Weighbridge payload

[Christy]

Taking my new (to me) Swift to weighbridge tomorrow. Assume I need to empty it of everything. Then just me. I have half a tank of fuel. Should I fill up fresh water tank or go completely empty of everything.

Some have said load it as if you are going away. Not sure this is the best thing?

 

[Podney]

Load it as if you are going away.

 

[Bill_OR]

As Podney says - and that means everything you would normally carry - fuel, water, gas, wife, dog, clothes, food, wine etc etc
... and make sure you stay in the motorhome when it gets weighed!

 

[Phill D]

agreed load it as if going away, including all passengers, OH and the dog, half of fuel is ok and add some water to the fresh tank as you would normally be carrying some and also gas.

you will then have travelling weight and you will know for sure if you need to loose any or have some slack.

if you can get total weight plus weight of each axle. then you will know if your axle weights are legal as well as total weight.

 

[Bognor Saint]

We use campsites (not everyone's choice!) so only put enough water in for the journey and fill up on arrival.

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[Spriddler]

Load it as the worst case it might be when/if you are checked when travelling.

 

[pappajohn]

As others.... Weigh in travelling trim.
Knowing the unladen weight is pointless unless you plan on weighing EVERYTHING you put onboard and deciding where it's going to be stored, front or rear to keep the axle weights in order.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Weigh it full, inc full water, full fuel - then you'll know how much or who you have to leave behind.

 

[nicholsong]

Another one for weighing as if you were setting off touring. Don't forget the OH.

We only wildcamp so full water and fuel. Usually 50-100kg under Max Permitted.

 

[Badknee]

Ok, ex trucker so a bit ocd. Got the dealer to have it weighed completely empty before we picked it up and weighed it three times afterwards as I added full time living contents, solar, and a scoot on a rack out back. Last time was the night we set off for the winter in Spain loaded to the gunnels and we were 200kgs under mgw @5050kgs.

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[Larby]

Fill it with everything, that means wife, dog, fuel. water, tea bags, clothes, chairs, bedding, you get the idea and good luck.
You don't specify what van, you may be in for a shock and have to decide who walks home from the weighbridge

 

[Lenny HB]

Not much point in weighing it empty, always weigh ours full with full tanks, usually have about 300 kg to spare.

 

[Manic]

Have it weighed as you would use it.
To save money you only need two weights, total and one axle and then you can workout the second axle.

 

[bigtwin]

That seems pretty unanimous!

You know it makes sense.

Ian

 

[Podney]

Fill it with everything, that means wife, dog, fuel. water, tea bags, clothes, chairs, bedding, you get the idea and good luck.
You don't specify what van, you may be in for a shock and have to decide who walks home from the weighbridge

In this household it wouldn’t be me who decides!!

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[Parrot Face]

I disagree. I drove my brand new Adria. Straight from dealers. Weighed it completely empty with about a gallon of fuel in it. Got out and weighed it as it was. That way you know that the manufacturers are completely lying about the vehicle weight in their specification list. Back home everything was weighed. Me, Wife, dog, chairs etc. Then I had the choice what I took with me and what I left behind.

 

[funflair]

I took our new one straight to the weigh bridge, that way I know how it is balanced without anything in it so gives me a clue as to where I should aim to pack the heavier stuff front axle back axle etc.

I will weigh it again when it is all packed and in touring trim.

Martin

 

[sallylillian]

As I had plenty of spare payload I only weighed once fully loaded, full tanks, wife etc. AND weighing both axles as Martin funflair inferred. Using your axle weights you can also check these against the tyre manufacturers chart and set your tyre pressures appropriately. The Yanks even go as far as weighing each corner to get the highest weight side of the axle and use that (doubled) for the chart.

 

[Yorkshire Puds]

Just park one wheel at a time on your bathroom scales.

 

[Pausim]

I got the dealer to weigh it empty and then weighed it again when loaded.

ps I stopped being loaded when I paid for the motorhome, .

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[PeteH]

I disagree. I drove my brand new Adria. Straight from dealers. Weighed it completely empty with about a gallon of fuel in it. Got out and weighed it as it was. That way you know that the manufacturers are completely lying about the vehicle weight in their specification list. Back home everything was weighed. Me, Wife, dog, chairs etc. Then I had the choice what I took with me and what I left behind.

IMV. you get the dealer to do that before you buy.?

 

[Lenny HB]

I disagree. I drove my brand new Adria. Straight from dealers. Weighed it completely empty with about a gallon of fuel in it. Got out and weighed it as it was. That way you know that the manufacturers are completely lying about the vehicle weight in their specification list. Back home everything was weighed. Me, Wife, dog, chairs etc. Then I had the choice what I took with me and what I left behind.

Weighing it like that you can't compare it with the manufacturers figures. They give the MIRO including a driver at 75kg, 90% fuel, 1 gas bottle & 20Lt water, exact amounts may vary between manufacturers but what I've listed is fairly common.

 

[HugoBNB]

I disagree. I drove my brand new Adria. Straight from dealers. Weighed it completely empty with about a gallon of fuel in it. Got out and weighed it as it was. That way you know that the manufacturers are completely lying about the vehicle weight in their specification list. Back home everything was weighed. Me, Wife, dog, chairs etc. Then I had the choice what I took with me and what I left behind.

What model of Adria do you have? We got locked down before we could fully load ours up and get to a weighbridge. I would be interested to hear how far things were away from the specification. Thanks

 

[HugoBNB]

If the manufacturers are stating figures in their specifications and they are inaccurate, surely that is in breach of the "sale of goods and services act" ? A few of the car manufacturers are finding out right now with class actions being filed against them over stated emissions and economy figures.

 

[Gaston aires]

Fully loaded for travelling, inc bikes and scooters. Otherwise you won’t learn anything.
Phil

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[Pausim]

If the manufacturers are stating figures in their specifications and they are inaccurate, surely that is in breach of the "sale of goods and services act" ? A few of the car manufacturers are finding out right now with class actions being filed against them over stated emissions and economy figures.

They are allowed +/-5% on the MIRO figure and many of them regularly use this.

 

[Lenny HB]

If the manufacturers are stating figures in their specifications and they are inaccurate, surely that is in breach of the "sale of goods and services act" ? A few of the car manufacturers are finding out right now with class actions being filed against them over stated emissions and economy figures.

As said they make use of the tolerance to give an impression of a higher payload.
Also depends on the manufacturer. Hymer are normally very accurate to the quoted weight, Carthago are nearly alway 130kg over but within tolerance. And don't forget to add {reduce payload by) options, dealer & self fitted extras.
That is why you need a minium of 700 kg of payload for 2 people, a 1000 kg is better.

 

[Spriddler]

Several say they weigh every item before they load it. That is so laborious!
Surely better to put everything on board and weigh the loaded vehicle, then if over weight just weigh stuff as you remove it?

 

[The Wino]

I disagree. I drove my brand new Adria. Straight from dealers. Weighed it completely empty with about a gallon of fuel in it. Got out and weighed it as it was. That way you know that the manufacturers are completely lying about the vehicle weight in their specification list. Back home everything was weighed. Me, Wife, dog, chairs etc. Then I had the choice what I took with me and what I left behind.

But then when you load it you know the total weight but not the axle loading. Depending on the layout the rear could well be over the limit especially if you have bikes on the back.

 

[Ridgeway]

I usually weigh mine in "dream mode" ie just me the dog and all the gear. Sadly i then have to factor in the additional passengers as well

I do keep a list of the weight of all the main pieces of equipment, the fixed add ons as well as the random bits of kit.