Motorhome Rear Axle Overloaded

[funflair]

Have you not seen the new Unihome?

It's OK but when you switch off the "gyro" stops and it falls over if you haven't got the jacks down, don't let it stall

Martin

 

[Sandancers]

The first site clearly states they do not accept continental caravans, the second clearly states in the 3rd to last paragraph “Caravans with the door on the right/hand side are not permitted, and the last one shows there clearly is a problem or they would not ask you to call them. I saw others when I was booking last night but these are just examples, there is something about right hand doors and if it relates to a caravan what is different to a Motorhome they can both go in either way?

I can only share what I have seen and it is in clear writing on the screenshots I posted above! And yes one was in Nottinghamshire to show its not just Wales and one showing the Caravan and Camping Club so spread across the lot!

We are driving a MotorHome not a caravan !!! I repeat, we have NEVER been asked which side our hab door is on.

The instances you quote above refer to caravans. Maybe you should start a post with the question "In the UK has anyone been REFUSED access to a campsite because they are driving a Motorhome with the hab door on the drivers side". Maybe ask any respondents who have suffered this discrimination to state which sites do refuse us.

 

[CazPaul]

No need to apologise, I assumed that as you had queried the load rating on CasPaul's tyres to achieve his rear axle rating that you were not aware of his van having 4 wheels on a single axle and I for my part should have stated it was on a single axle rather than "the axle".

Many thanks, you've saved me replying.

 

[gus-lopez]

We are driving a MotorHome not a caravan !!! I

Caravan = motorhome.
The one I posted which is a hugely popular site, for what reason I have no idea as it is like Soweto when you drive past,specifically excludes any motorhome with a door on the off side.
Why I have no idea as they pack them in so tight , & with tents in spaces in betwen, you wouldn't want to try & get out if there was a fire.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

When I bought my new Hymer I thought I should weigh it , so went to the local bridge and they were explicit about how to do it. Front wheels onto the front edge, drive over and rear wheels to the far edge. I hoped he knew why but did that and the resultant was 4250kgs, for a 3500 base van???????????????? Oh Please! I went to our tip which is not a cretified publice bridge and they did it for me and the total was 3520kgs. The first one I was playing see saw with a steel weigh bridge and trying to lift the other end of the bridge at both weighings. To get an semi accurate (50ton Bridge) you need to drive on all the way until the rear wheels are not quite on it and then the same with the front wheels Just off the front, that way the weighing is almost true and a LOT lighter than done at the extreme ends.. I felt sick when I got the first weighing as it was empty at that high weight. Make sure when you do weigh it that it is correctly done. The two ends should be almost the same as a total weight with both given tolerances all round.

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[CazPaul]

I took it that yours was single hence the reference to just the weight divided by 2 on the rear axle, purely my error Anyway the info may be of help to others, I have just learned all this in my recent motorhome search, its good to share experiences and info

Just for clarification here is the van, huge payload for 6.48 metre length, GVW 4900kg. Shame you can't see the twin rear wheels.

 

[596]

Just for clarification here is the van, huge payload for 6.48 metre length, GVW 4900kg. Shame you can't see the twin rear wheels. View attachment 344483View attachment 344486View attachment 344486

It’s just the angle you took the pic at ?

 

[Grianan]

Just for clarification here is the van, huge payload for 6.48 metre length, GVW 4900kg. Shame you can't see the twin rear wheels. View attachment 344483View attachment 344486View attachment 344486

Lovely van what model is it?

 

[CazPaul]

Double post

 

[CazPaul]

It’s just the angle you took the pic at ?

Here you go I've just nipped out

Lovely van what model is it?

Concorde Concerto Iveco 3 litre, it's like driving a racing car.

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[596]

Here you go I've just nipped out

Concorde Concerto Iveco 3 litre, it's like driving a racing car.

View attachment 344488

I want one!

 

[Louis]

I must say I was surprised when trying to book campsites in Wales, they have an awful lot of rules, it looked like it was one huge Caravan and Motorhome club country, maybe its just the Welsh being racist and twin axleish, I have heard that you don't mess with Welsh women so maybe its them making the rules, I will be on my best behaviour there in my tag axle German van on my stag do with mix breed banned dogs

WTF Swift motorhomes are banned in North Wales, and you also need your passport + Both your Grandparents Have to accompany you on trips longer than one night ??

 

[596]

We've been on loads of campsites over our years with the MH and NEVER been asked which side the Hab door is on (ours is continental).

I know some of you with doors on the wrong side are getting rattled because its only just dawning on you that you can't get into a lot of UK sites but don't worry! I have just spoke with a contact at Swift, they make motorhomes with doors on the proper side, all UK legal AND are experts in holes in motorhomes, so if anyone could do without say your cooker and perhaps full height fridge freezer then Swift are happy to cut a hole in your motorhome and fix in another door for you You would then have Bi opening doors and welcome anywhere

For further details visit their site here:
www. bodgeitgrabitandlegit. co.uk

 

[596]

WTF Swift motorhomes are banned in North Wales, and you also need your passport + Both your Grandparents Have to accompany you on trips longer than one night ??

My grandparents have been dead for centuries as have my parents, what the hell is that about, I'm going for 4 nights, 5 days We are having Christmas at my wife parents North of Birmingham, I am with them for 6 bldy weeks in the summer and would rather not have them with us in Wales even if they authorised only them

 

[CazPaul]

I want one!

You can have ours, apparently I have just heard we are banned from all sites

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[Vipar]

Thank you all for this post as of now I will keep my wallet in the glovebox not in the garage. That should keep me legal. Should be ok on the home bound trip as wifey will have spent most of my/our money on ? in the shops.

 

[Jonno1103]

Motorhomes. It's a funny old world isn't it?

A, no one trusts the dealers.
B, no one trusts the sales teams.
C, no one trusts the manufactures.
D, no one trusts the build quality.

... but thousands of people still run out and spend thousands on them and thousands of us still flock to the shows collectively spending even more thousands to essentially window shop.

Personally I wouldn't trust half the buyers. They want what they want not want they need and expect someone else to be responsible for making it happen.

My sister & her husband bought a Swift Bolero, 4.25t with a 900 kg payload fitted with a 2.3 130bhp engine... I told him he needed more power, the salesman agreed... not him, he felt the guy was just trying to get him to spend more money, (cue outbursts of money grabbing dealers etc etc)

Now he complains that it struggles on some hills and is slow thus thinks the van is crap. The only person at fault here is him, no one else, afterall he was offered what he needed and was encouraged to go for it... but he got what he wanted and now tells all who will listen how crap the van is.

 

[CazPaul]

Winter tyres too; nice!

Ian

Well spotted, Toyo H09.

 

[Lenny HB]

A bit selfish when neighbours can then only see you coming in and out, typical me me me generation ?

Makes life more enjoyable make friends with the neighbours and enjoy a few beers together.

Now I know why sites are clamping down on foreign vehicles, enough is enough, we are getting our sites back ?

Perhaps French sites should ban British vans, how would you feel about that?

 

[596]

G

Perhaps French sites should ban British vans, how would you feel about that?

FANTASTIC can’t stand it there ?????

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[Lenny HB]

G

FANTASTIC can’t stand it there ?????

I thought France was the only place you went with your van.

 

[596]

I thought France was the only place you went with your van.

It IS! And I only got the van to go there, if I didn’t HAVE to go I wouldn’t need a motorhome ?

9yrs, yes 9yrs of hell going every year for 6 weeks, it’s like watching your life ebbing away, foreign people, foreign food, foreign ways of driving, foreign heat, foreign language, foreign insects/creatures, foreign ways of doing things British is BEST ?

 

[TinaLes]

Back to the rear axle weight problem just for a moment please, I have some questions that maybe someone can help to clarify for me, standby for some seemingly naive drivel, but I am playing the sacrificial lamb so to speak.
What is the main factor that determines the Max Rear Axle weight?
1. Knowing that Alko Chassis, are popular and are assembled just like an adults Mechano Kit in that they have main spars with cross sections that are all mechanically bolted together, what is it that separates the "light" from the "heavy"? is it the gauge/size of the galvanised steel used or do they just add more support spars?

2.What is main characteristic determining the rear axle weight between the standard 2000KG & 2250KG is it the cart springs the van is running on? I ask this because as we know fitting air assist rear air bags can uprate the rear axle via the likes of SV Tech certification from 2000KG to 2250KG.on the standard cart springs.
Therefore could the rear axle weight be further increased from say 2250KG to say 3000KG by uprating the cart springs to heavier gauge ones?

I know the wheels and tyres play a major part also, but lets just assume that they will be or could be uprated, as its the chassis/rear axle weight I am more interested in knowing about, and what aspects are considered in determining the rear axel weights.

Sympathies & Thanks to all that are not having to endure Strictly Come Prancing on the tele just now and be absconded LIKE ME to another room, whilst their OH gets their weekly fix
Les

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I

I didn’t see a difference between a caravan and a motorhome, it was the door issue, just because you have an engine fitted why should it make any difference, an o/s door is an o/s door, it’s all about privacy, nobody wants someone else’s door opening to theirs it’s just not right, at least where I go in France the pitches are huge and everyone around me is British with British vans so no conflict, maybe there should be an area out of the way at sites to accommodate the foreign opening motorhomes, seems sensible and then wouldn’t affect the majority, a bit like a dog only area ?

All my vans have the “wrong hab door” and never, ever had a problem.
There is a difference between a continental Hobby/Tabbert/Fendt caravan as seen in your local Sainsbury’s car park surrounded by rubbish and my Le Voyageur/someone’s Concorde/someone else’s Frankia tag axle and I am really sorry if you cannot see that, as clearly caravan site owners can.......

 

[Jim]

I think most buyers go through the buying process without asking or being aware of payload.


I have two aims here; the first is to enlighten people (excuse the pun) about what payload they might realistically need. And second to make people so aware of payload that dealers will place payload details on all showroom signs because they will become so peed off with being asked “ What’s the payload on this one “

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[DuxDeluxe]

I actually think that some people are regretting buying foreign vehicles now as they are being turned away from UK sites for having O/S doors

no they are not being turned away from UK sites. Not in the real world outside of your brochures anyway. Even the caravan club let me on their precious sites

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I think most buyers go through the buying process without asking or being aware of payload.


I have two aims here; the first is to enlighten people (excuse the pun) about what payload they might realistically need. And second to make people so aware of payload that dealers will place payload details on all showroom signs because they will become so peed off with being asked “ What’s the payload on this one “

Spot on, Jim.
ignorance is not bliss....... purchased the most recent van with layout and payload as the principle considerations. At the end of the day, they are the only two things that matter

 

[596]

I think most buyers go through the buying process without asking or being aware of payload.


I have two aims here; the first is to enlighten people (excuse the pun) about what payload they might realistically need. And second to make people so aware of payload that dealers will place payload details on all showroom signs because they will become so peed off with being asked “ What’s the payload on this one “

GREAT job Jim, I like to think I am switched on but even I was had over when I bought my first one 9yrs ago (that is because it was downplated and I didn’t know, no weight shown in V5C, see attached), I drove it for 9yrs going by the weight shown in the manual which was 350kg more than it was, not dangerous as it was only a paper escercise to down plate. Here are the parts of the 2 V5C’s of both vehicles which shows what I mean.

Maybe now the weight is shown things will improve, I just had my new one upgraded to 4,850kg just waiting for the new V5C to be returned by the DVLA ?

 

[lunarman]

596 what does the v5c show as maximum permissable mass in section F1?

 

[Jonno1103]

My brand spanking new V5 has the Mass in Service as 2863, Roller Team publish 2865.

I have two aims here; the first is to enlighten people (excuse the pun) about what payload they might realistically need. And second to make people so aware of payload that dealers will place payload details on all showroom signs because they will become so peed off with being asked “ What’s the payload on this one “

What I find vague is that when you choose factory fitted cost options the advertised MIRO doesn't change. For Instance Fiat's new 9 speed auto box adds 19 kg to the mass in service and so far I've only seen it shown in Weinsberg's new brochures which comprehensively lists the weight of everything available.
Roller Team have removed all payloads from the new brochure and price lists whereas before they even gave the weights of their winter and driver option packs.

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