[88751]

Weights for my Avantgarde; Being a bit stupid, I can't work out what they mean?

This weekend I want to be putting inside about 580kg, this excludes any habitaion
equipment. I'm not sure if the 600kg User maximum includes habitation equipment. Can anyone advise me?
These are the figures!

Maximum Front Axle Load 1600kgs (31.4cwt)
Maximum Rear Axle Load 1650kgs (32.41cwt)
MTPLM 3200kgs (62.9cwt)
MRO 2600kgs ( 51cwt)
Essential Habitation Equipment 103kgs (2.02cwt)
Maximum User Payload 600kgs (11.8cwt

Ian

 

[RobinHood]

There are various ways of quoting the various payloads.

I assume you have a 400 from the weights quoted.

From review of the Compass website, AFAIK, the MRO excludes the essential habitation equipment. (but conventionally includes weight of things like jack, 75kg allowance for driver, and 90% full fuel tank).

The essential habitation equipment is (usually), full complement of gas cylinder(s) and 90% full water and waste (I would need to check on it being both of these!).

I usually don't travel with anywhere near this amount of water, so my weight of essential habitation equpment is lower than the standard quote.

Hence, what you need to do is take your maximum user payload, subtract the weight of your gas cylinders, subtract the weight of water you are carrying (both types). What you have left is your allowance for passengers and everything else.

Just be aware that the quoted weights are also subject to (fairly wide) manufacturing tolerances which may eat into this.

The safest option is a weighbridge.......not that I ever have.

 

[89202]

Hi

since 4 years , german and other constructors of mh. respect the norm EN 1646-2 .
That means:

Driver : 75 kg
Diesel : 80 kg
Water : 90 % capacity
2 gas bottles full with 11 or 13 kg ( ± 50 kg )
10 kg pro meter lenght of the cc for : food, clothes, household goods and so on...

For a 3,5t .mh. that means between 200 and 250 kg you must add on the empty weight...

and not forget the weight of other options ...
for info,

duc

 

[Boff]

Hi Ian,

the basic rule is: Neither one of the Maximum Axle Loads nor the MTPLM may be exceeded under any circumstances.

So RobinHood is right: The best thing is to visit a weighbridge with the fully laden vehicle. Or, if you are really afraid of heavily exceeding a limit, remove some items of well-known weight (fresh water, gas cilinders, wife :wink: ) before going to the weighbridge.

From this forum I have the impression that the above mentioned requirements are only a guideline in UK and have no substance in law. However, everywhere on the continent they do! Being caught with overweight not only will bring you a (sometimes severe) fine, but you will also have to unload below the limit before they let you move on. And what happens to the unloaded stuff is entirely your problem!

Especially Swiss and German police is known for making unannounced weight checks (with mobile weighbridges), especially in the main holiday season. Usually they tolerate 4-5% overload due to weighbridge inaccuracies, but do not rely on that.

Best Regards,
Gerhard

 

[autostratus]

Hi Boff.

You mention the German police and mobile weighbridges.
Is it known whether they use the Reich weight control or a more sophisticated set-up for spot checks?
http://www1.reich-web.com/index.html
Their brochure and website does show a police officer :?: about to use it on a motorhome.

I've raised this before as to me it seems a simple piece of kit to use and although the price here is now probably in excess of £100.00 not expensive to be safe.

I know that the answer from some will be to take it to a weighbridge but for many of us it is not that easy especially when loading up for a continental trip with a deadline to meet and certainly not an option when_returning_from a continental trip with all the goodies.

 

[Boff]

Their brochure and website does show a police officer :?: about to use it on a motorhome.

Hi Gillian,

the guy on the picture wears a Dutch police uniform, not a German one. Also the reg. plate of the vehicle is Dutch.

For both countries (and probably all others) the law says that all equipment which is used for legal actions (which is the case here as weighing may lead to a fine) must be officially calibrated and certified.

Now I do not know whether this specific device is officially certified and whether this one is used by the plod. The ones I have seen in action so far were however of the same principle, but bigger. Probably because they are also used for lorries which would exceed the 1000 kg per wheel limit.

Regarding weighing: I also would not want to go to a weighbridge before every tour. But I have done that once, so I do know my typical load now and I do not expect it to change too much. (However, looking at my belly I might reconsider that... :wink: )

Best Regards,
Gerhard

 

[89202]

Hi,

I will complete about France:

Limit of max. weight for 3,5t mh. is 3,5t and not one kilogramm more.

If you are overloaded till 5% :
Contravention ( penalty ) in the 4th category = 140 Euro and 3 points

More than 5 %, vehicle can be immobilised ( Mise en fourrière ).
Gendarmerie controlling more and more.. ( info from my french mh. friends )

Best regards,

duc

 

[RobMD]

I recentl weighed my A/S Nuevo (Max Weights MPTLM = 3200kg Front Axle 1650kg. Rear Axle 1750kg.)

After weighing, my MPTLM was 3020kg. and Rear Axle was just a little short of Max.
This means that although I appear to have some spare carrying capacity, I cannot carry anymore unless I redistribute some weight!

This was expected, but I just wanted a check in the fully loaded condition using containers of water as ballast, although I normally travel lighter than this it is worth knowing your limitations.

Also check that your tyres are rated to take the Max Weight on the Axles. Normal small truck tyres may not be good enough.

In my case I am considering uprating my weights to give me a bit more spare capacity - mainly for peace of mind.

 

[88751]

Thanks

Thanks for the info guys. I have decided to play it safe. It is surprising how little you seem to be able to carry before your over limit.

Ian