Payload - and still they come…

[Conal]

Just reading this month’s issue of Caravan and Motorhome Cub magazine and was astonished the see a “High five“ given to the new Rimor Evo 77 Plus 5 berth motorhome by Nick Harding. With a user payload of 637kg I am sure you will be overjoyed to see that he states “at a squeeze the third sleep area (can be) a double”. That would make this 3,500kg 6.97m vehicle a 6 berth. My maths makes 637kg divided by 5 125.4kgs each. For 6 people it would be 106.1kg each.

I decided to investigate further as to what Rimor does not include in the MRO of 2,863kg. Surprisingly (or not) the Rimor catalogue does not mention if any water or fuel is included before payload is calculated, so I will assume they are not.

My family are not naturists but, if five of us (never mind six) set off in this motorhome, it would be in the buff without any possessions, and hoping that we would not be spot checked (for being overweight) not indecently exposed!

I think it is irresponsible of a journalist to review such a motorhome, with no mention of the elephant in the room, and give a verdict that includes “As a final bonus, it’s all on a driving licence-friendly 3,500kg chassis”.

 

[Jim]

Not long ago, Practical MotorHome mag gave awards to a 4 berth ‘family van’ with a payload of under 300kg.

 

[Googlebot]

Has happened for years and until the stupid restriction to 3500kg remains, so will the ridiculous payloads.

 

[Googlebot]

Not long ago, Practical MotorHome mag gave awards to a 4 berth ‘family van’ with a payload of under 300kg.

With the passengers in, the extra battery and water tank full. There wouldn’t be any left for bedding. :-(

 

[DT]

Time common sense was applied. Government need to relax regulations.

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[Jonno1103]

Conal, they never do mate. It will include 75kg for the driver and 90% fuel (on the Tranny 61 litres). It's a Euro van so unlike a British build doesn't have to supply an accurate Mass in Service... the weight it leaves the factory + driver + 90% fuel but no gas.

Half of them no longer offer a max weight for rear garages now either and they're no longer built to be driven with more than around 20L of water.

If you read the small print of all new motorhomes it states that they are just for recreational purposes only and that extended, more permanent use will void components of the warranty.

Best will in the world, no 3500kg motorhome can travel with four adults or two and two kids/teenagers. Hidden Aguti travel seats are heavier than a dinette and now they try to fit a dropdown sucking even more of the payload.

 

[Gaston aires]

Just a quick rough add up.
2 x humans and dog,s 240 kg.
water 100
gas bottle,s. 25
fuel. 100
food and clothing 30
bedding,towels etc 20
chairs table toolbox 50
total. 565 kg

Then your bikes scooter tow bar etc ?
Bet this lots adds up to nearly 1000kgs

Phil upmegarage.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Conal, they never do mate. It will include 75kg for the driver and 90% fuel (on the Tranny 61 litres). It's a Euro van so unlike a British build doesn't have to supply an accurate Mass in Service... the weight it leaves the factory + driver + 90% fuel but no gas.

Half of them no longer offer a max weight for rear garages now either and they're no longer built to be driven with more than around 20L of water.

If you read the small print of all new motorhomes it states that they are just for recreational purposes only and that extended, more permanent use will void components of the warranty.

Best will in the world, no 3500kg motorhome can travel with four adults or two and two kids/teenagers. Hidden Aguti travel seats are heavier than a dinette and now they try to fit a dropdown sucking even more of the payload.

I removed the two Aguti travel seats from the Le Voyageur to make room for a bigger booze locker (a certain type off duck can never change his feathers…..). They were stunningly heavy

 

[Lenny HB]

We have just ordred a new van it is just about runnable at 3500 but much nicer not to have to worry about what you can/can't take with you. So we have ordered it on the Maxi chassis so we have a reasonable payload of 1300kg over MIRO, a bit less that the current van but we should be able to manage.
I could uprate it to 4500 giving 1550kg of payload.

 

[Verteuil Man]

Time common sense was applied. Government need to relax regulations.

Unfortunately it's not that easy. If UK Government passed legislation on vehicle weights and licence categories the rest of the world would have to adopt them. If they do not we would have to take a test and new licence if we drive outside the UK.

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[The Wino]

Why would they change the weight limit to accommodate someones hobby?

 

[Lenny HB]

Unfortunately it's not that easy. If UK Government passed legislation on vehicle weights and licence categories the rest of the world would have to adopt them. If they do not we would have to take a test and new licence if we drive outside the UK.

Why until 1997 when we tied our licences into the EU on a B licence you could drive up to 7500kg and a private coach or bus up th 12000kg.
The yanks can drive up to 12 ton on a car licence.

Not really asking for a major change just to be put back to where we were.

 

[nicholsong]

Unfortunately it's not that easy. If UK Government passed legislation on vehicle weights and licence categories the rest of the world would have to adopt them. If they do not we would have to take a test and new licence if we drive outside the UK.

I have been saying this for years when this suggestion of one country upgrading its weights.

The other alternative is for the 126 countries to agree to do it under the International Treaties (Vienna, Paris etc.) Oh, there goes another flying pig formation 0f 126!

 

[Kayak Kid]

For information the government is currently conducting consultation on basically reverting back to the pre 1997 situation for driving licences. This is as a result of a shortage of ‘commercial’ drivers and as we are no longer tied to EU regulations. This is in addition to the changes made to towing limits last year.

I posted a thread ( as below) giving the link to the consultation in the last week or so. The closing date for comments is 28 October. Please feel free to make a submission.

Government Consultation on Driving Licence Changes

Apologies if this has been raised previously. Those of us who passed our driving test pre 1997 will have ‘grandfather’ rights on our driving licence allowing us to drive vehicles above 3500kg up to 7500kg - granting a C1 Status. As a result of leaving the EU, the UK Government is considering...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Feltwell]

It's crackers. My 7 berth van, 6 travel seats, was plated at 3500kg when I bought it - quick trip to the weighbridge, 3100kg with just me in it

Now I am a bit of a chunky monkey, but even so.......

Air assist on the back suspension and it was replated at 4000kg, fine for my licence but when I come to sell it, it could be a problem - a family van that no one under 42 (and quite a few over that) can drive without taking a further test. So I for one hope the consultation means licences are upgraded to previous levels, as they did with the rights to tow trailers.

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[nicholsong]

It's crackers. My 7 berth van, 6 travel seats, was plated at 3500kg when I bought it - quick trip to the weighbridge, 3100kg with just me in it

Now I am a bit of a chunky monkey, but even so.......

Air assist on the back suspension and it was replated at 4000kg, fine for my licence but when I come to sell it, it could be a problem - a family van that no one under 42 (and quite a few over that) can drive without taking a further test. So I for one hope the consultation means licences are upgraded to previous levels, as they did with the rights to tow trailers.

Still could be a problem unless the buyer under 42 who only wants to use it in UK.

 

[Lenny HB]

Still could be a problem unless the buyer under 42 who only wants to use it in UK.

Why, previously our licenses were recognised by other countries.

 

[599]

what payload

 

[Bessy765]

As I understand it the rules are the driver must comply with the requirements of the country that the vehicle they are driving is registered in. So driving in the EU should not. Effect a UK licence holder.