Carthago L144i QB

[Mitchell]

Hi all just about to purchase this Carthago MH 20 Reg 4000 mile , fiat base 2.3 150 6 speed manual ,6.99 long , any pros and cons thanks in advance mitch

 

[Mitchell]

<Broken link removed>

 

[Solwaybuggier]

The attachment link doesn’t seem to be working…

 

[Lucky]

'Page not found'

 

[Wagoneer]

Attachment does not open.

Guess it's the Compactline from what you've described with island bed.

Carthago claim a payload of 575kg on a 3500kg chassis. The payload figure is based on carrying only 20 litres of fresh water. Anything subsequently added to the basic spec (awning, solar etc) will deminish the payload.

If you plan travelling with a full water tank and cram the garage with stuff, your payload is likely to be quickly eroded. The island longitidinal bed is nice but it does take up valuable space from the main habitation area. My van is also 6.99m long (4250kg MAM) but with a transverse bed over the garage. This gives an acceptable living space.

If you have a C1 licence the chassis can be uprated but it will cost....assuming it's already shod with 16" wheels.

Best advice is to get the van weighed PRIOR to purchase so you can judge what spare load capacity is available. As a minimum, you need 2 weighbridge readings, one with both axles on weighbridge and secondly with just the rear axle on weighbridge. The front axle weight is the difference between the two readings.

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[f6c]

Make sure you have good windscreen insurance cover.

 

[Mitchell]

Attachment does not open.

Guess it's the Compactline from what you've described with island bed.

Carthago claim a payload of 575kg on a 3500kg chassis. The payload figure is based on carrying only 20 litres of fresh water. Anything subsequently added to the basic spec (awning, solar etc) will deminish the payload.

If you plan travelling with a full water tank and cram the garage with stuff, your payload is likely to be quickly eroded. The island longitidinal bed is nice but it does take up valuable space from the main habitation area. My van is also 6.99m long (4250kg MAM) but with a transverse bed over the garage. This gives an acceptable living space.

If you have a C1 licence the chassis can be uprated but it will cost....assuming it's already shod with 16" wheels.

Best advice is to get the van weighed PRIOR to purchase so you can judge what spare load capacity is available. As a minimum, you need 2 weighbridge readings, one with both axles on weighbridge and secondly with just the rear axle on weighbridge. The front axle weight is the difference between the two readings.

 

[Mitchell]

 

[Mitchell]

Attachment does not open.

Guess it's the Compactline from what you've described with island bed.

Carthago claim a payload of 575kg on a 3500kg chassis. The payload figure is based on carrying only 20 litres of fresh water. Anything subsequently added to the basic spec (awning, solar etc) will deminish the payload.

If you plan travelling with a full water tank and cram the garage with stuff, your payload is likely to be quickly eroded. The island longitidinal bed is nice but it does take up valuable space from the main habitation area. My van is also 6.99m long (4250kg MAM) but with a transverse bed over the garage. This gives an acceptable living space.

If you have a C1 licence the chassis can be uprated but it will cost....assuming it's already shod with 16" wheels.

Best advice is to get the van weighed PRIOR to purchase so you can judge what spare load capacity is available. As a minimum, you need 2 weighbridge readings, one with both axles on weighbridge and secondly with just the rear axle on weighbridge. The front axle weight is the difference between the two readings.

Yes the wife wanted island bed , with separate shower and toilet , and the only one available , also the company are giving crazy money for my Grand Canyon !!!

 

[Lenny HB]

Attachment opened eairler but now enough to see it was a Compact Line.

Good vans well built and solid.
You don't say which chassis it is on, best if on the maxi at 4250 kg. They are not really runnable at 3500 kg they come out of the factory near top tolerance around 130 kg over and all the extra packs reduce the payload.
If its 3500 you will need to uprate to 3850 kg to get a useable payload.

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[Lenny HB]

Now you have put a photo up that is not a 2020 model , it's either 2018 or 2019 not sure which year they updated them.

 

[Mitchell]

Yes I will look into the weight as I have a class 1 truck licence , but don’t want to go 110 Kph when I can do 130 kph in France !!!

 

[Mitchell]

First registered July 2020 on log book and 20 on Reg plate ??

 

[Mitchell]

 

[Mitchell]

Compactline L144i QB

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[f6c]

Enjoy

 

[Lenny HB]

First registered July 2020 on log book and 20 on Reg plate ??

May have been registered in 2020 but its not a 2020 model year, gives you something to negotiate with.
Actually nicer than the newer ones.

 

[Mitchell]

Now you have put a photo up that is not a 2020 model , it's either 2018 or 2019 not sure which year they updated them.

Tell me more as I am new to Carthago models pls

 

[Lenny HB]

Main change is white body with different logo.

 

[Steve and Denise]

Join the Carthago owners group there are lots of info on there.

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[Mitchell]

May have been registered in 2020 but its not a 2020 model year, gives you something to negotiate with.
Actually nicer than the newer ones.

Thanks Lenny , I am putting a Vespa in garage and 2 e bikes and all the rest of the gear!! It all fits in the smaller fiat Grand Canyon, also I put air assist on fiat much better

Main change is white body with different logo.
View attachment 562627

yes I’ve seen them ones but not a lover of white !!!

 

[Steve and Denise]

Thanks Lenny , I am putting a Vespa in garage and 2 e bikes and all the rest of the gear!! It all fits in the smaller fiat Grand Canyon, also I put air assist on fiat much better

yes I’ve seen them ones but not a lover of white !!!

I think you may be on a limit, but do the home work before you part with your cash.

 

[Wagoneer]

If its 3500 you will need to uprate to 3850 kg to get a useable payload.

If uprating as a paper excerise to 3850kg, I doubt you'd achieve that in practical terms.

Reasons:
1) Allowable permissable load on axles remains the same ie. 1850kg front, 2000kg rear.
2) Carthago layout is naturally "rear heavy" (water tanks, garage contents etc). Little opportunity to shift loads forward.
3) The rear axle will be the first to reach the 2000kg permissable load.
4) The more load you place behind the rear axle, has the effect of taking load off the front axle.
5) Optimising the permissable axle loads is virtually impossible to give an overall MAM of 3850kg. From actual case studies on the Carthago internal layout, the best you can hope to achieve is a MAM in the region of 3650kg, ie. 1650kg front, 2000kg rear.

The only solution to increase the load carrying capacity of the vehicle above 3650kg is to spend lots of dosh to increase the load carrying capability of the rear axle. The Compactline is built on the "light" chassis, so the max you can go to on the rear axle is probably 2240kg.

If the OP is concerned about payload, probably best to find a Compactline built on the 4250kg chassis (2400kg permissable rear axle load).

 

[Mitchell]

Thank you for all the tips much appreciated

 

[Vansflyer]

Thanks Lenny , I am putting a Vespa in garage and 2 e bikes and all the rest of the gear!! It all fits in the smaller fiat Grand Canyon, also I put air assist on fiat much better

yes I’ve seen them ones but not a lover of white !!!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I don't think you have a chance of being within weight with a motorbike in the back. Our C-Tourer on a heavy chassis is 2500kg on the back axle with a 170kg KTM in the garage, "all the other crap" and full fresh water. We have headroom as we up-plated to 2700kg on the rear and 4800kg max but I think the Compactline versions are just to lightweight. And they are all over the weight claimed by Carthago.... by some margin. Great vans, just heavy.

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[Lenny HB]

Thanks Lenny , I am putting a Vespa in garage and 2 e bikes and all the rest of the gear!! It all fits in the smaller fiat Grand Canyon, also I put air assist on fiat much better

No chance unless it's on the 4259kg Maxi chassis even then you may have to upgrade the rear axle.
To upgrade the rear axle to 2700kg you will need semi or full air suspension on the rear, tyres with a higher load rating & if it has alloy wheels they will need changing. Looks like steel wheels in the pic so they are OK.

 

[Mitchell]

Hi guys a quick question, this Carthago compactline I am buying has 215/70/15 steel wheels , can I put my fiat alloys with 225/75/16 wheels straight on

 

[cyberyacht]

I've got 225/75/16 alloys on my Compactline 138, so yes they'll fit assuming it's the light chassis. Weightwise, I've got the front cupboards in lieu of drop-down bed which saves a bit of weight. I'm plated at 3500 and with full water, spare wheel & 2 E Bikes it's only 20-30 Kg inside the limit with the back axle at 1880Kg. in fighting trim. You've got the extra body length and load behind the axle to cope with as well. Realistically, I doubt you can run at 3500Kg.

 

[Pausim]

Carthago layout is naturally "rear heavy" (water tanks, garage contents etc). Little opportunity to shift loads forward.

I agree that a lot of the base weight is at the back but my i143 Compactline has a great deal of underfloor storage between the axles and I have managed to stow a lot of the heavy stuff such as tool boxes a good way forwards. I think the i144 is similar.

I've got the front cupboards in lieu of drop-down bed which saves a bit of weight.

We also opted for cupboards instead of the drop down bed. Looks great without the bed and the extra storage at the front end is very handy too if you are trying to keep the rear axle weight down.