I have read that caravans to European specs include the weight of the gas cylinders and freshwater tank to 100% of their capacity within the stated MRO whereas British specs do not. Does anyone know, please, if this is correct?
The European Directive defining the content of MIRO only covers motor homes not caravans. What is or is not included in MIRO is therefore up to each manufacturer. I could only find details on the Dethleffs website what they include in their data:
1. A full water tank (for comparison: the EU Directive for motor homes specifies a 90% full tank)
2. Two filled 11kg gas bottles except for the smaller models which can only accommodate two 5kg bottles (here again, the EU Directive for motor homes specifies 90% full)
3. One cable drum (not mentioned in the EU Directive)
As Lutz has stated on previous occasions, the caravan manufactures may quote an ex works weight, but due to manufacturing tollerances that figure can vary, what does not vary is the MTPLM (maximum all up weight), which must not be exceeded.
The only effective way of assesing your real available pay load is to have your caravan weighed empty, then calculating the available pay load.