catinou Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Very useful info from VOSA in the latest MMM on page 188. Apparently as more Mhs are on the road we are to be checked more often, with an emphasis on weight if I read it right. We now understand why we were supplied with a calculation of available payload after we purchased a new vehicle at the NEC. The calculation was written and we were asked to sign it to say we understood it. Also in the same issue - an article by Brian Lowes on page 140 drew our attention as we had looked at a similar model to his Rapido 972M at the show. He says in his article that the underbed storage holds all they need for up to 6 months, bikes go on a towbar mounted bike rack, the fridge holds a week's worth of shopping, the kitchen cupboard "swallows" at least 2 weeks worth of tinned provisions & 8 large bottles..... Thinking the spec looked really good, I checked the facts & figures and saw the payload was quoted as 350kg !!!!! 8-) 8-) Have I read it wrongly? The other part of the article to affect us is towing on an A frame ! Apparently any vehicle, regardless of weight MUST have operating brakes when being towed. Our A frame is unbraked so we will certainly be using our brake buddy on EVERY journey, no matter how short, from now on..... ;-) What a great magazine. B-)
Guest JudgeMental Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 The 350 kg is also probably without any fitted extras.....awning/bike rack/heki/2nd battery/ tow bar/TV etc.........the list goes on :-S This lot probably 150 kg? leaving a payload of 200kg :-( and thats before any one other then the driver gets in let alone all your stuff *-) The only way to make sure is to insist on visit to a weighbridge or at least a ticket.........
catinou Posted October 21, 2009 Author Posted October 21, 2009 Think they might get a ticket Judge :-( Seriously, when we collected our present motorhome we insisted we drive to the weighbridge to weigh it BEFORE we signed over our money. We intend doing the same with the new one..... ;-)
Guest JudgeMental Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 catinou - 2009-10-21 4:14 PM Think they might get a ticket Judge :-( Seriously, when we collected our present motorhome we insisted we drive to the weighbridge to weigh it BEFORE we signed over our money. We intend doing the same with the new one..... ;-) You are doing the right thing...dont be bamboozled into doing otherwise!
Porky Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 When we took delivery of our Autotrail Tracker we discovered, although not advised, that the spec had been improved through solid wood instead of MDF, denser foam on the setees/beds, and Fiat had beefed up the chasis somewhere. So be careful about what payload you actually have.
colin Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 catinou - 2009-10-21 2:46 PM The other part of the article to affect us is towing on an A frame ! Apparently any vehicle, regardless of weight MUST have operating brakes when being towed. Our A frame is unbraked so we will certainly be using our brake buddy on EVERY journey, no matter how short, from now on..... O come on, you must have read the threads on A frames, what has never been disputed but mentioned many times, any 'trailer' with brakes must have them working regardless of weight. ;-)
Frankkia Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Also look at the small print when buying a new 'van - it usually says subject to a tolerance of + or - 5% of the built weight. So say they advertise it as 3500kg max and 3000kg built - you think you have 500kg payload but you could be starting out with only 350kg (3000 x 5% = 150kg). Then take a look at what has been allowed for - a driver of 75kg - now some of you may be but I am a tad over that! Also as mentioned above many people don't seem to count those essential extras - have you ever tried to pick up a 4 meter awning.
catinou Posted October 22, 2009 Author Posted October 22, 2009 Frankkia - 2009-10-21 11:51 PM Also as mentioned above many people don't seem to count those essential extras - have you ever tried to pick up a 4 meter awning. Yes, at a factory tour - that's why we decided a free standing Gazebo (which we already have hanging about at home) will do us with the new MH ;-)
Guest JudgeMental Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 catinou - 2009-10-22 11:08 AM Frankkia - 2009-10-21 11:51 PM Also as mentioned above many people don't seem to count those essential extras - have you ever tried to pick up a 4 meter awning. Yes, at a factory tour - that's why we decided a free standing Gazebo (which we already have hanging about at home) will do us with the new MH ;-) So what weight is your new van? 3500 or 4000kg
catinou Posted October 22, 2009 Author Posted October 22, 2009 4000 - I think! The pay load, after all the extras has been calculated at 750 k or thereabouts.....started at just over 800 - got it written down at home :-S
W3526602 Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Hi, The driver is included in the 3500kg, so will have to sit in while being check-weighed. There is a minor allowance for the vehicle gaining weight DURING the journey ..... presumably rain water. However, you can tow a trailer up to 750kg, over and above the 3500kg. Fill the body with Helium? 602
W3526602 Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Hi, The driver is included in the 3500kg, so will have to sit in while being check-weighed. There is a minor allowance for the vehicle gaining weight DURING the journey ..... presumably rain water. However, you can tow a trailer up to 750kg, over and above the 3500kg. Fill the body with Helium? 602
Usinmyknaus Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Some 2 million cars on the UK's roads are uninsured, they account for a huge number of collisions and cost the taxpayer and legally insured motorists a fortune every year. Many are defective, untaxed, driven by aggressive scumbags and a fair proportion of the drivers are under the influence of illegal drugs. So whom, we are told, are VOSA about to target for roadside checks? A comparatively tiny group of predominently insured-to-the-hilt, middle-aged, sober, middle-class, mild-mannered motorhomers who hardly ever cause even the tiniest problem on the road. Oh, the mysterious workings of the bureaucratic mind. Bob *-)
Usinmyknaus Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 A Briefing in the Entirely Fictional Government “ Megavan Vehicle Standards Department“ in a Fictional European Country Nigel. (The boss) “Right lads, your job for today is to stake out the huge “Friendly Frolics” campsite in Bartoning on Sea, looking for overweight motorhomers.” Spanners (The Tester): ” Don’t you mean “motorhomes” Nige? “Nigel: Eh? “ Spanners: “Don’t you mean ” look out for overweight motorhomes”, if we’re going to stop overweight motorhomers, we’ll be there a long time from what I’ve seen, especially certain foreign vans.” Nigel:“Oh, yes, typo. OK. Stake out the site and use your observation dome to look over the fence for likely vans as they leave, especially the ones that sink into the mud and have to be towed off the pitch.” Spanners: “But Nige, isn’t “Friendly Frolics” the naturist camping site?” Nigel: “Yes, so?” Spanners: “Well............, if we’re seen looking over the fence, won’t someone call the police and have us arrested as pervs?” Nigel: “Don’t worry, just show the police your ID and tell ‘em your observations are necessary for the prevention and detection of crime and are approved under the Direction of Investigatory Powers Act 2003.” Spanners: “Wow, so these motorhome criminals are really dangerous then?” Nigel: “Well, no, not really, no.” Spanners: "Just the next "Government Priority" - got it."
david lloyd Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Bob I agree it can be galling to think that a fairly small group of (usually) law abiding, mild mannered citizens like motorhomers can be 'targeted' when there would appear to be other, more serious priorites to tackle. However, an article in the latest (November 2009) issue of the C&CC magazine has some interesting information: "A recent campaign of roadside checks by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has shown that 80 per cent of motorhomes stopped were over their legal weight limit. Meanwhile, over the August Bank Holiday, a police operation codenamed 'Velopy' stopped, weighed and checked caravans on several UK roads. Worryingly common findings included unsafe caravan tyres, towcars with no towing mirrors, dangerously overweight 'vans and hazardous driving. Police on the A5 in Worcester even reported that, of the dozens of caravans they stopped, not one was 100 per cent safe." Unfortunately, it would seem, even within our (usually) law abiding group their appear to be what could be a large proportion who are quite prepared to put their and our lives at risk by not ensuring their outfit complies with the known safety criteria. David
RoyH Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Well David. The police obviously don't know where they are: "Police on the A5 in Worcester even reported that, of the dozens of caravans they stopped, not one was 100 per cent safe." The A5 doesn't go anywhere near Worcester. And they are looking for the impossible dream as nothing in life anywhere is ever 100% safe.
Freewheeler Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Usinmyknaus - 2009-10-23 2:36 PM Some 2 million cars on the UK's roads are uninsured, they account for a huge number of collisions and cost the taxpayer and legally insured motorists a fortune every year. Many are defective, untaxed, driven by aggressive scumbags and a fair proportion of the drivers are under the influence of illegal drugs. So whom, we are told, are VOSA about to target for roadside checks? A comparatively tiny group of predominently insured-to-the-hilt, middle-aged, sober, middle-class, mild-mannered motorhomers who hardly ever cause even the tiniest problem on the road. Oh, the mysterious workings of the bureaucratic mind. Bob *-) Overweight motorhomes ALSO fall into the uninsured catagory! That's what many of their drivers fail to recognise. Freewheeler
davenewellhome Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Come on now guys, whatever the statistics say, being overloaded is illegal. You might well say that police resources would be better spent on tracking down uninsured, hooligan, joyriding, teenage yobs causing mayhem and mischief but wouldn't they be even better spent on tracking down and apprehending murderers and rapists? BUT, then who do you call to deal with the affray happening outside your local hostelry, or to some eejit who's parked on double yellows and blocked the road? At the end of the day the law is the law, there is no adjustment for whether its a minor impeachment or a major one or if you are a "normally law abiding citizen", if you break the law and get caught then you pay the appropriate (or at least what is prescribed) penalty, regardless of who you are. D. Grabs flack jacket and dives for cover 8-)
david lloyd Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 No need to dive for cover Dave, sensible observations I would say! The (probable) truth is more likely to be that too many motorhome owners have no idea what the weight regulations/restrictions are and how they apply to them - if they do and are ignoring them then it is even worse - but, ultimately, ignorance is no defence when standing at the side of the road with those nice people from VOSA. The results are likely to be that you will be asked to make the motorhome legal by removing some of the weight and could incur a fine and penalty points too. I would rather that than be the innocent party in an accident involving an (uninsured) overweight motorhome. David
RoyH Posted October 25, 2009 Posted October 25, 2009 David, Had a chance to read C&CC Mag and see the item you referred to. Seems either an inaccurate bit of reporting or a garbage press release from the law enforcers. No aspersions aimed at you. Agree with comments that a lot of users of all vehicles haven't a clue about the importance or legality of the weight constraints of the vehicle(s) they drive.
colinfrier Posted October 25, 2009 Posted October 25, 2009 Quite right when there's a problem you call for the Police and on ocassions they even turn up then tell you there is nothing they can do to help. It is all about targets and motorhome owners that are 50 kg overweight are easy pickings and they must be punished for there antisocial behaviour just like the travellers are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
david lloyd Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 RoyH - 2009-10-25 6:11 PM David, Had a chance to read C&CC Mag and see the item you referred to. Seems either an inaccurate bit of reporting or a garbage press release from the law enforcers. No aspersions aimed at you. Agree with comments that a lot of users of all vehicles haven't a clue about the importance or legality of the weight constraints of the vehicle(s) they drive. No offence taken RoyH - I simply took the Police references as read but they (and the C&CC) should check things before going to press. It does raise a serious point though that we should all be constantly vigilant of overloading the van. It really is no good other contributors complaining that the police ought to have better things to do but, on the other hand, they didn't make the rules or force anyone to ignore their weight restrictions. The fact is, if we all remain within the law then we have nothing to worry or complain about and they will move onto something/someone else, but the facts speak for themselves and there is no arguing that an overweight motorhome or caravan is unsafe - for all of us. David
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