Malibu motorhomes

[Pausim]

I’ve probably missed it, do you have a problem with your Malibu?

No. The Fiat bit throws the odd wobble but the Malibu/Carthago bit is fine.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

No. The Fiat bit throws the odd wobble but the Malibu/Carthago bit is fine.

Same with the Carado.but we are going to the show tomorrow to have a look. In the past we have always left feeling we like what we’ve got.

 

[enark]

But what does it actually say?

It has to comply with UK consumer law.

Lenny is right. Only items modified would be excluded from the warranty unless they could demonstrate other parts were affected by the work.

It's this bit in the Proof of Maintenance document. It references been able to prove that the unauthorised work did other cause the leak being irrelevant.

I agree it's quite harsh and may or may not adhere to UK consumer law, but who wants a stressful legal battle with a company in another country?

 

[Lenny HB]

It's this bit in the Proof of Maintenance document. It references been able to prove that the unauthorised work did other cause the leak being irrelevant.

I agree it's quite harsh and may or may not adhere to UK consumer law, but who wants a stressful legal battle with a company in another country?



View attachment 1171697

But who wants to pay 3 or more times the price for a poor job, I wouldn't let a dealer near my van apart from warranty repairs.

 

[TheMachMan]

We’ve just ordered a 640 Malibu van. What are the practical issues and changes having it replated to 3850kg? Appreciate that it is a paperwork excercise.

 

[enark]

But who wants to pay 3 or more times the price for a poor job, I wouldn't let a dealer near my van apart from warranty repairs.

Don't disagree, I would be the first to recommend the likes of Off Grid Solutions etc for value and quality, but you just have to be careful i guess.

Some dealers do good job, but it's like top marques of cars, you pay Carthago prices. Look at Super Bs, £1700 for a 150 ah, get three bigger Fogstars forthat money.

 

[Gellyneck]

Our orignal order for one on the Maxi chassis was cancelled ended up wit a 3.5t one. First trip out we were 300kg over now plated at 4000kg, even with the rear axle uprated to 2240kg we are still 20-40kg over on it.
Stupid design, water tank is behind the rear axle.

Thanks for the info.

Sorry for all the questions but trying to get my head around what we want/need on out new vehicle.

To get it to 4,000kg did you have to fit VB Semi-air and VB Front Struts?

Does Semi-air only only let you uprate to 3,850?

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks for the info.

Sorry for all the questions but trying to get my head around what we want/need on out new vehicle.

To get it to 4,000kg did you have to fit VB Semi-air and VB Front Struts?

Does Semi-air only only let you uprate to 3,850?

It already had the VB front struts, I had semi air fitted on the rear. On the Carthago the 180 engine and Auto box are standard ,so the front struts are 1960kg so should still be 4000kg & probably OK with 1850kg front struts.

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[Gellyneck]

It already had the VB front struts, I had semi air fitted on the rear. On the Carthago the 180 engine and Auto box are standard ,so the front struts are 1960kg so should still be 4000kg & probably OK with 1850kg front struts.

We're probably leaning towards a Rapido now as Malibu don't have any examples of the model we were thinking about in the UK and they won't have until late summer / early Autumn so probably next year!

I'm waiting on details of the weight plate on it so we can give further thought as to payload / weight distribution but we'll be uprating some way or other anyway.

 

[Lenny HB]

We're probably leaning towards a Rapido now as Malibu don't have any examples of the model we were thinking about in the UK and they won't have until late summer / early Autumn so probably next year!

I'm waiting on details of the weight plate on it so we can give further thought as to payload / weight distribution but we'll be uprating some way or other anyway.

Why not just go for a maxi chassis then you have 2500kg on the rear axle which is where you need it.

 

[Howard B]

Thanks for the info.

Sorry for all the questions but trying to get my head around what we want/need on out new vehicle.

To get it to 4,000kg did you have to fit VB Semi-air and VB Front Struts?

Does Semi-air only only let you uprate to 3,850?

On my Travel Van (Light chassis) I fitted Martec semi air at the rear and also uprated the tyres to 118 loading. This allowed me to up the weight to 4000kg with 1960kg front & 2240kg rear.

 

[Gellyneck]

Why not just go for a maxi chassis then you have 2500kg on the rear axle which is where you need it.

Not available reasonably locally until 2027 models released later this year and at an anticipated higher cost.

In addition, who knows what will happen with g/f C1! renewal so thinking I could down plate, if worst came to the worst, and put a towbar and trailer on the back of it. Yeah, I know, why bother just shoot yirsel instead!

 

[Lenny HB]

Not available reasonably locally until 2027 models released later this year and at an anticipated higher cost.

In addition, who knows what will happen with g/f C1! renewal so thinking I could down plate, if worst came to the worst, and put a towbar and trailer on the back of it. Yeah, I know, why bother just shoot yirsel instead!

With the Compactline on the maxi chassis it was 16kg lighter than the 3.5t.

 

[Gellyneck]

With the Compactline on the maxi chassis it was 16kg lighter than the 3.5t.

15kg lighter on the Rapido but even more hen's teethish in the UK!

Rapido seem to be really toiling with availability of FIAT Ducatos in general with, allegedly, no new stock now until late summer.

 

[Gellyneck]

It already had the VB front struts, I had semi air fitted on the rear. On the Carthago the 180 engine and Auto box are standard ,so the front struts are 1960kg so should still be 4000kg & probably OK with 1850kg front struts.

Next daft question whilst I await info from supplier! Sorry!!

I understand (or so I believe!) there are, usually, two weight plates on a motorhome, the original base vehicle manufacturers and the subsequent converters which supersedes the former.

Do all FIAT Ducatos on a lightweight chassis come out the factory with the same gross and axle weight plates? If so, any idea what these are?

Part b of the same daft question. If we're looking to up-plate not only do we have to take into account the above and any subsequent suspension changes (eg semi-air) but also the wheel and tyre sizes / load ratings?

 

[Pausim]

Next daft question whilst I await info from supplier! Sorry!!

I understand (or so I believe!) there are, usually, two weight plates on a motorhome, the original base vehicle manufacturers and the subsequent converters which supersedes the former.

Do all FIAT Ducatos on a lightweight chassis come out the factory with the same gross and axle weight plates? If so, any idea what these are?

Part b of the same daft question. If we're looking to up-plate not only do we have to take into account the above and any subsequent suspension changes (eg semi-air) but also the wheel and tyre sizes / load ratings?

I think the original Fiat plate varies depending on the wheel and tyre sizes it leaves the factory with.

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[Lenny HB]

Do all FIAT Ducatos on a lightweight chassis come out the factory with the same gross and axle weight plates? If so, any idea what these are?

With an Al-Ko chassis standard is front 1850kg rear 2000kg, I think it is the same on a Fiat chassis but I think the rear may be able to go higher.
With the auto box the front is 1960kg.

With the 180 and auto box they use maxi running gear, bigger brakes 16" wheels with 130 PCD, I think it's the same with 140 engine but not 100% sure.

Part b of the same daft question. If we're looking to up-plate not only do we have to take into account the above and any subsequent suspension changes (eg semi-air) but also the wheel and tyre sizes / load ratings?

If the van has 15" wheels you will need to change the tyres from 215 section to 225.

On an Al-Ko you will need semi- air about £2½k takes rear axle to 2240kg but the semi air weighs around 40kg.

On a Fiat just need air bags they don't cost much.

 

[Gellyneck]

With an Al-Ko chassis standard is front 1850kg rear 2000kg, I think it is the same on a Fiat chassis but I think the rear may be able to go higher.
With the auto box the front is 1960kg.

With the 180 and auto box they use maxi running gear, bigger brakes 16" wheels with 130 PCD, I think it's the same with 140 engine but not 100% sure.


If the van has 15" wheels you will need to change the tyres from 215 section to 225.

On an Al-Ko you will need semi- air about £2½k takes rear axle to 2240kg but the semi air weighs around 40kg.

On a Fiat just need air bags they don't cost much.

When are you changing your name to wikipediaHB?

Again, very many thanks!

It's a 140bhp auto on Vancontact Camper tyres (yeah, I know but forgot to note the size/rating) and 16" alloys so guess they'll be 225/75 R16 and we should be OK to up-plate with semi-air to give 1960 front and 2240 rear remembering we've added 40kg of weight to the MIRO?
Or have I got that all wrong?
Doubt we'll be able to achieve the front axle limit, right enough!

 

[Lenny HB]

It's a 140bhp auto on Vancontact Camper tyres (yeah, I know but forgot to note the size/rating) and 16" alloys so guess they'll be 225/75 R16

That is right for 16" wheels but what chassis is it on?
You will be lucky to get above 1600kg on the front, that's the big problem with the light chassis even at 2240 the rear is very tight, I'm a bit over with a full tank.

 

[Gellyneck]

That is right for 16" wheels but what chassis is it on?
You will be lucky to get above 1600kg on the front, that's the big problem with the light chassis even at 2240 the rear is very tight, I'm a bit over with a full tank.

It's on a FIAT lightweight chassis.

So, our expected weight distribution calculation would give us a max of around 1600kg front and 2240kg rear?

If that's the case should we just up-plate to 3850 our should we go higher to, say, 4000kg like yourself? Would this give us the opportunity to, perhaps redistribute weight, increasing the front, but how we could / would get to that extra I haven't a clue!!

Having said that, the two 15kg Safefill cylinders and me are just behind the front axle so we're probably over already!

Doesn't help that the fresh water tank is under the island bed at the back so is just behind the rear axle! As a result, we'd probably travel with just 40-50litres some of which would be in the Truma hot water tank which is amidships.

 

[Lenny HB]

So, our expected weight distribution calculation would give us a max of around 1600kg front and 2240kg rear?

If that's the case should we just up-plate to 3850 our should we go higher to, say, 4000kg like yourself? Would this give us the opportunity to, perhaps redistribute weight, increasing the front, but how we could / would get to that extra I haven't a clue!!

Not sure what you can go to on the rear on a Fiat chassis I think it depends on the springs on the plus side air bags are light and cheap so you will have a bit more rear axle capacity than me.

I've put most of my tools under the passenger seat that moved a few kilos from the back.
Uprate to the max you can as it doesn't make any odds once over 3.5t also if you got stopped and they only check the MAM you could be well over on the rear and get away with it.

Last time I weighed ours fully loaded with a full water tank we were 3900kg but I only had about 35% - 40% fuel and we were over 40kg on the rear, with a full fuel tank we would have been in on the rear.
I weigh 76kg and the boss 45kg.

 

[Gellyneck]

Not sure what you can go to on the rear on a Fiat chassis I think it depends on the springs on the plus side air bags are light and cheap so you will have a bit more rear axle capacity than me.

I've put most of my tools under the passenger seat that moved a few kilos from the back.
Uprate to the max you can as it doesn't make any odds once over 3.5t also if you got stopped and they only check the MAM you could be well over on the rear and get away with it.

Last time I weighed ours fully loaded with a full water tank we were 3900kg but I only had about 35% - 40% fuel and we were over 40kg on the rear, with a full fuel tank we would have been in on the rear.
I weigh 76kg and the boss 45kg.

You're an absolute star!

That guy WESTY66 needs to learn his place and start tugging his foreLOCK in your presence!

 

[WESTY66]

You're an absolute star!

That guy WESTY66 needs to learn his place and start tugging his foreLOCK in your presence!

Eh???

 

[Howard B]

You're an absolute star!

That guy WESTY66 needs to learn his place and start tugging his foreLOCK in your presence!

Just send SV Tech an enquiry. They will tell you exactly what you can go to in your present running trim and what you could go up to by adding airbags & higher rated tyres if needed.
I suspect the max you can do will be same as mine at 4000kg / 1960kg / 2240kg.

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[Lenny HB]

Eh???

Has he confused you, you poor boy.

 

[Gellyneck]

Has he confused you, you poor boy.

It's no difficult, is it!

 

[WESTY66]

Has he confused you, you poor boy.

Yes, all the questions making my head spin
Gellyneck give your head a wobble, forget the cardboard tiddlers like Lenny HB get a big un!!

Go big or go home

 

[WESTY66]

I’ve come to the conclusion that even my van isn’t big enough with all the equipment and spares I carry

 

[Lenny HB]

He is raving now and really lost the plot.

 

[Lenny HB]

I’ve come to the conclusion that even my van isn’t big enough with all the equipment and spares I carry

Easy just tow another van for spares.