MRO and Payload

[adamo23]

I recently purchased a new motor home. 4 Berth Adamo. The MRO was quoted as 3160 kg with a payload of 340 kg. I loaded the van up weighing stuff as I was loading, give or take a few things. I though I was well in. On the way home from a week away, I stopped at a weighbridge. I was 60 kg over. Half tank of fuel. Waste tank empty. 20 litres fresh water. 10 litres in heater. Wife and dog.

When I studied the Bailey marketing literature, generous 340 kg payload was emphasised, but in the small print it stated that the MRO had a tolerance of +/- 5%. The quoted MRO was based on the weight of the vehicle they submitted for type approval and could have been tweaked since. Adblue is not included. It more likely to be towards the top end of tolerance. Which means my payload could be 181 kg.

The van has 4 beds and 4 seatbelts. Which you would expect is intended to transport 4 people. 3 average sight people would take the van over legal limits. The Bailey experts on the Bailey Facebook site. Say just up plate it, which I can’t. They also commented what family of four would buy a 3500 kg van. I guess most newbies would just look at the number of beds.

Vans should be weighed at the end of the production line a ticket put on the window so that you see the true payload. Or a fictional one.

 

[Pablo19]

My last (and first) MH was a 6M Benimar plated at 3500kgs and that was fine despite having quite a few extras. I never had to resort to taking bits off like the steadies. My current one, a 7M Knaus is plated at 3850kgs and I weighed it on our first trip out with 2 on board and had about 150kgs spare with full fresh water, empty waste and diesel. We have added a few bits since but I'm happy that won't amount to 150kgs so not worried now! 3500kgs would have been impossible though.

 

[Jonno1103]

It's certainly more difficult with older motorhomes.

Today engines, chassis' suspension & bodywork are all a lot lighter so too are the habitation fixtures & fittings.

Today all 3500kg - 3850kg motorhomes have small print in the warranty stating that the vehicle is strictly for recreational use only, full timing in them voids the warranties.

Phill D is correct post '97 drivers can now tow upto 3500kg if the train weight allows for a total combination of 7000kg. The law changed in 2021, the DVSA added full BE on the same day they phased out car & trailer tests.

 

[Googlebot]

Gave up trying to keep ours under and uprated it.

We have about 550KG payload and there are four of us and 2 dogs.

I loaded up with everything full except food. Minus the kids and Lucy it came to 3460KG. I reckon Lucy and the kids come in at about 200KG, food and drink probably another 50KG.

I wasn’t just over and wasn’t prepared to travel without water or stuff like the paddle boards so I had no option.

 

[Billy192]

Most

i weighed my van a week before my Portugal trip as i was sceptical.
full gas
full derv
no grey
3/4 fresh
the boss and lecki bikes and all. just food to add.
so we just sneaked in.



billy

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[Billy192]

i weighed my van a week before my Portugal trip as i was sceptical.
full gas
full derv
no grey
3/4 fresh
the boss and lecki bikes and all. just food to add.
so we just sneaked in.

View attachment 824929

billy

See plate below, can I up plate?

 

[Apacheman]

See plate below, can I up plate?

View attachment 824939

Not an expert and you would have to confirm with a company like SV Tech but if I’m right you could upplate to 3850kg on just a paperwork exercise. Should you wish to go to 4000kg or beyond you would need suspension work doing. I say this on the following basis:
Mine was plated at 3500 (V5 weight) but had a second plate, like yours, at 3650. I was told by SV Tech they could get it to 3850 with just a certificate. I opted to go to 4060 with uprated springs front and semi air rear.
Having done it I notified my insurers who updated their info without charge. Not cheap but dropped my annual road tax to £165 so will recover the cost eventually.

 

[Pausim]

See plate below, can I up plate?

View attachment 824939

Is that the original vehicle manufacturers plate or the motorhome converters plate? The converters plate may have different figures on it and would have superseded the vehicle manufacturers plate. Are the same figures shown on your V5C?

 

[Phill D]

See plate below, can I up plate?

View attachment 824939

You can go to 3650 with just paperwork.
But remember your axle weights won’t change.
So unless you can move weight over the front you will not gain very much.

 

[Phill D]

See plate below, can I up plate?

View attachment 824939

You can go to 3650 with just paperwork.
But remember your axle weights won’t change.
So unless you can move weight over the front you will not gain very much.
Also from that weight limit I would guess you have 25” wheels.

That may also need to go to 16” if you want to get above 3650 as well as air assist.

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[headlight]

I contacted both VWE and SV tech regarding up plating my van which has 3,650kgs on the Fiat plate and 3,400kgs on the converters plate.
They both told me that the most I could get was an extra 100kgs on my rear axle, 1,900kgs to 2,000kgs and to do that would require new wheels and tyres.
A lot of money for an extra 100kgs so I didn't bother.

 

[Billy192]

You can go to 3650 with just paperwork.
But remember your axle weights won’t change.
So unless you can move weight over the front you will not gain very much.
Also from that weight limit I would guess you have 25” wheels.

That may also need to go to 16” if you want to get above 3650 as well as air assist.

I don’t have 25” wheels lol I have factory 16 with 225/75 tyres but thanks

 

[Billy192]

Is that the original vehicle manufacturers plate or the motorhome converters plate? The converters plate may have different figures on it and would have superseded the vehicle manufacturers plate. Are the same figures shown on your V5C?

 

[Phill D]

I don’t have 25” wheels lol I have factory 16 with 225/75 tyres but thanks

My thick fingers

 

[Billy192]

View attachment 824995

I can’t see anything on the log book. But hey I’m not sure what to look for

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[dunnah01]

View attachment 824995

Looks like you could go to 3960kg if you have C1 licence which would make the van much more usable with nearly 1/2 ton more payload

 

[Billy192]

Ye

Looks like you could go to 3960kg if you have C1 licence which would make the van much more usable with nearly 1/2 ton more payload

Yep have a C1. What are the drawbacks of > 3.5t?
Brake down cover?
Travelling through certain countries? Or am I worried about nothing.

 

[dunnah01]

Ye

Yep have a C1. What are the drawbacks of > 3.5t?
Brake down cover?
Travelling through certain countries? Or am I worried about nothing.

Cheaper tax and plenty of payload for wine and beer outweigh any disadvantages

We're 4.25t but look like any 3500kg so no real drawbacks, we run in stealth mode without the Angle Mort sticker so go into the 3.5t zones in France without any issues. Some of the LEZs are a no go area but I think that's more because we're Euro IV engined.
We have Nationwide Flex Plus bank account for breakdown cover (up to 7.5T) and other bits n bobs.

 

[Billy192]

Cheaper tax and plenty of payload for wine and beer outweigh any disadvantages

We're 4.25t but look like any 3500kg so no real drawbacks, we run in stealth mode without the Angle Mort sticker so go into the 3.5t zones in France without any issues. Some of the LEZs are a no go area but I think that's more because we're Euro IV engined.
We have Nationwide Flex Plus bank account for breakdown cover (up to 7.5T) and other bits n bobs.

Thanks dunnah01

 

[Pausim]

View attachment 824999
View attachment 825000 I can’t see anything on the log book. But hey I’m not sure what to look for

Your log book is in line with thre lower value on the Luna plate. Up-plating should be reasonably straightforward but may be limited by your wheels and tyres.

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[Billy192]

Your log book is in line with thre lower value on the Luna plate. Up-plating should be reasonably straightforward but may be limited by your wheels and tyres.

Is there bigger than 225/75/16 ?

 

[headlight]

Your log book is in line with thre lower value on the Luna plate. Up-plating should be reasonably straightforward but may be limited by your wheels and tyres.

Mine was limited to a 100kg back axle increase with changing wheels and tyres because although mine is 2006 and should have discs all round my rear brakes are drum.
Apparently I have a 2005 chassis but registered in 2006.

 

[Lenny HB]

The bike only gets used for trips to the shops, it's difficult to walk the dog on a bike. Some years we've had two kids bikes, other years just the paddle board, once we didn't take anything.

It would be silly taking the infills for a bed that would never get used.

My bad with the water, it wasn't clear, the minus 26kg is the reduction from the 90% stated MIRO. We had 65kg inc heater. We have an awning. The TV does get removed for Europe.

My point still stands a 3500kg van for a family of 4 is doable and we're not all stupid. I've done it, we've had great holidays, on Aires, wild camping and sites. We can only do 3 days off grid electrically, only 2 before the toilet is full and yes swifts are quite flimsy, but that doesn't change my statement.

No one said you were stupid just that you don't travel like most do with a Motorhome.

My van has a payload of 1350kg over MIRO, when loaded for a 6 to 7 week trip we have about 250kg spare.

 

[Pausim]

Is there bigger than 225/75/16 ?

Probably not.

 

[Lenny HB]

We have a 2006 Hymer Van plated to 3500kg. Before going to Spain this year took it to weighbridge. Made sure had half tank water, awning two full gaslow bottles, most of clothes we were taking, chairs etc. Total weight 2790kg. All left to do was add weight of Mrs, dog any tinned food and extra items. Left with 300kg plus spare. If I ever upgrade our MH will Defford ask for weight certificate or no sale.

If my memory serves me correctly a Hyner Van of that year is on a Ford chassis with a payload of over 1000kg.

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[Apacheman]

View attachment 824999
View attachment 825000 I can’t see anything on the log book. But hey I’m not sure what to look for

It’s shown 3500kg revenue weight. Means at the mo you run at a max 3500kg.

 

[gus-lopez]

See plate below, can I up plate?

View attachment 824939

Yes, & with your tyres probably just a paper exercise

Is there bigger than 225/75/16 ?

no

 

[Orion]

Ye

Yep have a C1. What are the drawbacks of > 3.5t?
Brake down cover?
Travelling through certain countries? Or am I worried about nothing.

It’s all been plus points for us.

Cheaper tax and plenty of payload for wine and beer outweigh any disadvantages

We're 4.25t but look like any 3500kg so no real drawbacks, we run in stealth mode without the Angle Mort sticker so go into the 3.5t zones in France without any issues. Some of the LEZs are a no go area but I think that's more because we're Euro IV engined.
We have Nationwide Flex Plus bank account for breakdown cover (up to 7.5T) and other bits n bobs.

This ^^^^^

Our Adria Compact base chassis comes from Fiat with a 3650kg plate which is normally downgraded to a 3500kg second plate for U.K. licence reasons (Adria charitably offer an F.O.C ‘upgrade’ back to 3650kg which we took).
After adding rear air we are now at 4250kg with 2400kg on the rear axle, but outwardly we are the same as the 3500kg version. Same tyre size as yourself but the factory fitted Fiat 1250kg alloys and discs all round made it possible.

Why not complete the enquiry form on the VWE website and let Dee advise you?

 

[Jonno1103]

Is there bigger than 225/75/16 ?

Depends on the base vehicle, Ford's now come with 235/R65/16. Each corner is rated to 1200kg & up plating from 3500kg to 4100kg is a paper exercise.

 

[VXman]

See plate below, can I up plate?

View attachment 824939

Ask Dee at https://www.vanweightengineering.com/

He will tell you what the possibilities are (no charge) if you give him a certain amount of info. Wheels, brakes etc have an impact.

If you decide to get it done he does a great job on the paperwork for you.

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[Ray-Vic]

Dee's on holiday, returning tomorrow, so I suspect he'll be playing catch up for a while next week.