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Subject Topic: Unladen Weight
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11/6/2014 at 5:48pm
 Location: Portsmouth
 Outfit: Avondale Rialto 550 or Vango Orchy 600
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Hi all.

We pick our first van up tomorrow and I just want to check a couple of things so we don't get it wrong.

Just double checking our weights and was wondering if the unladen weight is simply that or does it include anything like Gas bottles and Leisure battery ? ?

We don't have much spare weight to play with so need to be certain........


11/6/2014 at 6:47pm
 Location: Llanidloes Powys
 Outfit: Skoda Yeti SEL4x4 +Bailey Ranger 460-4
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Unladen weight of the van is without anything other than the fitted furniture.


11/6/2014 at 7:16pm
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If its an old caravan then unladen weight is empty caravan but if only a few yrs old then unladen weight referred to as 'miro' which may or may not include gas bottle & battery depending on make & year. Sorry I can't make it any clearer than mud.

Post up yr/make/model of caravan & what it actually states in instruction manual. Why don't you have much spare weight?


12/6/2014 at 7:28am
 Location: Portsmouth
 Outfit: Avondale Rialto 550 or Vango Orchy 600
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Thank you for your replies.,.

I don't have spare weight because 85% of my cars kerb weight is 1175 and the unladen weight of the van I'm collecting today is 1100 Mmmmmmmm


12/6/2014 at 8:10am
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The 85% is just a guideline for safe towing, its not law. Provided you don't exceed your car's max tow weight or gross train weight then you are legal. These figures will be in your car manual. The 85% suggestion is a good idea to avoid 'tail wags dog' incidents but it won't hurt to be a bit over.


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12/6/2014 at 8:31am
 Location: LEICESTER
 Outfit: None Entered
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When your car and caravan are both loaded for the journey then what is the percentage at that time?

-------------
EX Advanced driving observer (IAM)
EX LGV & B+E instructor


12/6/2014 at 8:42am
 Location: Portsmouth
 Outfit: Avondale Rialto 550 or Vango Orchy 600
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I'm not certain so will have to look up the maximum loaded car weight when I get home. I always thought that it was calculated on kerb weight ? ?

But this is my first van so am learning quickly.

Can you use a maximum loaded car to increase the 85% weight? ?


12/6/2014 at 1:23pm
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You need to stop regarding this 85% figure as being anything more than a guideline. The actual suggestion is '85% of kerbweight'. All this means is that for safe towing, caravan needs to be lighter than car by a good margin. Provided you make that so, do not exceed manufacturer limits for either car or caravan & understand driving licence law regarding towing then you are good to go.


18/6/2014 at 10:42am
 Location: South Derbyshire
 Outfit: Caravan 5 berth clubman 515
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Apart from the legal advise on here, which I don't undermined with my comment, I hope,
I am not really bothered about I laden and max weight of the van.
Simple reason,
I have 2 gas bottles 7,5kg in the box, full, the batteries 2 off them switched on 12 volt, the usual kitchen assesories like toaster, kettle, plastik plates, cutlery, etc, television, memory aquaroll, waste container,
Windbreakers 3 off, all clothes and other little assessorys in the van.
I believe I exceed the max laden weight on that for some kg.
So I just make sure it is even loaded and not all on one side or just fron or rear.
The awning and Floormatts etc, which are heavy all together going in the roof box on top of the 4x4,

No problem with wobble, slinging around or stopping.
May different for others but that's how I did it allways.

I wouldn't load then van as heavy you can see the tyres getting flat.

Althought I can have a nose weight of 150kg on the truck without problems.
Not every car allow this without going to the ground.

Easy way, hitch the van on, get a tape meassure and check ground clearance of the Towbar, car axle etc, and when you load, make sure you not going to deep down.

Gas bottles are heavy, so it will give you quiet a lot weight on the Towbar for a start.

-------------
Tom


18/6/2014 at 11:20am
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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Your not bothered about the max weight? Even though its a legal issue and if stopped and weighed a hefty fine and unable to carry on your journey unless the weight is rectfied.

Stupid attitude.



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18/6/2014 at 11:38am
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB
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The truck may have a max nose weight of 150kg but what is the max weight the tow hitch allows? Alko hitches have a max weight of 100kg as far as I can remember so you still have to check the nose weight as well as the loaded weight of the caravan.

Rob


18/6/2014 at 12:26pm
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The contents of the caravan as he describes them will not overload caravan in the slightest. Provided you carry what could be described as a normal compliment of gear then you will be ok. Its only if you start adding bikes, several slabs of canned beer etc do you need to start weighing stuff.


18/6/2014 at 12:44pm
 Location: South Derbyshire
 Outfit: Caravan 5 berth clubman 515
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Iam aware of the legal issue.
As transport manager I have to.
Also no bikes or heavy equipment.
Overload is maybe 100 kg if so.

So to the nose weight.
The van should handle 100kg and the Towbar of the pajero defently up to 150kg

-------------
Tom


18/6/2014 at 1:04pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit:  Volvo X60 Coachman
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As a new tower it's advsed that the fully loaded caravan should weigh around 85%  of the cars kerbweight unless the car has a tow limit thats lower than the kerbweight.

It's easy to see just how much the weight goes up on my spreadsheet below.

As you can see my spare wheel, battery,gas bottle, aquaroll and waste master would take your empty van right up to your cars kerbweight.

In my eyes this caravan is way too heavy for your car, id change the car or buy a different caravan.  

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

 

  



18/6/2014 at 4:47pm
 Location: South Derbyshire
 Outfit: Caravan 5 berth clubman 515
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Be honest Ido not weight the stuff which is in the van.
The swift has a empty weight of 1440 and fully loaded so called,
1680kg.
The truck has 2160 kg empty.
Legally iam allowed to tow with the volvo, still using the truck.

The stuff I have in is maybe in the limit, maybe over.
If I go and start getting everything weight just because some pen pusher sitting somewhere on a dusty chair at the parliament I would be very bored in my life.

I know the laws about overweight,
Also know the plus minus off the weight bridges.
I don't think I be heavy overloaded as we don't have beer cans, not drinking, but food in the fridge as just being full.

I tow 3460 kg generators with the truck without problems and outside the legality.
The van is far under this weight.
On nose weight and fully weight.

I seen people loading there vans far over the limit, iam not that stupid,
But I don't consider grams.
As I said, the awning stuff and oth heavy equipment like mobility scooter will be in the truck or roofbox roof rack.

As I just been away in the Peak District with it, I did not experience any problems with the weight at all.
Unlikely a Mercedes with same sized van in front off me which looked like he had a football team in the van.

-------------
Tom


18/6/2014 at 4:56pm
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You didn't experience any problems with it because your carvan is not overloaded, why do you keep insisting that it is?



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