Payload Opinion Please (1 Viewer)

Ashypants

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Jan 25, 2018
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further to my previous post about brochure weights and downplating - the van we are looking at has been on a weighbridge - 1/2 tank diesel, full tank of water (100l ish), Gas bottle - no driver. The weight came in at 3160kg - leaving 340kg payload for me, the wife, and 2 year old, plus ‘stuff’ - food, clothes, awning, pots & pans, camping chairs & table, Caracas, bikes etc. Is this sufficient or way under for week/weekends away? We are not planning on touring for longer than 2 weeks at a time - wouldn’t need to have 100% full water tanks all the time.

Cheers.
 

EX51SSS

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You and any adults are 75 kg each, so now down to less than 200kg. Kids, say 75 kg for both, now down to around 110. Clothes for 4, plus food. Not a lot, if anything left. Sorry, forgot table and chairs and awning. Overweight before you go IMO.
 
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Jul 13, 2008
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Zero water = 100KG extra. Do you need any water when travelling?

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Two on Tour

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Driver, wife and 2 year old, say 150Kg the other half tank of diesel say 40Kg plus the gear mentioned, you will be very close if not over your 3500Kg. You will be amazed at how much water you will get through each day so you will have to have to keep topped up unless your sure where you can fill up next. Best that you fill with fuel, wife kid and gubbins you though you might be taking and take a trip back to the weighbridge then you will know for sure where you stand.
 
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Two on Tour

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If this van was at its plated weight, 3650kg, that would still only leave 490kg - is that a better ball park?

Always better to have some spare payload rather than be worrying if your over or under, also if you down-plate to 3500Kg then the cost of your road fund tax will go up
 
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pappajohn

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If you have the licence (C1) it's better at 3650kg.
Better payload, though 90kg isn't much, and save a few quid on road tax.....£165 p.a.

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Sep 26, 2013
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You could take the water out of the calculation as if you did get stopped you could just dump it, if you then stop feeding the wife and child by the time your summer holidays come round you should be okay.
 
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Sep 26, 2013
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I believe that if you are aware of the restraint and can manage it by being careful with what you put into the van then it’s doable. The problems occur when you load up for a 6 month trip to Spain in the Winter which you are not doing.

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vwalan

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What would you class as enough?
you could start by weighing two weeks groceries . and two weeks clothes for you all. dont forget drinks . (beer ,pop for the kid etc weigh your pots pans etc , your shoes . and yourselves just to be sutre . ,perhaps 5 -10 litres of spare fuel and your tools etc , towels ,bedding . you might be surprised just how much it all weighs .
 
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vwalan

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I believe that if you are aware of the restraint and can manage it by being careful with what you put into the van then it’s doable. The problems occur when you load up for a 6 month trip to Spain in the Winter which you are not doing.
then its how much wine ,beer , brandy can i bring home . ha ha .
oh and the 400ltr fuel tanks .
mind that might be being cut short soon .
 
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Ashypants

Ashypants

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Well I'm no expert on weights but i honestly think you'd need at least another 100/150 on top of what you've got. Is there a reason you need to downplate and what is it currently plated at??

It’s currently at 3650 but I nor wife has C1 licence so have to bring it down to 3500. Don’t fancy doing C1 test at this stage.

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EX51SSS

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It’s currently at 3650 but I nor wife has C1 licence so have to bring it down to 3500. Don’t fancy doing C1 test at this stage.
Might be cheaper in the long run .Your VED will be more expensive year on year. I certainly couldn't advocate running too close to top limit or over.
 
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vwalan

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It’s currently at 3650 but I nor wife has C1 licence so have to bring it down to 3500. Don’t fancy doing C1 test at this stage.
ideally get the c1 then its like the world is your oyster.
you dont have to go massive but you will find as time goes by you will need more and more payload.
miight be the best idea really. nice 6.5 tonner is about the right size van etc .
 
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EX51SSS

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ideally get the c1 then its like the world is your oyster.
you dont have to go massive but you will find as time goes by you will need more and more payload.
miight be the best idea really. nice 6.5 tonner is about the right size van etc .
Tis for some. I've a class 1 (yes, yes, i know) and I'm more than happy in my sub 3.5 tonne, sub 6 metre Moho.

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Is this sufficient or way under for week/weekends away?

The only way you are going to know for sure is to fill it with the bare minimum for a weeks holiday (half a tank of fuel - but no water), with everybody on board and get it weighed again.
You'll be able to adjust it from there.
 
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EX51SSS

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The only way you are going to know for sure is to fill it with the bare minimum for a weeks holiday (half a tank of fuel - but no water), with everybody on board and get it weighed again.
You'll be able to adjust it from there.
Course, that'll mean no toilet, no bathroom ablutions, no cooking because no washing up. Pretty impractical with no water on board.
 
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Mar 23, 2012
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I think its doable just need to take less water and no clutter. As for 2 weeks food we only ever usually carry 3 days at most there are shops on holiday even abroad!!
 
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magicsurfbus

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To be honest the only accurate answer is to weigh everything before it crosses the MH threshold - get one of those luggage weighing things with a strap you can dangle stuff from.

Might be worth considering if any inessentials can be left at home. We don't take the habitation area carpets with us, and don't usually need the ladder for the roof. Every little helps.

Our new MH had 395 Kgs payload. We juggled and weighed like crazy, set up a spreadsheet to total it all up, and ended up going on our first trip with a half full water tank and a full fuel tank. Allowing for modifications, bits left at home, two of us (only), 2 bikes stored in the boot and a minimum of essential kit and foodstuffs we just managed. After we got back we up-plated, but we both have C1 licences.

Your main payload enemy on the road is liquids - once you're on site you can do as you please. When travelling drain all waste before setting off and don't over fill with liquids in either the tanks or in bottles. Don't forget a toilet flush tank and a full hot water boiler will add to the total carried. Be realistic with clothes and shoes. It's all about priorities.

What I like about having to be careful with weight is we're not taking inessential clutter - you only end up tripping over it.
 
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MikeD

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We have a IH PVC with a max of 3500kg.

First thing I did when we bought it home was visit the weigh bridge and with a full tank of diesel we have around 500kg of payload.

The wife and I don't travel with any water in the tank just a few litres of fresh in a bottle and toilet flush.

But I bet we are always either close or over the max weight limit.

It is amazing how the Kilo's build up in just essentials like clothes, knifes, forks, plates etc.

I would recommend for the first few trips you weigh everything you put in the motorhome.

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pappajohn

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You obviously have to downplate due to your licences but you could tow a small trailer to carry things like table, chairs, bikes etc.....all the heavier stuff.
Your B licences should cover for up to a 750kg unbraked box trailer.
Only downside, you may pay more on European & UK toll roads.
 
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pappajohn

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Why oh why do folks keep saying 1/2 tank of diesel ?

You may be on your limit with half a tank but what do you do after that......half full every time you refuel.....how do you know it's half full.....or you may brim the tank and get pulled a mile further on and be over your limit....you can't simply dump 1/2 tank of fuel just to get below your max weight.
Get weighed with a full fuel tank then you know it won't put you over.
 
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