Motorhome Payloads

[yorkslass]

This is something that's bothered me for a long time.

You go along to a dealer's showroom or motorhome show and see the motorhome you really like. Lovely shower, love the upholstery, ooh its got a big garage great for the chairs/bikes/barbie etc, but payload is something that's overlooked by many people, especially if they are new to the pastime.

I think it's about time that there is a standard that we can use to give us available payload.

Manufacturer's seem to vary, a driver, half a tank of fuel, some water, no water,a gas tank or not.

If we could come up with a list that could be applied to any van, that may help us and especially new members decide what weight we have to spare.

What do you think?

 

[yorkslass]

The payload was always calculated from an empty van plus (90% fuel, 90% gas and 90%water and including a 75kg driver, but over the last few years they have cut the gas down to one small cylinder, water down to 20 litres and driver at 75KG.
You really do need to read the specification very carefully and if in doubt, ask the dealer to weigh the van.
Not forgetting the manufactures usually have a 5% plus or minus figure and guess who's side that would favour

I totally agree with you, and that's why I think it would help everyone, but especially those new to motorhomes to have a definitive list to work with.
As a forum we could provide that.

 

[Full Member]

This is something that's bothered me for a long time.

You go along to a dealer's showroom or motorhome show and see the motorhome you really like. Lovely shower, love the upholstery, ooh its got a big garage great for the chairs/bikes/barbie etc, but payload is something that's overlooked by many people, especially if they are new to the pastime.

I think it's about time that there is a standard that we can use to give us available payload.

Manufacturer's seem to vary, a driver, half a tank of fuel, some water, no water,a gas tank or not.

If we could come up with a list that could be applied to any van, that may help us and especially new members decide what weight we have to spare.

What do you think?

That's a really good idea, Sue.
I bought a moho from a position of complete ignorance (a condition I've learned to cope with reasonably well over the years).
I would have benefitted from a check list of things to consider (including payload) when purchasing a moho.
Perhaps this could be a thread that runs in parallel to the one you suggest here?

Colin ???

 

[Wooie1958]

No need to worry about that, i mean just look how many lockers it got and the size of the garage.

That was the answer i got off the salesman when we was in the process of buying this motorhome we have now.

When i pushed him for an answer he said ..........

Probably over a tonne, at the end of the day they are commercial vehicles designed to carry loads of weight.

 

[Jenrai]

Just back from getting myself weighed, oh and I took the van along as well

Front axle - 1600kg
Rear axle - 1600kg
Total - 3200kg

I dont have much in it atm as it is still fairly new and I am stedily filling her up. 300kg is not a lot to play with as the total weight with only half a tank of deisel, half a tank of lpg and empty water/waste tank

 

[yorkslass]

Just back from getting myself weighed, oh and I took the van along as well

Front axle - 1600kg
Rear axle - 1600kg
Total - 3200kg

I dont have much in it atm as it is still fairly new and I am stedily filling her up. 300kg is not a lot to play with as the total weight with only half a tank of deisel, half a tank of lpg and empty water/waste tank

Were you aware of the payload before you bought your van? Many people dont appear to be and the manufacturer's and dealers, for the most part, are happier if you don't know. If we had a standard to work to, or better still, a weighbridge ticket on each van on sale, life would be easier for newcomers,

Traditionally motorhomes have been overlooked at roadside weighbridges, but with more portable ones being used i think many of us are in for a shock.

 

[Jenrai]

Were you aware of the payload before you bought your van? Many people dont appear to be and the manufacturer's and dealers, for the most part, are happier if you don't know. If we had a standard to work to, or better still, a weighbridge ticket on each van on sale, life would be easier for newcomers,

Traditionally motorhomes have been overlooked at roadside weighbridges, but with more portable ones being used i think many of us are in for a shock.

Wildax told me around 500kg payload on leaving factory. The paperwork I got from them via the DVLA stated it was 3040kg but I can't see how I have added 160kg since then.

 

[Jenrai]

Thank you for that *****, it seems the only reliable way to get an accurate payload figure is empty van, filled with water, diesel and gas and go to a weighbridge. There should be one industry standard that all manufacturer's use.

 

[2cv]

There is one manufacturer whose vans I really like at present, lovely quality finish. Unfortunately in order to achieve the finish the payload available is very low. Making a quality van in the weight available does appear to be a tricky task.

 

[yorkslass]

Thank you for that *****, it seems the only reliable way to get an accurate payload figure is empty van, filled with water, diesel and gas and go to a weighbridge. There should be one industry standard that all manufacturer's use.

That is exactly what I meant when starting the thread. Most manufactures have glossed over payload for years and, to my knowledge never been challenged. How can a six berth, carrying 6 people plus all the kit come anywhere near being safe and useable. If they were challenged on the "not fit for purpose"often enough, they might start to play fair and stop trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot.

 

[Jenrai]

Motorhome builders have become obsessed with 3500kg, the weight under which you can drive on a car licence. But the reality is that most of us now passed our tests before 1997 so have C1, hell I even got D1.

Which leads to all this smoke and mirrors around payload, perhaps if they all built the vans up to the MAM we could take everything we wanted.

This got me thinking what is the downside to getting a van up-plated?

 

[Barge1914]

Nearly bought an Autosleeper, but despite repeatedly asking they and their dealers would not provide actual ex factory weightbridge weights with axle loads. So I didnt buy one. If averyone took the same approach and told them so, perhaps they might fall into line!

 

[rayc]

This 3500KG limit for B licences is really a lot of old nonsense.
The Government are currently consulting at raising the B licence to 4250kg BUT only for alternately powered vehicles e.g. electric. This is because the weight of the batteries would lead to no payload for vans and light trucks at 3500kg. They say "We have found no evidence to suggest that vehicles with a mass of 4,250kg are significantly more difficult to drive than 3,500kg vehicles. Therefore we would not expect the frequency of accidents involving these vehicles to materially change when compared with 3,500kg vehicles. "
At 70 you automatically retain BE licence with no medical so can tow a large trailer or caravan with your 3500kg motor home. Some people with medical conditions at 70 or even before are returning to caravanning to take advantage of that fact.
My MH is 3500kg but can be uprated to 3850kg as a paper exercise i.e it is technically safe at that weight. The only reason manufacturers are providing them at 3500kg is for licencing reasons and nothing to do with safety.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...b-driving-licence-derogation-consultation.pdf

 

[neckender]

I’ve uprated our Globecar Campscout from 3500kg to 4100kg just a paper exercise I now have a payload of 1150 kg alright for bringing wine back from Spain.

John.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I once got a pull as a courier for being overweight, then they weighed the van, and took me to court, so I'm more aware than most about payload, luckily the circumstances were such that I got away with costs only.

Now whenever I buy a van, I will in advance see where the local weighbridge is, and check if it will be open when I view, and the cost, I then ring the seller and ask if this is okay, if they refuse, I don't go, as mentioned the margins are so low it's getting rediculous.

If a van is for sale, it will normally be more or less empty, so there is no real reason why the seller could not do this, it's a few quid and half an hours work, and it can go with the van for future reference, (even same models will weight differently when used due to extras fitted) it ought to be made compulsory, but this would take a lot of people writing to their respective MPs, lethargy and apathy will foil that though.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

This 3500KG limit for B licences is really a lot of old nonsense.
The Government are currently consulting at raising the B licence to 4250kg BUT only for alternately powered vehicles e.g. electric. This is because the weight of the batteries would lead to no payload for vans and light trucks at 3500kg. They say "We have found no evidence to suggest that vehicles with a mass of 4,250kg are significantly more difficult to drive than 3,500kg vehicles. Therefore we would not expect the frequency of accidents involving these vehicles to materially change when compared with 3,500kg vehicles. "
At 70 you automatically retain BE licence with no medical so can tow a large trailer or caravan with your 3500kg motor home. Some people with medical conditions at 70 or even before are returning to caravanning to take advantage of that fact.
My MH is 3500kg but can be uprated to 3850kg as a paper exercise i.e it is technically safe at that weight. The only reason manufacturers are providing them at 3500kg is for licencing reasons and nothing to do with safety.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...b-driving-licence-derogation-consultation.pdf

Hi Ray, a bit out of date now, has anything happened since then?

The modern 3500kg van is massively different to the original 35cwt (1.96t) van (UW), not counting ABS and other acronyms, air bags, we now have disc brakes, crumple zones, coil suspension, air suspension, better steering, stronger chassis, superior tyres, better??? educated driver.

 

[The laird]

I use a weigh bridge every year prior to going abroad as it’s the most we normally carry
Always managed to come under the max not by much I hasten to add

 

[yorkslass]

If a van is for sale, it will normally be more or less empty, so there is no real reason why the seller could not do this, it's a few quid and half an hours work, and it can go with the van for future reference, (even same models will weight differently when used due to extras fitted) it ought to be made compulsory, but this would take a lot of people writing to their respective MPs, lethargy and apathy will foil that though.

Making people aware of payloads could be enough.

If they then walked away from vans with too little payload it wouldn't take manufacturers long to realise they needed a rethink.

 

[yorkslass]

Dunno about that! Over the years I have spoken to lots of owners about payloads etc, and to be honest, I was banging my head against a brick wall!
They are burying their heads in the sand and couldn't be bothered as they want all the goodies and always think the other person will get the pull and fine, not them!
In fact, I really don't bother any more!

Thing is, with all the New innovations been installed on motorways, and portable weighbridges, we're all going to have to be more aware.

What annoys me is that the manufacturers are well aware of what the're doing, but carry on regardless, cos they can.

 

[SachaF]

What is the downside of having your van uprated? The downside is when you break down on a French motorway. A van up to 3,5ton costs €250 to be recovered (to the nearest garage) whereas our tow with paperwork stating 3,85 ton cost €1,100. We had already checked our roadside assistance insurance for this when we took it out a few years back so were covered for the increased cost, but it was not a nice feeling having to pass that bill on purely because of being uprated!