3500kg motorhome

[Rogerlathbury]

Hi all, as only have B1 licence can only drive up to 3500kg motorhome.
Need a 4 berth and would like an A class. However payloads are very small, if we leave off a spare wheel and awning this saves substantially on weight.
Who thinks this is sensible, or do we really need these extras?

 

[TUCANO]

Carry a spare tyre if not a whole wheel, do without an awning if you can find a van without one, as I luckily did. However, lots of people have lots of different ideas, enjoy yourselves.

 

[MikeD]

You won't need a spare wheel but it might come in handy one day.

Awning - depends where you want to holiday in it. Anywhere near the med and you will be happy to have some shade.

Some site/pitches are a bit exposed and can be a bit hot in the warmer months.

 

[Phill D]

awning is a luxury you may or may not want, and could certainly live without.
A spare wheel is a bit of a hot potato dependent on your point of view. lots of vans do not come with a spare wheel.

one thing we all agree on is that the goo that is supplied by the manufacturers is next to useless, so whatever you choose to do about a spare wheel dont rely on that stuff.

as a matter of interest i do not carry a spare wheel.

 

[Phill D]

there ive done it now.... i'm doomed to have a puncture next time out...

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[busby]

An awning rail and a slide in sunshade is much lighter than an awning..BUSBY.

 

[MisterB]

i wouldnt be without a spare wheel, though lots of vehicles come without one. as for an awning, it all depends on how and where you use your MH. have you considered taking the additional test for a C1 licence? surely it cant be that difficult and onerous?

 

[Rogerlathbury]

Carry a spare tyre if not a whole wheel, do without an awning if you can find a van without one, as I luckily did. However, lots of people have lots of different ideas, enjoy yourselves.

Most new continental mh's come without, so can save a bit of money as well as weight !

 

[Rogerlathbury]

An awning rail and a slide in sunshade is much lighter than an awning..BUSBY.

Mmmm there's an idea !!

 

[Phill D]

i wouldnt be without a spare wheel, though lots of vehicles come without one. as for an awning, it all depends on how and where you use your MH. have you considered taking the additional test for a C1 licence? surely it cant be that difficult and onerous?

its the cost i believe it come in at about a £1k as its classed as goods vehicle training.

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[Rogerlathbury]

i wouldnt be without a spare wheel, though lots of vehicles come without one. as for an awning, it all depends on how and where you use your MH. have you considered taking the additional test for a C1 licence? surely it cant be that difficult and onerous?

I'm diabetic, just spend the last 5 months getting it reinstated without success.......don't get me started on the subject of the DVLA

 

[TUCANO]

Mmmm there's an idea !!

Exactly as I have.

 

[DangerMousy]

An awning rail and a slide in sunshade is much lighter than an awning..BUSBY.

We don't bother with an awning....we just have a length of awning rail stuck to the side of the MH and use a Decathlon tarp with a length of kador strip sewed down one side. Makes a good sunshade, and not so sensitive to winds either

 

[Phill D]

Mmmm there's an idea !!

we have the windout awning like lots of others , i would just go for the awning railby choice on a new van now .

 

[DangerMousy]

Here's a picture of our previous MH with the tarp: https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/the-no-awning-option.177274/page-2#post-2876732

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[Larrynwin]

We have a 3500kg limitation so to save weight don’t have an awning but carry a 2.4m sunshade and a water filled /weighted plastic stand and also carry a spare tyre no wheel.
To give us a chance of saving tyres in case of puncture we have Tyrepal pressure monitor which in the event of a loss of pressure on the move I can stop before the tyre is trashed and other damage done.
We do a frame a car in U.K. and use it as a trailer for loungers etc when in tow.

 

[pappajohn]

If you go to France you NEED a spare and the tyre must match whatever is already fitted.
If you damage a tyre making it useless they will insist on fitting a matching pair of new tyres.

 

[Lenny HB]

About the only A Class you stand a chance with is an Hymer Exsis i474, even then you are going to have to travel light. It only has 700 kg payload before you add any extras.
IMO a spare wheel is essential, awning you can live without.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you go to France you NEED a spare and the tyre must match whatever is already fitted.
If you damage a tyre making it useless they will insist on fitting a matching pair of new tyres.

Same in Spain.

 

[Rogerlathbury]

We have a 3500kg limitation so to save weight don’t have an awning but carry a 2.4m sunshade and a water filled /weighted plastic stand and also carry a spare tyre no wheel.
To give us a chance of saving tyres in case of puncture we have Tyrepal pressure monitor which in the event of a loss of pressure on the move I can stop before the tyre is trashed and other damage done.
We do a frame a car in U.K. and use it as a trailer for loungers etc when in tow.

From comments seems logical to carry spare wheel or just tyre and no awning but have a parasol with stand

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[Jimbohorlicks]

You can always add a small trailer to carry your heavier stuff.
If you buy a van with an awning you can always take it off, seal the bolts etc and refit it when you sell it on.

 

[Rogerlathbury]

About the only A Class you stand a chance with is an Hymer Exsis i474, even then you are going to have to travel light. It only has 700 kg payload before you add any extras.
IMO a spare wheel is essential, awning you can live without.

We've looked at the Hymer (at Travel World) also some of the Pilote Galaxy have reasonable payload.

 

[Rogerlathbury]

You can always add a small trailer to carry your heavier stuff.
If you buy a van with an awning you can always take it off, seal the bolts etc and refit it when you sell it on.

Then need a tow bar, not sure how much extra weight that would be

 

[M-J]

Budget?

Forget the awning unless you mean a wind in/out canopy.

 

[Rogerlathbury]

If you go to France you NEED a spare and the tyre must match whatever is already fitted.
If you damage a tyre making it useless they will insist on fitting a matching pair of new tyres.

Ouch !!!

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[Rogerlathbury]

Budget?

Forget the awning unless you mean a wind in canopy.

Wind out canopy, Sorry only following description from dealer

 

[Rogerlathbury]

You can always add a small trailer to carry your heavier stuff.
If you buy a van with an awning you can always take it off, seal the bolts etc and refit it when you sell it on.

Good plan

 

[Speve]

Then need a tow bar, not sure how much extra weight that would be

You would be able to negate the weight of the towbar by loading kit in the trailer that’s probably your best option in your situation, we regularly tow a car trailer with our Hymer B678 DL but have a really good payload.
there are those that would say a trailer is a pain when finding a site but not in our experience and we do winter in Spain regularly.
Good luck with your quest??

 

[M-J]

Many weight specs include driver, water, fuel, gas bottle so you might not need as much as you think.

Our factory payload info also includes the canopy so worth checking.

 

[Speve]

Many weight specs include driver, water, fuel, gas bottle so you might not need as much as you think.

Our factory payload info also includes the canopy so worth checking.

As said in many other threads though never believe factory payload figures as they are invariably wrong it’s always best to insist on a weigh bridge ticket before buying with individual axle weights??