Weight limits

[Hes]

Hi everyone we are new to both motorhome and this blog.
We are thinking of purchasing a new florium 75lmf a class.
With the extras included IE awning etc it leaves a payload of around 465kg. My question is would this be sufficient for a retired couple with 2 electric bikes (44kg) and an inflatable kayak at 19kg.
We are looking to tour Europe and are thinking that this may be easier with a MH rather than our caravan.
Also have any of you knowledgeable people have any experience of the florium manufacturer?
Thanks in advance of any advice.
Steve and maz

 

[Carpmart]

The key with payload is that you can never have too much!

A glib reply, but that is the crux of the matter.

Less than 500kg dry, before passengers, upgraded components etc is low and indeed may not be accurate unless this is a weighbridge figure? The manufacturers sadly don’t tell the truth.

 

[Holly's mum]

Your best bet would be to load the motorhome up with most of the items you would be taking with you, including full tank of fuel and water and take it to a weighbridge, with both of you on board, to see what payload you are left with.

Edited, as just realised you haven't brought the motorhome yet

 

[Minxy]

Hi and welcome to the fun house!

I've had a quick shuftie at the model you're considering (same as the one in the link below I assume) and there's no way on earth that's gonna be 3500kg once you've got the basics in and both of you as only 75kg will have been allowed for the driver, nothing for a passenger, especially with a fixed island bed and 7.46m long. Unless you can uprate it to 3850kg or more you'll be very restricted on what you can take with you and even at that it could still be tight (I assume you have pre-1997 licences so can drive over 3500kg with no health restrictions).

WINCESTER 75 LMF - Central bed face-to-face bench seat - Fleurette Florium

French sophistication in a large A-class motorhome. Built on an extra-wide track AL-KO chassis, the generous Wincester 75 LMF motorhome is a model with electric height-adjustable central bed, full width bathroom with dual partition, reverse L-shaped kitchen and living room with two face-to-face...

www.fleurette-florium.fr

Taking it to a weighbridge after you've bought it means it's too late to then discover that the figure you've been given is way off the mark - manufacturers can use a 5% tolerance for vehicle weights so you could end up with a lot less payload than you expect.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Minxy has it right.
You may not have realised that there is a link embedded under the word payload, here is is.

Average Motorhome Payload Requirement

If you’re not familiar with or don’t quite understand Motorhome Payload take a minute or so to study this graphic before reading further. MIRO WE’RE NEVER QUITE SURE WHAT IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE FIGURES AND THE MAKERS ARE ALLOWED TO BE 5% OUT ANYWAY. MIRO IS A FUDGE. WORKING OUT YOUR PAYLOAD IS...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[cyberyacht]

My A Class is 6.4M and is a whisker under 3500Kg fully loaded. Anyone who tells you that a motorhome over 6.5M can run at 3500Kg speaks with forked tongue.

 

[DaveKerry]

Another issue is not only the maximum authorized mass (gross) of the vehicle, it's the axle weights too. I had a vehicle that was under gross but over on the rear axle by 40kg.

Dave

 

[Hes]

Another issue is not only the maximum authorized mass (gross) of the vehicle, it's the axle weights too. I had a vehicle that was under gross but over on the rear axle by 40kg.

Dave

What was the outcome

 

[Lenny HB]

Mel Minxy has covered it pretty well. I've just looked at the spec and by the time you have allowed for weight tolerance, fitted an awning, 2nd battery, spare wheel & few extras you will be at 3500kg. The only way to travel legally would be in an empty van & leave the wife at home.
I don't think it would even work uprated to 3850 it needs to be on the Maxi 4250kg chassis to be useable.
I have a 6.7m van on order payload quoted on the 3500 chassis only 625kg so I've ordered it on the 4250 kg chassis giving a sensible payload of 1375kg of which 200 to 300 kg will be lost on fitted extras.

 

[DaveKerry]

The outcome is to travel with less water.

Dave

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[Lenny HB]

The outcome is to travel with less water.

Dave

There isn't enough payload for any water.

Personally I would never set off without a full tank.

 

[Hes]

My A Class is 6.4M and is a whisker under 3500Kg fully loaded. Anyone who tells you that a motorhome over 6.5M can run at 3500Kg speaks with forked tongue.

Was looking to have it up plated to 3700 but not sure if I will still be near to the knuckle. I estimate that my personal payload including fuel and water to be around 480kg. Am I worrying about nothing.

 

[The Coops]

With rear air suspension you could go to 3850kgs and get a better ride

 

[Lenny HB]

Was looking to have it up plated to 3700 but not sure if I will still be near to the knuckle. I estimate that my personal payload including fuel and water to be around 480kg. Am I worrying about nothing.

480 seems a bit low and have you allowed for the van being around 130kg over the specified weight (most are), the awning will be 45kg, spare wheel 30kg, 2nd battery 28kg, and probably another 100 kg in fitted extras.

In Minxy link it gives an empty weight of 3134kg which would give 366kg of payload that is assuming it means MIRO, if it means empty weight you are stuffed. But even with a MIRO of 3134 it's not runnable unless it's on the 4250kg chassis.

 

[DaveKerry]

There isn't enough payload for any water.

Personally I would never set off without a full tank.

I once got to a site and the filters from where they source their water were blocked and I had to wait a day for water, we had enough and it was not a problem, a friend also said he got to a site and the water was off due to damage.

Dave

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[Lenny HB]

I once got to a site and the filters from where they source their water were blocked and I had to wait a day for water, we had enough and it was not a problem, a friend also said he got to a site and the water was off due to damage.

Dave

2020 traveling through France in September it was 7 days before we found water and that was at a village, tap water on all the Aires we passed was turned off.

 

[Speve]

Our van is 7.5 m @4500 kg gvw and when travelling on a 90 day winter trip we would be up at around 4250 kg loaded? that would be including an air awning and the two of us we are not lightweights

 

[Littlewheels]

Hi everyone we are new to both motorhome and this blog.
We are thinking of purchasing a new florium 75lmf a class.
With the extras included IE awning etc it leaves a payload of around 465kg. My question is would this be sufficient for a retired couple with 2 electric bikes (44kg) and an inflatable kayak at 19kg.
We are looking to tour Europe and are thinking that this may be easier with a MH rather than our caravan.
Also have any of you knowledgeable people have any experience of the florium manufacturer?
Thanks in advance of any advice.
Steve and maz

You are getting plenty of advice on the Payload, but,just to say if you want to really enjoy touring Europe and accessing areas to enjoy your Hobbies a Motorhome is definitely the way to go and much safer and relaxing. Enjoy your Tour.

 

[Lenny HB]

We have the same van as Speve and also travel around 4250 and we are lightweights 120kg for the two of us. 1300kg of payload doesn't go far once you have added a few extras.

 

[Fdhadi]

I’m going to stick my neck out here and say 80% + of motorhomes are probably overweight, come on let’s be honest.
Dealers who sell a 6 berth Motorhome @ 3.5t to a family should be strung up.

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[Minxy]

Was looking to have it up plated to 3700 but not sure if I will still be near to the knuckle. I estimate that my personal payload including fuel and water to be around 480kg. Am I worrying about nothing.

No you're not worrying about nothing, it's an important thing to bear in mind and could affect how you use the MH, what you can take with you, how much 'concern' it will cause you. As it's on the Alko chassis you could put semi air suspension on the rear but it would cost at least £2,000 plus the uprating fee (around £180) so not a cheap option and you'd still likely have to compromise somewhere. We have a 6.41m A-class which is a 'light-weight' construction but comes in at 3083kg not including extras fitted, we had the semi-air on the rear and uprated to 3850kg as we knew 3500kg with a payload of 417kg wasn't sufficient. There are 2 of us (100kg and 74kg) and 3 dogs (20kg total) but once we add in the fitted accessories (awning, extra battery, extra gas bottle, TV etc) plus our gear (e-bikes, inflatable kayak, chairs, tables etc). Of the 3850kg we probably have about 100kg to spare overall in touring trim as we travel with a full 150L water tank, so if you take that off, it means we travel around 3600kg minimum with no water, something we never do. ... with a longer MH it's not just how much payload capacity you have where you need it - a good chunk of the spare capacity will be on the front and no the rear which is where it is usually needed - unless you fit semi-air you will still only have rear axle capacity of 2,000kg, we went to 2240kg with it.

 

[Suenliam]

I would be wary of estimating the amount of personal payload. I know some people keep spreadsheets of each item and the weight of everything going into the MH but they are few and far between
Also if you are going to France/Spain etc. then allow plenty of payload for bottle or boxes of wine

Sue

 

[Lenny HB]

I’m going to stick my neck out here and say 80% + of motorhomes are probably overweight,

I'm not one of them, fully loaded for a 6 week trip, full fuel, gas and water still have 250 to 300 kg of spare payload.
It's nice not to have to worry about what you put in the van.

 

[Minxy]

I would be wary of estimating the amount of personal payload. I know some people keep spreadsheets of each item and the weight of everything going into the MH but they are few and far between
Also if you are going to France/Spain etc. then allow plenty of payload for bottle or boxes of wine

Sue

For us it's usually sunflower/veg oil as it's usually cheaper ... it was in Ireland anyway so we brought back a dozen bottles!

 

[Fdhadi]

I'm not one of them, fully loaded for a 6 week trip, full fuel, gas and water still have 250 to 300 kg of spare payload.
It's nice not to have to worry about what you put in the van.

I’m sure you’re not Lenny. We’re the same, we don’t have the payload you have anymore (Burstner 747 previously 1.25t payload) but have been very strict with what we take along for the ride.

The amount of items we took with us and didn’t use was unbelievable really. The garage in the Motorhome is virtually empty, I can see things in it now

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[busby]

2020 traveling through France in September it was 7 days before we found water and that was at a village, tap water on all the Aires we passed was turned off.

Something to do with Covid,,Don't know why but, BUSBY.

 

[Lenny HB]

The amount of items we took with us and didn’t use was unbelievable really. The garage in the Motorhome is virtually empty, I can see things in it now

It's a mining expedition to get into mine.
To be fair we do use the stuff in there, e-bikes, twin tub washing machine, spare cassette and paddleboard. Try not to use the spare wheel and hardly ever use the hookup lead but I won't be throwing out the spare wheel, maybe the hookup lead.

 

[Lenny HB]

Something to do with Covid,,Don't know why but, BUSBY.

The previous year they turned off the water on the Aires to discourage people from traveling and left it off for over a year.

 

[mikeg40]

Hi everyone we are new to both motorhome and this blog.
We are thinking of purchasing a new florium 75lmf a class.
With the extras included IE awning etc it leaves a payload of around 465kg. My question is would this be sufficient for a retired couple with 2 electric bikes (44kg) and an inflatable kayak at 19kg.
We are looking to tour Europe and are thinking that this may be easier with a MH rather than our caravan.
Also have any of you knowledgeable people have any experience of the florium manufacturer?
Thanks in advance of any advice.
Steve and maz

dealers will mostly give you no info payloads. the current trend to keep vans under 3500 ignores the fact that with all the 'extras' we and they add negates any benefits from modern building techniques. if you have grandparent right up plate, the benefits and piece of mind far outway any downsides. it is only a matter of time before the authorities realise that most vans on the road are overweight giving them a ready income stream plus it also gives insurance companies an easy out

 

[mikeg40]

No you're not worrying about nothing, it's an important thing to bear in mind and could affect how you use the MH, what you can take with you, how much 'concern' it will cause you. As it's on the Alko chassis you could put semi air suspension on the rear but it would cost at least £2,000 plus the uprating fee (around £180) so not a cheap option and you'd still likely have to compromise somewhere. We have a 6.41m A-class which is a 'light-weight' construction but comes in at 3083kg not including extras fitted, we had the semi-air on the rear and uprated to 3850kg as we knew 3500kg with a payload of 417kg wasn't sufficient. There are 2 of us (100kg and 74kg) and 3 dogs (20kg total) but once we add in the fitted accessories (awning, extra battery, extra gas bottle, TV etc) plus our gear (e-bikes, inflatable kayak, chairs, tables etc). Of the 3850kg we probably have about 100kg to spare overall in touring trim as we travel with a full 150L water tank, so if you take that off, it means we travel around 3600kg minimum with no water, something we never do. ... with a longer MH it's not just how much payload capacity you have where you need it - a good chunk of the spare capacity will be on the front and no the rear which is where it is usually needed - unless you fit semi-air you will still only have rear axle capacity of 2,000kg, we went to 2240kg with it.

when I up plated mine through SVtech the kit cost ~£450, fitting ~£200 and new rear tyres £200. no change to insurance price and a much better ride as well as piece of mind. if you have a C1 it's a no brainer