Hi everyone, this subject is a key one for me. When I bought my Sterling Eccles / Amber was told my MTPLM - declared ( please excuse the jargon) was 1298kg. Which included an allowance of 205kg for user payload. As we have a motor mover and Air con fitted and after allowing for gas, aqua roll etc. we have little left for clothes. However after reading the warranty and service booklet I have discovered by accident that there is also a MTPLM - possible of 1350kg. This gives an extra 52kg of user payload. I rang up sterling manufactures and was told I would need to upgrade the plate. I asked what did that entail as I envisage a substantial amount of engineering to take place. The lady said it was the weight ID plate which is stuck near the wheel arch. So all I need to do is get a 2" square plate stating the MTPLM is 1350 kg and I can go up to that weight. How bizzare, surely caravans should be marked as being capable of this weight in the sales brochure. Has anyone else come across this and what is the real purpose of this discrepancy.
Not heard of this with caravans before but have read of motorhomes being re-plated. I don't think it's a question of just shoving another plate on but not sure what it entails. Will be interested in replies.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
Yes I have heard of this but not sure how you go about it.I thought it was something you had to request when it was built.
How much do your mover and air-con weigh? We have spare wheel,omnivent and alarm fitted as extras over our standard spec,and a mover , but not air-con. With sensible packing it should be possible not to be overweight, but you will need to carry a bit of stuff in the car. I presume there are only 2 of you so you should have plenty of room in the car. We only carry in the van the stuff we actually use in the van, i.e. not the awning, aquaroll, outside furniture, wheelclamp etc,etc.
Hi, motor mover and air con weigh 70kg. 110 amp battery which was recommended as we had a motor mover weighs 25kg.
We have ordered a new plate from the dealers who seem to be aware of the process. If the caravan is capable of the weight why not put it on in the first place.
Yes there are only two of us, but we are touring Europe for 6 months so are taking everything but the kitchen sink ( already one of those in the van)
Thanks for that, I think the tyres will need a little more air, but the nose weight will need to stay the same so the extra weight will need to be packed carefully
Hi Scubadiver , what i'm on about is the tyres have a max load written on the side wall , you need to check the tyres can cope with the extra weight ie if your tyre said max load 650kg , you'd times it by two for a single axle caravan and end up with 1300kg , 50kg short . Also the hitches have different loads that they can pull / carry , so you need to make sure your hitch coupling is rated above 1350kg , this should be stamped on the htich head somewhere .
> if the caravan is capable of the weight why not put it on in the first place. <
Marketing. If they would, they would loose part of the market.
It had to do with what you are allowed to drive with with driving licence B in European countries.
Driving licence B in most European countries limit the weight of the trailer to the actual weight of the tow car.
Hence when giving the maximum weight a number of driver cannot tow that caravan anymore.
So they do fit a heavier axle, but give lower specs on the plate, but they do give the heavier weight as, fre, option when buying the van.
Some even give three options 1000, 1100 and 1200 kgs. Or 1100, 1200 and 1300, as these weights do for many cars.
If you decide for another weight after the sale it will cost you the adeministration cost, but most manufacturers still cooperate in adapting the little specification plate. As it has to be official, with official documents (for the authorities), it costs more compared to immediate choice on sale.
Overhere in the Netherlands these options are normal. Just for driving licence purposes. Most vans have a relatively heavy axle anyways, as it is cheaper for the manufacturer to use just one or two types of axles.
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Topic: Weight Limits
