Payload ??

[Gixer]

What do people think is a reasonable payload, I have seen many many different opinions, some mentions 500 + kgs as a minimum, but Jim's guide talks about 125 kgs per person, any help ??
My van has been weighed before I get it - at 3140 kgs, so leaving 360 kgs for the 2 of us - is this enough ?

 

[Two on Tour]

My van has been weighed before I get it - at 3140 kgs, so leaving 360 kgs for the 2 of us - is this enough ?

Is that a totally empty van with no fuel and water ?

 

[Jim]

IMO Nowhere near enough.

You will be OK, but...

You will have to be ultra-careful with your personal effects (loading)
You'll need to travel with empty water tanks and little beer
You'll likely not be able to fit an extra battery or a solar panel

Can you up-rate it?

 

[Just smiffy]

It’s a very tight, as a comparison I have about 800kg just for myself..

 

[Gixer]

It's got Solar and Windout awning already fitted, not sure about fuel etc or whether it can be uprated, I'll probably look at this in the near future, thanks

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[nicholsong]

Depends on what type of motorhoming you want to do.

Jim's answer of travelling without water seems to be based on going to a campsite where you can fill on arrival, but if you want to head into the Highlands and be self-sufficient with full tanks, 2 gas bottles, food and booze for a week and winter and summer clothing for day and cold evenings, then for two people I would suggest 700kg is more appropriate.

Even if you start intending to use campsites you may later feel more adventurous.

Most base vans can be upgraded to 3850kg as a paper excercise, if you have C1 licence.

Geoff

 

[motorhomer]

Fresh water, 75ltrs 75kg, full toilet, 20 ltrs 20 Kg, Diesel, 90 litres, 60kg. Waste water, 75 ltres 75kg (although unlikely that waste and fresh tanks are both full). Gas probably 13kg excluding the bottle. So at 360 you may be down to 200 ish for food, clothes, TV, computer, tools etc. So yes, this is tight but not impossible.
But be aware that upgrading the MGW may solve this issue but has other implications, in many countries lower speed limits and higher tolls, and the C1 licence requirement and maintaining that, if possible, when you are over 70. Weight is always an issue!

 

[Lenny HB]

What condition was it weighted in? If by the dealer that will mean empty tanks and was the driver in it and how much did he weigh?

IMO I would say at 360 kg empty it's not fit for purpose, you certainly wouldn't be able to run with a full water tank which buggers you for wild camping or trips across the continent out of season.
You also need axle weights it's no good having spare payload if the rear axle is on the limit.

I always reckon you need 700kg MIRO for two before any extras are fitted, our van has 1350kg.

 

[68c]

Do not forget speed limit implications, vans with an UNLADEN weight over 3050Kg, not a misprint, are limited to 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways. Many think this only applies to vans over 3500kg max weight. Be a good idea to find out if that weigh you had done was truly unladen weight otherwise you are at the slower speeds. Of course if you uplate to over 3500kg the lower limits apply anyways. Google DVLA speed limits, and DVLA unladen weight, also pay less road tax.

My A class weighed 3000kg with full fuel, full gas, no water, possesions , driver or passenger so is below 3050kg unladen. Van was built at 3400kg then uplated to 3700. I downrated to 3500kg so have 500kg spare with full fuel and gas. This seems plenty for two people (165kg), electric bikes, clothes and food etc. When you fly on holiday most are limited to 20kg each in suitcases so you probably need less payload than you think. With care you will be OK. Keeping below your max will reduce fuel consumption and have a better performing and handling vehicle.

 

[Speve]

are limited to 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways

I don’t think you need to be travelling any faster than that anyway regardless of weight

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[Gixer]

I don’t think you need to be travelling any faster than that anyway regardless of weight

I agree, one of the reasons I want to travel by MH is to go slow, I can speed on my GSXR when I feel the need. I just want to be able to carry spare pants without going over the weight limit !!

 

[Lenny HB]

I agree, one of the reasons I want to travel by MH is to go slow, I can speed on my GSXR when I feel the need. I just want to be able to carry spare pants without going over the weight limit !!

Brown ones?

 

[Gixer]

Only if too many coffin dodgers on the road, I never go toooooooo fast anyhoo

 

[68c]

Never been late for a ferry? Also all those HGVs, who are limited to 56mph, overtaking you on the motorway.

EDIT Just checked, it seems HGVs now limited to 60mph on motorways, since 2015!

 

[Speve]

Never been late for a ferry?

No don’t use them always tunnel so you have a bit of flexibility

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[Gixer]

Nope - not in 40 years of going to France, nearest was when mate's car broke down just outside Portsmouth terminal on route to Le Mans 24hr, had to wait for recovery in pub

 

[68c]

Gixer, with your avatar I am certain you never go tooooo fast anywhere.

 

[Speve]

Also all those HGVs who are limited to 56mph, overtaking you on the motorway.

But you can still be doing 60 so they might struggle a bit to get past eh?

 

[Gixer]

Gixer, with your avatar I am certain you never go tooooo fast anywhere.

Toooo fast is highly subjective anyway !!

 

[Lenny HB]

Never been late for a ferry?

In my younger days I had that down to a fine art. One was at either Zeebrugge or Ostend I got held up at customs getting a Carnet stamped (business trip). Came out of the office got into my boy racer XR3. Uniform guy standing in front of the car with his hand up to stop me as I was too late, so reversed then drove around him. Got to the loading ramp the ship guys waved me on board, I was just off the ramp about 10ft in the boat and it had already left the dock.

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[Speve]

Got to the loading ramp the ship guys waved me on board, I was just off the ramp about 10ft in the boat and it had already left the dock

Blimey that was a bit close

 

[stevec]

I'm just loading up my van having just had it's MOT and damp check. I stripped it right out including the mattress but not the seat cushions. Weighing everything as it goes back in. So far have put in 700kg for the two of us which includes two electric folding bikes at 45kg. That figure assumes full fuel and water. Getting pretty close to the 3500kg mark but we uprated to 3850 so have some spare (careful about rear axle weight though).

 

[TR5]

Do not forget speed limit implications, vans with an UNLADEN weight over 3050Kg, ......

The biggest issue with the UNLADEN weight conundrum, it is never quoted, and is not a legal requirement for it to be quoted. Nor does it state anywhere as to what is included or excluded in the unladen weight.
Before VOSA was disbanded, they gave their interpretation of the Unladen weight for a motorhome....

Motorhome Speed Limits

Answers to many frequently asked questions about motorhomes and their use.

www.ukmotorhomes.net

No driver or passenger's, no fuel, water, gas or cylinders, no loose tools, and you could argue that it also excludes the spare wheel, the leisure batteries, all loose items (furnishings etc.) etc., etc. The vehicle and body shell only needs to be 'In Running Order'...

Most manufacturers quote an MRO (Mass in running order) which usually includes the driver, fuel, all furnishings, tools and spare, some water, gas, etc., so considerably heavier than the UNLADEN weight.

So it is almost impossible to exactly define the UNLADEN weight of a motorhome, and there is no legal requirement for manufacturers to quote one. Many over 3500kg GVW could be under the 3050kg UNLADEN weight, even vans at or near 4000kg GVW with a good payload could well get under 3050kg ULW.

The Gov.uk website is even less specific than VOSA's interpretation of UNLADEN.

 

[68c]

My worry is insurance companies know about this and could use it against you in an expensive accident.

 

[TheBig1]

take off 75kg (I wish) for the driver and the same for any passengers, then 50kg for the belongings for each occupant and add 100kg for water, 30kg for food. The payload is used up way before you even think of beer or carrying a bike. Vans under 3500kg are only suited to a very few people who travel very light. Certainly not fit for purpose as a 4 berth vehicle

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[Lenny HB]

The biggest issue with the UNLADEN weight conundrum, it is never quoted, and is not a legal requirement for it to be quoted. Nor does it state anywhere as to what is included or excluded in the unladen weight.
Before VOSA was disbanded, they gave their interpretation of the Unladen weight for a motorhome..

The only manufacturer I know that quotes unladen weight is Carthago they quote both unladen and MIRO they started doing it 2 or 3 three years ago. Probably to give the impression of more payload.

This is from one of their small CompacLine vans.

 

[Crazylegs]

My worry is insurance companies know about this and could use it against you in an expensive accident.

I think it’s going to be very difficult for an insurance company to establish a vehicle was overweight after an accident. If you have a bump, or a fender bender as the Americans say, you should be able to continue, or perhaps limp home. If the accident is more serious your vehicle will be disabled, so it will be recovered and taken to a compound to await the insurance assessors decision. I really can’t see anyone loading it up, and taking it to a weigh bridge, in any event some parts/ liquids may have been lost in the accident.
I have seen estimates that up to 50% of motorhomes can be overweight, has anyone ever had a claim refused for this reason I wonder.

 

[Gixer]

I wonder what percentage of motorhomers have been pulled over and weighed ? And how many of those got fined [how much ?]

 

[gus-lopez]

Of course if you uplate to over 3500kg the lower limits apply anyways.

Not if you are still under 3050 kgs unladen.

Never been late for a ferry? Also all those HGVs, who are limited to 56mph, overtaking you on the motorway.

EDIT Just checked, it seems HGVs now limited to 60mph on motorways, since 2015!

I thought that was always the case under UK regulations but EU rules restrict to 56mph ?

 

[BRND]

I reckon 500kg minimum, yes you can get away with less but you don’t want to restrict yourself. If you have C1 license then no problem uprating. Unfortunately Motorhome manufacturers and salesman fail to mention what payload you might need when selling Motorhomes. As to speeds 50 on single carriageway and 60 on dual no problem, don’t mind lorries overtaking. As to being late for ferry give yourself more time!