Tips on saving weight to gain usable payload.

[two]

You could be right
- i've not left it long enough to find out, either.

 

[tony_g]

If you've not done so already, it's probably worth having a look around some specialist camping shops and websites. Dinnerware like Corelle can save a lot of weight if you are using standard domestic stuff. Pots, pans etc. can all be bought light-weight although they do tend to be more expensive. Towsure sell a lot of stuff.

IKEA do a range of bowls and plates made of some sort of vitreous material. Tough as anything, plain white (none of that ghastly decoration like some stuff). Great weight saver, 50p a piece when we bought it. Others on here have, too.

 

[Dunslow]

Have a look for scrap yards and waste transfer stations as they have them

Every MOT station for your vehicle category can weigh your vehicle on a brake tester (front axle/ rear axle), a charge possible, but you also get a voluntary brake test if charged? A friendly/ your regular garage wouldn't charge I'd think. Peace of mind before a trip having the brake test perhaps?

As I understand it that would only be the case if being overweight was a contributory factor.

Surely if you don't stop in time and you're overweight, bang to rights it's contributory and not insured. If you could stop there wouldn't have been an accident?

 

[WildBunch]

Better still, and more compact, buy wine in a (bag in a) box. It stays fresh for longer, too.

Agreed, I have got some red & rose' in a bag /box to try. The plastic bottles are good for sherry & spirits.

 

[The Wino]

IKEA do a range of bowls and plates made of some sort of vitreous material. Tough as anything, plain white (none of that ghastly decoration like some stuff). Great weight saver, 50p a piece when we bought it. Others on here have, too.

We have it too I think it's made the same way as corelle just a lot plainer and cheaper.

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[scotzsue]

Forget the spare wheel it weighs 30Kg plus the rack.

Only put in enough water and fuel for the journey.

Don't know how many of you read the small print on your insurance, and breakdown cover ours have alwaysstated that you need to carry a spare wheel, (especially in Spain where it is a legal requirement - not sure how they get round the gunge supplied with new vehicles though) you need to carry a spare for a trailer too. Hoping to modify the easylifter to carry the spare for that, have room in the garage for the spare, but will need to modify what we carry, to accommodate the weight. Will be looking at crockery/cutlery/pots/pans and bottles and tins. We carry a 5L of fresh water and fill up when we get to sites, but do like some in the tank when using aires. We have a 20% valve on the tank as that is the advised amount to carry, saves having to run through and get rid of airlocks all the time. Bike gear is heavy too, have convinced John we don't need 2 outdoor tables and would like to remove the heavy table in the van but our outdoor table may not fit, must suggest that today, especially with the extra weight of the spare. Wondering too if the easy lifter framework could be modified to take the weight of van spare. will get John to get his engineering hat back on for something useful. Have a couple of ideas that i need to convince him are his

 

[Stealaway]

Don't know how many of you read the small print on your insurance, and breakdown cover ours have alwaysstated that you need to carry a spare wheel, (especially in Spain where it is a legal requirement - not sure how they get round the gunge supplied with new vehicles though) you need to carry a spare for a trailer too.

I've just insured mi van with Comfort including European Breakdown.
I specifically asked about what the rules are when you don't carry a spare wheel and tyre.
The facts are that they will attend to all and every breakdown including flat tyres. They will try and repair it with the gunk, if not you will be taken to a garage or tyre shop.
What they won't do she said is bring you another wheel and tyre to fit.
This is probably where the old urban myth has developed in that they wont turn out if you don't have a spare wheel.

I don't know how the Spanish treat the more and more common puncture repair kit but I cant imagine even a professional van driver being able to change a wheel by the side of a motorway.
Fortunately we rarely go to Spain but I will keep it in mind.

 

[Spriddler]

Surely if you don't stop in time and you're overweight, bang to rights it's contributory and not insured. If you could stop there wouldn't have been an accident?

Of course, that's why I wrote........

As I understand it that would only be the case if being overweight was a contributory factor.

Not all accidents are due to impaired braking.

 

[gus-lopez]

Surely if you don't stop in time and you're overweight, bang to rights it's contributory and not insured. If you could stop there wouldn't have been an accident?

so why don't they prosecute everyone who runs in to the back of another vehicle on a daily basis ,there are 00's?

 

[Graham Mew]

I always envy you guys with a "Local" weighbridge, saying they dont charge for no ticket, is just rubbing it in...stop it!
Hell knows why but our council have done away with all ours, leaving only gravel pits with dodgy narrow roads in which you will probably meet a gravel lorry coming toward you.
LES

The above is very tue, I spent all day cleaning the outside of my vehicle only to find the narrow filthy road to the gravel pit to our weighbridge.

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[Monty777]

Our last van was an Exsis i678 it was just about runnable at 3500 but very tight.

We didn't have an awning, had the TecTower oven, 2 x 14kg Alugas bottles, Snipe satellite, 2 batteries, 200 Watts solar.

We carried 2 e-bikes, spare wheel, twin tub washing machine and 2x 20lt of water in the garage as ours was a 2014 model with a tiny 100 Lt water tank.

Loaded with full tanks we were about 100kg over so we uprated to 3850kg.
I'm 75kg the boss 45kg.

Interesting that you say the 100ltr tank is tiny Lenny-our Exsis I 414 only has a 100ltr tank which seems massive compared to the 60ltr (claimed) tank our Autosleeper Warwick had-but it is smaller than the 140ltrs our old Hymer had.

John

 

[82125]

1 litre of water weight 1kg, so store some of the water from the fresh tank in bottles and put them in your fridge.. not only does it reduce the weight of water carried in your tank, you have nice cool water to drink too!

 

[Chuns]

I addressed this problem too, figuring the more weight I lost the more wine I could bring back.

The first iteration was the obvious one - I removed the carpets and anything associated with an extra bed; the corner steadies, and got an Alugas refillable gas cylinder.

The second was to look at the principle of lots of small things adding up to make a big difference. There was a famous racing sailor (so famous I've forgotten his name) who insisted all the crew cut their toothbrushes in half, so I emulated him and chipped away at the small things - no glass jars, decanting stuff into standard stackable plastic tubs. Lightweight crockery (Corelle) but nice enough to eat off; light glassware (with one exception - I have one reasonable wine glass. Anal nerd that I am I think it tastes better.). The lightest outdoor chairs and table I could find, and when we bought e-bikes I paid the extra that really light ones seem to cost.

More recently I bought a lithium battery off the terrific Alpha Batteries, with an attendant massive weight saving. Wonderful.

I also bought the smallest of the Reich caravan weight control load cell thingies. Weighing one wheel at a time, I always know more or less exactly how much we weigh. It takes less than five minutes so I tend to do it regularly. (Do learn from my early mistake - once you have weighed the van, remember to add your weight in too!)

 

[Lenny HB]

Interesting that you say the 100ltr tank is tiny Lenny-our Exsis I 414 only has a 100ltr tank which seems massive compared to the 60ltr (claimed) tank our Autosleeper Warwick had-but it is smaller than the 140ltrs our old Hymer had.

John

Current van's tank is 160lt much better

 

[nicholsong]

I addressed this problem too, figuring the more weight I lost the more wine I could bring back.

The first iteration was the obvious one - I removed the carpets and anything associated with an extra bed; the corner steadies, and got an Alugas refillable gas cylinder.

The second was to look at the principle of lots of small things adding up to make a big difference. There was a famous racing sailor (so famous I've forgotten his name) who insisted all the crew cut their toothbrushes in half, so I emulated him and chipped away at the small things - no glass jars, decanting stuff into standard stackable plastic tubs. Lightweight crockery (Corelle) but nice enough to eat off; light glassware (with one exception - I have one reasonable wine glass. Anal nerd that I am I think it tastes better.). The lightest outdoor chairs and table I could find, and when we bought e-bikes I paid the extra that really light ones seem to cost.

More recently I bought a lithium battery off the terrific Alpha Batteries, with an attendant massive weight saving. Wonderful.

I also bought the smallest of the Reich caravan weight control load cell thingies. Weighing one wheel at a time, I always know more or less exactly how much we weigh. It takes less than five minutes so I tend to do it regularly. (Do learn from my early mistake - once you have weighed the van, remember to add your weight in too!)

All to get under 7.5t?

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[Dunslow]

Surely if you don't stop in time and you're overweight, bang to rights it's contributory and not insured. If you could stop there wouldn't have been an accident?

so why don't they prosecute everyone who runs in to the back of another vehicle on a daily basis ,there are 00's?

Good question, well asked? If they are overweight, insurance could easily get out of paying the claim. And prosecution is a possible result. If not overweight and a prosecution is made and upheld then surely insurance is also invalid? (Isn't running into the back of someone "driving without due care and attention", a serious endorsable offence? And they should prosecute)

Of course, that's why I wrote........


Not all accidents are due to impaired braking.

I'll get ready to take cover on this one, and I agree, but..........
We all drive at a speed at which we can stop at in the event of an emergency (yeah, right). So if you cause/ have an accident whilst you are moving then by default it's due to impaired braking? By either insufficient braking force (faulty brakes / overweight) or anticipation / reaction / overspeed to the emergency /circumstances. That default is because you are moving? A legally positioned stationary vehicle doesn't cause or create the accident. An illegally or dangerously parked vehicle is caused by impaired braking (to a standstill in the wrong place).
If someone hits you whilst you're stationary, it is again due to impaired braking, surely. They did not stop. And they would be at fault. (Until they are a local, you are a foreigner and they call the police because you ARE overweight, so you shouldn't have been on the highway in the first place! And you're uninsured. Then, who is at fault?
In the lanes around Cornwall, if two cars meet head on, and one stops and is stationary and the other hits it, it ain't knock for knock.
But, no, not all accidents are due to impaired braking. Tree falling on MoHo? etc.




impaired

• damaged.
• defective.
• flawed.
• harmed.
• broken.
• busted.
• debilitated.
• down.

 

[Miggs]

Leave while the wife is not looking!

 

[TOT]

Shame you can't utilise some of the 2000kg towing allowance by putting family and dogs in a trailer (Sadly not allowed) - but then you need some constant ear battering and back seat driving advice to mask the van rattles....!

 

[Mike Rivers]

Do you carry a spare wheel? If so leave it at home and get an inflation kit. Big weight saving. Whilst spare wheel is desirable it’s not absolutely necessary.

 

[WildBunch]

Copied from another post.
"We weighed our Hymer Exsis I 678 last week. Re-plated to 3500 Kg. We were fully loaded for a 5 day trip. Full fuel tank, 30 litres of water, 1 1/2 large Safe fill bottles of gas, 1 electric bike, etc, etc. We were exactly 3500 kg.
Just a bit tight."

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[VXman]

Do you carry a spare wheel? If so leave it at home and get an inflation kit. Big weight saving. Whilst spare wheel is desirable it’s not absolutely necessary.

Inflation kits only work with certain minor punctures not from a major blowout. No a spare wheel is not absolutley neccesary but its a major inconvience if the gunk doesn't work. Breakdown recovery, the possibility of the garage you are taken to not having a suitable tyre. Not what you want when on a holiday and particulary if it's a long trip/abroad. At least I'd have a spare tyre on board.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Of course, that's why I wrote........


Not all accidents are due to impaired braking.

Might be the case you're over weight for your licence class, but not the vehicle's load capacity ?

 

[Kirsten]

All these replies and ONE mentions a second hand event they heard of when someone had their motorhome weighed. Doesn’t seem a real issue…….more concerned with the suggestions about replacing glass with plastic- bad for planet - and some plastics denature and leach into contents and then into you.

 

[Spriddler]

Deleted. Wrong thread.

 

[Coolcats]

I have recently down plated my Hymer Exsis I 678. from 3850 Kg to 3500 Kg. It was a easy paper exercise via SV Tech (See other threads). When we first purchased the van in 2019 we knew we may need to down plate, due C1 licence / health issues. ( The DVLA's incompetence & delays in these matters are also covered in other threads )
Whilst I can just live with the reduced pay load it is very tight. Thus I am still looking for any tips to save weight. I am sure this will be useful to many other Funsters in the future, who may face the same problem.
We were lucky enough to be able to buy our new van to our spec, with some weight saving in mind.
With Hymer & many other makes you get a basic model, to which you add the options you require to make up the van of your choice. Most of these options add weight, thus reducing usable pay load. Clearly one's individual needs & choices will differ to others with different requirements. We could have ordered the Exsis I 588, which is a lighter base van. The 588 is a fantastic unit, but we preferred the 678 layout & are willing to make some compromises to have the van layout of our choice.

In our case we wanted the following essential things. that reduced the usable payload.
Large Fridge freezer,
Full cooker,
Solar panel,
Awning. We did not use the Hymer standard option but ordered a 1 meter shorter one to be fitted by the dealer.
Second habitation battery. (fitted by me after purchase)
External gas point. (this save the need to carry an additional gas canister for the bbq ).

There were several items on the option list we did not order. Whilst desirable were not essential.
Metallic paint, this surprisingly, adds 30 Kg to the weight.
Fog lamps.
Driver's side (passenger in UK ) automatic step.

There were several things we did order & now wish we didn't, as are not used.
Carpets
Wooden shower tray.

The one big weight saver was that we transferred the two large SafeFill gas bottles from our first van.
Given that TV streaming is now quite possible all over France & Spain perhaps we did not need the 85 cm dish we transferred from our previous van.

I have gone through all the "Stuff " we normally take with us & saved an additional 80 Kg, this included the extra table & 2 chairs. Also removed the front bed mattress & slats as this is not used normally. It is amazing how much unnecessary stuff that accumulates over time. We still have one electric bike, 2 tables, 2 chairs, bbq, awning ground sheet, tools & leveling blocks.
With all this, fully laden with food, water, dog & SWMBO we are approximately 3470 Kg, as I said before very tight.
I am going to replace the 2 x 95 Ah Gel batteries with one 110 lithium battery, saving some 30 kg.
I still need to find other savings if we can, I am thinking of using plastic bottles for wine & spirits.

I will not appreciate any one suggesting, I go on a diet to loose weight, no matter how true that my be.

We insisted that the van was weighed before we took delivery. We were lucky it was slightly lighter than we estimated by a few Kgs. We used a spread sheet to add the weight of all option items to the base weight of the van. As it happened it turned out to be quite accurate.

I appreciate that not everyone will be able or want to purchase a new van. But if payload is particularly important, you can take some of these factors into consideration when looking at used vans. You can insist the van is weighed as a condition of purchase, as the manufacturers published figures cannot be trusted & the possible number of options that may be on your particular van.

Any other tips & Ideas will be most helpful.

Most stuff carried in MoHo’s in non essential, so for example think about a Biker who may be spending a month touring Europe they will take minimum clothing, same for the MoHo just take as little as possible in terms of Clothing shoes etc. Don’t load up with fresh water, only take food for a couple of days. Don’t take a large washing up liquid bottle find a small one and use that, toilataries minimum only take what you can place in a small bag.

Think minimalist and you will save a lot on the payload front. Just think if you wouldn’t get it on a motorbike why are you taking it!

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[Coolcats]

Less calories, more activity - simples!

Jasper Carrot once said regarding weight gain to much in not enough out

 

[TOT]

Get a Toad or trailer and add stuff to use your 2000kg towing allowance...........

 

[WildBunch]

All these replies and ONE mentions a second hand event they heard of when someone had their motorhome weighed. Doesn’t seem a real issue…….more concerned with the suggestions about replacing glass with plastic- bad for planet - and some plastics denature and leach into contents and then into you.

Actually I did see a Police vehicle check in the lorry / caravan park area in a M4 service station last year. It seems a real issue to me,thus not happy to take the risk. I would think 20-30 kg over will not get Plod too excited.
Whilst I agree single use plastic should be avoided where possible. The multi use plastic items in many cases is the only practical material that can be used, from a safety, weight & function stand point.