Can a 2.3 really cope?

[Grasmere9]

Lots of the 6 berths I have looked at are 2.3 and I am struggling to believe that something that big can cope up hills and mountains with a small engine. Any words of wisdom?!

 

[Langtoftlad]

It's not the berths but the overall weight...
...I have 3850 PVC with a 2.2 130pw engine... it rattles along just fine.

 

[Lenny HB]

The Fiat 2.3 Lt comes in various power ouputs, 120 bhp, 140 bhp, 160 bhp & 180 bhp, older ones are 130, 150 & 180.
I have a 150 in a 4500kg van it's fine.

 

[Jim]

Looking at 6 berths you should be more interested in the payload than the engine size. Most six berth vans I've seen don't have enough payload for a family of four, let alone six. Be careful

 

[tonka]

I had an Autotrail 700 new back in 2012. 4250kg 6 berth. Ran close to max weight most of the time.
Did almost 40k in 2 years including 2 trips to Morocco up and down the atlas mountains etc. Many trips to Spain. Could not fault it, pulled ok and apart from a fault on the EGR sensor never let me down.

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[Grasmere9]

We are a family of 3 and two dogs. We may take a friend along for our son occasionally.

 

[Grasmere9]

The Fiat 2.3 Lt comes in various power ouputs, 120 bhp, 140 bhp, 160 bhp & 180 bhp, older ones are 130, 150 & 180.
I have a 150 in a 4500kg van it's fine.

Thanks

 

[VXman]

I found myself in the wronglane at traffic lights going onto the motorway slip road. I thought I was in my sports car and decided to do a grand prix start to beat the car to my left to the slip road. Very impressed with the acceleration of my 140bhp Ducato.

Ours is weighted to 4350 and loaded up with motorbike, cycles and all the rest and I have never found it lacking power.

These engines are optimised for motorhomes and have plenty of torque. It's all about size!

 

[Lenny HB]

These engines are optimised for motorhomes and have plenty of torque. It's not all about size!

I think you meant to say that.

 

[Guigsy]

I had a smaller 2007 Ducato van that was about 3t fully loaded with a tired 120 engine. Charging up the passes in the Alps, Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada, I could rev out 3rd gear (about 50mph) pretty much everywhere. The issue was normally nerve on the bends rather than lack of power. There's bit of a large gap to 4th gear, which is a bit more of an issue on the really steep stuff.

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[cmcardle75]

Lots of the 6 berths I have looked at are 2.3 and I am struggling to believe that something that big can cope up hills and mountains with a small engine. Any words of wisdom?!

No problem at all. My 4500kg riot van is a 150bph 2.3 and managed to go up and down Porlock Hill towing a 3 tonne trailer. Total weight about 7 tonnes. I've no idea what the official top speed is, but when driving solo by 70mph it feels like it has just started to get going and would easily go on to do a ton. Most 6 berth motorhomes will come plated at a full 1000kg less than this (whether they are practical at that max weight is another matter).

Remember that due to technology changes (especially sequential turbocharging), engine sizes are much smaller than back in the 1970s and 1980s for the same vehicles. 2.3 is actually a very large engine by today's standards. The majority of cars are now 1.5 litre or smaller, often producing the same 150bph that my 2.3 diesel produces. Only large luxury makes and 4x4s tend to go over 2 litres.

 

[bobnick]

My new one has a 2,2 165 BHP. It went great for 15 miles.......................no hills though.

 

[Al n Val]

180 bhp auto and 5000kgs

no probs whatsoever, up and over the Pyrenees is a doddle

 

[Ingwe]

 

[G7UXG]

2.3 litre 180hp on a 5 ton tag axle. I was apprehensive having had the 3-litre in a few motorhomes previously. Pleasantly surprised. It’s no problem at all. Doesn’t even feel stressed.

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[Cheshirecat57]

We are a family of 3 and two dogs. We may take a friend along for our son occasionally.

Payload

Ignore any advice or warnings on payload at your peril

 

[Gizmouk]

It's the torque that takes you up the hill.

Put another way ...
Power determines how fast you hit the vehicle in front, torque determines how far you push it down the road.

 

[Grasmere9]

Payload

Ignore any advice or warnings on payload at your peril

So....may sound stupid here but how do we know what payload we should be looking for?

 

[wiljoy]

I've had a 2.3 (150bhp) for over 7 years now. It's plated at 4250kgs and pulls car on trailer. Ample power and good mpg. It all depends how flat you drive with your right foot.

 

[cmcardle75]

So....may sound stupid here but how do we know what payload we should be looking for?

Firstly, find out what its max permissable mass is. It is probably 3500kg. If it is higher than this, make sure all drivers have C1 category licence.

Next negotiate with a weighbridge to get your vehicle weighed for free. Scrapyards are good places for this. If you want a printout, you generally need to pay around £10 to £20. Some will ask for £5 for the biscuit fund even without a printout.

Compare your weight with the maximum permitted above. That is your remaining payload. If possible, drive over in full holiday trim, with bedding, clothing, bikes, wife + kids etc, as much water as you normally carry and a full tank of diesel.

The difference between actual weight and permitted weight is how much stuff you can add or what weight of children you need to leave behind at the weighbridge.

If possible, drive slowly onto the weighbridge so that you also get values for your axle loads. Make sure these aren't over the permitted, either. You're more likely to have problems with the rear axle.

If you have no load left/are overloaded and all drivers have C1 and the vehicle is limited to 3500kg, it is often possible to have the limit raised.

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[Guigsy]

Agreed. It's a bit off-topic, but a valid point.

It has been known for 6 berth motorhomes to be plated at 3.5t. But their unlaiden weight is so close to that, they were pretty much on the limit with a driver and a tank of diesel. Irresponsible for manufacturers to do it, but some do.

So it's likely that a 6 berth should be plated higher than 3.5t. If so, make sure you've got a C1 provision on your licence.

 

[XxAnthxX]

So....may sound stupid here but how do we know what payload we should be looking for?

Have a look at Jim’s buyers guide in the resource section…..

The Motorhome Buyers Guide

This book will save you money, probably a lot of money. It will show you, step step by step, how choose the right motorhome and then show you how you can easily negotiate the very best price. This book is FREE to subscribers. Download it by...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[maison]

It's not the berths but the overall weight...
...I have 3850 PVC with a 2.2 130pw engine... it rattles along just fine.

Different engine, but ours rattles too.

 

[pandas]

4.5 ton, 2.3 180. Comformatic gearbox. Perfect. Also had a 3ltr previously and was initially slightly worried that 2.3 wasn’t going to be man enough. It is.

 

[Fulham Dave]

5.4 ton, 2.3 180bhp comformatic, towing a trailer with mp3 scooter (500kg), making it 5.9 Tin and no issues this far!

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[Nanniemate]

We are a family of 3 and two dogs. We may take a friend along for our son occasionally.

how big are the dogs ??

 

[Brightonboyz]

It's not the berths but the overall weight...
...I have 3850 PVC with a 2.2 130pw engine... it rattles along just fine.

Sorry should know this but PVC??

 

[Al n Val]

how big are the dogs ??

and the family of 3 as it all adds up

 

[Al n Val]

Sorry should know this but PVC??

panel van conversion

 

[Grasmere9]

how big are the dogs ??

Golden Retriever and Cocker spaniel....unless anyone wants the Spaniel

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