My entire camper weight went from 780 KG to 880 KG. The largest problem that I still have to fight with is the tongue weight went from 85 Kg to 120 Kg and that was empty. The design and style of the American PU is thought to be used with an American Pick Up (ie. Ford F250, Dodge Ram, Chevrolet "whatever") which has a capacity for up to 3500KG and a tongue weight of 250KG. I have to counter balance my configuration so that the tongue weight doesn't exceed 95KG. Quite a problem.. I've also built (am having built) a bike rack for the back end for this exact purpose.
------------- Proud owner of a
2005 VIKING Saga 1906ST European
Design wise the americans don't pay much attention to detail & just think of different layouts, hence some handle really badly on the road, the newer models have to have anti sway mechanisms but the older models were better.
My seapine for the year had the heaviest nose weight, I only found out after I bought it, serves me right?. If you work on basic principles that the trailer has a nose weight of between 7 & 10% of the GVW (gross vehicle weight) so 1300kgs = max 130kgs nose weight but this goes out of the window when you convert the original nose weight of say 70kgs + UK hitch weight of 30kgs + weight of new metal plates & extension of the A frame for better towing = 115kgs + (you have to match hitch carrying capacity to the overal weight of the trailer) but I had to fit in my transformer weighing 26kgs which I put in behind the wheel, balanced out at 95kgs
I still have to find space inside to carry the battery which will make it better. But having said all this the coleman handled like a dream behind my Mitsi Pajero (nose weight 100 to 125kgs approx). The old US hook up cable weighed a ton figuratively speaking so I did a lot weighing of things ike eighing if I cut something off & the same when adding things & I had the fitters moving the hitch bck & forth until I got the balance right, I did away with the US jockey wheel as it was too puny & had the one supplied with the delta coupling.
The hitch on my unit, along with the brakes, came in at a total of over 300Kg. They set the jockey wheel on the side of the A frame after extension and I almost broke the thing in half when the unit sat in wet ground over night. Stupid on both sides... I have moved the wheel to the middle and purchased a stronger one. The whole system has been very trying and to think I even thought of opening a dealership to sell PU's in Germany. That would have really been a nightmare. There is a Fleetwood/Coleman dealership in Holland, but for a new model "converted" they want 15,000€ without anything inside. These units are set on Alko frames (the old hitch was cut off and the entire unit set on an ALKO frame, then the 220/12VDC converter set in, the lighting and wiring redone for normal EU standard 7 pin connection, and done. So far, with purchase and conversion, I've payed under 10K€, but that is alot of blood sweating.
------------- Proud owner of a
2005 VIKING Saga 1906ST European
Well it looks like I have not done so bad then but spending money on an older model is not so benefical but the project had to be finished otherwise it would ve meant walking away although I had already spent money on the purhase.
If one did come up again I would bargain harder on a bifg reduction knowing the costs now involved on conversion. At the end of the day I had to follow the dream, I always finish what I start, even if it has cost me in the region of £3600 but then it is something that knowone else has got in the UK (well bar one).
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Looking for help, Pop Up Campers
