Adding a towbar increases garage load capacity...

[Lucky]

According to a posting on the Dethleffs Owners Facebook page, Dethleffs has stated that a factory fitted towbar with chassis extensions on a Fiat low chassis INCREASES garage load capacity of a Pulse from 150 kg to 250kg.

I kind of understand because the floor might be better supported but I'd expect Dethleffsbut did not would caveat that comment by saying the towbar and chassis extensions will also detract from the overall payload, which itself is split across the front and rear axles. Moreover you should check your rear axle loading at a weighbridge before assuming you can safely put 250kg in your garage.

Am I being overly critical of the advice being given by Dethleffs or am I just plain wrong?

On the upside, I never knew you could increase your garage load so easily.

 

[pappajohn]

I suppose, in that case, by adding the uprated extensions you can increase the garage capacity without the additional weight of the towbar.
The towbar itself has no bearing whatsoever on increasing the garage capacity.

 

[Lucky]

Fair point.

I understand the original query was whether adding a towbar would DECREASE garage load capacity, and the reply to the contrary raised eyebrows.

As you say, maybe the chassis extensions are the key.

 

[pappajohn]

Yes, it will be the extensions alone as they will have to take the weight of towbar, all towing forces plus any nose weight of a trailer.

I reckon if you were to fit extensions AND a towbar you may gain 50kg of payload, not the claimed 100kg as the heavier brackets and towbar have to be taken into account.

 

[Guffy60]

Sunlight confirmed the same on our T68, and SAP agreed, as the chassis extensions now more robust because of the additional metal added as part of the tow bracket.

as confirmed above, unless you’ve upgraded from standard 3500kg weight, their may be no benefit at all. And on a long van, who wants all that weight at the back!

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[tonka]

I assume that as the factory are fitting the towbar then they uprate the chassis extensions, giving the garage floor more strength. You may well be able to put more weight on the garage floor BUT you still need to see how that reflects on the rear axle weights.

 

[Lucky]

I believe the following pics show a Fiat lightweight low camper chassis, and the reinforcement brought by the towbar.

 

[dunnah01]

I believe the following pics show a Fiat lightweight low camper chassis, and the reinforcement brought by the towbar.

View attachment 509417

View attachment 509418

That looks more like the Alko heavy chassis

 

[Lucky]

Quote possibly my mistake, I Googled an image