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.)

 

[Stealaway]

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

Safefill 10Kg are 5 Kg when empty

 

[Alex and Lesley]

NorthenMotorhome FYI there is a DVSA Consultation out just now regarding giving everyone with a post 1997 Driving Licence a Category C1 Driving Licence, my opinion is that this will be brought into law. I don’t have a crystal ball but the outcome of the ”consultation“ is imminent.

 

[BillyKontiki]

Is it not the case that if you passed your test on or before 1987 you have c1
Or am I missing something.

 

[hja]

NorthenMotorhome FYI there is a DVSA Consultation out just now regarding giving everyone with a post 1997 Driving Licence a Category C1 Driving Licence, my opinion is that this will be brought into law. I don’t have a crystal ball but the outcome of the ”consultation“ is imminent.

But will they remove it at age 70?

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[BillyKontiki]

Get the point now. I have just turned 70 and with a medical and eye test retained my C1 think
It’s proper that this is done. What I disagree with is the £100 the doctor chargers for the medical my eye test was free paid by the DVLA.

 

[Alex and Lesley]

But will they remove it at age 70?

Good question, really don’t see that changing tbh.

 

[Otter Spotter]

You coukd remove the Gas altogether and replace hob and heater with a Wallas XC duo diesel heater/hob, saves carryibg gas bottles, a cupboard and running around looking for gas

 

[nicholsong]

You coukd remove the Gas altogether and replace hob and heater with a Wallas XC duo diesel heater/hob, saves carryibg gas bottles, a cupboard and running around looking for gas

But it does not have an oven, grill and does not heat water like gas can.

 

[NorthenMotorhome]

NorthenMotorhome FYI there is a DVSA Consultation out just now regarding giving everyone with a post 1997 Driving Licence a Category C1 Driving Licence, my opinion is that this will be brought into law. I don’t have a crystal ball but the outcome of the ”consultation“ is imminent.

I'd noticed this but no idea how long it will take to come through, keeping this in the bag for when the kids get bigger.
If it does change, I'll fit airbags/tyres and go up to 3850kgs.

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[Otter Spotter]

But it does not have an oven, grill and does not heat water like gas can.

True but Water heating isn’t hard

 

[sedge]

We've always worked on the basis that we won't very often (if ever) have everything like water and diesel brim full at the same moment - nor the 'grey' tank and loo cassette. There's only the 2 of us travelling in it at a time in all normal circumstances. Short of removing internal appliances (fridge/freezer or cooker) or the metal bed frame etc ie something drastic and abnormal - we wouldn't really be able to lose much other weight. Currently there happens to be a gazebo in the 'boot' we were asked to take on the 'bonfire' rally we went to at the beginning of Nov - and it wasn't needed in the finish anyway, so that will soon have to go back up the loft where it was. Used to be in regular use - when we were tent camping on French carp fishing lakesides with the extended family.

 

[pelican]

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.

Is this available locally

 

[Lenny HB]

Is it not the case that if you passed your test on or before 1987 you have c1
Or am I missing something.

You are missing 10 years
January 1997 was the cut of date.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Is this available locally

Every local balloon shop or funfair has it.

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[BillyKontiki]

You are missing 10 years
January 1997 was the cut of date.

Was never good at dates.

 

[Parrot Face]

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

We have an electric drop down bed as well as the main island bed so we remove the mattress from the drop down bed and use the space for extra storage.

 

[Shrimp]

Look at the ‘stuff you are carrying, do you really need those extra bits-‘just in case’ and try to distribute stuff around the van
Pare everything down over the course of being out & about, will probably take a while to discover just what you do or don’t need, you might only need two saucepans compared to the 3 you might have!
I look at the ‘stuff’ I have in the van fairly regularly and bin out bits I haven’t used for a while

 

[VXman]

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

I have one 11KG Gaslow. I keep a 6kg calor as back up- just in case. The thing is - I have never used it - not in 8 months/18000 miles of travel. I just check the Gaslow level a regular basis and top it up before it's empty. Done the same thing with petrol in my car for 40 years - it seems to work ok!

So I'd be for dumping the spare gas.

 

[Plumb]

May be get your ears pierced, or other piercings!

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[Dognahalf]

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?

You cannot use a lithium battery for starting the vehicle, but for the hab battery, great idea.

 

[NorthenMotorhome]

Thanks Everyone for the suggestions.

The Plan So Far

• Tv, Tv aerial, Tv Bracket - 6kgs. We just don't watch TV so what's the point. Plus its the noises item when driving. Little nervous about the aerial but I see you can get covers for these to reseal.
• Calor for a Flogas Gaslite - 5Kgs.
• Accessory Crossbars from the roof 7kg - These are just the ones bolted on to roof bars for a box or Solar - We'll keep these for the future.
• At least one the Mattresses - 10kgs As some one pointed out check the mattress I did, they weight like 10kgs each! They are 6 inch thick dense memory foam. Comfy but overkill for the kids on the bunk beds. Especially as one is still in a travel cot.
• Garage is Carpeted - 5kgs - Seems unnecessary.
  
  33kgs! A semi worth while venture
  
  Looking into
• Crockery/Cutlery
• Plastic glasses
• Slimming down some of the other mattresses
• Whole van is carpeted and is stuck down (very well fitted to be fair) I'm not sure I want to remove as its going to damage anything below.
• Battery - Look at Lithium but probably only when the current battery needs renewing.
  

 

[DDJC]

NorthenMotorhome FYI there is a DVSA Consultation out just now regarding giving everyone with a post 1997 Driving Licence a Category C1 Driving Licence, my opinion is that this will be brought into law. I don’t have a crystal ball but the outcome of the ”consultation“ is imminent.

Praying they see the light on this. Sent in my response couple of months ago.
Mrs DDJC (post 1997 licence) gets the new weight, we get a new set of 225 tyres onto our semi-air suspensioned Ducato, and then up to 3850kg

In the meantime, to the OP, get one of these Anssems unbraked 500 kg ally trailers, and empty out your garage. 300 kilos more kit, stuff, equipment and wine, right there

MPG on our bus was unaffected by hauling this little piggy around.