Help for a complete novice
Comments
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I used to use a plastic milk crate until 10 years ago. I turned it over and screwed a rubber car mat (trimmed to size, on top. Worked well and I could easily peg it down. Very stable any way. Used to use it to transport bottles safelt en-route.
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i guess it might be a weight (lack of payload) issue but you'd think caravans would have moved on from those external 'staircases' needed to get into them.....and such a large, awkward thing to store....
motorhomes that use low frame ALKO chassis rarely need a seperate step, and those that do usually have a built in electric step.....a single step, a double step or a slider.....
all electric, no staircases......or milk crates.....
however, back to the OP...........
this (lack of) payload comes up over and over again in caravan threads....saw one a day or so ago where hanging a few clothes in a wardrobe was sufficient to cause 'imbalance'....yet this thread is a request for what 'extra' weighty 'stuff' the OP might
need.....my one piece of advice....weigh your van.....
caravans have paltry payloads (100-150kg) which in the real world is nothing.....
motormover, barrels, levellers, extra gas, awnings, mats, chairs, tables, bbq, various other electrical devices, etc, etc....that's before you get to items fixed to the van like extra batteries, solar panel, satellite dish, aircon unit, etc, etc......
......oh, and a staircase......
yes, lots of this kit can be dumped in your towcar (again provided that it has sufficient room/payload) but be very careful about the overall weight.....and even then you have to ensure that it sits in the correct part of the van to ensure a sensible nose
weight.....clothes in the correct part of the van....obviously not necessarily the wardrobe.....with a small payload, more stuff need more thought......weight management can be a minefield......
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Heavy Staircase?.
do you mean 'lightweight aluminium step" ?
i don't think i used the phrase 'heavy staircase'...nor implied they were particularly heavy....
..my point was that, with mimimum payload, having an electric step (with associated weight panalty) might be a reason for continuing with lightweight aluminium step...?
some suggest 'weight caution' when considering a motormover....or automatic satellite dish.....as these have heavy electric motors...
no, my point wasnt that 'staircases' are heavy, merely that the alternative (something far more modern and less cumbersome) is precluded by a vans small payload.....
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We travel light - we don't have aircon, solar panel or a satellite dish.
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Heavy Staircase?.
do you mean 'lightweight aluminium step" ?
i don't think i used the phrase 'heavy staircase'...nor implied they were particularly heavy....
..my point was that, with mimimum payload, having an electric step (with associated weight panalty) might be a reason for continuing with lightweight aluminium step...?
some suggest 'weight caution' when considering a motormover....or automatic satellite dish.....as these have heavy electric motors...
no, my point wasnt that 'staircases' are heavy, merely that the alternative (something far more modern and less cumbersome) is precluded by a vans small payload.....
Our step isn't particularly cumbersome despite it being a '2 level' one. It sits in the door way while travelling and gets easily lifted out when we stop and back in when we want to move on. Simples..it's not really a big deal.
I have seen too many flimsy fixed ones that are distorted and flexed due the weight of the 'van occupants to convince me they are a better option than a 'staircase'.
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good point....although it depends what you (one) weighs.....
i travel light....PFW (peak fighting weight) 60kg......lol.
why dont MH have seperate staircases, i wonder...?
anyweigh
...the OP should still pay due regard to limited payloads....in the van and also in the towcar.....caravans are deliberately plated as low as is practically possble to allow as many mass market cars to be in woth a chance of towing it.....to 'force' a large towcar on someone might be an expense too far....
so low mtplm usually means low payload.....so check....
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The most important thing is a LIST!
Of course, you may have several lists in which case maybe you need a Master List. Now, the question is, do you include the other lists on the Master List and the philosphical (and mathematical) question, "should a Master List as a true catalogue contain
the Master List as one of the items"? Now I am totally confused, however, you definitely need some sort of list which you keep adding to.0 -
despite spending 30-35 weeks away in our van we dont have a list....of any sort....
the van lives on the drive and we can load supplies, clothes etc as we feel like it....
..as its usually only a week or two between trips, the van is ready loaded with pretty much everything we need.....maps, books, satnav, load the bikes, the levellers and most of the 'pitch' kit, chairs, table, bbq, windbreak etc stays in the van's garage......
we just ensure we have phones, ipads, chargers adaptors etc...and then we turn the key....presto....off we go....
if we have forgotten something, we tend to go to places that trade/barter etc so we can usually procure what we need...
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BB I can,t agree with your opinion of caravans having small payloads,it is like motorhomes depends on which one. It is obvious your motorhome caters for your needs which is like our caravan a lot . We take everything that you seem to take except for cycles
( no need for the ) as we walk or use the car and still have space for more if need be. If we are on a long trip we put the awning over the axle and we are still within our stipulated payload.0 -
Oh for a garage BB
trouble is TG, we also have a real garage at home with plenty of our own stuff in.....and some of the kids'......even my dad (who is looking to move house in march, hence our prolonged stay in the uk) has our kids' stuff in his (two) garages......
....however, for MH travel.....its working well so far......
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BB I can,t agree with your opinion of caravans having small payloads,it is like motorhomes depends on which one. It is obvious your motorhome caters for your needs which is like our caravan a lot . We take everything that you seem to take except for cycles
( no need for the ) as we walk or use the car and still have space for more if need be. If we are on a long trip we put the awning over the axle and we are still within our stipulated payload.Whats your vans payload?
our van
unladen wiight 3050
Miro...Incl OH, gas, water, twin leisure batteries, satellite system around 3250
MTPLM 4250
so 1200kg over unladen weight...
typical caravan (from swift continental website) 160 .....
so, just over a tonne difference....
previous van 500 kg.....
so not really comparable.....
a MH has to carry all the stuff a towcar (and caravan) can so its hardly surprising that payloads are in a different league....
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we also have a real garage at home with plenty of our own stuff in.....and some of the kids......
Best place for 'em. They don't need to be seen AND heard.
very good, S.
....oh for the ability to manage the English apostrophe successfully......lol.....
normally not too bad but my old English master would be turning in his grave at that one.....
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BB I can,t agree with your opinion of caravans having small payloads,it is like motorhomes depends on which one. It is obvious your motorhome caters for your needs which is like our caravan a lot . We take everything that you seem to take except for cycles ( no need for the ) as we walk or use the car and still have space for more if need be. If we are on a long trip we put the awning over the axle and we are still within our stipulated payload.
Whats your vans payload?
our van
unladen wiight 3050
Miro...Incl OH, gas, water, twin leisure batteries, satellite system around 3250
MTPLM 4250
so 1200kg over unladen weight...
typical caravan (from swift continental website) 160 .....
so, just over a tonne difference....
previous van 500 kg.....
so not really comparable.....
a MH has to carry all the stuff a towcar (and caravan) can so its hardly surprising that payloads are in a different league....
Write your comments here...Our caravan is a Luner Delta 520. It has every luxury that we want and can use . MTPLM 1350kg : MIRO 1135 : Payload 215 kgs= 4.25 cwt. If I wanted more than that I would go into the road haulage buisness and buy a lorry. Our vehicle is equally ample for our needs and up to it's task , it is a Lexus RX 350. Everybody does things different and don't need massive payloads, but I have to say that I have seen Motorhomes/Campervans that would just about fit in the back of my Lexus, so I am sure that they would not have big payloads.
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BB I can,t agree with your opinion of caravans having small payloads,it is like motorhomes depends on which one. It is obvious your motorhome caters for your needs which is like our caravan a lot . We take everything that you seem to take except for cycles
( no need for the ) as we walk or use the car and still have space for more if need be. If we are on a long trip we put the awning over the axle and we are still within our stipulated payload.Whats your vans payload?
our van
unladen wiight 3050
Miro...Incl OH, gas, water, twin leisure batteries, satellite system around 3250
MTPLM 4250
so 1200kg over unladen weight...
typical caravan (from swift continental website) 160 .....
so, just over a tonne difference....
previous van 500 kg.....
so not really comparable.....
a MH has to carry all the stuff a towcar (and caravan) can so its hardly surprising that payloads are in a different league....
Write your comments here...Our caravan is a Luner Delta 520. It has every luxury that we want and can use . MTPLM 1350kg : MIRO 1135 : Payload 215 kgs= 4.25 cwt. If I wanted more than that I would go into the road haulage buisness and buy a lorry. Our vehicle
is equally ample for our needs and up to it's task , it is a Lexus RX 350. Everybody does things different and don't need massive payloads, but I have to say that I have seen Motorhomes/Campervans that would just about fit in the back of my Lexus, so I am
sure that they would not have big payloads.Similarly our 'van has a large enough payload of 262 kgs even after we have subtracted the air con unit and the pwrtouch motor mover from the MTPLM, we don't utilise it but it's nice to know it's there if needed, just how much stuff do you need on holiday
anyway?0 -
Payload on my caravan is 240Kg but it is surprising how it gets eaten up, particularly by heavy stuff like batteries and movers. Chuck in an awning frame(alloy), aquaroll, wastemaster and a couple of chairs and you've got surprisingly little left. With MH's,
the battery is part of the MIRO, you don't need movers,aquarolls,wastemasters and suddenly the available payload starts looking decidedly profligate.0 -
Hell CY that is one hell of a descriptive word to use for payload I would never think my payload of being vicious or reckless or my use of the payload. Might I suggest you don't take kitchen chairs,alloy awning frames,batteries( 1 should do). If you struggle
with your payload why don't you put some of the items in your Ford Kuga. I don't know what type of caravan you have but I would have thought that most would cope with what you mentioned. Many years ago we took a Zodiac MK1 Gt Inflatable ,Evinrude 25HP outboard
and launching wheels,Ski's & fishing gear and still remained in the payload limit,that was using a Bessecar.
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Perhaps caravan payloads were more generous back in the days of the Mk 1 Zodiac. A 25 horse Evinrude would swallow all the payload at one gulp these days.
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I take it you didn't get a book with it Paul
Does it have a plate on it with the weight stamped on it, usually either by the door or on the A frame? The other thing you really should know is the kerb weight of your tow vehicle.
Alison
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Sorry to high jack the post but im new to caravaning also, How do i find out what the payload is of my caravan?
I have a 1988 Abbey sumerset.
Ask Abbey themselves?
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I think the Abbey brand name was bought by Swift some time ago, the link above is just a dealer that happens to be called Abbey, not the manufacturer. A 1988 I suspect would have been an original, or possibly made by Cosalt who bought them up when they originally
went bust.Alison
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Sorry to high jack the post but im new to caravaning also, How do i find out what the payload is of my caravan?
I have a 1988 Abbey sumerset.
Your caravan payload is 235kg, this might help-
https://ncbbrochures.s3.amazonaws.com/mainbrochures/1988_Abbey_Brochure.pdf
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I think the Abbey brand name was bought by Swift some time ago, the link above is just a dealer that happens to be called Abbey, not the manufacturer. A 1988 I suspect would have been an original, or possibly made by Cosalt who bought them up when they originally went bust.
Alison
Ah, t'was ever thus.
It would be interesting to know how the police or DVLA would know the correct weight if they pulled you onto a weighbridge at a roadside check ??????
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I think the Abbey brand name was bought by Swift some time ago, the link above is just a dealer that happens to be called Abbey, not the manufacturer. A 1988 I suspect would have been an original, or possibly made by Cosalt who bought them up when they originally
went bust.Alison
Ah, t'was ever thus.
It would be interesting to know how the police or DVLA would know the correct weight if they pulled you onto a weighbridge at a roadside check ??????
referring back to Firedragons post, I think Alison is right, there will be a plate with all the relevant info by the door or on the A frame. It's by the door on our Bailey
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