Weight on Rear Axle
Spent a lot of time looking at an Adria Compact at the NEC today and was impressed with the payload of 717 kg but it set me wondering about rear axle weight on continental “garage” style Motorhomes. The garage payload on this model was limited to 150kg, nevertheless, most of the heavy stuff is at the back of the motorhome including a massive 140 litre water tank (although the MIRO is based on only 50 litres of water).
So, if you load a motorhome like this to its maximum 3500kg I am wondering whether this might exceed the rear axle capacity. Unfortunately, Adria provide very little by way of technical specification in their brochures but I would think that this could be a problem on other similar designs.
Comments
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Amongst other things, travelling with limited water in tanks will help considerably. Might pay to assess what really needs to be taken on tours, pack this as wished and then take to weighbridge for reassurance. With due diligence and possibly some adjustment, all will be well.
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The layouts are similar to my Majestic 125, although the rear axle overhang looks slightly longer than my Boxer chassis. I have a fairly generous margin on the rear axle load, so unless the Ducato chassis is significantly different, it would appear reasonable. The only real way to know is to shove it on a weigh bridge.
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I think even putting it on a weigh bridge to check the MIRO should reveal how much payload there actually is on the rear axle. I had a Mohican on a Mercedes chassis, it was supposed to have a 700Kgm payload but I could never legally achieve it. The back axle was overloaded long before the 700Kgm figure was reached. It may have been different on a Alko or Fiat chassis where the water tank was central rather than towards the rear.
peedee
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If you have a look at the plate usually in the engine bay, it will give you a better idea of the max loading loadings.
My Rapido is 3.5 ton. Max front axle is 1800 kg, max rear axle is 2000 kg. Train weight 5.5 ton which allows me to tow a 2 ton trailer.
It is likely the Adria follows similar figures, but check.
rgds
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the base Ducato 'light' chassis has a front axle max of 1850kg and a rear allowance of 2000kg.....hence fully upplated versions can 'acheive' a MTPLM of 3850kg....
but as Peedee says, it's very likely the rear axle max weight will be blown a long time before this...
some small vans, like my own, @6.4m, a similar length to the Adria, are particularly well balanced....
absolutely loaded to the gunwales for a long Continental tour (including 'generous' wine allowance) we are -
3420 kg Total,
front 1600 (max 1850), so spare capacity 250kg
rear 1820 (max 2000), so spare capacity 180kg
im fairly sure this is due to it being an AClass and there is a little more weight over the cab area and front axle, also decent storage between the axles to supplement the rear garage.
so, if I chose, my van could make good use of any MTPLM upplating as there is spare capacity on both axles.
some longer vans (there are a few being produced at 8m on a 3.5t chassis) that are probably virtually illegal when they leave the showroom with Mr and Mrs Unsuspecting Customer on board.
only by weighing a van like the Adria will the available rear axle capacity be known...
what a great idea it would be if the manufacturer gave us axle weights as well as the MIRO. it would give buyers some idea as to the spare capacity.
my own view is that the customer should either get the dealer to weigh the van (both axles) in the case of a 'stock' purchase (I did this with my own van) or to write a 'weight' clause into the sale in the case of an ordered van.
im convinced there are many longer vans out there being driven well over the rear axle weight....
Ive seen mid sized 3.5t vans with the most hefty rear rack supporting a scooter AND electric bikes......imguess the front wheels were virtually in mid air.
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Just to add to the loading rear axle conundrum,
Any weight placed behind the rear axle, dependent on how far away. Ie bicycles, scooters etc, anything ! Increases the load on the axle more than the items weight.
in effect, the front wheels are lifted, and this " lose" of weight is transferred to the rear axle.
Eg scooter weighing 100kg will cause rear axle to be loaded by 110kg on a long overhang with the front axle loading reducing by 10kg
rgds.
TonneyIshUk. ;-)
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Thanks for all the comments. Clearly, the rear axle loading is an issue and it seems likely to me that if you put maximum load in the garage and carried a lot of water you would exceed the rear axle maximum before reaching the payload maximum. In fact, I recall that on the Adria as well as limiting the garage load to 150kg there was a notice somewhere about not exceeding axle weight. Says it all really.
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there is (might) be a way to get over this popular issue...
if it's possible (and not too pricy) order the van on the heavy (4.25t) chassis and then downplate to 3.5t, if desired for license reasons etc.
this will give much increased axle weights with a rear limit of 2400kg, so unlikely to breach.
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I have only just joined the motorhome community after retiring in June havining devoured every posting on weights I was concerned about my new motorhome.
It’s a 2016 Bessacarr 424 plated originally at 3500kg the van is 5.99 m long.
Axle limits are 2000kg rear and 1850kg front.
Since manufacture it gained a 150 watt solar panel and an extra leisure battery.
I have added a Fiamma bike rack for 2 x E bikes, also a drive away awning with associated extras pegs,carpet etc, just fitted a 2 x 6kg Gasit system with external fill point. Also included 100 litre fresh water and full tank of fuel.
The weighbridge is a commercial one at my local council refuse site, the results were total weight 3200kg
Front axle 1640kg
Rear axle 1540kg
A discrepancy of 20kg which is acceptable bearing in mind it’s a single weighing mechanism I had to position the front and rear separately.
The only thing missing was the wife, 2 dogs, food, clothing, bedding and a full camping Gaz 907 for the bbq.
I will probably check it again fully loaded when we set off to Spain in February.
Any thoughts on the results and have I missed anything lol.I took the view that It needed uprating the weights at a cost of £180 taking it from 3500kg to 3850kg to allow plenty of room for our trip to Spain in February It took 6/weeks to get the V5 back from Dvla but got a nice reduction in taxation from £255 to £165 per year
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I think you should certainly weigh it again fully loaded in roadgoing trim because those are the weights that matter.
As you've only just retired you've probably got a few years yet before you need to consider the implications of your driving entitlement at 70 on being over 3500kg.
Happy travelling.
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I fully considered the C1 implications as I’m 57 I have time before I need to consider applying, to take it back to 3500kg is a simple process. This will become more evident later as less people will have the C1 entitlement and need the max to be 3500kg
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The payloads of Motorhomes are usually worked out on the back of a fag packet by the Manufacturers and bear no resemblance to real life
Weighing the vehicle, or talking to someone who owns the same model, is the only real way to find the payload.
Getting it in 'holiday' mode and then weighing will either confirm you are legal or not.
Ours supposedly had 650 kilos payload when we bought it but if we travelled with the five people, and their luggage, it was seat belted for we would be well over the limit.
Be very careful accepting what a Salesperson tells you.
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I might be wrong but I think even if you up plate it to 3850kg the rear axle still has a 2000kg weight limit on it.
When we had a MH we had a very generous weight limit and never came near it, but we were never far off the rear axle limit with 2 x ebikes on the rear and a PWS towbar. We always loaded the heavy items in the van between the axles. Only travelled with no more than 40 - 50 litres and less if we were staying on sites.
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Funnily enough when I put my Boxer based MH on a weighbridge in its empty state, it was the front axle that was heaviest at 1480 and rear 1220. The fuel tank is towards the front with water and waste tanks more or less midships so by the time I add a passenger, it will be the front axle that gets close to the limit first.
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your van is well balanced, you have 300kg spare in total but way more than this across the axles (210kg front, 460kg rear).
the approx weight of the missing items (depending on weight of wife and dogs) shouldn't be more than 200kg (probably a little less) so within the overall 3500 limit and all could be accommodated on either axle but will likely be spread fairly evenly...
your only slight concern is going over the 3500 limit (axles fine) so perhaps get absolutely everything on board and test again.
happy travelling.
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When I weighed our Autosleepers before our first trip I put everything I could think of inside plus full 100 litres water, some waste, full fuel tank and my wife and I. Fortunately a few tens of kg to spare but had it been a bit over I would have drained off some water before returning.
Our nearest weigh bridge is at the public tip and they make no charge for writing the weights down on a scrap of paper. A modest charge if you want the official print-out.
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