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3500kg and 3300kg for identical vehicles?


Guest rael

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Just been looking at some PVCs (same as mine, Challenger Vany) on www.mobile.de. I'm a bit bewildered by the whole issue of van weights, but what seemed strange to me was that identical vans (same model/year etc) had different maximum weights allowed these being 3500 kg and 3300kg. As I said I don't know much about weight plates etc. Can anyone enlighten me? Seems strange that identical conversions from the same year would be different.
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For tax reasions, some markets within Europe require a 3300 kg van. My understanding is that the suspension and braking system together with all mechanicals and trim are the same with the 3300 and 3500 variants. Once imported it may be a easy upgrade from 3300 to 3500, perhaps even higher using specialists like SVTech. Perhaps ring the company for exact advice.

 

Mike

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mikefitz - 2020-01-05 4:40 PM

 

For tax reasions, some markets within Europe require a 3300 kg van. My understanding is that the suspension and braking system together with all mechanicals and trim are the same with the 3300 and 3500 variants. Once imported it may be a easy upgrade from 3300 to 3500, perhaps even higher using specialists like SVTech. Perhaps ring the company for exact advice.

 

Mike

 

From experience a chassis ordered from Fiat or PSA at 3300 MAM will come with different specification front brakes to a 3500 MAM chassis; 24mm thick front discs (and calipers to match) on the 3300 chassis as opposed to 28mm on the 3500. The difference in heat dissipation is noticable on long descents.

 

There is also a bewildering list of front strut and front and rear spring part nos. according to MAM so there may be differences here too but I've no first hand experience of this.

 

Of course this doesn't apply if the 3300 chassis has been down-rated from 3500.

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It’s not that uncommon, and there is often a straightforward ‘technical’ explanation.

 

For instance, I have a 2016 Rapido brochure for their PVC range that shows that the V55 and V56 models were built on either a 3300kg or 3500kg chassis.

 

But the 3300kg versions had the then standard Fiat 2.0litre 115hp motor for those two Rapido models, whereas, if the optional 2.3litre or 3.0litre motors were specified, the V55 and V56 models came with a 3500kg chassis.

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Yes it is still a puzzle. The same happens on my VW- Kepler-One westfalia. On the T6. Extra price for 3500 kg. The 2020 model 6.1 which a facelift , having the same chassis is now standard 3500. The weight stand on the axles used. And suspension. Price i think. And the payload desired.
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  • 2 weeks later...

The following link is to the SVTech website

 

http://www.svtech.co.uk/

 

and I’ve seen fairly recent comments that suggest that their current charge for middle-managing a straightforward ‘on paper only’ motorhome weight upgrade would be around £350. (That’s for carrying out the task - advice from SVTech would be free.)

 

A alternative (and probably less expensive) would be to contact JR Consultancy (positive and negative opinions here)

 

https://www.motorhomeowners.org/post/jr-consultancy-review-10072349

 

and further comments here

 

https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-simple-weight-upgrade-/53639/

 

Motorhome DIY weight-uprating (ie. not involving a ‘middle-man’) was discussed here

 

https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Weight-upgrade/50266/

 

 

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