Downplating minibus. Weight of seats?

[ericagogo]

Hi I'm looking to purchase a minibus to convert to camper. the weight is 3.9 . Younger family members do not have Cat C licence. Wondering if anyone has a clue how much the 15 seats in back weigh. So if I took them out how much would this help get the weight down . It's a LDV MAXUS 2007 2500cc. Thanks in advance.

 

[golly]

Maybe Northernraider can give you an idea, he took the seats out of a mercedes bus , May give you a rough idea.

Is 3900 the plated weight or a weigh bridge reading ?

 

[TheBig1]

the curb weight for the LWB maxus is 1857kg or thereabouts according to google, so plenty of scope to downplate, so long as you use lightweight ply to fit it out

 

[cmcardle75]

Hi I'm looking to purchase a minibus to convert to camper. the weight is 3.9 . Younger family members do not have Cat C licence. Wondering if anyone has a clue how much the 15 seats in back weigh. So if I took them out how much would this help get the weight down . It's a LDV MAXUS 2007 2500cc. Thanks in advance.

See if there's a published weight for the same wheelbase window van and compare with the minibus figures. Most of the difference will be the seats, with a little extra for any headlinings etc. However, a conversion will likely be tight under 3500kg. These XLWB vans have poor payload as panel vans at 3500kg. It is also likely to be the DRW version, which typycally increases empty weight and reduces head height (but is much better for getting off grassy fields).

 

[cmcardle75]

See if there's a published weight for the same wheelbase window van and compare with the minibus figures. Most of the difference will be the seats, with a little extra for any headlinings etc. However, a conversion will likely be tight under 3500kg. These XLWB vans have poor payload as panel vans at 3500kg. It is also likely to be the DRW version, which typycally increases empty weight and reduces head height (but is much better for getting off grassy fields).

Ignore all that. It appears the 17 seat minibus was a special project, involving 4 seats across allowing a normal LWB length 4 wheel van to accomodate the seating.

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[ericagogo]

Maybe Northernraider can give you an idea, he took the seats out of a mercedes bus , May give you a rough idea.

Is 3900 the plated weight or a weigh bridge reading ?

Tha ks. Its plated weight

 

[ericagogo]

the curb weight for the LWB maxus is 1857kg or thereabouts according to google, so plenty of scope to downplate, so long as you use lightweight ply to fit it out

That's v helpful! thanks

 

[ericagogo]

Ignore all that. It appears the 17 seat minibus was a special project, involving 4 seats across allowing a normal LWB length 4 wheel van to accomodate the seating.

OK. Thanks though

 

[Eggs]

Tha ks. Its plated weight

Take the seats out then go and get it weighed, this way you will know what you have to play with when the conversion is complete, and it's been downplated to 3.5t. Seats in or out it will still be 3.9t gross.

 

[Northernraider]

Id imagine that 3.9 was the max permissable weight allowing for 15 passengers at approx 75kg each and a bit of luggage . So if you deduct 15 x 75kg thats around 1200kg straight away ...then the seats themselves at a guess 20-25kg each thats another 300kg or so ....so id expect it to be between 2 ...2.5 tonne empty.

My vario is 7500kg gross . 30 seats originally , each double seat was around 30kg id say . In its present empty state it weighs just under 4 tonne but its a much heavier constructed vehicle than an ldv

I had a 17 seat ldv maxus once the guy i sold it to made it in to a camper.

Pretty sure you could get it under 3.5t with ease

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[ericagogo]

Id imagine that 3.9 was the max permissable weight allowing for 15 passengers at approx 75kg each and a bit of luggage . So if you deduct 15 x 75kg thats around 1200kg straight away ...then the seats themselves at a guess 20-25kg each thats another 300kg or so ....so id expect it to be between 2 ...2.5 tonne empty.

My vario is 7500kg gross . 30 seats originally , each double seat was around 30kg id say . In its present empty state it weighs just under 4 tonne but its a much heavier constructed vehicle than an ldv

I had a 17 seat ldv maxus once the guy i sold it to made it in to a camper.

Pretty sure you could get it under 3.5t with ease

Thanks!!

 

[golly]

Just noticed you've had your 5 free posts, may be worth considering a paid membership at £15 for access to a wealth of information and help. Just a thought

 

[Northernraider]

I just found this too ...which going by this an empty van has a kerbweight of 1800kg , max weight 2800kg

So I wouldn't think my 2 tonne guesstimate was far off for an empty minibus.