Saving Weight

[NorthenMotorhome]

So after collecting the Motorhome I ran it over a weighbridge, I’ll just say it was neither awful or excellent, somewhere in the middle from my predictions.

Now working to the 3.5kg limit what are people’s tips for saving weight. My current spreadsheet gets me just about there with everything we’d take + people, full fuel, 30l in the fresh tank and two full gas bottles- but I’d like to give myself some wiggle room. (Extra beer, more bikes that sort of thing)

Currently looking at-

Gas bottles - I’ve got an 11kg Gaslow and a back up Calor 6kg, thinking of swapping the Calor out for a flogas Gaslite saving 5kgs. I know they are less available but they deliver and I suspect we’ll be on the gaslow 99% of the time.

Rear Ladder - Currently no use, the roof will get washed in storage 1/2 a year its a double fold down, saving maybe 6kgs

Roof crossbars - Doing nothing currently- save maybe 5kgs

I know non of that seems like much but it does start to add up over a few items.

Any other top tips? ( I know people will say get a C1 and up plate but that’s just not an option at the minute, most places want £1000 for test as they include training you can’t seem to avoid, and there would be two of us needing to do it.) It’s also on the Ducato 2.2 100 which is fine currently but going much beyond 3.5 it will be wanting.)

 

[Guigsy]

Are you over on either of the axle weights?

If you've got a van with a long overhang at the back, the seesaw effect means removing weight from the garage can actually increase the load on the front axle.

 

[PP Bear]

Yep, leave any females, kids and in-laws behind. Only take the dog and enough beer for the first week, then replenish when you can. A pair of socks can last a week, same with pants and only a spare T-shirt for when you spill the takeaway down the front, although there is the option of turning it inside out or back to front

 

[Orion]

2x 11kg Alugas refillable @5.5kg each empty will save a bit more weight.

 

[NorthenMotorhome]

Are you over on either of the axle weights?

If you've got a van with a long overhang at the back, the seesaw effect means removing weight from the garage can actually increase the load on the front axle.

Not had it rechecked fully loaded, but there was plenty of capacity on the rear axle when we had it weighed. It has rear bunks, and we use both so the garage isn’t heavily loaded stuff will be fairly evenly distributed across the van.

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[NorthenMotorhome]

I’ll pass these tips on to the Wife now and see how I fare

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Yep, leave any females, kids and in-laws behind. Only take the dog and enough beer for the first week, the replenish when you can. A pair of socks can last a week, same with pants and only a spare T-shirt for when you spill the takeaway down the front, although there is the option of turning it inside out or back to front

Plus, I fill the tyres with helium. It's also easier for parking up , I just lift the back end by hand and swing it in.

 

[Jim]

Swapping two lead acid batteries out for one Lithium could save you 20 to 30kg

 

[NorthenMotorhome]

Swapping two lead acid batteries out for one Lithium could save you 20 to 30kg

Thanks Jim, I hadn’t thought about batteries at all, I’ve got one Fairly hefty Gel Leisure battery in the garage, I’m assuming you also mean to swap the engine battery as well?

I guess questions lies around the electrical unit, it’s a EBL 267 and it’s just got a switch for Gel or Lead, what’s best practice for adding Li?

 

[Guigsy]

Thanks Jim, I hadn’t thought about batteries at all, I’ve got one Fairly hefty Gel Leisure battery in the garage, I’m assuming you also mean to swap the engine battery as well?

I guess questions lies around the electrical unit, it’s a EBL 267 and it’s just got a switch for Gel or Lead, what’s best practice for adding Li?

Don't swap the engine battery. Too much faff.

Swapping the hab battery will probably save 10kg. But it's advised that you change the battery-to-battery charger (the one that supplies the juice when the engine is running) and the mains charger for hookup. So it's not a cheap way to save weight.

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[Jim]

Thanks Jim, I hadn’t thought about batteries at all, I’ve got one Fairly hefty Gel Leisure battery in the garage, I’m assuming you also mean to swap the engine battery as well?

I guess questions lies around the electrical unit, it’s a EBL 267 and it’s just got a switch for Gel or Lead, what’s best practice for adding Li?

No not the engine battery. If you have one or two lead acid leisure batteries; Lithium are, generally speaking, approx half the weight and twice the usable power between charges.

 

[68c]

It is all the little things that add up. Stainless steel cutlery versus plastic/bone handles. Food in glass rather than plastic containers, use wine boxes instead of glass bottles. All those 'just in case' things, engine oil - when did you last top up on a jourrney? We removed, an admittedly damaged, wind out awning and screwed on a rail that an Isabella Sunshade slides into which saved around 17Kg and only takes five minutes to erect. It also removed weight high up which helped reduce body roll. .
Do you really need a lot of tools?
Years ago I rebuilt an old chopper motorcycle for a girlfriend, I asked her if she wanted a toolbox fitted..."No, just a slot for my RAC card".

 

[Miggs]

Do you need a second gas bottle?
Why not just top up when it's looking low?

 

[scotzsue]

Do you need a second gas bottle?
Why not just top up when it's looking low?

Don't go down that route, no fun running out at 2am on a snowy night

 

[TUCANO]

Although I use proper cutlery I mostly use paper plates although for some meals a plastic plate is better obviously, saves on water usage basically.

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[nicholsong]

Do you need a second gas bottle?
Why not just top up when it's looking low?

Don't go down that route, no fun running out at 2am on a snowy night

Or up the Pyrenees - the chamois and marmots have found no need for LPG, yet.

 

[Guigsy]

Don't go down that route, no fun running out at 2am on a snowy night

If you've got a refillable, you can fill up whenever you want without worrying about wasting what was left. If you know it's going to be cold, go and top-up.

 

[the1andonly]

You don't mention how many people so i'm assuming 2
cutlery and crockery no more than 4 place settings (alows for a degree of lazyness and or guests. We use a mixture of correlle (glass) and melamine products. 10 days worth of T shirts pants (sort of weekly wash)
Lithium battery replaced 2 Pb acid substancial saving as mentioned. We extreamly rarely use EHU so only carry one 25m cable. now heres a controversial point you could save more wt by only using 13A (or less) rather than beeffy cables (need to change trips to mirror capability, you need to understand implications before going down this route)
From Bongo days we use 50ml plastic bottles for Sauce mayo vinegar etc (match size to usage.)
Match size to usage is probably a good mantra.
Regularly assess your needs/ usage and remove unused (see caveat bellow)
Tow a car (good place to dump the stuff you cant carry in van).
A very old story, i was touring using my push bike and Youth hostels and 2 days from returning home i moaned about having to buy a new bag of sugar and its wt and size, a fellow cyclist said why not give up sugar? Theres a different way of looking at things do i need it can i borrow/ beg it.

Just because you hope never to use something is not a good enough reason not to take something
eg Spare wheel (absolutely vital in my eyes)
spares how much or little ?? (I carry a spare MAP and differential DPF sensors)
decent tool kit (depends on your cabability it will save time and money, or serendipity says you have a spare so it wont fail)
OBD2 scan tool (not just a cheap reader) If i feel the need for my laptop i will have Multiecuscan (OBD2 BT dongle permamently attached) else i have Alfaobd on my phone).
well thats enough for now.

 

[Reallyretired]

Alugas refillable cylinders are very light, and you really only need one as you can top up any time.
At one time we used to carry 6 of everything crockery though there are only the two of us now reduced to 3 (to allow for breakage)
I always carry a lot more tools than I am likely to need.

 

[Lenny HB]

Rear Ladder - Currently no use, the roof will get washed in storage 1/2 a year its a double fold down, saving maybe 6kgs

Roof crossbars - Doing nothing currently- save maybe 5kgs

You really don't want to remove those, you would have to plug/fill the holes best to leave the van standard.

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[NorthenMotorhome]

You really don't want to remove those, you would have to plug/fill the holes best to leave the van standard.

I did think this about the ladder. Not sure it could be neatly or well finished

The cross bars are just bolted on to the roof rails. Like roof bars you’d put on a car. I’d guess you could remove those without any issues.

 

[NorthenMotorhome]

Thanks so much for all the advice so far on here’s lots of food for thought!

 

[cessac]

We have just taken out the Rapido supplied table and telescopic leg, and replaced it with a custom job I made . Reckon I have saved 20 Kilos

 

[BillyKontiki]

I run close to or at times over my 3.500 kg a wee thing to remember is that the official that weighs your vehicle will allow a 5% discrepancy giving you 3.675 kg if my maths is right, without prosecution.

 

[cessac]

I run close to or at times over my 3.500 kg a wee thing to remember is that the official that weighs your vehicle will allow a 5% discrepancy giving you 3.675 kg if my maths is right, without prosecution.

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[cessac]

Yes, but it's a bit chancey depending on someone's good will

 

[NorthenMotorhome]

I run close to or at times over my 3.500 kg a wee thing to remember is that the official that weighs your vehicle will allow a 5% discrepancy giving you 3.675 kg if my maths is right, without prosecution.
My understanding is you won’t get fined but you’ll be made to drop the weight before continuing?

 

[BillyKontiki]

Yes, but it's a bit chancey depending on someone's good will

Think it’s legislation rather than good will.

 

[BillyKontiki]

I run close to or at times over my 3.500 kg a wee thing to remember is that the official that weighs your vehicle will allow a 5% discrepancy giving you 3.675 kg if my maths is right, without prosecution.
My understanding is you won’t get fined but you’ll be made to drop the weight before continuing?

Yes defo if you are over the 5%. not sure if you are within the 5%. But I would think if there is no law broken then you will be able to carry on with your journey. ( good point. ).

 

[cyberyacht]

Dump the mattress and sleep on a yoga mat. It's amazing how much bedding weighs.