Verifying Loaded Weight

[WoodlandsCamper]

I thought it was time to weigh my loaded van, as I'd never done so on any van before, so I scoured the internet to find a local weighbridge. Having found one I duly went there and weighed it. Horror - it was overweight by 30 kg and I hadn't even put back in everything we normally carry. hmy: The weight surprised me as I thought we travelled light.

When on sites you see caravans pull up and disgorge all manner of items from both front lockers and from inside, so I guess they must be seriously overweight. How many other posters have weighed their loaded vans recently and compared to its MTPLM? Go on, I challenge you.

Edit - the cost of the weighing was £6 with a single printout showing 3 weight readings (a) train weight (car + van), (b) van on its own after moving the car off, and (c) the calculated nett difference (ie car weight). Good value for money.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Got to admit WC - I daren't, and after nearly 40 years without, not going to start, (or worry about it!)

 

[Jaydug]

Trouble is that these days we want to add so much to the van. If you take a smallish van as having an allowance of around 200Kgs, if you add a motor mover at 30-35Kgs, a 110ah battery to power it at another 30Kgs, then carry an awning in the van which weighs 35-40Kgs and a TV, you've already used up half the payload. I have one of those portable weight control machines and admittedly it's a fiddly task to use it, but last time I weighed the van it was just slightly over, but I don't put anything in the van that can go in the car.

 

[JonnyG]

OK so its a few years ago now .my burstner ventana had a quoted dry weight of 1250kg. leaving 250 kg allowance. or so it seemed. from reading the booklet it soon transpired that some items one assumed were part of its dry weight were not. a white plastic A frame cover which was standard was not part of this so called dry weight nor was the standard spare tyre a wheel. there was something else but cannot recall but when i did have it weighed the dry weight was 1310kg ! normal tow weight was 1480 kg with things like the awning having to go into the galaxy's boot.

 

[ProfJohnL]

..................
Edit - the cost of the weighing was £6 with a single printout showing 3 weight readings (a) train weight (car + van), (b) van on its own after moving the car off, and (c) the calculated nett difference (ie car weight). Good value for money.

Hello WC.
When you said "van on its own after moving the car off" was the caravan still coupled to the car?

If it was still coupled, the caravans weight will be its towed weight, i.e. the load carried by its wheels. It will not include the nose weight which was still coupled to the car.

To work out its total weight you need to add the caravans nose weight to the 'caravan' reading and then compare to the caravan's MTPLM to workout if you are within the MTPLM limit.

 

[RayS]

Many of us have had the same nasty shock. Usually it's no problem, but in the event of an accident the police or others might do the sums. I took my previous Burstner in nominally ex-works trim to a weighbridge and was horrified to find how little user payload I actually had. I then invested a whole £10 in an airline type portable scale and started to weigh and note down weights of all the stuff I put in. E.g awning, windbreaks etc.

So most of it went in the car.

My current van had the feature of being able to increase user payload by just asking for it at time of build. Quite a nonsense really as nothing physical was changed except the figures on the data plate. But I can now get all the kit iin the van and leave the car more or less empty for bring all the wine home and still be technically legal.

Strange world, my masters.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Hello WC.
When you said "van on its own after moving the car off" was the caravan still coupled to the car?

The car was uncoupled from the caravan and driven completely off the weighbridge, leaving just the van on its own to be weighed. The van was resting on its main wheels and the jockey wheel.

 

[sgtangel]

Our 1993 swift corvette has an mtplm of 1060kg. With a user payload of 220kg that put the unladen weight somewhere about 840kg.
I knew the battery, mover and spare wheel still had to be taken into account, so was slightly concerned about our weight.
A trip to the Clydeport to use the only available weighbridge on the west coast, and all the bits add up to almost 140kg !!!!! The weight came in at 980kg (albeit with a 20kg margin of error)
Shocker !
At 5 quid a weight, it was money well spent to get the true van weight, and also the car kerb weight with all the kids seats etc and a full tank of diesel.

I too have watched in awe as new neighbours pull up on site, and produce all kinds of random (heavy) items from front lockers, side lockers, inside..... I would hazard a guess that the majority of vans on the road weigh more than the owners think they do when loaded for a holiday !

 

[ProfJohnL]

................
At 5 quid a weight, it was money well spent to get the true van weight, and also the car kerb weight with all the kids seats etc and a full tank of diesel..................

Childs seats and a full tank of fuel are not included in kerbweight, and do not constitute kerbweight.

European Directive 95/48/EC specifies the kerb weight as a car in ready to drive condition with the fuel tank 90% full, a driver on board weighing 68 kg and luggage of 7 kg.

 

[Dustydog]

Sir WC

Muckypup had his Lunar replated a few years ago.I recall he had 50kgs added to the MTPLM for a small fee.
Maybe worth a chat with Lunar.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Sir WC

Muckypup had his Lunar replated a few years ago.I recall he had 50kgs added to the MTPLM for a small fee.
Maybe worth a chat with Lunar.

Thanks DD. I did see on another forum that manufacturers stopped replating last year, but I will give it a try and not tell the OH until she has done her share of weight reduction (in the caravan that is ).

This is the link I found for weighbridges in Wales that the public can use, however I see it is dated 2009, so may not be fully up to date.

 

[Dustydog]

https://www.bailey-parts.co.uk/Product.aspx?PartNumber=1190098
Sir WC
Bailey still do the upgrade. It used to be the case some makers deliberately kept the MTPLM low to suit lighter weight cars.Thus the caravan design can easily cope with a greater weight.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Have just checked Lunar's website and their FAQ section says it is possible on certain models, so have emailed them to inquire for my van. I will await a reply.

PS - just had an auto reply " If your enquiry is related to any aftersales, parts ordering or warranty claim, please contact your supplying dealer who will be happy to assist you." Looks like they are being as helpful as usual.

 

[Craigyoung]

Got to admit WC - I daren't, and after nearly 40 years without, not going to start, (or worry about it!)

Snap ! We've got about 75o kg spare to load up into ours before i get to our max 3,5oo kg , I ain't weighed it when I've been loaded I'm not gonna start !!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Got to admit WC - I daren't, and after nearly 40 years without, not going to start, (or worry about it!)

Snap ! We've got about 75o kg spare to load up into ours before i get to our max 3,5oo kg , I ain't weighed it when I've been loaded I'm not gonna start !!

That is a foolish attitude to take.

For a start if you are over the stated weight limits you are driving illegally, and your insurance may be void. Secondly even if ignorance is no defence, a suspicion or even knowingly exceeding your weight limits will be treated more seriously. Thirdly you will be putting undesigned and unnecessary strain on the caravan and car with the increased wear and tear and the potential for component failure. with possible implications for safety.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Have heard from Lunar, they can re-plate my van from 1,210 kg to 1,295 kg, so I will take them up on the offer but it will cost me £50.

 

[Sproket]

Have heard from Lunar, they can re-plate my van from 1,210 kg to 1,295 kg, so I will take them up on the offer but it will cost me £50.

It's much cheaper than a fine

 

[Craigyoung]

Apologies Profjohn , wasn't trying to sound foolish , but even when loaded with what we want , to which my wife scrutinises over what to pack , the van doesn't seem heavy , even when towing , 3/4 off a ton is a lot to pack !

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Apologies Profjohn , wasn't trying to sound foolish , but even when loaded with what we want , to which my wife scrutinises over what to pack , the van doesn't seem heavy , even when towing , 3/4 off a ton is a lot to pack !

Are you saying you have 3/4 ton available for payload?

 

[Craigyoung]

Woodlands , Oops , meant shared between car and van , is that sounding better ?

 

[Jules_ht]

Have heard from Lunar, they can re-plate my van from 1,210 kg to 1,295 kg, so I will take them up on the offer but it will cost me £50.

You may also want to check that the tyres aren't too closely rated to the original MTPLM so as to be overloaded on the new one.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Have heard from Lunar, they can re-plate my van from 1,210 kg to 1,295 kg, so I will take them up on the offer but it will cost me £50.

You may also want to check that the tyres aren't too closely rated to the original MTPLM so as to be overloaded on the new one.

The tyres that came off the van last week were rated at 900 kg each, so if the replacements are rated the same (need to go to storage to check) then it should be OK.

 

[Dustydog]

Well done Sir WC .
With an extra 85 kgs Lady Squirrel can include the kitchen sink.
I suspect both the tyre ratings and Al-ko chassis ratings will be well in excess of your new plated maximum. Lunar and others know full well their MTPLMs can be upgraded but on smaller caravans deliberately go for lower MTPLMs to attract people with lighter cars.
Playing the field but in your case a good result.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

With an extra 85 kgs Lady Squirrel can include the kitchen sink.

Please don't tell her that.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Have heard from Lunar, they can re-plate my van from 1,210 kg to 1,295 kg, so I will take them up on the offer but it will cost me £50.

You may also want to check that the tyres aren't too closely rated to the original MTPLM so as to be overloaded on the new one.

The tyres that came off the van last week were rated at 900 kg each, so if the replacements are rated the same (need to go to storage to check) then it should be OK.

Have been to storage and the new tyres have a load index of 102, so at 1700 kg for the single axle that more than covers the MTPLM upgrade to 1295 kg. We are, however, still taking the opportunity to clear out a lot of unused items so we may be nearer the original MTPLM without needing the upgrade.