Hi all,
due to pick up new van at end of next week , so have emptied our old one in anticipation .
Couldn't believe all the stuff we had collected in just over two years of vanning, and to be fair not stuff that we could do without.
Once it was all back in the garage I decided to weigh all the stuff and was surprised to find it all came in around the 100kg mark, add the calorlight gas bottle the motormover and Lesuire battery and it's coming in at around 160 kg.
My question is do you include the gas bottle and battery as extra weight or is it included in the vans weight as stated on the plate?
With modern 'vans a gas bottle is not part of the weight allowance, typically 150Kg, but most everything else is, including the battery. So a decent battery and motor mover eats right into your allowance.
------------- Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.
My handbook from Bailey says the following are included in the MRO (Mass in Running Order)
The Following Items are included in the MRO:
• LPG - The mass of the recommended gas storage tank(s) when filled to 100% of the permissible maximum capacity. A mass of 10 kg per cylinder is assumed and the number of cylinders is equal to the number of connections provided at the regulator.
• Fluids - The mass of the liquids normally remaining in the systems:
1. Water heater system –100% of the manufacturer stated travelling capacity
2. Central heating system – 100% of the mass of fluid in the system
3. Freshwater – 100% of the manufacturer stated travelling capacity (you must travel with all water tanks empty)
4. Waste water holding tank – empty
5. Toilet system flushing tank – 100% of the manufacturer stated travelling capacity
6. Toilet system holding tank – empty
7. Essential fluids for the use of any other items of standard or factory fitted optional equipment – 100% of the manufacturer stated
travelling capacity
• Electricity Supply
1. 4Kg for the low voltage connection cable
I may have commented about a caravan and seemingly unsuitable car on a holiday last August.
Van seemed rather heavy for the car and then the amount of stuff that came from the woodwork as they packed away.
Probably champion Tetris players?
Van thats borderline legal, large full awning with extensions and then the not so light reclining chairs and the bikes and.. etc etc etc..
It can soon add up even with the basics.
Depends what you call essentials, i guess we all have out essentials that others think you do not need that.
My ex- BIL used to take a rather large BBQ with its own 13kg gas bottle.
You didnt need to wonder where the cars rear wheels went when loaded up. They vanished up into the arches.
just had the same problem with my Geist car to caravan ratio totally wrong ,had to exchange it for a British made van that i know will eventually leak somewhere
Does it ever happen that an outfit gets pulled over and sent to a weighbridge? If so is it a fine or do you have to lighten the load before continuing?
I've never seen it or has it happened to me, whilst I wouldn't advocate overloading any vehicle I've yet to see a commercial weigh bridge that would be that accurate on something so light as a caravan especially when talking 20 or say 30 kgs.
You can up plate caravan to max axle rating which on a caravan with 1400kg mtplm will probably be 1500kg. Crawl underneath, axle weight will be stamped under middle of axle. This will give you more payload but obviously if doing this puts outfit over 3.5t combined mam then you need a B+E licence.
Dealer can do this so as not to affect warranty but on an older caravan there is no reason you cannot make up a new weight plate yourself.
Quote: Originally posted by Packidge on 16/5/2016
Does it ever happen that an outfit gets pulled over and sent to a weighbridge? If so is it a fine or do you have to lighten the load before continuing?
It does happen, i was a HGV driver for a while and got pulled in with caravans for spot checks. Ross-on-Wye A449/A40 layby was a popular one. Seen caravans parked up wioth no car attached.
When we changed our caravan last year we had a clear out. We had so many things 'just in case'.
We had a box of toys and games just in case the grandchildren called.
We had a box of extra cups, plates etc just in case too many visitors called at the same time.
We had extra sleeping bags, just in case.
I had lots of extra books, just in case I read all my others.(A Kindle will suffice in emergencies)
I have even cut down on extra clothes which I had just in case.
I cut down on shoes. I took quite a few pairs so I would have a choice,I always ended up wearing the same couple of pairs.( not at the same time of course)
It's surprising how much storage space we have now and of course less weight to carry.
We also carry all the food in the car now apart from the chilled items.
All the stuff from the washroom and under the sink is also carried in the car. Its surprising how much the shampoos, conditioner, sun tan lotions, Dettol, dog shampoo,make up, washing up liquid, bleach, washing liquid, etc weigh.
It doesn't take long to put them back when we arrive on site.
We also only have a smaller porch awning but still plenty big enough.
Weight is the most critical aspect of any vehicle - all calculations are based on this. Invest in a mobile weigh bar - they are good for small vehicles with a 3% +/- factor. Don't try to guess and don't trust weigh bridges, caravans are too light to be accurate. As a reasonable guide when you weigh the van to the max take a look at the position of the axle swing arm and mark it to show where it will be every time you load it. If it is Horizontal or parallel to the chassis it is a good indicator it is at the limit - above this means it could be overloaded - the rubbers do deteriorate with age so test it with a weigh bar - I use a Reich.
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Topic: Weighty question
