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Subject Topic: A weighty issue
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Personjseddo10
10/4/2014 at 12:38pm
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Hi

New to forum and looking for guidance. I have a ford S-MAX 1.8 D at a unladen weight of 1750KG  and i pull a caravan of 1100KG unladen, combined weight of 2850kg. I passed test after the dreaded jan 1st 1997, i'm over 500Kg lighter than the 3500Kg other than going to a weigh bridge am i really going to pack the car and caravan with over 500kg of "stuff".


PersonjamesA114
10/4/2014 at 3:12pm
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No you should be fine you have 650kg spare. the car weight usually allows for the driver i think. So depending on your family (my wife and 2 kids 160kg) leaves you 490 for kit etc. You could do that and still take 4 bikes on the roof at 80k!


Personayrstu
10/4/2014 at 7:44pm
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The 3500kg limit is the gross weight of car and caravan not the unladen/kerbweight. No matter if you use all the weight or not.


PersonDefender
10/4/2014 at 8:15pm
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From what you have said, you should be fine, but the unladen weight does not include essentials/habitation kit such as the battery, waste master, aquaroll etc etc.

The cars kerbweight usually allows for a driver of 75kgs but check the owners handbook to confirm. Then there will be the other vehicle occupants to consider also.

If you add-in luxuries such as a full awning (30kgs - 45kgs), a motor-mover (up to 60kgs) satellite kit, tv, bicycles, chairs, toys, food, clothing etc etc it all adds up quite quickly!

That said, with the leeway you appear to have, you should have no trouble at all.


Personayrstu
10/4/2014 at 8:28pm
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Please check your cars gross weight. And the mam weight of your caravan I am in the same position as yourself regarding when I passed my test. We are restricted to 3500kg gross train weight. Regardless of your actual weight if you are over 3500kg gross train weight then you are overweight for your licence.


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Personmichell8
10/4/2014 at 8:35pm
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You are looking at the wrong figures. You need to add Max gross laden weight(MAM)of car which is around 2500kg to max gross laden weight(mtplm) of your caravan which I guess would be around 1250kg & that is over 3.5 tonnes so you need a B+E licence to drive it. For licence law it is manufacturer quoted max loaded weights of car & caravan you go on, not actual weight of outfit on weighbridge.



Post last edited on 10/04/2014 20:43:41


Personlisterdiesel
11/4/2014 at 8:59am
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Adding bits and pieces soon adds weight.

I've just walked up to the factory where the trailer is parked with my camera bag, laptop etc and it is bl**dy heavy

Boxes of tinned food are another heavyweight item, and with three Aquarolls, two Wastemasters, 3m awning and room fittings, you can add 150kg very easily indeed.

Off to NRM Shildon today for the vintage machinery show there tomorrow.

Peter


Personbessie500
11/4/2014 at 10:06am
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Sure is easy this will give you a rough idea, Please note theirs no clothes in this spreadsheet   

 

van  car 
25 meter cable  /  weighed               4.5  
            Ramp and blocks 2  
110 amp battery  weighed               27  
BP Gaslight  10  
spare wheel etc  weighed              19  
aqua role  weighed              4  
wastemaster / fluid   weighed          6  
Awning and poles    30
oval table   weighed             5  
chairs      x 4      3.5 14
cadac             15
Tv   3.19  
quilt and 4 pillows / sleeping bag          weighed              9  
pegs, mallet, drill etc say      est           5  
towels, bathrobe toiletries     weighed           5  
cutlery, plates kettle knifes and forks                     6  
shoes     
air bed inner tent   3.5
groundsheet               weighed              8  
toiletries 2.5  
windbreak               weighed           3.5  
games /  lights  5  
Clothes      
Surf boards    10
Food 10  
Booze     
jack   10
Total 138 67


Personmichell8
11/4/2014 at 10:12am
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Conflicting advice for the op. As he describes it his licence probably does not cover him to drive his outfit however he loads it.

Anyone without B+E licence using a largish people carrier as a towcar would probably need to be towing a lightweight 2 berth to stay within the law.

One needs to avoid confusing licence law with Construction & Use law here.


Personayrstu
11/4/2014 at 11:07am
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Michell8 100% correct I only have b licence same as op and after much researching I found I was limited to 3500kg gross train weight its very confusing coming onto forums and getting conflicting advice.


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Personjseddo10
11/4/2014 at 11:29am
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Looks like I better get my driving up to perfection to do the B+E test. arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh


Personneil and lena
11/4/2014 at 6:18pm
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Quote: Originally posted by jseddo10 on 10/4/2014

Hi

New to forum and looking for guidance. I have a ford S-MAX 1.8 D at a unladen weight of 1750KG  and i pull a caravan of 1100KG unladen, combined weight of 2850kg. I passed test after the dreaded jan 1st 1997, i'm over 500Kg lighter than the 3500Kg other than going to a weigh bridge am i really going to pack the car and caravan with over 500kg of "stuff".





The figures you go by are

Car gross weight or MAM (maximum authorized mass)
              +
Caravan fully loaded weight (MPTLM )

if more than 3.5tons you need B+E


PersonGreendemon315
14/4/2014 at 8:52pm
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B + E needed.

Jim


PersonSkoda Bob
15/4/2014 at 10:34am
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Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 11/4/2014
Quote: Originally posted by jseddo10 on 10/4/2014

Hi

New to forum and looking for guidance. I have a ford S-MAX 1.8 D at a unladen weight of 1750KG  and i pull a caravan of 1100KG unladen, combined weight of 2850kg. I passed test after the dreaded jan 1st 1997, i'm over 500Kg lighter than the 3500Kg other than going to a weigh bridge am i really going to pack the car and caravan with over 500kg of "stuff".





The figures you go by are

Car gross weight or MAM (maximum authorized mass)
              +
Caravan fully loaded weight (MPTLM )

if more than 3.5tons you need B+E


But you never load your vehicle or van to the max, so they could be well under once they have all the passengers in the vehicle and things in the van,
load the van as you require and go to a weighbridge, most councils have one or there should be one near you, and should not cost anything as your not dumping


Personayrstu
15/4/2014 at 10:54am
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Whether you load caravan and car to the max is totally irrelevant. The law goes with the mam of the car and mptlm of the caravan if these added together are over 3.5 tons you need b+e licence. When stopped by police they wont escort you to a weighbridge they simply check your vans weightplates and vin plate on car (Ive asked a friendly traffic officer!) And they do stop you, so youd end up with car and van impounded, youd be driving outwith your licence and your insurance would also be invalid.


PersonGreendemon315
15/4/2014 at 11:29am
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Agreed. The actual weight is not relevant.

Jim



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