well blow me, got me a autotrail 634 and my first query ?

[Minxy]

thank you bolero boy, you are of course spot on and wise words, I will indeed tread carefully, how does the air suspension aspect work as of course that would add more weight and I'm assuming the axle weight is fixed and you can't go past the max capacity of the 2k back axle, or, is what happens, the back axle is deemed capable of a greater capacity?

We have a Carthago on the 'modified' light chassis, ie it has an Alko rear in place of the full Fiat chassis, our axle limits were 1850 and 2000kg but it was the rear where we knew we'd have possible issues so put rear semi-air on (blooming expensive for Alko chassis!) which took the limit up to 2240kg which is more than sufficient for our needs (we already had tyres with a high enough rating for the extra weight).

Ours is a shorter MH at 6.41m though so I can't see how a longer MH with a large rear overhang, which exacerbates the weight issue, can really be that usable even upgraded to 3850kg when the existing weight is already at 3300kg.

 

[JFD]

On some gas bottles, the handling/valve protection ring at the top is bolted to brackets welded to the bottle body, so you may well be able to remove it if that makes it a better fit in your gas locker. It will, however, make it a pain to move around, as you cannot use the valve to lift the bottle!!!

 

[Compactliner]

thank you bolero boy, you are of course spot on and wise words, I will indeed tread carefully, how does the air suspension aspect work as of course that would add more weight and I'm assuming the axle weight is fixed and you can't go past the max capacity of the 2k back axle, or, is what happens, the back axle is deemed capable of a greater capacity?

RW, the van is a nice design (if you want a rear lounge coachbuilt) its just too big (to create that nice lounge) for the light chassis.
im not an expert on axle upgrades (SVtech are very approachable for advice) but i know that my van (same van as Minxy Girl above) could run at 3850 because i have larger 16" wheels/tyres and an Al-Ko chassis.
i dont know what chassis the AT is built on (Fiat Camper, Al-ko etc) but it will make a difference...the Alko plus 16" wheels 'may' mean a paper upgrade but the Camper chassis may mean having to fit air assis (bellows) to get to 3860.....3650 should be a paper change...
as earlier, id definitely weigh it with everything i could think of, plus water, fuel etc.
good luck.

PS.....Mel, our axle weights are as follows, which include ebikes, table, chairs, bbq etc in the garage....
Rear axle 1820kg (max 2000)
Front axle 1600kg (max 1850)
Gross 3420 kg (max 3500)

 

[Minxy]

RW, the van is a nice design (if you want a rear lounge coachbuilt) its just too big (to create that nice lounge) for the light chassis.
im not an expert on axle upgrades (SVtech are very approachable for advice) but i know that my van could run at 3850 because i have larger 16" wheels/tyres and an Al-Ko chassis.
i dont know what chassis the AT is built on (Fiat Camper, Al-ko etc) but it will make a difference...the Alko plus 16" wheels 'may' mean a paper upgrade but the Camper chassis may mean having to fit air assis (bellows) to get to 3860.....3650 should be a paper change...
as earlier, id definitely weigh it with everything i could think of, plus water, fuel etc.
good luck.

What weight do you run at?

 

[OldCodger]

You could try the Safefill bottles. They can filled up at any garage which sells lpg. They are removable - and replace your regular bottles. They were fitted to our van and we have found them brilliant. We just take the bottle to the garage and fill it up. We also use it in the BBQ as it’s a lot cheaper than the calor (£7 to fill the 10kg)

Safefill | Safe and easy to refill LPG Gas Cylinders

Safefill LPG Gas

www.safefill.co.uk

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[Camper634]

SV tech did the upgrade on mine,exactly the same model van and year.I had to have air assist fitted to the suspension which costs around £400 fitted.My van was then able to be upgraded to 3850.The only hassle I had was with the DVLA who lost, and then miraculously found my V50 document.The actual upgrade was a doddle.

 

[roadwarrior]

i now will walk on water,

0 new items by john chapman

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[roadwarrior]

i think i will follow campers route and also go the SV Tech route but i confess to being a little confused about air suspension, im aware folk say its better but im confused on how it allows a vehicle to carry more weight as its just adding more weight and giving the suspension an easier time ?

 

[Minxy]

i think i will also go the SV Tech route but i confess to being a little confused about air suspension, im aware folk say its better but im confused on how it allows a vehicle to carry more weight as its just adding more weight and giving the suspension an easier time ?

It replaces what people call the 'bump stops' so doesn't add much weight, but it gives more suspension support than the existing leaf springs so that's why you can go to a higher capacity, but you need to check you have the right tyres too.

Also search the forum for John Ruffles's details as he's about half the cost of SVTech.

 

[Compactliner]

What weight do you run at?

i have weight plates for 3500, 3650 and 3850.....
i choose to run at 3500 for faster speed limits and ease of access to many weight restricted continental villages.
as i posted earlier, we have plenty of spare axle weight and enough overall for aall our gear and a 'generous' wine allowance.

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[roadwarrior]

It replaces what people call the 'bump stops' so doesn't add much weight, but it gives more suspension support than the existing leaf springs so that's why you can go to a higher capacity, but you need to check you have the right tyres too.

Also search the forum for John Ruffles's details as he's about half the cost of SVTech.

ok, where do i find john ruffles and what is the right tyre ?? i have michelin motorhome tyres on, rated 116. giving me a load capacity of 5000,

 

[Minxy]

ok, where do i find john ruffles and what is the right tyre ?? i have michelin motorhome tyres on, rated 116. giving me a load capacity of 5000,

John Ruffles:

Weight uprating

Has anyone on here uprated their MH weight themselves and not through an agency. If you have was it an easy process or should I leave it to the agency

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

As for your tyres, looks like your existing ones could be close to their limit for an uprated axle at 1250 per tyre = 2500kg max per axle - check the exact spec to be sure.

 

[roadwarrior]

Minxy, if I'm going to 3850 and the tyres can take 5000k how are they getting close ?

 

[Minxy]

Minxy, if I'm going to 3850 and the tyres can take 5000k how are they getting close ?

Its the rear axle capacity that will be increased so depending on how much it goes up by it could leave little room for 'safety', eg if it goes up to 2240kg and you load it to it's max that's 1120kg per tyre on an EVEN loading, but if you have more weight on one side than the other it would put more weight on that side's tyre and of course when travelling as the vehicle weight moves from side to side (cornering etc), whilst it may be possible to use what you have its how close you want to get to the tyre's limit that's the question.

I'm not saying you can't stick with your existing tyres, just that you need to check they are okay for what you propose to do.

 

[roadwarrior]

as a very retired lorry driver im aware of load sharing, my only fear would be the current Mrs warrior who loads things because they look nice together, or want to be the right side of the van... I will pass your concerns on but i am fearful it will affect my meal rations and my coffee ratios..

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[roadwarrior]

vis a vis what i propose to do is when the world stops wearing gas masks i intend to go back to France and taunt them a second time.. or more ..
my plan is to balance my food rations with my toys, gizmos and gadgets

 

[peterc10]

i have weight plates for 3500, 3650 and 3850.....
i choose to run at 3500 for faster speed limits and ease of access to many weight restricted continental villages.
as i posted earlier, we have plenty of spare axle weight and enough overall for aall our gear and a 'generous' wine allowance.

It doesn't work like that. You can only have one plated weight at any one time, and that will be the one shown on your V5. Yours will probably be the 3850kg. Weight limits on villages etc refer to your plated weight, not what the motorhome actually weights, and the same applies to speed limits in Europe. In the UK speed limits will depend upon you vehicle classification (van with windows or motorhome) and unladen weight, i.e. over or under 3050kg, and no that figure is not a misprint.

 

[Minxy]

i have weight plates for 3500, 3650 and 3850.....
i choose to run at 3500 for faster speed limits and ease of access to many weight restricted continental villages.
as i posted earlier, we have plenty of spare axle weight and enough overall for aall our gear and a 'generous' wine allowance.

I don't quite get your overall logic really, yes speed limits abroad are related to 3500kg but that wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, or accessing villages as many are intended to keep out trucks etc, but you have (I assume) downrated to 3500kg and therefore pay the higher rate of road tax whereas if you ran over 3500kg you could use that unspent road tax money to buy more wine AND have the payload to transport it home ... ... so, more speed or even more wine????

 

[Minxy]

It doesn't work like that. You can only have one plated weight at any one time, and that will be the one shown on your V5. Yours will probably be the 3850kg. Weight limits on villages etc refer to your plated weight, not what the motorhome actually weights, and the same applies to speed limits in Europe. In the UK speed limits will depend upon you vehicle classification (van with windows or motorhome) and unladen weight, i.e. over or under 3050kg, and no that is not a misprint.

It depends if the DVLA have it recorded as 3500kg now or still at 3850kg.

 

[peterc10]

It depends if the DVLA have it recorded as 3500kg now or still at 3850kg.

That was the point I was making Mel.

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[Compactliner]

sorry, Peter and Mel.....very poorly explained by me.....i do actually know whats going on, lol.
van came already upplated to 3850 (this plate superceded the original 3650 Fiat one).
i wanted to run at 3500 for the above reasons......agreed, continental villages are done on weight.....and (i realise) speed here is done on unladen weight, where i am easily below 3050.
however, as you say, over there, speed limits arent done on this outdated metric equivalent of 3 tons 'olde worlde' measure.....its MTPLM, so my 'faster limits' is a valid reason as we tour extensively in europe.
after notifying the dealer that i wanted the van delivered at 3500, the new 3500 plate duly arrived from Carthago (which superseded the 3850 one) and the V5 was changed to 3500.
however, there are still three physical plates in the van, but the most recent (3500) is the active one.
if i chose to run at 3850, i would just ring the DVLA and get the v5 changed as the necessary physical requirements for running at that weight (Alko chassis, 16" wheels/tyres) are already in place....currently, im perfectly happy at 3500.
sorry to have confused.

 

[Minxy]

sorry, Peter and Mel.....very poorly explained by me.....i do actually know whats going on, lol.
van came already upplated to 3850 (this plate superceded the original 3650 Fiat one).
i wanted to run at 3500 for the above reasons......agreed, continental villages are done on weight.....and (i realise) speed here is done on unladen weight, where i am easily below 3050.
however, as you say, over there, speed limits arent done on this outdated metric equivalent of 3 tons 'olde worlde' measure.....its MTPLM, so my 'faster limits' is a valid reason as we tour extensively in europe.
after notifying the dealer that i wanted the van delivered at 3500, the new 3500 plate duly arrived from Carthago (which superseded the 3850 one) and the V5 was changed to 3500.
however, there are still three physical plates in the van, but the most recent (3500) is the active one.
if i chose to run at 3850, i would just ring the DVLA and get the v5 changed as the necessary physical requirements for running at that weight (Alko chassis, 16" wheels/tyres) are already in place....currently, im perfectly happy at 3500.
sorry to have confused.

... but just think of all that EXTRA WINE you could buy with the spare road tax ...

 

[Compactliner]

...but then id have to walk into all those lovely villages, the ones i get to more quickly than you...

seriously, we have 'sufficient' spare payload for any shopping, we often pop into villages with a view to taking lunch or even using the local aire overnight and, when crossing France/Spain as we do each winter, i want to be able to drive at a nice comfortable speed, not be in with the lorries.
if i ever felt i needed the extra payload, or the money, id uprate it.

 

[roadwarrior]

im with bolero boy on this , i hate being restricted by speed but i dont have a choice with this apache, but its ok im gonna keep it, but i was spoiled with the bolero for payload.

 

[roadwarrior]

im going to get a air suspension fitted, does it have to be an approved place or can anybody do it ? if arranged it myself how do i prove it ect ?

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[Minxy]

im going to get a air suspension fitted, does it have to be an approved place or can anybody do it ? if arranged it myself how do i prove it ect ?

You know that weird contraption you keep in your pocket (no not THAT one!) ... the one that makes phone calls ... it'll probably have a camera too!

 

[roadwarrior]

You know that weird contraption you keep in your pocket (no not THAT one!) ... the one that makes phone calls ... it'll probably have a camera too!

and send it to who ? SV ? cus im sure dvlc wouldnt know what to do with a picture...

 

[peterc10]

and send it to who ? SV ? cus im sure dvlc wouldnt know what to do with a picture...

If you want the air suspension in order to upgrade your MGW, then yes, you can send it to SV as proof that you now have air suspension. But you won't get any upgrade agreed with the DVLA by yourself. You need a report from a DVLA recognised engineer. You have the name of two, SV Tech and John Ruffles, to choose from.

If you just want air suspension for a better ride then you do not need to tell the DVLA. You may need to tell your insurance company, but that will depend upon the wording of your policy.

 

[Minxy]

and send it to who ? SV ? cus im sure dvlc wouldnt know what to do with a picture...

As mentioned whoever you get to do the uprating paperwork will need to see proof of the installation of semi-air on your vehicle and the easiest way is to send them a photo, they'll need others anyway (of vehicle showing reg no, tyre rating etc).

 

[roadwarrior]

If you want the air suspension in order to upgrade your MGW, then yes, you can send it to SV as proof that you now have air suspension. But you won't get any upgrade agreed with the DVLA by yourself. You need a report from a DVLA recognised engineer. You have the name of two, SV Tech and John Ruffles, to choose from.

If you just want air suspension for a better ride then you do not need to tell the DVLA. You may need to tell your insurance company, but that will depend upon the wording of your policy.

no i want it for 3850 capacity, comfort is a nice bonus

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