I used to get the newspaper Disability News anf they have had vans inside them all fitted for disabled. Sometimes it is worth lookng at what is already done.Maybe there is somewhere on Google that has such sites & people selling up for various reasons.Including the mag. MMM that sells vans could be one in there already done.
Quote: Originally posted by tinallkn4 on 04/3/2012 i will have to be careful with packing i guess!! but they do allow 1000kg + on most 6 berths for weight load... and we dont weigh that much! but i appreciate what you are saying!!
Do they??? I think you really need to check the above statement for MH's with a max weight of 3500kg. On vans listed in MMM's buyers guide the figure is very considerably less then 1000kg!!
Not quite sure where that "1000kg+.." figure comes from Tina'..?
Be VERY carefull if looking at a 3500kg,6 berth van..as it's not just the "all-up weight" you'll need to watch but also the axle loadings...
The CC mag had a test recently,on a new 6 berth Adria MH and the tester visited a weighbridge after the test and found they had been nearly 300kg over weight!..that was with three adults and three kids(1 at 5 months,1 at 4yrs and 1 at 9yrs)and with only,what they considered, was an "average" loading....
When I weighed our MH,originally a 3500kg,2-3 berth(replated to 3850kg),in "going away mode",I found it to be almost 200kg over the original 3500kg gross!
(..and that was with just the two of us,no bikes,no scooter on the back,no heavy sports kit etc)...
Personally,I think you'll struggle to find one with a realistic,usable payload..and that doesn't risk overloading one(or both!) of the axles..
Do your homework..and don't just believe the salesman....
so.. notmuch chance of getting a large enough MH on my license then ??
the manufacturers are going to find this a difficult one, as more people come through without the cat C or D1 on their license...schools and charities are already finding it a problem cos of lack of minibus drivers.. only having those with their 'grandad privileges'
oh well.. next dream to work on then...
damn... was looking forward to the travelling life! kids will be gutted :(
------------- tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!
I agree with the payload problem we have a 6/7 berth van and the payload is very small that really we should get it re plated but we might manage as there are only 3 of us. We would never be legal with 6 people.
Tina...if having a large MH( or converted mobility bus?) to take all the kids away in, really is your dream,then just look into taking your C1 (?) test...
That way you'll be able to drive anything you're likely to look at....
Not cheap..but there again,buying a MH..and/or realising dreams, don't tend to be! .
have had a look....
max payload 3500
unladen weight.. 2600
we weigh 400 kg between us
any idea how much water and gas weighs??
have 500 kg to play with!!
i dont need an adapted van.. Asa only uses a chair when 'walking' , not for moving about.
and has been hard enough to convince OH that we can afford the blummin MH, let alone the grand that it will cost to get the fecking ability to drive fecking HGVs.. i HAVE a career.. i dont need to know how to drive fecking lorries.. nor do i want to
------------- tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!
Well,it sounds like I've offended you somewhere?(.. what with you not wanting to drive "fecking HGVs", as you "..HAVE a career"..and you "don't need to know how to drive fecking lorries"..?!
(.. The "converted mobility bus" idea,was just a thought as to a way of achieving your ends,in a comparatively inexpensive way..we have friends that have done just that..)
but hay ho...
You go ahead and realise "your dream" by going out and spending a shed load of cash on the first 3500kg,6 berth van, the salesman points you at...
no. not really
just annoyed that because of a stupid wrong life choice, i was unable to take my test before 97! and because of that i get treated like i need to know how to drive a lorry!
i dont want to do it for a job.. if i did, then i can understand needing a specific licence!
and now, when the family could really do with a bit of a dream coming true... it comes back to fecking haunt me!
(sorry.. not in a good place at the moment)
talk to me again at the end of the week.....
------------- tina xx
mum to 5 kids
DD-20
DS-16
DD-14
DD-9
DS-3 and a half!
and a large, daft, black dog!!
just be careful of the unladen weights as they basically include very little. An extra roof light may have been added, a tv , a mirror, flooring etc. Our laden weight is about 200kg over what the manufacturer says but it has an awning, oven, bike rack etc. If you see one you like take it to a weigh bridge to check the unladen weight for yourself.
My OH drives buses and bloomin 13 metre coaches for a living yets the DVLA have told her that she will have to take an an extra test if we ever get a motorhome heavier that what we have now. Its absolute madness, she can drive a whopping 15 tonne half a million pound luxury coach but a motorhome over 3500kgs its a no no no,
Stupidity and box ticking gone mad.
We have a 6 berth and have to watch our payloads but we have managed with the 5 of us and the 2 big dogs.
Anyhow back on track, we swapped our caravan and one of our cars last year for the motorhome and haven't looked back (well almost) We have since bought another second car but just a cheap banger as a spare as the motorhome was recently off the road for a week and we realised how much we actually need an extra car. The motorhome was ok to use as a second car but the diesel engines aren't really meant for little journeys, (we have since found out) We didn't find parking very difficult in the town we live in for it or anything like that but it did use a lot of diesel just doing little journeys too.
I love our motorhome and am so glad we bought it, we took a long time to decide on layouts but finally found the perfect one for us and able for us to both drive on our licences.
I was terrified the first time I drove it but my OH took me out for a practice in Morrisons car park and I drove it back and haven't looked back since, Once you get used to the width and the length its easy, although I admit i love having the reversing camera on when going backwards
Good luck.
Post last edited on 07/03/2012 16:40:50
------------- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
I haven't driven ours yet but I am determined to do it, the OH is going to give me some practice. I am glad I passed my test before '97 (just) and I feel for you, but if you look on the bright side at least if you have to do the test you will be confident!
We have 4 children and could not have got away with 3500kg, with taking all the bikes ect.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: was anyone worried/scared first time?
