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How much excess weight do you carry around with you in your Van?

We are set to change ours next weekend, so this weekend we have gone about boxing up everything to take out of it ready for the handover.

I AM IN SHOCK!

But I'll tell you something...... It's defenitely not all going back in the new van.

Every piece of "caravanning" equipment/gear  we carry in the van we use. Every item of clothing we take with us we don't use....there must be a lesson in there somewhere but I'll be dammed if the wife can find it...

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 12/11/2011

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Every piece of "caravanning" equipment/gear  we carry in the van we use. Every item of clothing we take with us we don't use....there must be a lesson in there somewhere but I'll be dammed if the wife can find it...

Phil

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Bedding for 5 (95% of the time it's just the two of us and the dogs).

Melamine crockery for 8.

5 Board games that have not been out for 3 years.

Sandwich toaster not used for at leat 2 years.

15ltr insulated keg with tap for cold drinks.

about 12 assorted glasses

2 chopping boards!

8 bottles of Avon skin so soft.

2 sets of hair straighteners

More toiletries than we have at home.

A stack of CDs not played for 3 years at least.

240/12v transformer that's not been needed for 2 years

Kites, boules, cricket set and a load more outside games.

By my estimation I reckon the van has been at least 100kg over it's MTPLM,

Quote: Originally posted by scarletsfan on 12/11/2011

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Bedding for 5 (95% of the time it's just the two of us and the dogs).

Melamine crockery for 8.

5 Board games that have not been out for 3 years.

Sandwich toaster not used for at leat 2 years.

15ltr insulated keg with tap for cold drinks.

about 12 assorted glasses

2 chopping boards!

8 bottles of Avon skin so soft.

2 sets of hair straighteners

More toiletries than we have at home.

A stack of CDs not played for 3 years at least.

240/12v transformer that's not been needed for 2 years

Kites, boules, cricket set and a load more outside games.

By my estimation I reckon the van has been at least 100kg over it's MTPLM,

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Hi, It’s surprising how all the small things, that have very little weight to them soon accumulate, and it is very easy to exceed your maximum pay load without realizing it, I have a very limited pay load and keep a close eye on what is needed in van, I have a large plastic storage box with wheels, that I keep all the other van equipment in including spare parts for van, this box goes in car on every trip. I use a list(Excel spread sheet) all equipment on this, and formula calculates all weight into van. Be lost without it.

Yep, can completely sympathise, we emptied ours last weekend. was shocked at the amount of crap we cart about, although I did find some dvds the kids had lost down the back of the bunk beds!!

We managed to fill our camping trailer, our friends daughters suzuki alto (parked on our drive until she passes her test) and half our bedroom with "essentials", It definitely isnt going back in the new motorhome.

On the other hand I decided we need a new bbq as our cadac is on its last legs

Quote: Originally posted by jhsw on 12/11/2011

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Hi, It’s surprising how all the small things, that have very little weight to them soon accumulate, and it is very easy to exceed your maximum pay load without realizing it, I have a very limited pay load and keep a close eye on what is needed in van, I have a large plastic storage box with wheels, that I keep all the other van equipment in including spare parts for van, this box goes in car on every trip. I use a list(Excel spread sheet) all equipment on this, and formula calculates all weight into van. Be lost without it.

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I also use an excel spreadsheet/inventory which includes every single thing we have in the van.  I use mine for insurance purposes, and also has the date of purchase and cost - it ensures I get the correct cover for contents at renewal time.

However, I don't use my spreadsheed for weight, preferring to visit a weighbridge at least once a year, as the contents of our van varies very little.  I feel that the problem with weighing ever single item is that if your scales are slightly out, then as they are out for every time you weigh an item, the 'degree of inaccuracy' is magnified in relation to the number of items you weigh - if you see what I mean!. 

From 2006 to last summer I towed with 4x4s so really didn't woory too much about it because they could cope with it.

I now know why our Mondeo struggled a bit up hills a few weeks ago.  We mever used to travel light.

We are also preparing to change 'vans in a few weeks so have been slowly emptying our current 'van.

From the wet locker came two jacks, the Alko one that came with the 'van (so will go with it!) and a scissor jack.  A tub of clothes pegs that haven't been used for probably ten years but have been in all 'vans since nonetheless.

In the gas locker two steady winders ... again the one that came with the 'van will go with it.  A bag of wooden blocks and a tow rope I'd forgotten were there.  Two full bottles of loo chemicals and a two and a half bottles of flush additive (surely one of each would suffice!).

Inside dishes for six (we are only two).  Stacks of pots including a frying pan which we would never use.  A whistling kettle likewise.

Towels that could dry off an army.

Etc etc ... I am determined to be more ruthless when our Sterling arrives!

Hi Iain, If you cut your dishes and glasses down to two, and you have other caravaner’s visit for a wee drink, just ask them to bring their own glasses, this will serve two purposes, 1 it will save on your weight, 2 it will save you having to wash up all the glasses.

Quote: Originally posted by jhsw on 12/11/2011

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Hi David, not thought of using list for insurance purposes, though could adapt the All Caravan Equipment list to include dates and prices. Know what you mean about the scales, Have a 1 kilo measured weight, and set scales with it (bathroom/hand held luggage type) so pretty accurate overall, any weight just over a few grams I allow 1/2kg, so in theory I should always be under my weight, I do the same weigh the van once a year or more, and have it checked against my list, have always been slightly over in my weight list, by about 5kg, only draw back with that is I am tempted to put a few more cases of beer in there.

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Thought beer was included in the essential habitation allowance