Payloads
Comments
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Ina and Peedee, bang in the money...
due to the fact that (in the majority of cases) the rear axle load will be exceeded before the 'payload' runs out, I'm wondering if the axle loading isnt a more critical figure to have published in a meaningful test.
example (a bit extreme on the Corinium due to its length and huge rear overhang, but you get the picture)....std 3.5t chassis figures...
MTPLM 3500kg
front axle max 1850kg
rear axle max 2000kg
test van weighed (example)
Actual vehicle weight 3300kg (apparent spare payload 200kg, but no passenger, water or anything else in the van....)
actual front axle weight 1350kg (500kg spare)
actual rear axle weight 1950kg (50kg spare)
so, start loading.....anything beyond the rear axle will add more than its true weight onto the rear axle (hence the above example figures)
passenger steps aboard, nominal 75kg, weight shared across axles probably approx 25kg front, 50kg rear.
So, our nice new fully loaded £70k+ AutoSleepers is literally 'fully loaded' before the owners actually puts anything other than his OH in the van, no water, no tools, no bedding, no bikes, no nothing....
rear axle limit reached.
yet, if you weighed the van, it would now weigh 3375kg, so plenty of spare payload......NO.
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Right really dumb question coming up 😲
Been to motorhome for another reason today so took the opportunity to look for the payload plate. Unable to find it. Knew there were plates/stickers on drivers door area so checked them out. Swift plate make and chassis number, tyre pressure numbers and one about airbag. Checked passenger side to no joy. Where should I have looked?
I have found the payload from the manufacturers paperwork, seems to be 625kg.
I took my luggage scales over too and weighed items stored and remembered to add in the water in the heater, is that right or would they be already in? Holds 10L thus 10kg? Got to weigh ourselves in kg 😲😲 so that will give me clothes/food allowance. Not looking bad so far.
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Ours is under 6m, based on the Mercedes Sprinter, it's been upgraded. We travel light, no heavy chairs etc., bike rack just under rear window, occasionally add a bike or two, not always. The van doesn't have a big overhang so is fairly well balanced but the essential thing is to travel as light as possible. We have good lockers so can spread the load, some vans have poor lockers which means poor load spread. Probably written this before, but not looked back through thread!
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I figured that if I turned up with a full water tank at the weigh bridge and was over the limit I would just drain off the water. It's OK weighing individual items but you can't be certain of the base vehicle weight and exactly what is included in the MRO.
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B2, as suggested, plate probably under the bonnet...
yes, there will be 10ltr (10kg) in the truma boiler, but youll have to make an allowance for the fresh water tank....if travelling with a full tank this will be around 100kg, but the amount you carry is down to you.
if you weigh the van in a known state (fuel, fresh water, driver) and then add on everything you've weighed, including passenger, you wont be far out.
but the tricky bit (unless you actually weigh the van and axles in a fully loaded state) is deciding how much of the weight of your 'stuff' will affect each axle...
as i said earlier, you may well be (apparently) comfortably under MTPLM, but its as important to know the axle weights, especially the rear one.....fully loaded....
this also enables you to set the correct tyre pressures rather than the bone hard 80 psi which will have invariably been put in by the dealer.
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BB thanks I intend to keep this and work my way through. I'll check for plated weights didn't think about under the bonnet. Will keep you posted as I go. Tyres are much less than the 80psi following replacement tyres and good advice from the tyre fitter, numbers not to hand at the mo. I'm certainly relieved on what we're totting up to as I go along, I know I thought we travelled light but good to actually know.
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BB thanks I intend to keep this and work my way through. I'll check for plated weights didn't think about under the bonnet. Will keep you posted as I go. Tyres are much less than the 80psi following replacement tyres and good advice from the tyre fitter, numbers not to hand at the mo. I'm certainly relieved on what we're totting up to as I go along, I know I thought we travelled light but good to actually know.
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