Weight query.

[The_Griswolds]

Hi, I have read the posts concerning weight and wondered if members had some comment or advice about an issue I have with my van. The issue is that the maximum weight, with just me and my partner, plus very few camping bits and near-empty tanks, was only 80Kg short of the 3500Kg MAM. But this summer, I plan on driving in France with two work colleagues and we’ll have a lot more stuff with us and a full fuel tank. I fear we will exceed the MAM.
The van is a conversion based on a 6.4m Maxi Fiat Ducato chassis. The plate in the engine bay states in order: 3500Kg, 6500Kg, 1- 2100Kg, 2- 2400Kg. It has quite a few toys, like long awning, sat dish, two leisure batteries, underslung LPG tank, Truma heating, 90 litre fridge and microwave. It also has a fair amount of cupboards and panelling. So I’m thinking that all this pushes the weight up, but I can’t imagine it’s much more kit than would be inside an imported motorhome of similar spec (without mentioning brands). And I specifically asked the converters to use lightweight boarding, etc.
My queries are – if there’s little scope in reducing the weight, e.g. removing the microwave and the second leisure battery, etc, before I embark on the France trip, would it be worth me applying to up-plate the van? If yes, and assuming the van requires no suspension or tyre upgrades, how do you actually go about up-plating? Should I go through SVTech Ltd? Thanks.

 

[TonyJones]

First question, Ross, is whether your driving licence will let you go over 3500kg - lots of people are limited to that.
If you're ok to drive a heavier van, then from all I've heard, yes, SV Tech are the people. They'll tell you whether it can be just a paper exercise or if you need any actual changes to the vehicle.
But this is an increasing problem with proprietary vans too.

 

[The_Griswolds]

Hi, Tony. Yes, sorry for missing that piece of info out. Luckily my licence is the older C1+E type, so that wouldn't be a hurdle. I shall investigate further. Someone told me that if I look up a company on the web whose name begins with M, who sell air suspension kits, the kit contains all I would need to get the van up-plated. Do you know who they are? Many thanks.

 

[nrdonnelly]

I think the company that you have had recommended is probably Marcle Leisure, which sells Dunlop air suspension solutions. (www.marcleleisure.co.uk/store/air-suspensions-c-58.html)

As Tony says, SVTech are very well known in this field too. Might be worth calling a few companies before committing, because some replating jobs are a simple matter of changing the plate with no mechanical changes at all. This might not be a very expensive upgrade!

 

[The_Griswolds]

Thanks, all, for your advice.