Weight limit

Wittsy

Wittsy

New member
I am looking at a self-build conversion next year, assuming that I can find a suitable MAN TGE when I am ready to commit. I would like to be able to lend the finished van to my sons and while I have the C1 category on my license, they do not. That makes it quite desirable to keep the van weight, when loaded, below the 3,500kg limit (I think I have that right). I am looking at a LWB van to give plenty of room for a shower/toilet and I am wanting to use a Lippert elevating bed at the rear and probably a fairly standard flat-pack fit out in front of that.

Part of the reason for the elevating bed, is to give a versatile garage-cum-lounge area underneath, with the possibility that I could carry my 180kg motorbike within it on occasion. So I would like to have about 200kg leeway when otherwise loaded for a trip.

Within the above criteria, how easy is it to end up overweight?
Or to put it another way, how difficult is it to keep it below 3,500kg when loaded?

Should I be careful from the outset, minimising my application of those heavy sound-deadening mats and using thinner, light weight ply if possible? Or is it a lost cause?

Apart from using Lithium batteries, what other aspects can make a worthwhile difference to the weight?
 
We've not been mean on fittings in our LWB so keeping it under 3500Kg was impossible. However unlike your sons we only had to reclaim our C! licenses as we are both over 70. You can see what we ended up having constructed in this thread.
I doubt that you will keep a reasonably high spec LWB Crafter/TGE below 3500Kg and have a useful load capacity.
 
rod_vw said:
We've not been mean on fittings in our LWB so keeping it under 3500Kg was impossible. However unlike your sons we only had to reclaim our C! licenses as we are both over 70. You can see what we ended up having constructed in this thread.
I doubt that you will keep a reasonably high spec LWB Crafter/TGE below 3500Kg and have a useful load capacity.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
rod_vw said:
We've not been mean on fittings in our LWB so keeping it under 3500Kg was impossible. However unlike your sons we only had to reclaim our C! licenses as we are both over 70. You can see what we ended up having constructed in this thread.
I doubt that you will keep a reasonably high spec LWB Crafter/TGE below 3500Kg and have a useful load capacity.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
Not sure if it is even a viable proposition…?
 
Wittsy said:
Thank you.
Not sure if it is even a viable proposition…?
Click to expand...
There are muttering about the requirements for a C1 license being changed to allow B/B1 drivers to drive certain vehicles that are over 3500kg. Campers being one of those vehicles. I understand that the many EU countries have already done this.
I think it has been prompted by the increased weight of electric delivery vans pushing their weight over the 3500kg to be useful for purpose.
 
Wittsy said:
I am looking at a self-build conversion next year, assuming that I can find a suitable MAN TGE when I am ready to commit. I would like to be able to lend the finished van to my sons and while I have the C1 category on my license, they do not. That makes it quite desirable to keep the van weight, when loaded, below the 3,500kg limit (I think I have that right). I am looking at a LWB van to give plenty of room for a shower/toilet and I am wanting to use a Lippert elevating bed at the rear and probably a fairly standard flat-pack fit out in front of that.

Part of the reason for the elevating bed, is to give a versatile garage-cum-lounge area underneath, with the possibility that I could carry my 180kg motorbike within it on occasion. So I would like to have about 200kg leeway when otherwise loaded for a trip.

Within the above criteria, how easy is it to end up overweight?
Or to put it another way, how difficult is it to keep it below 3,500kg when loaded?

Should I be careful from the outset, minimising my application of those heavy sound-deadening mats and using thinner, light weight ply if possible? Or is it a lost cause?

Apart from using Lithium batteries, what other aspects can make a worthwhile difference to the weight?
Click to expand...
I was also thinking of a Crafter lwb high roof to use as a motorbike van stored either in van or fixed bike rack (I don't want a trailer) but I saw the kerb weight is 2700kg allowing load of 800kg until 3.5t limit.
I'm 90kg
2 passenger seats = 170kg .
Fuel 75l = 288kg
140l water- 140kg
Total = 688kg
Remaining- 322kg
My bike will be 120kg.
T
his doesn't even account for batteries fridge etc.

The kerb weight of MWB is 2411kg so a saving of 290kg. The Fiat Ducato LWB kerb weight is 2140kg already 660kg lighter than the crafter. I will have to sacrifice head room and go for something other than Crafter.
 
nickinuk said:
I was also thinking of a Crafter lwb high roof to use as a motorbike van stored either in van or fixed bike rack (I don't want a trailer) but I saw the kerb weight is 2700kg allowing load of 800kg until 3.5t limit.
I'm 90kg
2 passenger seats = 170kg .
Fuel 75l = 288kg
140l water- 140kg
Total = 688kg
Remaining- 322kg
My bike will be 120kg.
T
his doesn't even account for batteries fridge etc.

The kerb weight of MWB is 2411kg so a saving of 290kg. The Fiat Ducato LWB kerb weight is 2140kg already 660kg lighter than the crafter. I will have to sacrifice head room and go for something other than Crafter.
Click to expand...
Do you have a C1 license? If so why not up-plate a Crafter / TGE.

As the EU are actively moving towards a B license being OK for a Motorcaravan up to 4250Kg maybe it won't be too long before the UK does the same.
 
I've a xlwb and had the similar scenario...ie 2 sons without a C1. It cost me but one son passed his test.
With rear airbags, it was a v simple procedure to get the v5 updated.
Mine now is lifted to 4100kg.
 
I read recently that crafter vans are one of the only vans that include a 75kg passenger in the kerb weight. So it's looking like I still have hope to get it all done and in weight
 
I suspect that lots of folks have no idea of their laden weight and blindly travel in knowing ignorance. My worry would be the insurance companies causing issues if an accident.
 
nickinuk said:
I read recently that crafter vans are one of the only vans that include a 75kg passenger in the kerb weight. So it's looking like I still have hope to get it all done and in weight
Click to expand...
That's interesting, do you have anything to corroborate this. I'm not doubting you at all but it would be nice to have a document that quoted the facts.
 
"VW also includes 75kg to account for the weight of the driver within the quoted unladen kerb-weight - which is worth noting when comparing the Crafter's payload ratings to rivals that don't do this" Www.Parkers.co.uk
 
nickinuk said:
"VW also includes 75kg to account for the weight of the driver within the quoted unladen kerb-weight - which is worth noting when comparing the Crafter's payload ratings to rivals that don't do this" Www.Parkers.co.uk
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm blind but I can't find Volkswagen Crafter as a model on their lists and MAN don't exist at all. The GC exists but that's a different subject.

Please point me in the right direction or publish a screen shot of what you've found if you can.

Sorry to be a pain.
 
nickinuk said:
I read recently that crafter vans are one of the only vans that include a 75kg passenger in the kerb weight. So it's looking like I still have hope to get it all done and in weight
Click to expand...
Hi!

We've done a number of LWB builds, one of which we did weigh... It had shower, bunk beds, double rear seat for eating and usual trimmings of a nice specced van and this was 3,180kg in 2 people and half a tank of fuel with a labrador too! It's the van in our display picture. So, it can be done but just be mindful of weight throughout the whole process!

Cheers Brandon
 
rod_vw said:
Mine was 3280kg with no one aboard, and about half a tank of fuel. This is the camper shown in this thread.

By the time it had two people aboard, the water tank filled and gear for four or five weeks in Europe it would be over the 3500kg I expected so it was up-plated etc. and we now both have C1 licenses recovered as we are both over 70 and lost them at that point.
Click to expand...
Looks great. Hard to see where you could have saved the weight (100kish) too as you dont have any tiles, thick wood and finishes that some people have.
 
nickinuk said:
Looks great. Hard to see where you could have saved the weight (100kish) too as you dont have any tiles, thick wood and finishes that some people have.
Click to expand...
The furniture is built of Morland ply, the rear seat is a genuine TGE double front which is heavy and the electric bed is Lippert Projrct 2000 System which does add to the weight.We had a two burner hob, oven /grill. microwave, 80 liter fridge. under slung gas tank, under slung fresh & waste tanks, full length awning, sliding fly screen in sliding door, etc. installed.
 
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