Having just had a mover fitted for health reasons and recently fitted (semi-permanently) a Fiamma canopy, I thought I should call in to the local public weighbridge on the way out to our week’s holiday last week to confirm that I was running legally. I was absolutely shocked! I always put most heavy items in the car where possible and thought we travelled relatively lightweight compared to others we often see loading to the gunnels, but it seems not. Our Ranger’s max weight allowed (MTPLM) is 1139kg. It weighed in at 1260kg - more than 10% overloaded!
Delivery weight (MRO) was (allegedly) 941kg which supposedly allows a total user payload of 198kg. Sadly manufacturers don’t factor in the weight of essential items like a battery, gas and spare wheel which come in at 27kg, 19kg and 18kg respectively. The canopy is 8kg, the mover is 37kg. I have started unloading the van and weighing everything. Clothes, shoes, some unused food items, cameras, radio, books, maps, 5l water container and chairs all total 70kg. Total so far of the above is 179kg.
I have yet to unload everything else so that I can take the van again to find the ACTUAL unladen weight so items like cooking pots, eating/drinking items, cutlery, electrical items and bedding have yet to be factored in.
So a great eye-opener that technically means we are not running a legal outfit which can’t continue. We will need to make even more use of our Mondeo’s payload than we do already but I weighed that too at the same time and thankfully was nowhere near the max allowed weight as it has a generous payload. Also we will consider if we really need to take so much stuff away!!
I have been towing for over 30 years and have had previous vans weighed but not this one. It’s a total surprise but the user payloads these days are fairly meagre. I have always tried to be a responsible caravanner in all ways but this definitely needs attending to.
SO, ARE YOU STREET LEGAL? HAVE YOU EVER WEIGHED YOUR OUTFIT? ARE YOU, LIKE I PRESUMABLY HAVE BEEN, LEAVING YOURSELF OPEN TO PROSECUTION OR EVEN INVALIDATING YOUR CAR AND/ORVAN INSURANCE IN THE EVENT OF AN INCIDENT?
Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 19/8/2010
I thought battery and gas were included in the MIRO figure, but I am probably mistaken.
Unfortunately not. It is Mass in Running Order not Living Order, If the manufacturer hasn't fitted it then it's additional. If these items and others were included they would be advertising much smaller payload availability figures which wouldn't look good. Some vans do come with spare wheels though.
Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 19/8/2010
I thought battery and gas were included in the MIRO figure, but I am probably mistaken.
MIRO is just the van as it leaves the factory, plus an allowance for some fluids apparently.
If you think about it.......there are many different types and weights of battery and gas bottle, so they could not be included. They are part of the so called "Essential Habitation Equipment".
However, as discussed recently on here, the definition of MIRO is to change soon, not that that will change the MTPLM.
We have always weighed everything including the following
2 full Calor lite bottles of gas are 20Kg
Battery (100amph) 25Kg
Motor mover 33Kg (there are lighter ones)
Fire extinguisher and fire blanket 3.15Kg
Total so far 81.15Kg which leaves us around 76ish Kg for pots/pans, bedding, clothes etc
If you don't check everything you can so easily end up over weight and illegal. Paul1950 I would not be surprised if quite a number travel overweight...especially when I see what comes out of some vans!!!
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
How old is your Ranger? It might be possible for you to have your MPTLM uprated without having anything to do except stick on a new weight plate at the side of the door! If you contact Bailey quoting your VIN they will advise you. If it is possible they will issue you with a new plate, certificate and revised tyre pressure information. Cost will be about £50.
I had mine uprated to 1300 kgs from 1058 (Ranger GT60 380/2).
Quote: Originally posted by Dragon44 on 19/8/2010
Paul,
How old is your Ranger? It might be possible for you to have your MPTLM uprated without having anything to do except stick on a new weight plate at the side of the door! If you contact Bailey quoting your VIN they will advise you. If it is possible they will issue you with a new plate, certificate and revised tyre pressure information. Cost will be about £50.
I had mine uprated to 1300 kgs from 1058 (Ranger GT60 380/2).
Good luck - let us know how you get on.
Al
That's very interesting. I knew upgrades were possible but assumed it meant uprating suspension, etc. I will definitely contact Bailey and will report back. It would be £50 well spent.
the weight of caravans and motor homes is about to change,essential equipment is going to be included in the weight of the van ,details in this months c,c,c, mag,
just a note ,article in the sunderland echo 18/08/10 durham police are going to be checking vans on the A1,either this weekend or next,checking weights etc.
weighed my sterling europa 540 recently and it came in at 1510kg - 10 kg too heavy for its max weight of 1500 kg. I was very surprised that is was overweight so i am now going through the van lobbing out anything i do not actually need (except my beer lol). So far i have dumped spare bed sheets (if ones in van get dirty, buy some more), some broken kids toys (why that was not done earlier is a mystery), magazines i am bored of reading, spare set of crockery (plastic but must weigh something), excess bars of soap (5 bars a bit ott for a family of 4) etc etc etc. I recon europa after diet will weigh about 600kg - or am i maybe dreaming But it will lose at leat the 10 kg we were overweight so no worries :-)
------------- Why am i doing this instead of camping??!!
It's a worthy exercise to weigh your van and it's good to read Paul1950's honesty on his findings.
I've weighed both current and previous vans and am comfortably within my payload, but as Phil's mentioned, I'm sure there are many who could be over on weight.
How old is your Ranger? It might be possible for you to have your MPTLM uprated without having anything to do except stick on a new weight plate at the side of the door! If you contact Bailey quoting your VIN they will advise you. If it is possible they will issue you with a new plate, certificate and revised tyre pressure information. Cost will be about £50.
I had mine uprated to 1300 kgs from 1058 (Ranger GT60 380/2).
Good luck - let us know how you get on. Al
Hi Al. As you asked the question, does the question of the age of a van have something to do with the ability to be able to uprate the van? In view of this post, I will be checking my fully laden van weight. If I am 'over', as my van is only just a tad over 12 months old, am I less likely to be given an uprate?
David
Oury first Bailey (Ranger S5 470/4) was allowed a plate upgrade from 1179 mtplm to 1250 mtplm.
On our Pageant S7 Bretagne & Pegasus 524 neither of them are allowed a weight upgrade, so unfortunately with the larger single axle vans you have less leeway, shame as I have a 1825kg car with a 2000kg tow weight.
When I asked Bailey, it is only the smaller single axle & the twin axle vans that were upgradeable :-(
Hi Al. As you asked the question, does the question of the age of a van have something to do with the ability to be able to uprate the van? In view of this post, I will be checking my fully laden van weight. If I am 'over', as my van is only just a tad over 12 months old, am I less likely to be given an uprate?
David,
Sorry, it was just that was sure the current breed of Rangers could be uprated, having done it myself. I don't think there would be a problem at any age to be honest.
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Topic: Weighbridge visit,what a shock! Pse read!
But it will lose at leat the 10 kg we were overweight so no worries :-) 
