Uprated weights

[RayS]

Another question arising from my current research prior to probably buying a new 'van. Some makers offer to fit a palte with an maximum all up weight hiegher than the standard models. In some cases this can amount to a 50Kg increase but at no cost. The plate has to be specified at time of order.

Two questions.

What if anything is done to the caravan during build apart from fitting a different plate

If this is such an easy thing to do, yet it is done for free, why is it not done to all vans of the type, as surely an additional 50Kg payload would be a stong marketing feature.
(being the old cynic I am, I cannot help being remeinded that if something appeaars too good to be true, it probably is)

 

[Lutz]

You're lucky if they do it for free. Most charge an amount at least to cover administrative costs, even if no technical changes are necessary. However, if the uprated plate is fitted ex-works you can rely on not having to do anything to the caravan. Only if the plate is a retrofit, one would have to check whether the axle and tyre load ratings are adequate to cover the revised MTPLM.
The reason why some manufacturers artificially limit the MTPLM to a lower value than what the design actually allows is that it makes the caravan more attractive for a wider range of towcars, especially for those who wish to abide by the 85% weiht ratio recommendation.

 

[otherclive]

I had my Bordeaux uprated from 1340kg to 1400kg at an admin cost of about £60 in 2005. For that I got a new tally plate, two new graphics for the front locker and rear panel ( said Max Load Upgrade) and certificate stating the new weights etc. I decided to upgrade the tyres as the OEM ones were rated at 1420kg total so I went up to a higher load index. The reason Bailey could do this with the Bordeaux was that the series 5 Vendee had the same chassis and running gear but with a MTPLM of 1400kg so upgrading our van was soley a paperwork excercise.
I agree with you having the 250kg payload is a big boost as it more than compensated for fitting the mover.

I can only see things re payload getting worse as each successive generation of cars is getting lighter. The new Range Rover has had 400kg taken out, and I believe the new Golf 5 door is 100kg less than the out going model. Van makers are going to have to do some clever engineering to keep weights down but still give a useable payload. So far they have not impressed.

 

[TonyG]

Hi,
we had our conqueror updated from 1825 to 1900, cost £50 and all they did was stick a new plate on by the door and increase the tyre pressure by 1 bar.

 

[Surfer]

Hi,
we had our conqueror updated from 1825 to 1900, cost £50 and all they did was stick a new plate on by the door and increase the tyre pressure by 1 bar.

Lunar did ours free of charge as we requested it before delivery!

 

[JohnM20]

Our Abbey Vogue was delivered new in 2007 with the plate on the caravan stating 1340kg MTPL but the paper certificate showing only 1250kg. After checking that the vin numbers tallied on both I contacted Abbey (Swift) to find out which was correct. They just asked me which weight I wanted it to be and, as I opted for the higher rating, sent me a new certificate. No comments made or questions asked by them. Either it was as simple as that because the running gear was common to a number of models or someone just wanted an easy life. Either way, checks were obviously not done at either the manufacturers or the supplying dealer during PDI. What else was 'overlooked' I wonder ?

 

[Ian4624]

This surprises me.
I cannot now remember the max. gross weight for my old 1982 Sprite Musketeer but when it was fully loaded with chairs, food and clothing for four of us it was over it's plated weight. Research indicated that fitting Sprite Major (the 6 berth version) shock absorbers and higher load rated tyres seemed to increase the max. gross weight it was capable of.
I have recently acquired a 1994 Bailey Pageant Auvergne CD. I have yet to find the plate and I did not receive any certification from the seller.
The Owner's Manual I received from Bailey states that the ex works weight is 934kgms and the Max. Auth. Weight is 1162kgms.
It is fitted with "Federal" brand 175 R13C 8PR tyres but I have not yet been able to establish their load rating.
After servicing the brakes etc I took it for a test run to my local weighbridge. The gas bottles, spare wheel, aquaroll and toilet fluids were on board but no chairs, food or clothing etc. It weighed 1100kgms. That only leaves 62kgms of spare payload.
Is there any way of finding out what the maximum weight could be?

 

[Ian4624]

Sorry. Laptop & router playing up. I've just deleted a double post. At least I think I have.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Ray,

Lutz has given one reason from the perspective of the cars capacity, but there is also another consideration, which because of the changing demographic of the population is becoming more prevalent:-

In Jan 1997 the Driving Licence Categories were changed. Of interest to caravanners its the provisions of Cat B. Drivers passing their basic test after this date are now limited to an outfit where the trailers MTPLM (Equivalent to MAM) must not exceed the tow vehicles Unladen Weight(ULW). And the combined Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) must not exceed 3500kg,

What is important to realise here is the understanding that MAM is not what the outfit actually weighs, but its what the car and/or trailers' weight limits are specified by the manufacturers.

Because the licence restriction looks at the weight limits and not actual weights, if a caravan manufacture believes they can shave a bit of the payload specification, they may make a caravan model accessible to a wider range of purchasers, because it comes in below the driving licence Cat B restrictions.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

We had the Challenger uprated from 1600Kg to 1650Kg
This was already on a sticker inside the front locker
Modification was a new rating plate which I stuck on top of the old one by the door and one more pound pressure in the tyres
There was no cost as we asked when the van was new and the dealer covered it
The Senator we had previously was already at the max allowed for the chassis

 

[TonyG]

Surfer
I also requested the upgrade before delivery, but still had to pay £50... Typiical of swift charge for any, and everything... lol

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

I have recently acquired a 1994 Bailey Pageant Auvergne CD. I have yet to find the plate and I did not receive any certification from the seller.
The Owner's Manual I received from Bailey states that the ex works weight is 934kgms and the Max. Auth. Weight is 1162kgms.
It is fitted with "Federal" brand 175 R13C 8PR tyres but I have not yet been able to establish their load rating.
After servicing the brakes etc I took it for a test run to my local weighbridge. The gas bottles, spare wheel, aquaroll and toilet fluids were on board but no chairs, food or clothing etc. It weighed 1100kgms. That only leaves 62kgms of spare payload.
Is there any way of finding out what the maximum weight could be?

hi Ian,
there should be 2 weight plates on the van, the manufactures plate and the chasis plate,
the manufacturers plate should be on a sticker lower right hand side of the door, if this is missing a new one can be obtained direct from bailey FOC from customer services, although this is a legal requirement it will give only the standard weights and tyre pressures,
in order to get some idea of if the MTPLM can be increased, you will need to find the chasis plate put there by ALKO this is usually on the A frame so you might have to remove the faring, I suspect this will be 13/1400kg as it is a similar weight to mine,
this being the case a increased weight plate can be obtained from a bailey main dealer although there is a charge usualy about £50 and will be in the order of 35 to 60kg dependant on model.
the tyres you speak of have a load index of 97 (730kg per wheel) although the recommended max weight per axel should be no more than 1314kg tyre pressures if the memory serves should be around 45/48psi.
user payload is a thorny subect on lightweight caravans, as by nature these are kept low IMHO too low, I well know the reason for this, but actually 50 or 60kg would not make much difference several of the smaller tow cars focus, golf, meriva ect have a tow limit of 1200kg and many of the vans are built on the standard Alko 1300kg chasis, wich means most of the lightweighs are well under capacity, I do sympathise though as my user payload was similar @ 65kg but I have a mover fitted so thats another 35kg, in theory with the awning and annex on board, with a completely empty van I would still be 15kg over the MTPLM,
but I had the weight increased not by much only 35kg but at least I can get a few bits in although careful loading is a must,

 

[Surfer]

It is not mandatory to have the MTPLM plate on a caravan. I am not sure if there should be one on the chassis of older caravans. I do know that from October 2012 it si compulsory to have a mandatory plate with serial number on it and for the chassis to be registered by the manufacturer.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

oh come on Surfer, not that old chesnut, you know well that a van cannot be loaded in exess of its MTPLM, ok so one could argue about tow loads /nose weights ect, but the MTPLM is absolute how does one establish the MTPLM from the manufacturers plate thats the reason most of us that struggle have it increased and a new plate issued, it is also the reason manufacturers will issue a standard plate FOC, if the van does not have one.

 

[Martin24]

Our dealer waived the £35 cost at the time of ordering!! Was pleasantly surprised on arrival that mtplm had gone up from 1740 to 1900!!