perfect for that purpose.
Not the best Tempranillo you’ll ever sample, but definitely not the worst either.

Well you've got me there Rowley, I used to be a publican in an alehouse so all those fancy named wines mean nothing to me, John Willy Lees Bitter or Acorn Brewery Bitter and I would have been in my element until my demise. I then drank 3 litres of the finest Jamiesons Irish Whisky on top of various Local ales per week. So wine is now my prefered mode of insanity. So if you can give me the name of a cheap 5ltr box of white plonk I will be eternally grateful.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Well you've got me there Rowley, I used to be a publican in an alehouse so all those fancy named wines mean nothing to me, John Willy Lees Bitter or Acorn Brewery Bitter and I would have been in my element until my demise. I then drank 3 litres of the finest Jamiesons Irish Whisky on top of various Local ales per week. So wine is now my prefered mode of insanity. So if you can give me the name of a cheap 5ltr box of white plonk I will be eternally grateful.

I think Costco also do a 5 litre box of white plonk, maybe Pinot Grigio, but not tried it personally. But that will take up a lot of fridge space.

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[Loveshack]

Yes!

So; if I’m under 70, and have a “normal” licence, what would be max I could replate to?
If I’m over 70; ditto.
In what circumstances do I need to take a test to update my licence?

 

[Helen Ariel]

So; if I’m under 70, and have a “normal” licence, what would be max I could replate to?
If I’m over 70; ditto.
In what circumstances do I need to take a test to update my licence?

Depends when you passed your driving test. After 97 then only 3.5 tonnes. I passed 98 ?

 

[Loveshack]

Thanks HA, I passed my test before jan 1997: so it looks like I could replate upto 8250Kg ?
Replating my van would restrict the number of potential buyers if and when I come to sell?

 

[Pausim]

Hymer quote silver body paint as 10kilos

Terry

The 2019 Hymer brochure gives +30kg for the metallic finish.

 

[DDJC]

Trouble is that comes at a 'price', as well as speed limit wise it also costs more if you go abroad as you get charged for the trailer/toad, also it can limit where you can park etc.

I mostly agree. My holiday train is 12m long and weighs about 4.6 tons so I am limited to 80kmh in several Yerp countries, yet I am repeatedly overtaken by thirty and forty ton artics

So I upped my speed to 90 and no one seemed to give a monkeys; in Germany, Austria, Italy or France. I have been overtaken by Italian and French Police and they didn't even glance in my direction. The thing I always observe is when you get the little sign before a downward slope that tells tuggers and lorries that their max speed is 70 or 90. Reason? I was overtaken by a Dutch Jeep with a double axle tugger doing well over a hundred kmh, which five minutes later, saw him/her pulled over by the Gendarmes.

I always park in the HGV park. Arriving at a pitch is a tad more troublesome, in that we have to unstrap, dismount and unpack the car. Adds an extra ten minutes, I suppose.

For me there are three cost issues. The difference in MPG is negligible, so I don't worry about that. Insurance was only about twenty quid more (yep, I was surprised as well). Peage doesn't seem to go up with a trailer either. Cost is ramped up by i) higher Channel Tunnel charges, ii) two Vignettes, and iii) the cost of the trailer/toad itself. All these, for me, are worth it, but some will see these costs as too much.

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