deleted79651
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Sub 3500 kg vans
- Thread starter Graham of Madrid
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deleted79651
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Around 3,399kg [seriously], but with a 130bhp engine, acceleration is an ambition and having the Instrument Display on 'Instant Consumption' showed 8.8mpg on the slip road climb to join the A90 at Stonehaven on Friday! Travelling with 20litres of fresh water and around 75% diesel makes life much more relaxed, for both me and the engine
Steve
We seriously have enough stuff for a month, not much food as we like to get that fresh, we have 100 LTRs water, obviously it has to be filled again, but clothes and stuff, full diesel, two 25 ltr drums of spare water full gas, just can't get anywhere near overloaded, even when we used to bring 100 ltrs of wine and a load of beer back.
But on the looking down on 3500 s I have never seen that , many other things yes but weight of van ,no.
Puddleduck
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When fully loaded, two heavy kayaks, two ebikes, kayak and cycling gear, two awnings, full water, full diesel, clothes for 2 weeks, two changes of bedding, chairs etc etc etc we weighed in at 3560 kg and both axles were with weight allowances. Full fridge and freezer and food cupboards packed. We always take too much preserved food "just in case" we end up somewhere that doesn't have gluten-free - caught out once and once was enough!
Our new kayaks are 20 kg lighter so we should be fine at 3500 - and I have also rationalised the cycling and kayak gear as I though a lot of it was dual purpose so no need to carry hi-vis for cycling and different hi-vis for cycling - also 2 base layers for each of us rather than 4. The only issue might be if something gets very wet and we can't get it dry.
You know what, thinking about it, I must be the most looked down on member on here, 
everyone has got it in for the lowly ambulance, it's how I like it, don't want it any other way
but just weight, can't see how that's got anything to do with it.
everyone has got it in for the lowly ambulance, it's how I like it, don't want it any other way but just weight, can't see how that's got anything to do with it.Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Puddleduck
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You know what, thinking about it, I must be the most looked down on member on here,
Why should anyone look down on you (unless you are vertically challenged of course - and if you are you'd look down on me when I was "wheeling" rather than walking)?
I love vehicles that have been given a new purpose (I feel the same way about redundant buildings) and maybe will be able to have a look round your palace at some point.
If Martin and I had the time and were well enough we would consider a self build to get exactly what we wanted.
Jamesh
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MH manufacturers build for the target audience...
A six berth will be mum dad 4 kids pre teens.
They go away for 2 weeks with minimal kit and just enough food eating our half the time.
The 500kg payload is adequate for them.
Long terming in such a van isn't what it's designed for.
If you need a van for long term use the a 4 berth can with a greater payload is better or get a trailer.
Cheers James
A six berth will be mum dad 4 kids pre teens.
They go away for 2 weeks with minimal kit and just enough food eating our half the time.
The 500kg payload is adequate for them.
Long terming in such a van isn't what it's designed for.
If you need a van for long term use the a 4 berth can with a greater payload is better or get a trailer.
Cheers James
Ivory55
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Eating out half the time ? Another world. We used to take loads of food etc with us.
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From his avatar its a Benimar Europe 740
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Yes indeed BUT.... 360kg for 6 people.....is that really (in a real world) doable.????? Assume driver already included but what will 5 extra bodies weight.????This Autotrail is 6 berth, 3.5t and 7.25m:
Auto-Trail
www.auto-trail.co.uk
glenn2926
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Yeah, only eating out half the time? That’s a terrible dereliction of duty. More eating and drinking out required
️.
It probably can be done. But you'd have to know that you are close to the limit and deliberately pack very light. The argument is that many people don't know they are running that close to the limit, so it's irresponsible for manufacturers to sell stuff with this much APPARENT carrying capacity.
To AutoTrail's defence, they do actually have a "Weight Calculator" page. For the Imala 636, it says with the 3.5t chassis, you can have 3 passengers (+driver) with no options ticked and it says the remaining payload is 63kg.
Auto-Trail
It doesn't let you select the optional 2 extra travel seats until you upgrade to 3.65t. Which then increases the passengers to 5 and takes you to 18kg spare payload.
QUOTE:
"
Please note: All weights quoted are with the fresh water tank and waste water tank totally empty. Should you choose to travel with your fresh water tank full you must amend the other weights accordingly.
"
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Ah so it is NOT a 3.5kg 6 berth...To AutoTrail's defence, they do actually have a "Weight Calculator" page. For the Imala 636, it says with the 3.5t chassis, you can have 3 passengers (+driver) with no options ticked and it says the remaining payload is 63kg.
Auto-Trail
www.auto-trail.co.uk
It doesn't let you select the optional 2 extra travel seats until you upgrade to 3.65t. Which then increases the passengers to 5 and takes you to 18kg spare payload.
QUOTE:
"
Please note: All weights quoted are with the fresh water tank and waste water tank totally empty. Should you choose to travel with your fresh water tank full you must amend the other weights accordingly.
"
It is a 3.65kg 6 berth !!!
At 3.5t it's still 6 berth. But only 4 travel seats.
HKF
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......
And the second had a Dennis the Menace like urchin scowling into where the camera would have been, with a speech bubble: 'Every day I'm forced to add another name to the list of people who really p*ss me off!' But that was before the invention of the 'Ignore' button that accompanies the Breath of Fresh Air Club Membership, exclusive to people who get right up my nose ...
Steve [happy with his 3500kg in his own wee world of sweetness, light and anal retentive environment]
This is sooooooo funny!!!!! I love it
HKF
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From his avatar its a Benimar Europe 740
Er-hmm....'his' ?? I'm a girlie, I'll have you know
HKF
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Sure. It's a Benimar Europe 740
It sleeps 6 (double fixed, double capucine, double dining) but only has 4 seat belts. Not that it matters to us, as there's only the two of us and a small dog Subscribers do not see these advertisements
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Whatever recommendations for greater payload with heavier vans , to many 3500kg is the limit and has to be worked within and at times there seems to be an absolute fear and dread of being almost on the limit when provided you stay within your gvw no harm is done but I wonder if we all feel the same about 30+ mph in a 30 mph zone, I bet most on here break that law frequently and never think about it and yet that misdemeanour could seriously injure or kill a pedestrian.
At 70 I lost my C1 and after owning 3 RVs thought the end of the world was nigh but no, 3500kgs is just great and love every minute behind the wheel and chilling.
At 70 I lost my C1 and after owning 3 RVs thought the end of the world was nigh but no, 3500kgs is just great and love every minute behind the wheel and chilling.
I just don't get the point of a motorhome with such restrictions. You couldn't even have water to flush the toilet.
I assume any responsible salesman would bring this to the attention of a prospective purchaser - who I'd guess would then look elsewhere for a van??
In respect of the OP's question, I don't think that there is a contingent that look down on 3500kg van owners - but rightly highlight potential limitations dependent on each individual's circumstance and intended use. This is what I would hope for in this forum!
There is no reason why a 3500kg van should have no water to flush the loo, I always carry adequate water for that purpose and other needs plus sufficient fuel , clothes food etc and stay within 3500kgs and I for one am certainly aware of “potential limitations “.
Apologies I should not make assumptions but very difficult with lots of avatars namesEr-hmm....'his' ?? I'm a girlie, I'll have you know
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I cannot see the relationship between weight and size.
Our Arto at 7m x 2.3m x 3m is the same size as it was when plated at 3500kg as it is now at 3850kg
It is just that we can use more of the space as we want.
I also forgot to mention in our requirement (post #19) winterisation, as that adds to basic weight.
Geoff
Last edited:
glenn2926
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Agree completely, our van started life at 3500 kg. A previous owner had it plated to 4000kg. It didn’t get any bigger though.
There are only two of us and we have a payload of about 900kg so we’ll be ok I think.
Jamesh
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Mum 60kg
Kid 1 50kg
Kid 2 40 kg
Kid 3 30kg
Kid 4 20kg
5x 10kg bags
10kg food
Duvets etc 50kg
Water +gas etc 50kg.
Just possible....
Cheers James
Ps where do I find a 60kg wife!!!
Puddleduck
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Gosh... unless they got a pair of twins Mummy & Daddy have been busy.
Well looking at my family history there are several families with 12 (and more) kids ,,,,, the biggest so far is 18 kids with 38 grandkids, grea-gandchildren and counting after 50 years of marriage. No tv or internet then of course!
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I agree it is possible, but it is so dependent on them knowing they're working to a limit.
I practice ... you're more likely to see a bunch of bikes come out when they get to site.
A trailer might make it manageable though.
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