Motorhome Weights

Drought Breaker 2 · Member

Motorhome Weights

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Drought Breaker 2, enjoy here and out in the playground.

You will find the Tare is done before they fit the extra goodies you wanted. Wrong IMO but there ya go. I have had problems with my aluminium teepee but now all good.

Don't be tempted to drive around over the max allowed as things are a chang'n out here in the playground and reports of people getting booked are starting to be more regular. Some say no, not true but I for one won't risk it. I have been checked on the side of the road but all was good.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

iana · Guru

The other day I was looking over new motor homes on behalf of and with a friend, some of the motor homes had two gvm weights, and were depending on what licence you held, either just a car or a ridged axle. So you may find by getting a medium truck licence you can get the weights increased.

Tony Bev · Guru

Welcome to the forum, Drought Breaker 2

If the motorhome is brand new, then I would be contacting the manufacturer/dealer for an explanation

Are you saying that with an extra battery, (30 to 40 Kg, depending on size and type), plus a roo bar (55 to 90 Kg depending on type and size), you are now 4,480 Kg on the weigh scales

Some members have mentioned in the past, that the future may see the police weighing RV's on the road

I would be having the manufacturer/dealer, sort this headache out, before going on the road

Be aware that if the gvm is increased to above 4,500 Kg, then you will require a truck licence, which is a bit inconvienient as not many wives have a truck licence

If my numbers are wrong, then I hope someone will correct them

Drought Breaker 2 · Member

Thanks for your replies, will get in touch with manufacturer and hope for the best, thanks again

Bas + Eve · Senior Member

Its common practise for manufacturers to sell units they are fully aware will be overweight once you add a few extras. It is an unregulated industry. We upgrade our MHâs to 5000kg GVM. It involves an upgrade to a LR or MR license and an annual safety inspection. Worth the trouble to know you are âlegalâ.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Ohh the joys of our toys !

Drought Breaker 2 · Member

Hi Bas and Eve, when you say upgrade to 5000 all was needed was bigger liscence, what else is involved, did you need engineer certificate or do you just go to RTA, this is all new to us, and yes these people know damn well you are going to be over loaded the minute you load up and drive away, thanks again

PeterInSa · Guru

DB2 for Piece of mind I would go the Upgrade Vehicle and Licence. I think the licence upgrade requires more health checks in SA as you get older and I think in NSW vehicles over 4.5T can/must pull into weigh stations to be checked. I would follow up the relevant departments in your state.

Agree discuss with the dealer/manufacturer your problem, I hope for the best for your sake. But it may come down to removing the second battery, and Bull Bar, only filling 1 gas bottle with Diesel and water tanks half full and buying a weigh scale to ensure you are legal as per a MH owner I met in Tassie some years ago. (He decided against leaving his partner at home, he had a bottle of Red that we shared)

Peter

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I strongly suggest that you contact Colin Young of the Caravan Council of Australia ASAP.

Cheers,
Peter

Drought Breaker 2 · Member

Again thanks for your replies and have taken all onboard and will get in touch with relevant people to discuss our concerns, hopefully we will be able to solve the problem

markf · Senior Member

PeterInSa wrote:
DB2 for Piece of mind I would go the Upgrade Vehicle and Licence. I think the licence upgrade requires more health checks in SA as you get older and I think in NSW vehicles over 4.5T can/must pull into weigh stations to be checked. I would follow up the relevant departments in your state.

Agree discuss with the dealer/manufacturer your problem, I hope for the best for your sake. But it may come down to removing the second battery, and Bull Bar, only filling 1 gas bottle with Diesel and water tanks half full and buying a weigh scale to ensure you are legal as per a MH owner I met in Tassie some years ago. (He decided against leaving his partner at home, he had a bottle of Red that we shared)

Peter

Last year in NSW we were told that anything over 4.5t GCM is to pull into an open weigh bridge. Apparently you can booked for not pulling in but mostly they'll just wave you through without weighing your rig.

This whole weight thing is somewhat vexatious - manufactures rubbery numbers, dealer issued even more rubbery figures, differing requirements between states, etc. I figure that the only safe way is to have an HR (or higher) licence, keep a log book, make sure all your weights are less than axle loading and compliance plate limits and pull in to all weigh stations. If they don't want to know you you can have a loo break and a cuppa anyway...

-- Edited by markf on Wednesday 11th of April 2018 02:28:04 PM

PeterInSa · Guru

DB2, sent you a PM

Peter

Drought Breaker 2 · Member

As I am new to this, but where do I find my pm, or is that a term of sorts???

PeterD · Guru

PM = Private Message - look up under the "Logged in as" at the top RH corner of the page. There should be an indicator there that you have received a message.

montie · Guru

Drought Breaker 2 wrote:
Hi to all fellow nomads, tricky question to you good people. We bought new motorhome and are having issues with tare and gvm weights, we seem to be overweight as you all have been at some point, what we just don't understand is, the weight had said tare weight 3860, gvm 4495, that part we get, but having added the extras like bull bar, extra battery etc etc, should they not have taken it when registered be weighed again to give us a different tare and gvm??At the moment we have rearranged, culled, you name it we have done it, without food, and fridge filled we have just 15kilo le way, to us something, with weight figures they give you, well it just doesn't seem quite right, it makes us a bit uneasy in case we have an accident we certainly won't be covered as we would be overweight, any thoughts would be most appreciated, thanks to all in advance

Drought Breaker,

Who actually fitted the extras, the dealer or the manufacturer?

You started with a payload of 635kg and now you only have 15kg to spare so by my figures you have used up 620kg of payload. A bull bar and extra battery etc., might account for 75kg so where did the rest go?

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

montie wrote:

You started with a payload of 635kg ............. snip........

Maybe they did and maybe they did not. This is one of the first questions that needs answering.

Cheers,

Peter

Drought Breaker 2 · Member

Going back to weights, yes you are given 600??payload, now 100lt fuel, 100ltr water, 2 people at around 180kg, so there is nearly 400 gone, then you add bull bar, extra battery and solar panel, washing machine, take gennie if you need it that alone is 20k, you are not left with much to play with, and have been in contact with manufacturer, caravan council, the point is salesman don't bother to point out how much you are using of the payload, that is the issue we have, we are trying to get upgrade of tare/gvm but waiting for an answer. The crucks of it is they need to change their ideas on weights, they have no idea, in reality you have about 250 payload, so everyone should be aware of what they actually have in their caravans/motorhomes, thanks again for your thoughts on this topic

Drought Breaker 2 · Member

Can I just say we were pretty naive about what the compliance plate said, we actually were astounded when were told about it, so now we are very, very wary, I cannot find where the PM's are so please don't send any, as I said relatively new to the sites, but come Monday will ring cmca and find out where it is. This whole issues are with weights and trying to get help out amongst fellow nomads that may have been in the same situation as us. Thanks again for all replies and solutions

montie · Guru

Drought Breaker 2 wrote:
Can I just say we were pretty naive about what the compliance plate said, we actually were astounded when were told about it, so now we are very, very wary, I cannot find where the PM's are so please don't send any, as I said relatively new to the sites, but come Monday will ring cmca and find out where it is. This whole issues are with weights and trying to get help out amongst fellow nomads that may have been in the same situation as us. Thanks again for all replies and solutions

Drought Breaker,

I understand your position that after everything is loaded up inc water, fuel,driver and passenger and optional extras you have approx 220kg left for belongings.

The problem is there are limits that any motorhome manufacturer can provide in payload and still remain within the 4495kg GVM and car licence. There has to be some compromise sometimes. If you need to carry more than 220kg in belongings and still have the optional extras then perhaps you should look at a GVM upgrade.

I know that Iveco will grant a free GVM upgrade to 5200kg on request but not sure if it's available after the vehicle is registered without certification. A GVM upgrade, if available, will require a LR licence to drive.