Relationship between axle weights and Gross Weight

[Solwaycruiser]

Hi,
Going abroad soon so took MH to weighbridge just to check. My van is rated to 3650kg with front axle 1950kg and rear 2000kg (Dethleffs sticker). Two of us on board and full water and fuel, electric bikes and some loose clothes etc but some still to add. Weighed 3720kg gross and front 1740 and rear 1960. So okay on axles but not gross ( i did think it would be close). Not a problem as will drop out 80/ 90 litres of water. The van had an option from new to be rated at 3500kg or 3650kg and was already a stock order at 3650.
The van is 5 berth and 5 travel seats once loose cushions and seat conversion added. So if they were added and 5 people carried with clothes it would be way over by quite a bit. So my question is taking the axle weights can the gross weight of MH be further uprated as a paper exercise or is it more complicated than that. Did a search but couldn't see an answer. We bought new last year so no changes made by anyone to the original spec. TIA

 

[Hoovie]

So I assume you got semi-air fitted in order to go to 3850kg, did you get an increase in your rear axle capacity too?

Obviously.

I'll tell you why I find this so interesting ... SVTech told us we could have our Carthago uprated from 3500kg (1850kg front, 2000kg rear) to 3850kg with no modification at all just utilising the existing axle capacities to their max, they would quite happily have done this. It was only because we also wanted to increase the capacity of the rear axle to 2240kg that we had semi-air put on (cost £2,000), if we hadn't wanted to do this we could've saved quite a bit of dosh but didn't want the risk of being overloaded on the rear end (150L water tank, 100L waste tank (although never more than half full) plus all the kit in the large garage would've taken us too close for our liking).

So you understand the importance of not overloading the axles beyond their quoted limits. well done.

We now have a front axle of 1850kg and rear of 2240kg but a MAM of 3850kg rather than a combined 4090kg as we weren't bothered about going increasing to that as we'd never be able to load the front up anywhere near its existing maximum, however we were told we could fit stronger springs and then could fully utilise 4090kg.

So, how could they tell us we could go to 3850kg with NO mods and utilise the maximum capacity of both axles but they told you that you couldn't? There are others on the forum who've had conflicting info from SVTech, some told to fit semi-air, some not, just to go to the max of their existing axles, ie 3850kg.

As they can't seem to make their minds up this for me makes them less 'professional' than VWE.

Well, as they say, YMMV. that was not my experience.

No, thank goodness ... it's just an unnecessary expense for some when the axles are already capable of carrying the capacity up to the combined maximum.

as long as the loader checks on a weightbridge before every journey, not a problem.


Anyhows, everyone has their own opinions and choices they make, and long may that be the case. I am happy with mine. You are happy with yours. And that is what matters.

 

[Hoovie]

I suppose I could do it if I stuffed myself silly with pies ...

actually ... that could be an advantage of me having a fairly large overhang. (I am talking about the motorhome overcab bed, before you get started ). I could shove loads of stuff up there to bring the weight distribution forward

 

[Orion]

My Compactline 138 has factory fitted uprated front shockers apparently ( possibly due to 9 speed auto and it's extra weight????).
1950 kg max. OP may have the same Lenny.

Same here with our Adria Compact 9 speed auto and the factory no-cost ‘upgrade’ to 3650kg - front axle rated at 1960kg.

 

[1967bowesj]

actually ... that could be an advantage of me having a fairly large overhang. (I am talking about the motorhome overcab bed, before you get started ). I could shove loads of stuff up there to bring the weight distribution forward

Just be careful loading the front up to its max, when you break all the weight transfer to the front and can easily over load it.
lose of traction, suspension overloaded, tyres over loaded, all these add up and it is these hidden forces that the engineers allow for in their calculations

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[Minxy]

Well, as they say, YMMV. that was not my experience.

YMMV?

Your mileage may vary
You make me vomit

 

[Minxy]

Anyhows, everyone has their own opinions and choices they make, and long may that be the case. I am happy with mine. You are happy with yours. And that is what matters.

Indeedy ... perhaps you would like to consider changing your forum name though, possibly from Hoovie to Haughty?

 

[Hoovie]

Just be careful loading the front up to its max, when you break all the weight transfer to the front and can easily over load it.
lose of traction, suspension overloaded, tyres over loaded, all these add up and it is these hidden forces that the engineers allow for in their calculations

good advice for some. I have an uprated rear axle so I'm ok

 

[Hoovie]

YMMV?

Your mileage may vary
You make me vomit

Your Motorhome Might Vary

 

[Pausim]

Your Motorhome Might Vary

Obviously a well known phrase on Planet Hoovie.

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[Hoovie]

Obviously a well known phrase on Planet Hoovie.

Seems very appropriate for a MOTORHOME forum where MOTORHOMES can VARY.

of course, YMMV

 

[10tenmen]

Hoovie, can I just say that your are quite patronising in your comments, you have made your point that you don’t trust anyone except SV tech and the populace on the whole don’t understand loading a motorhome when given said upgrade.
Your condescending manner is clear.

 

[Pausim]

Seems very appropriate for a MOTORHOME forum where MOTORHOMES can VARY.

of course, YMMV

You may think it is very appropriate for a motorhome forum but if you are going to throw random letters into a conversation you need to explain them.

Well, as they say, YMMV. that was not my experience.

Who are the mysterious “they” who say YMMV? Frankly I think life is too short to try and remember random collections of letters for very occasional use when we have a perfectly good language for this purpose.

 

[VXman]

Getting back to the original post (OP ). Personally I would add rear air suspension which should allow you to go to 4250. This will give you some leeway and greater safety margins.

A basic airbag suspension can be done DIY for £300-400. Mine was fitted for £600. If you have 16 inch wheels and the brakes are up to the job (which the should be on a modern van) then you will be all fit to go.

Dee at https://www.vanweightengineering.com did the DVLA paperwork for mine and made the process very quick and simple. If you contact him via his website form and give him your van details he will tell you what the possibilities are for free! Probably better than listening to the arguments of folks on a forum!

 

[the1andonly]

ymmv?
not even a TLA

Glad to hear all these people i've trusted over the years are wrong, or is there an alternative?
Always an alternative in this case understanding the effects of what you are loading in relation to the limits.