Motorhome payload upgrade

[Adrian140974]

Hi. We bought our motorhome last year second hand, mainly because the model we wanted was no longer available. The previous owner had had a payload upgrade professionally done. It is now classed as a Private HGV. I might sound stupid here but can anyone advise how this works, what difference it makes and why the upgrade would have been done? I.e. benefits etc. Thanks

 

[The Dudess]

Greater payload is usually the main reason. Another advantage is your car tax is lower as it's classed as a PHGV now, however you will need C1 status on your license to drive it.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Obviously the main benefit is having less worry about staying within the maximum weight legally as you add more contents and additionally the road tax is cheaper.
Negative is that continental touring can involve higher toll fees and some road restrictions in places.

 

[Adrian140974]

Greater payload is usually the main reason. Another advantage is your car tax is lower as it's classed as a PHGV now, however you will need C1 status on your license to drive it.

I do phew.. thank you

 

[Adrian140974]

Obviously the main benefit is having less worry about staying within the maximum weight legally as you add more contents and additionally the road tax is cheaper.
Negative is that continental touring can involve higher toll fees and some road restrictions in places.

Great thank you

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[Adrian140974]

Does anyone know how it works?

 

[namwaldog]

Does anyone know how it works?

For most upgrades it is a paper exercise, ie you pay someone to issue a piece of paper certifying that your MH can be used safely on the road at the increased weight.

The two main companies used are...

S V Tech

Van Weight Engineering.

Both companies have websites that explain the process in more details.

A very loose rule of thumb is, if you look at the weight plate attached to the MH, adding the allowable weights on both front and rear axles together, will give you the probable maximum upgrade weight without modification such as air suspension, bigger wheels/ tyres etc..

Our MH left the factory at 3500kg with a plate giving front axle max of 1850kg and rear 2000kg. We updated without modification to 3850kg. BUT you have to be careful you balance the load out so as not to exceed either max weights!

 

[Langtoftlad]

Quite often it's just a paper exercise as base vans are often designed to carry more.
The converters have them downrated to 3500 to increase the market for drivers who don't have a C1 category.

For me, in my Citroen based PVC, I could have uprated to 3650 [+150kg] with no physical enhancements. I chose 3850kg which required air assist being fitted on the rear axle... maximum 4200kg could have been achieved with bigger rear tyres [would have increased the rear axle limit too]

 

[Adrian140974]

For most upgrades it is a paper exercise, ie you pay someone to issue a piece of paper certifying that your MH can be used safely on the road at the increased weight.

The two main companies used are...

S V Tech

Van Weight Engineering.

Both companies have websites that explain the process in more details.

A very loose rule of thumb is, if you look at the weight plate attached to the MH, adding the allowable weights on both front and rear axles together, will give you the probable maximum upgrade weight without modification such as air suspension, bigger wheels/ tyres etc..

Our MH left the factory at 3500kg with a plate giving front axle max of 1850kg and rear 2000kg. We updated without modification to 3850kg. BUT you have to be careful you balance the load out so as not to exceed either max weights!

Thank you. It was SV Tech as I have the receipt and paperwork. I assumed they actually installed something but I might be wrong. Cheers

 

[Adrian140974]

Quite often it's just a paper exercise as base vans are often designed to carry more.
The converters have them downrated to 3500 to increase the market for drivers who don't have a C1 category.

For me, in my Citroen based PVC, I could have uprated to 3650 [+150kg] with no physical enhancements. I chose 3850kg which required air assist being fitted on the rear axle... maximum 4200kg could have been achieved with bigger rear tyres [would have increased the rear axle limit too]

Thank you

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[Speve]

Obviously the main benefit is having less worry about staying within the maximum weight legally as you add more contents and additionally the road tax is cheaper.
Negative is that continental touring can involve higher toll fees and some road restrictions in places.

In over ten years driving on the continent with over 3500kg vans have never had problem with tolls or restrictions never paid more than class 2 and as far as weight and speed restrictions go you just obey the signs no problem

 

[Speve]

Thank you. It was SV Tech as I have the receipt and paperwork. I assumed they actually installed something but I might be wrong. Cheers

If you have a look around the van there will be an SV Tech plate with your max axle loadings and GVW usually on the cross member under the bonnet or on the door pillar

 

[Adrian140974]

If you have a look around the van there will be an SV Tech plate with your max axle loadings and GVW usually on the cross member under the bonnet or on the door pillar

Yeah thanks seen that, was just trying to understand how it works. This is our first motorhome after many years Caravanning

 

[Speve]

Yeah thanks seen that, was just trying to understand how it works. This is our first motorhome after many years Caravanning

The will have separate weight for back and front axles as long as you Stay within those and the gvw you’ll be ok you will notice if you add both axles together it’s more than gvw thats to allow a little flexibility on moving weigh from back to front or vice versa but don’t go over GVW.

 

[Adrian140974]

The will have separate weight for back and front axles as long as you Stay within those and the gvw you’ll be ok you will notice if you add both axles together it’s more than gvw thats to allow a little flexibility on moving weigh from back to front or vice versa but don’t go over GVW.

Thank you

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[IRHP]

Some up plating can be done without modifications, to go above certain weights you may need suspension modifications such as air assist or up rated springs. Sometimes tyres need replaced to meet the correct weight loading.

 

[Speve]

Some up plating can be done without modifications, to go above certain weights you may need suspension modifications such as air assist or up rated springs. Sometimes tyres need replaced to meet the correct weight loading.

Their van has already been uprated by SV Tech

 

[Adrian140974]

Some up plating can be done without modifications, to go above certain weights you may need suspension modifications such as air assist or up rated springs. Sometimes tyres need replaced to meet the correct weight loading.

Ok great thanks, I might contact the previous owner and find out what he did. I know it had air suspension fitted but based on what he paid for the payload upgrade I suspect it was just the rating changed

 

[Speve]

Just looked at kontiki 650 and it’s tag axle so payload should be quite good big beast

 

[IRHP]

Their van has already been uprated by SV Tech

I know but the op asked "Does anyone know how it works?" as it was done by a previous owner.

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[peterc10]

Hi. We bought our motorhome last year second hand, mainly because the model we wanted was no longer available. The previous owner had had a payload upgrade professionally done. It is now classed as a Private HGV. I might sound stupid here but can anyone advise how this works, what difference it makes and why the upgrade would have been done? I.e. benefits etc. Thanks

Another advantage with it being a PHGV is that you pay less excise duty each year.

 

[Adrian140974]

Just looked at kontiki 650 and it’s tag axle so payload should be quite good big beast

Yeah certainly is, we love it. Thanks

 

[bigtwin]

It is now classed as a Private HGV.

If it’s a tag axle that you have, it was always a PHGV.

What weights does it show on your weight plate?

Ian

 

[Adrian140974]

If it’s a tag axle that you have, it was always a PHGV.

What weights does it show on

It has various numbers... GVM 5500, GTM 6500, axle 1 2100, axel 2 1700, axle 3 1700. I have no idea what they all mean ? Lol. Cheers

 

[mitzimad]

it means its been uprated to max possible as your gvm is the sum of your three axles gtm is the max it can weigh with a trailer if you tow a trailer more than a tonne you loose that amount of the vehicle weight

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[bigtwin]

It has various numbers... GVM 5500, GTM 6500, axle 1 2100, axel 2 1700, axle 3 1700. I have no idea what they all mean ? Lol. Cheers

GVM of 5500Kg is the max permissible total weight of your van.
GTM of 6500Kg is the max permissible total combined weight of your van and any trailer/car that you tow.
Axle 1 of 2100Kg is the maximum permissible weight being borne by your FRONT axle.
Axle 2/3 of 1700Kg is the maximum permissible weight being borne by each REAR axle.

Ian