PeteH
Free Member
- Nov 22, 2007
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There is a thread running (elsewhere) on Motor-home weights and payloads, which has occupied minds for some days now. Simply put it goes on these lines:-
It would transpire that the vast majority of Motor-homes sold across Europe and the UK are "plated" at 3500kg. Some of which have been found, on reaching a weigh bridge to have actual Payloads of as little as 60kg. Now 60 kg does not even include a passenger!. Never mind the food in the lockers and the Fridge plus clothing and other, even "basic" associated "stuff", we Motor-home users tend to carry. The issue appears to be that in the UK and across Europe the Licensing regimes "cut off" at 3.5tonne. driving anything heavier requires a different Licence Grade, (in the UK that is C1).
The consensus is that the Manufacturers, are building for a 3500kg limit, and to a large extent are "missing the Target", with the end result that payloads are inadequate for their intended use. And, in my view, should be rejected by purchaser at point of sale.
I would submit that the most equitable solution to this dilemma, from both a manufacturer and user aspect would be to raise the base licence (UK B) to 4tonne? "for NON commercial use". OR giving Motor-Caravans their own Category with a 4t limit. A move which would take away the necessity to get "Creative" with what one carries for a leisure activity enjoyed my Millions in the UK and across Europe every year.
May I suggest that a "lobbying" campaign be carried out to have this considered, perhaps lead by our (newly revised) "Caravan AND Motorhome Club" in conjunction with the CCC and other interested bodies, and to bring Manufacturers on board, on the grounds that, again in my view, they would be beneficiaries of such a sane move.
An argument proposed against this move, in that your average "White Van Man" could use the "rule" to overload unsuitable vehicles, could be guarded against by even making the change as suggested, "for non commercial use ONLY"?.
Another argument I have seen, "Heavier Motor-Caravans would be more dangerous", does not hold water, there is no evidence that a Vehicle being driven by a 3.5t licensee is any more dangerous than one being driven by a C1 Holder?. In the vast majority of cases the SAME vehicle has just been down rated by the manufacturer to comply with the 3.5t limit.
Pete.
It would transpire that the vast majority of Motor-homes sold across Europe and the UK are "plated" at 3500kg. Some of which have been found, on reaching a weigh bridge to have actual Payloads of as little as 60kg. Now 60 kg does not even include a passenger!. Never mind the food in the lockers and the Fridge plus clothing and other, even "basic" associated "stuff", we Motor-home users tend to carry. The issue appears to be that in the UK and across Europe the Licensing regimes "cut off" at 3.5tonne. driving anything heavier requires a different Licence Grade, (in the UK that is C1).
The consensus is that the Manufacturers, are building for a 3500kg limit, and to a large extent are "missing the Target", with the end result that payloads are inadequate for their intended use. And, in my view, should be rejected by purchaser at point of sale.
I would submit that the most equitable solution to this dilemma, from both a manufacturer and user aspect would be to raise the base licence (UK B) to 4tonne? "for NON commercial use". OR giving Motor-Caravans their own Category with a 4t limit. A move which would take away the necessity to get "Creative" with what one carries for a leisure activity enjoyed my Millions in the UK and across Europe every year.
May I suggest that a "lobbying" campaign be carried out to have this considered, perhaps lead by our (newly revised) "Caravan AND Motorhome Club" in conjunction with the CCC and other interested bodies, and to bring Manufacturers on board, on the grounds that, again in my view, they would be beneficiaries of such a sane move.
An argument proposed against this move, in that your average "White Van Man" could use the "rule" to overload unsuitable vehicles, could be guarded against by even making the change as suggested, "for non commercial use ONLY"?.
Another argument I have seen, "Heavier Motor-Caravans would be more dangerous", does not hold water, there is no evidence that a Vehicle being driven by a 3.5t licensee is any more dangerous than one being driven by a C1 Holder?. In the vast majority of cases the SAME vehicle has just been down rated by the manufacturer to comply with the 3.5t limit.
Pete.