Maxi or Light chassis

Nigel L

Nigel L

Joined
Apr 25, 2016
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Soham, Cambs
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Consort Oslo
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Since 2016
Ok, not being very technically minded, just wondering what is the difference between a Maxi, and a Light chassis.
I have an Auto-Trail V-line 635, so presumme that’s on a Light chassis?
what are the advantages of the Maxi chassis?
 
More payload usually.

The V line is on 16" wheels - I thought that made it the Maxi chassis?

My IH is a PVC on 16" and I have up-rated it to allow a motor scooter to be mounted on the rear.

This web page might assist you to find out what chassis you have.
www.tyremen.co.uk

Which Chassis do I have Light or Maxi? | Garage Services Hull

Which chassis do I have is question we are asked on a daily basis when customers are looking for wheels to suite there motorhome.
www.tyremen.co.uk www.tyremen.co.uk
 
Think of it this way, the 'light' chassis is for a van that could be rated to 2 ton or 3 ton. The maxi chassis is for the bigger vehicles like tipper truck.
 
You can have 16" wheels on a Ducato light chassis.

A good way to tell on the majority of Ducato based motorhomes is by the style of the original alloy wheels fitted as the PCD is different between the two chassis's.

Light Chassis:
s-l640.jpg

Maxi Chassis
$_57.jpg

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Ok, so, looks like mine is a Light chassis then.
so, what exactly does the Maxi have over the light chassis? Is suspension beefed up etc
 
I would expect the 635 to be on the Maxi châssis like the Globecar Campscout.
 
Recent year changes to specifications have blurred things, one of which is the availability of either 15" or 16" wheels on the same chassis.
Historically the heavy chassis had higher weight carrying capability, which was achieved with better bigger brakes hence the 16" wheels to accommodate them along with the larger tyres giving higher load rating, increased suspension capacity and longer wheelbase
 
Light chassis normally a max gross of 3850 kg, front axle 1850kg, rear axle 2000kg.
Maxi chassis 4250/4500 & 4800kg gross, front axle 2000/2300 kg, rear axle 2500 kg.
Basic Maxi 50 kg heavier than a light, better brakes, harder ride.

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If its a PVC maxi it will have a maxi badge on the back door
Rear bumpers etc are also different
Main difference beefed up suspension, hubs and breaks
 
BILL 875 said:
You can have 16" wheels on both the hubs are different light 118 pcm heavy 130 pcm, and before you ask i cant remember what pcm stands for.:rolleyes: Bill
Click to expand...
Its the spacing between the stud holes on the wheels/studs on the hub, the light version ones are spaced differently to the heavy ones ... I know because our Carthago is on the light chassis and the spare wheel the dealer originally gave us was for the heavy one, fortunately we checked it before we went on holiday!
 
MikeD said:
More payload usually.

The V line is on 16" wheels - I thought that made it the Maxi chassis?

My IH is a PVC on 16" and I have up-rated it to allow a motor scooter to be mounted on the rear.

This web page might assist you to find out what chassis you have.
www.tyremen.co.uk

Which Chassis do I have Light or Maxi? | Garage Services Hull

Which chassis do I have is question we are asked on a daily basis when customers are looking for wheels to suite there motorhome.
www.tyremen.co.uk www.tyremen.co.uk
Click to expand...
I suspect it is on the 'heavy' chassis - have you got disc brakes all round? The heavy version certainly has these but I think the light version doesn't, or at least it didn't when we had one.

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Lenny HB said:
Light chassis normally a max gross of 3850 kg, front axle 1850kg, rear axle 2000kg.
Maxi chassis 4250/4500 & 4800kg gross, front axle 2000/2300 kg, rear axle 2500 kg.
Basic Maxi 50 kg heavier than a light, better brakes, harder ride.
Click to expand...
Rear axle on the maxi heavy is normally 2400kg.
 
As others have said, the main visual differences are disc brakes all round and double leaf springs on the back. The maxi chassis as I understand it rides a bit higher too.
 
I've got disc brakes all round - and it's the light (as in absolute MAUW 3850kg) camper chassis.
 
Minxy Girl said:
I suspect it is on the 'heavy' chassis - have you got disc brakes all round? The heavy version certainly has these but I think the light version doesn't, or at least it didn't when we had one.
Click to expand...

Sorry Minxy Girl, we had a 2016 Burstner Ixeo 690G on the light chassis and that had disc brakes all round.
 
Hellski said:
You can have 16" wheels on a Ducato light chassis.

A good way to tell on the majority of Ducato based motorhomes is by the style of the original alloy wheels fitted as the PCD is different between the two chassis's.

Light Chassis:
View attachment 402874
Maxi Chassis
View attachment 402875
Click to expand...

I refer to my earlier post and specifically relevant to Ducato models manufactured from 2015 onwards fitted with original Fiat alloys.
The biggest visual clue is the type of alloy fitted due to the wheel PCD being different between that of the light and Maxi Chassis.

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Suggest you just look at your vehicle load plate under the bonnet, it tells the story, max axle wts should show 2100 front, 2400 rear if it’s a maxi. The light chassis is much lower.
I have a maxi / heavy chassis and it has very good load ratings in my opinion, works well on a pvc MH running near max allowable weight all the time. I am around 3400 kg each trip
 
CamperManLez said:
Suggest you just look at your vehicle load plate under the bonnet, it tells the story, max axle wts should show 2100 front, 2400 rear if it’s a maxi. The light chassis is much lower.
I have a maxi / heavy chassis and it has very good load ratings in my opinion, works well on a pvc MH running near max allowable weight all the time. I am around 3400 kg each trip
Click to expand...
You need to look at the converters plate as that overides the other plates.
 
Maxi, heavier suspension, bigger brakes, 16" wheels as standard, higher payload etc
 
We have a 2018 V Line 635SE. It is on the light chassis. Although the heavy chassis has larger disc brakes I am more than happy with the braking efficiency of ours even with a trailer carrying a largish scooter.
Our V Line is fairly well loaded, Oyster sat system, 2 x 115 batteries, inverter, all lockers and cupboards shelved, fill in storage in rear lounge making U shaped seating ( like Sport ) tow bar, 2 x tv’s, and enough outside gear for ourselves and a couple of guests, Safari barbie, etc. Rear air suspension just for a more comfortable ride, and still just under 3500kgs with full water and us two. Everything is contained in the lockers except if we take a drive away awning which nudges us slightly over 3500.

I often travel at most legal maximum speeds, fuel consumption suffers ( 28 - 29mpg ) but the thing still stops on a “ sixpence “ ( how old am I ? )

BernieT
 
jezport said:
Maxi, heavier suspension, bigger brakes, 16" wheels as standard, higher payload etc
Click to expand...
Potentially higher payload. If plated at 3500kg, the Maxi will have a lower payload, because the base vehicle is (I believe) about 50kg heavier. But it can be upgraded to a higher Gross weight than the Light, thus the potential for more payload, all other things being equal.

Although note that some vehicles built on the Light chassis are only plated at 3300kg as they leave the convertors.
 
Does any manufacturer plate the Maxi at 3500kg. If they do, it must have negligible payload.
 
Carrying on from this older thread, please could you tell what manufactures use the heavy chassis for their conversions, or at least give a starting point. Thank you.

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