Towing limit for this motorhome please?

[Redmax]

I'm contemplating buying the motorhome from which the photo of the plate above is taken.

Am I reading it correctly that:

- the maximum laden weight of the motorhome is 3800kg?
- at that maximum laden weight I could tow up to 1500kg (5300kg-3800)?
- if the maximum laden weight is less than 3800kg I could effectively 'lend' some of that weight to the trailer?
- the maximum weight on each axle is 1750kg and 2240kg, regardless of the total laden weight?

I assume it would need to go on a weighbridge to determine how much capacity I have to take it to the 3800kg..?

Thanks

Jason

[nagsheadwarrior]

Your spot on there.

Knowing Rapidos though you probably won't have a lot of payload left to lend.

[Redmax]

nagsheadwarrior said:

Your spot on there.

Knowing Rapidos though you probably won't have a lot of payload left to lend.

Excellent, thanks.

[Ilovejapcrap]

Sorry you can't lend some weight to the trailer

The last set of no's are front weight limit and back weight limit on vehicle.

Normally these add up to more than the gross weight of vehicle that's because they give you a little extra on the back for the weight of a trailer on tow bar

Hope this helps

[shovelheadrob]

Ilovejapcrap said:

Sorry you can't lend some weight to the trailer

The last set of no's are front weight limit and back weight limit on vehicle.

Normally these add up to more than the gross weight of vehicle that's because they give you a little extra on the back for the weight of a trailer on tow bar

Hope this helps

The weights are the maximum axle loads, the weight of the trailer on the tow bar will only be perhaps 100kg so depending on what the M/H weighs the balance can be "lent" to the trailer, less the tongue weight. HTH

[Ilovejapcrap]

shovelheadrob said:

Ilovejapcrap said:

Sorry you can't lend some weight to the trailer

The last set of no's are front weight limit and back weight limit on vehicle.

Normally these add up to more than the gross weight of vehicle that's because they give you a little extra on the back for the weight of a trailer on tow bar

Hope this helps

The weights are the maximum axle loads, the weight of the trailer on the tow bar will only be perhaps 100kg so depending on what the M/H weighs the balance can be "lent" to the trailer, less the tongue weight. HTH

Not sure I follow mate are you saying if motor home is not fully laden you can add that extra weight to the trailer weight .?

Because you can't

[shovelheadrob]

The extra weight rating for the axles is to allow for weight distribution nothing to do with a trailer, although the nose weight must be included as it is part of the load.
As long as none of the axle weights are over & the train weight is not over all is good, the only other possible restriction could be if there is a maximum trailer weight shown on the V5
As an example my Transit van has a GVW of 3500kg, a GTW of 5000kg & a maximum trailer weight of 2000kg so if the loaded van weighs 3000kg I can tow 2000kg, if it weighs 2800kg I can still only tow 2000kg, if it weighs 3400kg then I can only tow 1600kg.
All the above are assuming that the axle weights for both van & trailer are not exceeded. HTH

Edited by shovelheadrob on Sunday 1st February 12:55

[R0G]

Does the manufacturer or V5 state a max towing capacity weight?

If yes then its likely to be GTW minus GVW = 1500

If no then the GTW can be used as the driver sees fit providing no plated weights are exceeded

[Ilovejapcrap]

shovelheadrob said:

The extra weight rating for the axles is to allow for weight distribution nothing to do with a trailer, although the nose weight must be included as it is part of the load.
As long as none of the axle weights are over & the train weight is not over all is good, the only other possible restriction could be if there is a maximum trailer weight shown on the V5
As an example my Transit van has a GVW of 3500kg, a GTW of 5000kg & a maximum trailer weight of 2000kg so if the loaded van weighs 3000kg I can tow 2000kg, if it weighs 2800kg I can still only tow 2000kg, if it weighs 3400kg then I can only tow 1600kg.
All the above are assuming that the axle weights for both van & trailer are not exceeded. HTH

Edited by shovelheadrob on Sunday 1st February 12:55

Gotcha

[shovelheadrob]

Ilovejapcrap said:

Gotcha

Sorry but you're wrong

Ilovejapcrap said:

Not sure I follow mate are you saying if motor home is not fully laden you can add that extra weight to the trailer weight .?

Because you can't

R0G said:

Does the manufacturer or V5 state a max towing capacity weight?

If yes then its likely to be GTW minus GVW = 1500

If no then the GTW can be used as the driver sees fit providing no plated weights are exceeded

Which is exactly what I said

shovelheadrob said:

As long as none of the axle weights are over & the train weight is not over all is good, the only other possible restriction could be if there is a maximum trailer weight shown on the V5

[R0G]

shovelheadrob - I know you said that but I put it in a different way

[shovelheadrob]

Rog, I realise that & thank you for confirming/clarifying it. I can't see why the other guy can't understand that he is wrong

[R0G]

shovelheadrob said:

Rog, I realise that & thank you for confirming/clarifying it. I can't see why the other guy can't understand that he is wrong

Dunno about wrong .... perhaps not understanding how it all works

Vehicle
GVW 3000
GTW 5000
No max towing capacity listed
Empty 1500

Trailer
MAM 3500
Empty 500

GTW refers to the maximum actual weight both vehicle and trailer can be when weighed together

As long as no axle, vehicle GTW or trailer MAM weights are exceeded then the GTW can be used as the driver sees fit with the safety balance between vehicle and trailer considered

If a max towing capacity was listed then that restricts free use of the GTW

In the above example the total empty weight is 2000 so that leaves a load of 3000 which can be distributed between vehicle and trailer

A max of 1500 can be loaded into the vehicle leaving 1500 for the trailer - balance would be 3000 vehicle and 2000 trailer
Could load 3000 into trailer but that would leave the balance at 1500 vehicle and 3500 trailer which is not a good idea !!!!!

[Redmax]

So I've just rung up about a motorhome I'm interested in and I'm told that the gross train weight details on the chassis plate are blank. Where does that leave me in terms of towing capacity..?

Thanks

Jason

[R0G]

Redmax said:

So I've just rung up about a motorhome I'm interested in and I'm told that the gross train weight details on the chassis plate are blank. Where does that leave me in terms of towing capacity..?

Thanks

Jason

Not designed for towing is my first thought but check on the internet and see if an exact model gives different info

[Redmax]

No, other vehicles of the same type definitely have towing capacity - I saw one at the weekend. This one without the GTW figure on the plate also has a tow at fitted (but no plate on it). Weird...

[Redmax]

So here's another vehicle with the Rapido plate with a blank GTW. What I assume is the original chassis plate has the GTW as 5500 so would that continue to apply?

[R0G]

1650 kg max towing limit seems to be it

[Bobley]

That vehicle was originally certified by Rapido in 2001 but the owner has had the vehicle recertified by SVTech to increase the chassis rating and allow towing. This costs a few hundred quid and entails a series of calcs being made and an inspection plus possible changes to springs / structure. The rerated figures are then registered with VOSA and a new plate issued.

You could call SVTech and request clarification of the towing weight as they'll keep the details on file.

The reason the GVW is often pegged at 3500kg is so that drivers over 70yrs of age can drive them on a car licence without needing a special medical or eye test.

My dad enquired about uprating his LMC Geist from 3500kg up to 3700kg (still less than the sum of the axle weights?) so he could carry his motorbike and SVTech quoted ~£600 I think. They had all the data on file for the Fiat chassis cab and the AlKo rear chassis so the required calcs and paperwork weren't hard and they could do it over the phone. I used SVTech to derate my old VW T4 camper below 2500kgGVW so that it became LEZ compliant... and then I sold it to a bloke in Cumbria...

Edited by Bobley on Monday 9th March 12:56

[R0G]

At 3850 GVW = LGV C1 licence needed

Can be down plated to 3500 GVW with 5500 GTW allowing for a 2000 towing limit