The small print on payloads

KjellNN
KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,717
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edited August 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Considering a MH, looking at payloads as we would prefer to keep to under 3500kg.

When a MH manufacturer gives the MIRO, what does that include?  Is there a standard they all have to go by?

If not, I presume they must say somewhere, but it's not easy to find on the websites.

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  • Unknown
    edited August 2016 #2
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  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,717
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    edited August 2016 #3

    A missed opportunity for standardisation within the EU then!

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,068
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    edited August 2016 #4

    It would be a fairly simple thing to be done by the NCC as all UK caravans and motorhomes are built to their standards which are no doubt based on various sets of legislation/regulation. Manufacturers are very coy about exact weights of their products and
    I don't understand why you don't get a weight certificate with every new caravan/motorhome as it leaves the factory rather than the vague plus/minus figure which I suspect always errs towards the plus side!!!

    David

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #5

    One of the things that some caravanners forget (not you K) is that when they are towing there are other things often carried in the car, other than passengers, that have to come of the payload for the leisure vehicle. 4 average people are probably 300kg. 

    We have a range of outdoor coats etc in the car, tool box, chairs and tables. A cool box with little in but we also start off with 30 cans of diet coke, 3 or 4 1 litre bottles of scotch, 4 two pint bottles of milk as OH and I drink different types from each
    other and so as to avoid damage to fridge door rack these go in the car when travelling. Flask and bags etc. and they must add up to at least 30 to 35kg

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,464
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    edited August 2016 #6

    Also when you are on "holiday" you will be adding weight ,as you will be buying things to bring home, we once bought home 3 heavy stone potsSurprised

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2016 #7
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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #8

    With that sort of payload in a caravan no problem. What 'van is it.

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2016 #9
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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #10

    Oh, right. I have no concerns in the car! I was thinking of caravanners moving to motorhomes when all that load adds directly to their loading.

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
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    edited August 2016 #11

    The payload figures given by manufacturers have usually been worked out on the back of a fag packet and do not relate to the real world.

    The only sure way of knowing is to get the MH weighed for around a fiver at a local weighbridge.

    Include driver, full tanks of fuel and water, full gas cylinders and spare wheel.

    On top of that try to work out how much weight one months clothes (if you're going for that long), fridge/freezer filled, dog and meat (around 50kg for our dog and food), table and chairs, tool kit for every known emergency and the usual
    bits and pieces you normally take will add up to.

    Then remember the potential vineyard or brewery you may wish to bring back from a foreign trip and it all adds up.

    Suddenly any payload is greatly reduced and having to leave the wife/partner on the roadside after a Police weight check may be a problem so getting a vehicle with the highest actual payload could be the better option.

  • Unknown
    edited August 2016 #12
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  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,717
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    edited August 2016 #13

    This is one that OH likes, payload looks reasonable.....

    https://www.hymer.com/en/models/motorhomes/integrated/hymer-exsis-i/grundrisse-und-daten.html?singleview=428

    However.....she has just discovered that air con is not an option on this particular model, which is odd.  Presumably no suitable hole in the roof.

    As yet I have not found where it says what is included in the MIRO.

  • Unknown
    edited August 2016 #14
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2016 #15

    The payload on our friends 745 does not fluctuate as anything that his OH "buys" goes in the car its like a "trailer" when on tour 

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,717
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    edited August 2016 #16

    Kjell, a lovely van....

    i cant find Hymer's definitive statement but they have produced some examples which is intended to demonstrate that a premium van (Exsis-i) is perfectly possible at 3500kg... and even at 3 ton apparently...

    see this link...

    https://www.hymer.com/en/service-and-accessories/hymer-ratgeber/alles-zum-thema-gewicht/die-3-tonnen-klasse.html

    Indeed, OH cannot be faulted on her choice, only on the price!!

    However, as we do not do well in very hot weather, the air con is an essential.  Need to check it out a bit more.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,717
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    edited August 2016 #17

    Another question.....never been to a show before.....are the manufacturers there displaying all their models, or is it just dealers?

    How likely is it that we will find most of the models we are interested in on display?

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2016 #19
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  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,717
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    edited August 2016 #20

    whilst it may not be specifically a factory option, a dealer fit item should be a possibility.

    roof space can sometimes be an issue, especially if looking to add a solar panel and/or a sat system.

    however, a little planning with the dealer should result in you getting what you want.

    RE: price....like many continental vans, there will be a brochure full of packs/options which will ramp up the price...some of these you wont have much choice over as (pretty much) every van will come out of the factory with them.....

    i did try hard with our local Hymer dealer to do a deal on an Exsis-i (a 578 actually) but we just couldnt get close enough, which led me to Carthago...

    i would have suggested the C-compactline 145QB as a direct rival for the Exsis 598 but it doesnt have the separate shower.

    BTW, i did say I'd measure the 'teleporter' shower in our van..

    its 74 cm x 64cm, plenty large enough for us...

    for comparison, the 598's separate shower is 74 cm x 74 cm, so pretty similar.

    Yes, will specifically ask about the possibility of getting air con fited to that model.

    We actually have a fairly new (3 year old) Dometic B2200 on the caravan which ideally we would want moved to any new outfit (we still have the mini Heki it replaced) and we have a Gaslow system we would also want to switch over, so a bit of negotiating to do on that.

    Solar panel will likely be on the list, and I would very much like a sat system.

    OH was looking through all the "packs" and options.....totally bewildering.  And does ramp up the price quickly.

    Thanks for the shower measurements, 64 sounds quite tight, 74 sounds better.  I can see OH will be spending quite a bit of time standing in all the showers having an imaginary scrub!

    Must measure our current one for comparison.  It's a curved, "walk-in" type so the whole thing is quite big, but the actual showering area is of course much smaller.  The entrance bit does give a useful bit of additional  elbow room, and makes it all feel really spacious.  Going to be difficult to match it.

    Picture here.

  • Unknown
    edited August 2016 #21
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  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
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    edited August 2016 #22

    In the 2016 pricelist brochure [page 64], Hymer say:



    "Mass in roadworthy condition according to EN1646-2 incl. basic equipment (75kgs for driver, filled fuel tank, water tank in driving condition filled with 20 litres, gas in aluminium cylinder 100% full, and electrical cable) in basic option. Mass in
    roadworthy condition (and payload or number of persons possible) varies according to motor or equipment options or depending on optional equipment attached. Deviations within the factory tolerance limits are possible and allowed."

    Hymers come in fairly basic trim levels to which dealers add. All the options are included in the Hymer pricelist brochure including the weight of the options. 




  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,717
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    edited August 2016 #23

    Thanks.....will need to get a brochure.

    I like the sound of your dealer BB, where does he keep himself?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2016 #24

    In the September cc mag there is a bit about the Swift group for 2017 ,in the motorvan section ,there is a mention of one make that has a starting price £10,000 cheaper than last year,so i think they are following on the "continental" way of pulling people in with a "starting price" which looks reasonable, but the "packs "that most will need push the prices well up

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited August 2016 #25

    This is one that OH likes, payload looks reasonable.....

    https://www.hymer.com/en/models/motorhomes/integrated/hymer-exsis-i/grundrisse-und-daten.html?singleview=428

    However.....she has just discovered that air con is not an option on this particular model, which is odd.  Presumably no suitable hole in the roof.

    As yet I have not found where it says what is included in the MIRO.

    Write your comments here...Kjiin

    This is similar weight to ours which on a 3500 chassis would have 580 payload according to the manufaturere with driver, 20l water, gas etc.  However having had ours weighed it was just under the 3500 with full tank of water, some clothing and no Mrs T!
     So just beware of what you add to the base, I just looked on line for a few of the extras we have and that you want which will all add up.

    Awning 42kg

    Electric step 13kg

    Garage fixings 5kg

    Fiat pack with Cab A/C, heated mirrors, passenger airbag, cruise etc. 26kg

    TV 12kg

    Auto Box 17kg

    Door Screen 4 kg

    Carpets 5kg

    Oven 10kg

    Battery 20kg

    Sat TV 15kg

    A/C 30kg

    Solar Panel 20kg

    so by just adding a few goodies it adds up to over 200kg without your kitchen equipment, garage essentials, clothing, towels etc. 

  • Unknown
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  • Unknown
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  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,702
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    edited August 2016 #29

    I suppose the answer to this is do not buy unless you can get firm information as to what they regard as the unladen weight, you can then see if the remaining payload is enough for you.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,717
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    edited August 2016 #30

    After much research, we have come to the conclusion that the only way this would work for us is to have a MIRO of 2900 or less, this will let us add the options we want.

    But if the MH actually was up to 5% heavier, it would not work, so we would certainly make that part of the deal.

    With this in mind, it seems the only models, with the spec we would want, that will work are the Hymer Exsis i  578, 588 and 598, and possibly the Exsis t 598, though it only has 3 berths.

    Now have to see them somewhere, see what deal can be done on the caravan, if we like them.  Look into whether we might find a low mileage used model with the options we want.

  • Unknown
    edited August 2016 #31
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