Interesting post thank you. You have just done what I am doing our van has to have everything out including soft furnishings to go back to manufacturer. My husband read your post and his words were someone else has my problem with stuff I put in the van. I will never hear the last of this. ha ha
Every piece of "caravanning" equipment/gear we carry in the van we use. Every item of clothing we take with us we don't use....there must be a lesson in there somewhere but I'll be dammed if the wife can find it...
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
I have weighed every thing so not much, when we did swap our van last I took everything out, and the comment I got was your not putting all that back in the new van, well I didnt put every thing back, the first weekend we were away, he needed a some of the stuff I wasnt allowed to put back in, now I take no notice, lesson learnt, he doesnt tell me what I put in the van.
Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 12/11/2011
Every piece of "caravanning" equipment/gear we carry in the van we use. Every item of clothing we take with us we don't use....there must be a lesson in there somewhere but I'll be dammed if the wife can find it...
Hi, It’s surprising how all the small things, that have very little weight to them soon accumulate, and it is very easy to exceed your maximum pay load without realizing it, I have a very limited pay load and keep a close eye on what is needed in van, I have a large plastic storage box with wheels, that I keep all the other van equipment in including spare parts for van, this box goes in car on every trip. I use a list(Excel spread sheet) all equipment on this, and formula calculates all weight into van. Be lost without it.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Yep, can completely sympathise, we emptied ours last weekend. was shocked at the amount of crap we cart about, although I did find some dvds the kids had lost down the back of the bunk beds!!
We managed to fill our camping trailer, our friends daughters suzuki alto (parked on our drive until she passes her test) and half our bedroom with "essentials", It definitely isnt going back in the new motorhome.
On the other hand I decided we need a new bbq as our cadac is on its last legs
------------- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Hi, It’s surprising how all the small things, that have very little weight to them soon accumulate, and it is very easy to exceed your maximum pay load without realizing it, I have a very limited pay load and keep a close eye on what is needed in van, I have a large plastic storage box with wheels, that I keep all the other van equipment in including spare parts for van, this box goes in car on every trip. I use a list(Excel spread sheet) all equipment on this, and formula calculates all weight into van. Be lost without it.
I also use an excel spreadsheet/inventory which includes every single thing we have in the van. I use mine for insurance purposes, and also has the date of purchase and cost - it ensures I get the correct cover for contents at renewal time.
However, I don't use my spreadsheed for weight, preferring to visit a weighbridge at least once a year, as the contents of our van varies very little. I feel that the problem with weighing ever single item is that if your scales are slightly out, then as they are out for every time you weigh an item, the 'degree of inaccuracy' is magnified in relation to the number of items you weigh - if you see what I mean!.
We are also preparing to change 'vans in a few weeks so have been slowly emptying our current 'van.
From the wet locker came two jacks, the Alko one that came with the 'van (so will go with it!) and a scissor jack. A tub of clothes pegs that haven't been used for probably ten years but have been in all 'vans since nonetheless.
In the gas locker two steady winders ... again the one that came with the 'van will go with it. A bag of wooden blocks and a tow rope I'd forgotten were there. Two full bottles of loo chemicals and a two and a half bottles of flush additive (surely one of each would suffice!).
Inside dishes for six (we are only two). Stacks of pots including a frying pan which we would never use. A whistling kettle likewise.
Towels that could dry off an army.
Etc etc ... I am determined to be more ruthless when our Sterling arrives!
------------- 2020 Volvo XC60 B5 R Design Geartronic / 2018 Swift Elegance 580
Hi David, not thought of using list for insurance purposes, though could adapt the All Caravan Equipment list to include dates and prices. Know what you mean about the scales, Have a 1 kilo measured weight, and set scales with it (bathroom/hand held luggage type) so pretty accurate overall, any weight just over a few grams I allow 1/2kg, so in theory I should always be under my weight, I do the same weigh the van once a year or more, and have it checked against my list, have always been slightly over in my weight list, by about 5kg, only draw back with that is I am tempted to put a few more cases of beer in there.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Hi Iain, If you cut your dishes and glasses down to two, and you have other caravaner’s visit for a wee drink, just ask them to bring their own glasses, this will serve two purposes, 1 it will save on your weight, 2 it will save you having to wash up all the glasses.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Hi David, not thought of using list for insurance purposes, though could adapt the All Caravan Equipment list to include dates and prices. Know what you mean about the scales, Have a 1 kilo measured weight, and set scales with it (bathroom/hand held luggage type) so pretty accurate overall, any weight just over a few grams I allow 1/2kg, so in theory I should always be under my weight, I do the same weigh the van once a year or more, and have it checked against my list, have always been slightly over in my weight list, by about 5kg, only draw back with that is I am tempted to put a few more cases of beer in there.
Thought beer was included in the essential habitation allowance
Very little spare in ours. We do keep a couple of spare toothbrushes in case we forget to take ours. And a spare ball of string. You can never have enough string.
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Topic: How much excess weight?
8 bottles of Avon skin so soft. 
Just a few for a rainy day.
