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.

 

[Billy192]

The plate on my motorhome has exactly the same figures as yours. Do you have a 9 speed auto box ?

I also have the same size wheels/tyres and up plated to 3960kgs . No alterations needed, and all done with the help of Dee at Van Weight Engineering.

Patrick

yep 9 speed. going through the process now

 

[TonyEmm]

EU towing rules are already different to those in the UK. In France for instance you can't tow a car on a trailer unless it's for recovery over a short distance and the E/B trailer component is up to a max train of 4250kg. In the UK now you don't need a further test for BE and the max train can be upto 7500kg.

What? You can’t tow a car on a trailer? Since when?
it’s the only legal way to do it in France!

 

[FrankNicklin]

What? You can’t tow a car on a trailer? Since when?
it’s the only legal way to do it in France!

I believe a car on a trailer is fine, towing a car with an A-Frame is illegal but not only in France.

https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/topic/50118-‘a’-frames-in-france/

The above link is an example but also mentions insurance for A-Frame modified tow vehicles.

 

[Jonno1103]

What? You can’t tow a car on a trailer? Since when?
it’s the only legal way to do it in France!

As per the RAC, I quote...

Towing in France​

On a standard driving licence, motorists are allowed to tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of 750kg, including the trailer and its load.

You’re not allowed to tow a motor vehicle except in the event of a breakdown or an accident and if the distance to be travelled is short. This practice is banned on motorways where the assistance of a recovery vehicle must be sought.

It is forbidden to carry people in a moving caravan.

France has a 'tolerance' for motorhomes due to the ambiguity of their specific laws. They allow a small vehicle to be towed on a vehicle specific trailer although technically it's still illegal.

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[Phill D]

As per the RAC, I quote...

Towing in France​

On a standard driving licence, motorists are allowed to tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of 750kg, including the trailer and its load.

You’re not allowed to tow a motor vehicle except in the event of a breakdown or an accident and if the distance to be travelled is short. This practice is banned on motorways where the assistance of a recovery vehicle must be sought.

It is forbidden to carry people in a moving caravan.

I think you will find the 750kg limit is for unbraked trailers.

 

[Jonno1103]

I think you will find the 750kg limit is for unbraked trailers.

Yep, thought that was, well until 2021 anyway, across the board for all countries.

 

[Orion]

EU towing rules are already different to those in the UK. In France for instance you can't tow a car on a trailer unless it's for recovery over a short distance and the E/B trailer component is up to a max train of 4250kg. In the UK now you don't need a further test for BE and the max train can be upto 7500kg.

What? You can’t tow a car on a trailer? Since when?
it’s the only legal way to do it in France!

As per the RAC, I quote...

Towing in France​

On a standard driving licence, motorists are allowed to tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of 750kg, including the trailer and its load.

You’re not allowed to tow a motor vehicle except in the event of a breakdown or an accident and if the distance to be travelled is short. This practice is banned on motorways where the assistance of a recovery vehicle must be sought.

I think you’ve missed the distinction between towing a motor vehicle, which is generally not allowed, and towing a motor vehicle on a trailer, which is.

 

[Jonno1103]

How many motorhome owners who tow a vehicle on a trailer through Spain know it must have it own log book and separate red number plate - Remolque Pesado & Permiso de Circulación.

 

[Jonno1103]

I think you’ve missed the distinction between towing a motor vehicle, which is generally not allowed, and towing a motor vehicle on a trailer, which is.

Nope, I think the majority don't bother to read the specific country laws and have zero knowledge of the definition of what is tolerated and what isn't.

How many owners of 3500kg motorhomes travel across France at 110 or 130 k/ph because they think it's legal to do so when in fact it isn't. The restriction kicks in after 3499kg.

How many flagrantly miss use the tolls only paying the minimum for a van over 3m in height? You see it on the mind numbing Youtube Vlogs all the time.

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[Phill D]

How many owners of 3500kg motorhomes travel across France at 110 or 130 k/ph because they think it's legal to do so when in fact it isn't. The restriction kicks in after 3499kg.

please post a link to the official site that states the speed limit is for 3499kgs and below! the restriction is vehicles over 3500kgs not over 3499kgs as far as i know.

BUT! as always happy to be Proved i am incorrect.

 

[TonyEmm]

As per the RAC, I quote...

Towing in France​

On a standard driving licence, motorists are allowed to tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of 750kg, including the trailer and its load.
…. …
France has a 'tolerance' for motorhomes due to the ambiguity of their specific laws. They allow a small vehicle to be towed on a vehicle specific trailer although technically it's still illegal.

With all due respect, that’s a misrepresentation of the towing regs.
By “standard driving licence” they are referring to a “B” licence, without the +E. It was the same in the U.K. before DfT dropped the “+E” requirement.

With “grandfather rights” which most motorhomers have, you can drive up to 8250kgs Gross train weight.

My eldest son has lived in France for the last 20 years. He tows an Ifor Williams Horsebox which is fully homologated (matriculated) over there. The trailer weighs around 950kgs, the horses are around 500kgs each. He is towing with a Transit van.

 

[TonyEmm]

I think you will find the 750kg limit is for unbraked trailers.

And drivers in France who don’t have B+E or grandfather rights!

 

[TonyEmm]

How many motorhome owners who tow a vehicle on a trailer through Spain know it must have it own log book and separate red number plate - Remolque Pesado & Permiso de Circulación.

That’s simply not true for trailers used in a non commercial capacity when they are being used as in a visiting Motorhome combination scenario.
UK registered motorhomes with U.K. trailers comply to U.K. regulations when visiting Europe, with the addition of “U.K.” identity stickers and, where applicable, Angles Morts stickers.

 

[Billy192]

yep 9 speed. going through the process now

because i have a DD for my Tax i need to sorn til end of nov so i can change the tax class also.

3960kg


will post the lovely DVLA peps 1st dec
Billy

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[TonyEmm]

In the UK now you don't need a further test for BE and the max train can be upto 7500kg.

With ‘Grandfather rights’ the limit for GTW is normally 8250kgs. https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories

 

[Jonno1103]

Glad I'm wrong as after I'd read all that I decided not to have a tow bar fitted, I was planning to tug a Skoda Citigo now the missus is retiring.