Payload

[63720]

Should payload be the most important feature when buying a motorhome? Many have bought without the slightest knowledge of what it is and the implications it brings. Should dealers give this a higher priority when selling.

 

[Southdowners]

I don’t think there’s any one feature which can be classed as the single most most important point. As with buying anything you need to do your research prior to parting with your money.

 

[peterc10]

I think the most important thing is layout, which is very much a personal thing. But payload is the second most important and is a necessity.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I think the most important thing is layout, which is very much a personal thing. But payload is the second most important and is a necessity.

Agree with that, Peter - layout and payload are the two things that really matter. Everything else is a “nice to have” even the Alde heating

 

[PhilG]

Until it is made a priority , people will keep making next to useless vehicles.

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[funflair]

Well initially I thought no, but then thinking about our buying process I start with the chassis I want which in my case is IVECO 70C over 50C, so by default I have actually started with "payload" then move on to layout size features etc etc, what is the point in picking the van you like and then finding it just won't work on that chassis.

Martin

 

[Pausim]

There are several factors in choosing a motorhome but payload affects whether you can actually drive it legally. So yes it should be given a top priority.

 

[Speve]

I am one for payload first you can have what layout you like but if you can’t get your kit on board without overloading you’re stuffed?

 

[Mr Colpot]

Payload for me too - I learned the expensive way two of our "ideal" vans ended up with me spending money to uprate.

 

[Mikey RV]

Payload is very important, but I think so many peaple don’t understand it. They buy a Motorhome and then load it up with everything they want and drive off. As long as it drives they think all is ok. They don’t relize they are breaking the law,
putting themselves and others at risk and more than likely not insured if they have an accident.

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[tacr2man]

Payload pretty much decides nearly all other factors of the chosen vehicle , it governs how it is operated , and its viability with the intended number of occupants , to mention but two factors .

 

[busby]

Should payload be the most important feature when buying a motorhome? Many have bought without the slightest knowledge of what it is and the implications it brings. Should dealers give this a higher priority when selling.

If they did they would not sell many vans.At 3500kg gross many new vans have not got a pay load..Must be thousands and thousands unknowingly driving illegally.BUSBY.

 

[Lenny HB]

Rule out all vans with less than 700kg payload (1000kg would be better) then start looking at layouts.

 

[Bognor Saint]

We were very uninformed when we bought our first motorhome. We knew nothing about payload at the point of purchase and neither was it discussed with us by the dealer. It was only after joining this forum that I understood what it meant. A visit to a weighbridge showed that we were only just about legal and that we would have to compromise. We are now on MH number 3 and these were bought with eyes open!

 

[DiggerJon]

Payload has become much more of an issue since MHs started being loaded up with "inessentials`` such as microwaves, TV's etc. and many MHs are near their payload limit without any passengers, dogs, bikes, clothing and food aboard. How man of us have braved the reality of a weigh bridge??

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[Sunlovers]

Payload has become much more of an issue since MHs started being loaded up with "inessentials`` such as microwaves, TV's etc. and many MHs are near their payload limit without any passengers, dogs, bikes, clothing and food aboard. How man of us have braved the reality of a weigh bridge??

We "weighed in" en-route to the shuttle ..... then spent 15 minutes fretting about how we were going to shed 180Kg ....... dumped all but 10litres of water and took a chance being 90Kg over. we didn't bring one bottle back from France that year

 

[Canyon904]

Should payload be the most important feature when buying a motorhome? Many have bought without the slightest knowledge of what it is and the implications it brings. Should dealers give this a higher priority when selling.

As an ex haulier payload was 1st on the list, overweight vans are harder to drive, less safe and of course illegal. I don't understand how manufacturers can market vans with 300kg pay load, might be ok for a weekend away but far too restrictive to use the MH in the real world. IMO Don't forget the axle weights, it might be ok all up but often rear axles are overloaded, this causes the brake bias to over brake the rear, expensive! Pads and discs take a hammering.

 

[Brains]

I don't think Payload is above all, as with any purchase it's a balance.

Most important is budget!
After that its then, in no particular order:

• Number of beds
• Length
• Style
• Layout
• Base vehicle
• Age
• Mileage
• Condition
• Payload
• Additional extras that are 'essential'
• Quality/reputation of the manufacturer, both base and habitation.
• The Dealer & Sales staff
• And then a load of other things such as colour, the leather steering wheel, Alloy wheels etc

 

[Lenny HB]

We "weighed in" en-route to the shuttle ..... then spent 15 minutes fretting about how we were going to shed 180Kg ....... dumped all but 10litres of water and took a chance being 90Kg over. we didn't bring one bottle back from France that year

Use to weigh ours regularly but don't bother with current van as fully loaded with full tanks we have 300 kg spare on each axle and 300 kg spare on the gross.

 

[jezport]

A few people have put layout as the most important thing.
Well personally I think a van with the perfect layout is absolutely no use if you cant take anything with you.
Even a perfect layout with a payload you can just about get away with would be such a pain if you are panicking with every item you take and cant add extra accessories in fear of having no payload is absolutly stupid to me.

Payload is No1 before layout for me, don't need the worry of being pulled. Or worse still after an accident having the insurance not paying out.

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[Jim]

If we get our way, one day it will be the norm for a dealer to issue a weight certificate for every motorhome sale. But the NCC who could insist on that and make it law in a pen stroke are not interested. All we can do is advise people and try and make it happen ourselves

The Advice

When buying used or new, from a dealer or private seller. A Motorhome with a MAM of 4000kg or less. Always ask for a weight certificate, no matter what! Be prepared to hear excuses, ignore them.

 

[Sunlovers]

Use to weigh ours regularly but don't bother with current van as fully loaded with full tanks we have 300 kg spare on each axle and 300 kg spare on the gross.

Likewise, having now been attuned to the issue, we are mindful of the 3700Kg limit and I've become adept at loading the van to make sure that the weight is not all hanging off the back. I've got everything listed weight-wise (and I do mean everything) and we can generally run within our limits quite safely. The e-Bikes are the only niggle as their 45Kg sitting up on the rear-mounted rack carrier just puts us closish to the rear axle limit when we have everything else on-board. The Cadac used to sit in the ski-locker, but that now gets loaded to the front of the bed storage area, so almost mid-ships. It just takes a bit of thinking to get everything loaded in the right place to balance the ship.

 

[Langtoftlad]

(1000kg would be better)

What on earth do you carry?

 

[funflair]

Our order form shows,

Technically permissible max. weight (kg)
EURO 6d

7,490

Mass in running order (kg) 5,350

Payload (kg) 2,140

And then each option is itemised to give a final weight including options,

	Selected weight variant in Kg		7,490
	Mass in running order in Kg ap.*	6,301
	Payload in Kg ap.		1,189

 

[Northernraider]

I don't know what folk Carry with them at times. I live in mine everything I own is in there. 3900kg gross and I've about 300kg spare

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[jezport]

What on earth do you carry?

We have 1500kg, and could get it up a further 200kg If I changed the rear tyres for a higher load rating.

 

[Langtoftlad]

We have 1500kg, and could get it up a further 200kg If I changed the rear tyres for a higher load rating.

Yeah, but you run your business out the back of it, carry your stock etc, so that I understand.

 

[Mickey1]

Motorhome Weight

As most know, I picked up my new motorhome yesterday, everything great, over the moon. Today I took it to a weighbridge, just me and nothing added, big shock, 3440kg. Now I maybe a newbie to motorhoming but that tells me I have a 60 kg payload, am I right?. I rang the dealer and he tells me it's...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Well worth a read.

Mickey.

 

[Lenny HB]

What on earth do you carry?

You need 200kg for manufacturers options to start with, awning another 45kg, 2 additional batteries 60 kg 3 solar panels 25kg, TV 3kg, Sat dish 10kg, spare wheel 30kg That's 373kg before you even start loading it. A full water tank is 160kg. So now we have used 533 kg and the van is empty.

 

[Sunlovers]

I don't know what folk Carry with them at times. I live in mine everything I own is in there. 3900kg gross and I've about 300kg spare

Do you have a wife in there too though ?

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