60kg PAYLOAD

mikigough

Guest
I bought a brand new chausson 728 from Tcmotorhomes, Herne bay. on the 1st of march. I decided to weigh it on the 2nd, only me in it and nothing else, 3440kg, a bit of a shock as I only weigh 62kg. So in actual fact , when we picked it up , my wife is 62kg , we were overweight . I took it to 2 different weighbridges the next day, same result, 3 weighbridges can't lie. When I phoned Tony of Tcmotorhomes, he said, Just enjoy your new motorhome, don't worry about weight. Yea, sure, Mr VOSA wouldn't agree. I took it back the next day and got my money back although I still lost out in expenses. People should be made aware of these cowboy dealers. Thanks to members in here for warning me about payload.

Mickey.
 
That was the attitude of the dealer i bought my latest off van when i asked him about the payload.

He didn`t have a clue and just said, don`t worry about it there`s loads of room to store stuff.

I already knew but still thought i`d ask him out of curiosity, i have subsequently uprated mine via Sv Tech and now have over 800kg payload.
 
I know we should all adhere to the Law but has anyone had a tug from VOSA in a coachbuilt or A class motorhome? I've been pulled many times in commercials but never in my motorhome.
 
Well done you for getting your money back without it seems to much hassle.
I could have been in a similiar situation 3 1/2 years ago when I bought my Swift. More by good luck than good management I had 350kg payload which I found to be adequate for me.
Like me you now know about payload, it was the first thing I checked before buying my pvc last year.
 
I think the majority of motorhomes plated at 3500kg on UK roads would be overweight when in full touring mode,especially those more than 7m long.The only way to check properly is to pack the van as you would for a holiday,fill the water and fuel tanks and take it to a weighbridge and don't forget the dog(s).

I have advocated for a long time that dealers ought to provide a weighing service when supplying a new motorhome but they would be worried about the results.Our friends bought a new Rapido from Brownhills plated at 3500kg,when SV Tech weighed them at the Newark show they had no payload available and the rear axle weight was at the limit.Brownhills response-we weren't aware.:rolleyes2:
 
***** said:
Our previous Hymer Exsis I 562 (on the Ford base) fully loaded with everything but the kitchen sink, including two cycles, two full 11kg gas tanks, full water plus extra 30 litres. Spare wheel, tools, lots of food, including a few bottles of wine and beer. Basically, loaded for a long European tour, weighed in at 3480kg.
From memory the net weight was around 2830kg before extras fitted!
If we carried an extra passenger, or carried a dog, the van was then over loaded!

Our present 7 metre Hymer 654 SL is 3480 empty! but is plated at 4500kg gross!
Click to expand...

Hence my comment that most motorhomes of 7m or above that are plated at 3500kg would be overweight in full touring trim.Another point to consider is the extra weight of all accessories fitted-extra leisure batteries,solar panels etc...all add up.

My previous van was a 6.5m long Autotrail(3500kg) and when mrs wakk had finished packing for a long trip I didn't have the courage to take it to a weighbridge.:rolleyes2:
 
This has been a problem for many years but seems to have become worse. We have been to the NEC show a few times, and it always annoyed me that they would put up endless amounts of info, but never the payload. I can only assume the manufacturer didn't supply them, I wonder why, and the dealer didn't bother to find out.
Well done in getting your money back. I would be inclined to try get your expenses back too.
 
Hi Mickey,
I followed your thread on the other site, such a shame you're not having the FUN you were expecting.
While looking at motorhome sites I stumbled upon this:-

MagBaz Travels - Marquis: Note for the Group Aftercare Manager

Which was a similar experience and very well detailed about the struggle to get his money back.
The rest of the site is worth a read I think too.
It's a blog from someone with over 25 years experience of motorhomeing and adventures on blikes.

I hope we will hear about your new choice before too long and stories of your travels in it too.

Take care.
Tim.
 
***** said:
Mickey, sorry to hear your weight problems, but I expect you are not alone, but you did have the good sense to check yourself. You just can't trust dealers, and as I have said before, the payload figures were altered a few years ago to show pay load with just 20 litres of water in the tank and other heavy items removed.
Payload always used to be taken after 90% water, gas and fuel (roughly) but customers now seem to want so much more in their vans as standard equipment, that vans have now got heavier. The only way the makers can get the weight down is to fit and use lighter materials, which obviously must be easier to break!
Personally, I would get legal advice about your new van not been fit for purpose! Sorry, but it is fact!
Check out the Hymer Exsis range (and other similar) as they do have a good payload!
Hope you get sorted!

sorry, just noticed, you got your money back, well done!
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Has the definition of MIRO changed? I didn't know that. I've just bought a new van and the MIRO on the homologation papers was higher than what the specs said and then the actual MIRO weight was about 60kg more than that. As it happens we still have enough payload, but it's irritating (to say the least).
 
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vanmandan said:
so were you over or under ??
anyone know the penalty for being overweight ??? (van not person).
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Under both times :dance: 1st time ( before uprating ) only just :scared: but the 2nd time ( after uprating ) it was comfortably under :dance:
 
***** said:
Yes, it has changed over the last few years!
Click to expand...

I found this, plus some similar definitions


"The MIRO is the weight of your motorhome as it left the factory, a full tank of fuel and an average driver weight of 75kg, but before any other contents are added."

Last time I looked MIRO included 90% full water tank and other fluids. So my apologies to my van manufacturer - the difference between his and my weights is accounted for by that! Grrrr, though.
 
vanmandan said:
so were you over or under ??
anyone know the penalty for being overweight ??? (van not person).
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I believe you can be fined on a sliding scale depending on how much you are over and told to remove excess weight before you can drive off.

Ok if all you have to do is empty some water tanks, but how to choose between partner and dog if at least one has to be left behind?
 
They`re never going to do that David because then they`d be stuck with a lot of motorhomes they couldn`t sell :scared:
 
MarkJ said:
I believe you can be fined on a sliding scale depending on how much you are over and told to remove excess weight before you can drive off.

Ok if all you have to do is empty some water tanks, but how to choose between partner and dog if at least one has to be left behind?
Click to expand...
that's easy - the dog can't get on a bus , can it ?
 
antiquesam said:
I know we should all adhere to the Law but has anyone had a tug from VOSA in a coachbuilt or A class motorhome? I've been pulled many times in commercials but never in my motorhome.
Click to expand...


Not had a tug personally in MH but I've seen motorhomes in the weigh area at Ainley Top. Jct 24 M62 quite often. We used to get pulled there regularly in the works pickups and vans as our base was just down the hill at Holywell Green.
 
I have one of these;

Caravan weight control | Chassis | Car & caravan accessories - Obelink.co.uk

Mine is actually the next model up, but I can't find it online now. I have used it immediately after using a weighbridge and the results were only a few KG different, so they seem to be a good indicator.

If ever I am worried about being overweight, I use it. I do however, use it differently to how most others do. The difference being that I put a slat of wood the same thickness as the machine under the 3 other wheels when I weigh the van. This then allows for the displacement of fuel, water etc. as the van is very slightly tilted on the machine. As well as the general weight shift of a vehicle being at an anlge, however slight.

I also try to use it on my workshop floor whenever possible as I know that is dead level.
 
Fazerloz said:
Not had a tug personally in MH but I've seen motorhomes in the weigh area at Ainley Top. Jct 24 M62 quite often. We used to get pulled there regularly in the works pickups and vans as our base was just down the hill at Holywell Green.
Click to expand...

I've been put on the scales many times in a Daf LT 7.5 tonne because they look like the springs are on the floor when they are empty. But the only tug I have had in anything smaller was at Portsmouth Ferryport when they stopped me for having a headlight out. They said I would be fined, but when I said that we were packed too tight on the freight deck to do my checks and I couldn't see if the headlights were good in the lorry in front as there was too much light he let me off, as if it went to court I'd get off with my explanation.
I suspect they need a reason to stop you, or your Company is on the list of serial offenders, in which case you get stopped daily.
 
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