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I'm in the process of upgrading my motorhome maximum weight from 3,500 to 3,850 kg. My initial view was that I would tow a bike of say 600-800 cc capacity behind the vehicle.
On calculating the numbers it does however seem that I could instead add a scooter rack and carry a bike/scooter of up to about 130 kg.
This may be preferable to having a trailer behind the vehicle and if it can be done I may just settle for a 125cc scooter on a rack.
However, the rear overhang of my motorhome is pretty much at the 60% of wheelbase limit. Depending on how this limit is interpreted and enforced I may therefore not be able to have a scooter rack (which would add about 450 mm to the rear of the vehicle) and may have to use a trailer.
Can I add the scooter rack or do I need to go for the trailer? Is the 60% of wheelbase thing a 'real' issue in relation to a scooter rack or not?
In practice, I don't think the swing out limits give that much relief from the 60% overhang. I am particularly interested in overhang as it would seem most short to medium length RVs (ie those attractive to UK/European use) fail these requirements. No-one has yet been able to explain to me how such RVs are legal on UK roads. This might explain, however, why whenever I broach the subject with UK RV dealers they get ratty very quickly with my calm persistence to extract an answer to this very narrow, specific point.
Legal overhangs to one side, I must confess I am surprised that having done the calculations on a motorhome approaching the 60% limit you still feel you can add a 125cc scooter and rack. I presume you have taken the van to a weighbridge loaded as for a trip (including copilot), and then done the axle sums allowing for tow bar (if you have one already does it need heavy strengthening to cope with the twisting load on the hangers?), rack and scooter (wet weight).
Rear axle limit usually would breach first, but if that's OK, check the front axle weight is above a minimum required for traction and steering (you don't want to find out on a steep hairpin ....).
Thanks Dave, that's very helpful. I wasn't aware of the alternative formula. I'll need to work it out but I think with a shortish (7.1 metre) vehicle and an approximately 2.3 m overhang 800mm may well give a little more leeway than the 60% rule?
I'm still going to do the weighbridge 'thing' - at this stage my calcs are theoretical. Assuming that at 3,500 kg I am loaded proportionately to my axle limits (F 1,850, R 2,000) this would give me 1,682 (F) and 1,818 (R).
If I then upgrade to 3,850 kg overall and my rear axle limit to 2,240, then by my (contestable!) arithmetic adding a towbar of 40 kg, a rack of 30 kg, and a bike of 130 kg at the back - 200 kg in all -will leave me with a rear axle load of 2,140 (i.e. about 322 kg more). If I then add the weight of the semi-air suspension (c. 30 kg?) which will be above the rear axle it leaves me with a rear axle load of 2,170 and a front axle load of 1,560.
As i say I must still visit the weighbridge, but does this sound plausible?
Thanks
Paul
Last edited by PaulW2 on Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:38 pm; edited 1 time in total
Thanks Dave P. That is the dilemma! Well, part of it... One then gets to questions of 'what is a proper trailer?' (i.e. does the hydra trail qualify...) Not to mention the politically explosive 'what is a proper bike?'...
In an earlier thread I opined in favour of a bike that can at least keep up with the traffic and that can also go on a motorway. I must say that option does still have appeal: and it would obviously be better for the m/h payload.
Last edited by ElectricBikeExpert on Tue Oct 18, 2011 4:38 pm; edited 2 times in total ______________________________________________________________ Regards Graeme
Electric Bike Solutions - the Electric Bike Experts
Yes, my comment on the alternative not giving much leeway was more for boxy lorries or RVs. For an overhang that does not extend to the "corners" it does give more leeway.
By all means post your weights and dimensions here for a check once you have been to the weighbridge. Don't kid yourself in how it is packed. And regarding my comment on take the copilot, I do recall doing the sums for someone and relaying that the good news was that he could have his scooter and rack; the bad news was that his wife would ALWAYS have to sit next to him These things can have unforeseen consequences ....
As to a proper bike, well I come from a biking family (TT races, etc) where my parent's house was the local bikers' cafe. I enjoyed big bikes in my youth and hanker to a degree after another. That said, I find my 250cc Vespa cracking fun and fit-for-purpose both when touring with the van, especially in Europe, and for errands etc around town at home.
......................... a towbar of 40 kg, a rack of 30 kg, and a bike of 130 kg at the back - 200 kg in all ..................l
The 200 kg load will, assuming a distance of 1.1 meters from the back axle to the load will put about 260 kg on the back axle and 'lift' about 60 kg off the front.
Attached is a little Excel sheet to play around with using your exact figures.
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Denmark
These things can have unforeseen consequences ....
