Sorry everyone I am probably becoming a bit of a pain by asking some pretty basic questions but we are soon to become first time caravan owners. Can anyone give me a rough estimate on how many KGs they think that I should be allowing as a load for the van. The Tare weight quoted by the manufacturer is 2225kg, the van is fitted with 2 x 95ltr fresh water tanks and 2 x 9kg gas bottles. Other things that we are planning on carrying will be our Webber baby Q, privacy screens and a floor for the annexe. I was thinking about 400kg to 500kg should cover it am I being realistic ?
Tony Bev said
12:46 PM Sep 2, 2016
Hello The Belmont Bear
Do not worry about what you believe to be basic questions, because the information may benefit others
The Tare weight is supposed to be the weight of the caravan, at the time of manufacture, but empty of water, gas, etc The ATM of the caravan is the total weight it can weigh, with everything in it The ATM is on the compliance plate
In theory the KG of the ATM minus the KG of the Tare weight the caravan manufacturer has given you, will be the maximum KG's allowed for personal items, plus water, and gas, etc But there must be manufactures, and manufactures
Maybe I wasn't very clear with the question that I was asking, I think that have a grasp on the difference between the Tare weight, the ATM and therefore the maximum allowable load. If I am correct the van's tare is 2225kg the ATM on the plate is 3200kg therefore theoretically the maximum load would be 975kg. The question I was asking, hoping to gain from the experience of others in what they are carrying around with them is - am I being realistic in estimating a 400kg to 500kg payload taking into account the things that I mentioned. The reason I ask this is that I need to keep the load to around 2700/2800kg to stay within the the tug manufacture's guidelines on the GCM (if I had the tow vehicle loaded to its 665kg maximum payload).
macka17 said
03:29 PM Sep 2, 2016
Hey.
With a Pajero "sport".
Basically a Pajero cab on a challenger chassis.
The most weight you want to be putting behind that. with safety.
is around 2.2 to 2.5ton MAX.
The only three you should have with 3 ton and over.
are the Troopy. Patrol (manual) and 200 ser Tojo.
All the middleweight ones are around the 2.5 ton.
People in this country tend to tow waaay over their vehicle safe limits.
Because the Manufacturers say they will.
For one reason only.
to sell the things.
NEVER tow anything that weights more than you.
preferably keep the tow a minimum of 3 to 400kg's less than the tug for safety's sake.
My prev tug was 400kg plus heavier than van ALL the time.
This rig.
Van 1.8ton. Ute 2.7-8 ton.
Just nice.
I KNOW I'm travelling with safety.As far as balance concerned.
Can't account for the idiots or a puncture.
I've driven 600 ton mobile crane and Multi's (road trains)
These little toy things we wheel around.
Because of lack of knowledge with a lot of drivers. and
inexperience.
ARE COMPLETELY the most dangerous rigs on our roads.
BAR NONE.
Until more advising/training is done.
It'll never change.
Too many old farts ( I'm one) getting out and about.
with their only experience being, basically.
a Falcon/Valiant and 6x4.
IT Has to change one day.
There are too many unnecessary/stupid/lack of experience, accidents happening nowadays.
We're starting to get noticed.
Buy a rig to suit each other weight/size wise.
GET a towing course under your belt.
ANd you can then. maybe advise others after a while.
And travel safely with such for rest of your lives.
Possum3 said
03:31 PM Sep 2, 2016
Don't forget to deduct the van's ball weight from your tug's payload.
Yuglamron said
05:24 PM Sep 2, 2016
Check this site out. Interesting read.
I agree with Macka 17
Just because the manufacturer says your tug will tow whatever. They are trying to sell you something and they have been lying for years and getting away with it.
Sorry everyone I am probably becoming a bit of a pain by asking some pretty basic questions but we are soon to become first time caravan owners. Can anyone give me a rough estimate on how many KGs they think that I should be allowing as a load for the van. The Tare weight quoted by the manufacturer is 2225kg, the van is fitted with 2 x 95ltr fresh water tanks and 2 x 9kg gas bottles. Other things that we are planning on carrying will be our Webber baby Q, privacy screens and a floor for the annexe. I was thinking about 400kg to 500kg should cover it am I being realistic ?
Dave, The type of travel and Your psyche will have some bearing on the amount of stuff You "need". I regularly go walkabout for 2-3 months & 500kg would be more than enough, Just back from 5 weeks away 300 kg would of probably pulled it up. Some Guys take their workshop & half the spare parts dept. & the Cook takes the sewing machine etc. Lot,s of kitchen gear can add a fair bit. Obviously full time live in owners have a different requirement. One rule of thumb is if it,s not used on two trips chuck it.
Mike.
Hewy54 said
05:44 PM Sep 2, 2016
Thanks for that link.
ALL PEOPLE WHO TOW SHOULD HAVE A LOOK AT THIS ARTICLE!!!!!!
Mutley said
07:56 PM Sep 2, 2016
macka17 wrote:
Hey. With a Pajero "sport". Basically a Pajero cab on a challenger chassis.
Actually, its an updated version of a Challenger cab on a Triton chassis.
Weedpharma said
08:01 PM Sep 2, 2016
Yuglamron wrote:
Check this site out. Interesting read.
I agree with Macka 17
Just because the manufacturer says your tug will tow whatever. They are trying to sell you something and they have been lying for years and getting away with it.
With many vans known to be overloaded with respect to towing capacity of the vehicle, it is even worse with respect to towing vehicle mass.
weedpharma
macka17 said
06:09 AM Sep 3, 2016
Regarding loading and weight INSIDE vans.
After 50 plus yrs you tend to get it down to a fine(ish) art.
I've been from a 28ft static (truck transported) to a 22ft. which really did have the kitchen sink and everything else. to a 12 ft 6in rear door which you could virtually tow with your push bike. (Wellll. ALmost)
The last 4 vans have never been loaded more than about 1\3rd to half of capacity for 3 plus month trips with tinny. the lot. Apart from water weight. never more than 250 kg's max. and that incl foodstuffs.
Liveaboard different kettle of ----.
Young, starting out. you have zilch. Easy. At other end of life. you have accumulation of 50 yrs of crap. then some.
You really NEED Family\Mates storage, or a container somewhere. Otherwise you overweight b4 you step out of front door.
Short term/seasonal different.
Kitchen gear. Bedding. clothes to suit areas you going. TV etc. Tools in car. Fishing gear. Push bikes?. Whatever you and missus do to occupy mind/hands. EVERYTHING else. Basically is overweight items.
OH. Most importantly. 2 VERY COMFORTABLE chairs.. We find the "upright "steel frame/Canvas back, the most comfortable for long term sitting. And being able to stand up again afterwards.
2 single beds. with ply sheets to make double when somebody frisky. Gives access to full length of van, not just half of it.
How many ACTUAL hrs do you spend IN that space wasting double/queen bed taking up half,and more of the van?. and get rid of that fixed table. THAT really opens up interior of van.
Small mobile folder inside, for playing cards, eating. Normal folding table outside for everything else/visitors THEY can bring their own chairs etc.
Everybody carry's a min of 3 times more than they need. Trouble being it takes some, ten yrs and more to realise it. Some never.
We have van permanently fitted with living gear that never comes out. Stainless cutlery. Correlle crockery and GLASS glasses. Kitchen. bedding, amusement etc.
Load food, clothing, fill tanks and fuel Fishing gear in car. tinnie on top and away.
What most need to do is mark EVERYTHING they don't use. After EVERY trip for first coupla yrs. And ALWAYS remove.
Not the "well. Maybe next trip I might", syndrome.
You'll find that. Apart from the Household lady who CAN'T do without everything. and shouldn't really be travelling anyway.
There's a thing called "divorce" for them chuckle??. (Did I say that)
You DON'T really need all that much.
I virtually "divorced" my first one when I bought a house and they stopped travelling with me. Long weekend at home every 6 weeks work in those days, after that. 7 days a week Take no holidays for first 10 yrs or so.
Great life but not for a marriage. Mine lasted 3 weeks short of 30 yrs in numbers. Probably 5 or 6 physically.
If people WANT to get/keep their weights comfortable and LEGAL. they have to be cutthroat for first few yrs. After that it natural after you realise how little you really DO need. When working from a home base... Then.
FLASH. BINGO.... What the hell am I doing dragging this huge. heavy clumsy. cumbersome box trailer everywhere for. There is NO need then for such huge vans.
Bin ther'. Dun that. But never the size the MFG's are conning people into buying nowadays. 6.5m MAX.
But . there again. I'm only an old 75yr old. What do I know hey.
have a gud one. From the bloke that don't sleep much or often.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 3rd of September 2016 06:18:25 AM
macka17 said
06:22 AM Sep 3, 2016
WOW.
That IS a bloody long one hey. OOOps.
The Belmont Bear said
08:16 AM Sep 3, 2016
Thanks explorer and Macka17, in response to both of your very informative replies. I read the linked article on towing capacities and have become even more confused about who is right when advising on vehicle towing capability -
1) Mitsubishi says that the Sport should be capable of towing 3.1T,
2) "The National Caravan & Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide" quotes the 1998 national regulation "If the manufacture has not stipulated a recommended tow mass the vehicle may tow one and a half times its unladen mass if the trailer has brakes". In the Sports case this would equate to 3067.5KGs.
3) The 1 for 1 rule would suggest that I should not exceed 2710kgs.
4) The link you sent quotes an Australian 85% guideline which would mean with a 2700KG loaded tug the ATM of the trailer should be no more than 2300kg.
5) The weight of experience on this site tells me that my vehicle having a similar capability to the MUX should not exceed the 2.5T.
Macka17 the advice you gave me on payload also suggests 250kgs should be what I aim for as a maximum. To sum up if I stick to this 250kg , try where possible to fill my fresh water tanks closer to the destination then my ATM when travelling should be 2225 + 250 = 2475kg approx.
By the way I happen to be one of those inexperienced old farts with no previous experience towing a van although I have driven all sorts of vehicles including 4x4s,light trucks and towed boats /trailers in remote Australia and in countries scattered across 4 other continents including 3rd world Africa (sometimes in conditions that would give you nightmares). I intend to do the government accredited training course on towing and believe me I will be taking it very easy until I can gain some of that valuable experience that you guys must have once had to learn. I have also had the pleasure of driving on the autobahn in Germany and the autoroutes of France. It's no wonder that they err on the safe side - the speeds that they are travelling especially in extreme weather conditions means that any mishap could be catastrophic and even result in a chain reaction involving lots of other vehicles.
For you non Mitsubishi owners & experts I have nothing against either the Challenger or larger Pajero but the Sport actually has a different motor, 8 speed transmission, rear suspension set up, extra safety/passenger features and body so I guess you are right other than that its probably exactly the same as both of them..
macka17 said
10:48 AM Sep 3, 2016
Hey.
Forget 1/2/3.
go straight to 4 and you'll be right. 2.3/2.5 MAX.
BUT. only if you have load in rear.
That weight WILL control your empty back end if something happens.
You NEED the weight to control. Mainly over rear wheels as well as spread over the vehicle.
Run with empty water tanks and fill when arriving.
I fitted a small Stainless tank under a side seat just for drinking and travelling.
hand pump on side of sink.
Mate.
I learned to Drive in Germany in late '50's
when the Autobahns were still bare concrete ripples.
Avon tyres on there.
You could GUARANTEE. Never to go to sleep.
and never go into outside lane under around 200/230km MIN.
You'll get wiped..
Worked in Sth Africa for a few yrs b4 coming here.
Girl fr, in Tanzania. and Son ran Safari's in Gambia a few yrs ago (15 or so)
So did a few miles in their scrub too
Just watch your loading. and learn to reverse with hand on BOTTOM of steering wheel.
rear of van goes the direction you steer then..
Have fun.
The Belmont Bear said
04:14 PM Sep 3, 2016
Thanks Macka,
Great advice I will try to keep the load to a max. of 2.5T by being a bit more sensible about what we take with us. I will also transfer some of the things I was planning to carry in the van to the tug in order to get it's weight up to nearer to its 2.7T GVM. I also worked in South Africa 95/96 and Mozambique in 2003/4 did a fair bit of driving both on and off road but not with anything behind me. I know what your saying about the autobahn and autoroutes I would normally cruise at around 140ks in one of the middle lanes and get passed like I was standing still. You see the big engined sports cars coming up behind in your rearview mirror and you can tell by the way that they sitting flat on the road they are really motoring. You are taking your life in your hands driving in the fast lane because you haven't got a real lot of time to get out of their way if you happen to see them late.
Friar Park said
05:33 PM Sep 3, 2016
Whilst i almost always agree with most of Mackas suggestions and advice, I can't agree with his assertion that only Japanese vehicles are a suitable choice. Maybe he needs a little more European/British vehicle experience.
Ftriar
macka17 said
12:02 AM Sep 4, 2016
Ftiar.
I said the only Safe vehicles on Aust Market for that size. without going to truck and US Ute size. Are basically the large Toyota and Patrol Manual. Maybe a Range Rover but that one not at NORMAL persons wage levels.
But the rest I know of Euro, and Jap/Thai. are only around 2.5t. A lot of them less. Regardless of figures MFG's state on paper.
The physical veh weight comes into it. along with wheeelbase, Tyre size. chassis length and Gearing.
The Disco comes under that title too. What others pray???
The Safety clause for actual driving. is tow NOTHING that weighs more than your tugs physical weight and hopefully around 400kg less.
The Practicality has always been 80/85% of veh. gross, at the actual time of the tow.
What car licence drivable vehicle Euro, or UK cames into that please. Let us all know hey. with price ranges, availability. It would help all with more choices.
With the exception of the lack of reliability of most Euro veh's to date.
Merc about the only one I'd touch.
Even the Audi (my perenial favourite, I've had 2)
have bad electronics since VW took the helm..
-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 4th of September 2016 12:06:26 AM
PeterD said
08:13 AM Sep 4, 2016
The Belmont Bear wrote:
I was thinking about 400kg to 500kg should cover it am I being realistic ?
I think that a realistic load capacity for a van would be 450 kg plus the weight of the total capacity of the water tanks. Do your own figuring using that as the basis for dual axle vans. I have a single axle van and work on a loading of 400 kg plus the 80 kg of water I carry.
Chris61 said
07:55 PM Sep 4, 2016
The Belmont Bear wrote:
thanks Tony E,
Maybe I wasn't very clear with the question that I was asking, I think that have a grasp on the difference between the Tare weight, the ATM and therefore the maximum allowable load. If I am correct the van's tare is 2225kg the ATM on the plate is 3200kg therefore theoretically the maximum load would be 975kg. The question I was asking, hoping to gain from the experience of others in what they are carrying around with them is - am I being realistic in estimating a 400kg to 500kg payload taking into account the things that I mentioned. The reason I ask this is that I need to keep the load to around 2700/2800kg to stay within the the tug manufacture's guidelines on the GCM (if I had the tow vehicle loaded to its 665kg maximum payload).
Keep asking questions, get it right from the start and you should be fine.
Have a look at my weights blog page below, you may find something you haven't thought of
That page is the best & clearest explanation of the different loading terminologies that I have seen especially for a novice like me, the sketches leave no doubt as to how you can determine the different loadings. I will definitely continue asking questions because the information I get from people on this site has been invaluable. Here is another one for you I hope that it's clear -
The ATM that will be stamped on the caravan's compliance plate by the manufacturer will be 3200kg I know through the limitations of my vehicle i.e. 3.1T towing capacity and that if was fully loaded (including the ball weight) that I couldn't exceed 2750kg. Legally Do I have to have the plate changed to 2750kg or can I just ensure that I never exceed any of the allowable maximum weights ? My advice from the dealer is to leave it at the 3200kg because if I ever did upgrade to a larger vehicle or sell the van I would then have to get an engineering certificate to put it back. Doesn't worry me either way I just want to make sure that I am staying legal.
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 5th of September 2016 10:00:52 AM
Sorry everyone I am probably becoming a bit of a pain by asking some pretty basic questions but we are soon to become first time caravan owners. Can anyone give me a rough estimate on how many KGs they think that I should be allowing as a load for the van. The Tare weight quoted by the manufacturer is 2225kg, the van is fitted with 2 x 95ltr fresh water tanks and 2 x 9kg gas bottles. Other things that we are planning on carrying will be our Webber baby Q, privacy screens and a floor for the annexe. I was thinking about 400kg to 500kg should cover it am I being realistic ?
Hello The Belmont Bear
Do not worry about what you believe to be basic questions, because the information may benefit others
The Tare weight is supposed to be the weight of the caravan, at the time of manufacture, but empty of water, gas, etc
The ATM of the caravan is the total weight it can weigh, with everything in it
The ATM is on the compliance plate
In theory the KG of the ATM minus the KG of the Tare weight the caravan manufacturer has given you, will be the maximum KG's allowed for personal items, plus water, and gas, etc
But there must be manufactures, and manufactures
Check out these two sites on this forum
caravan tare weight misrepresented
INCREASE ATM OF VAN
There may be more of the same type of questions
Home this info is helpful
Maybe I wasn't very clear with the question that I was asking, I think that have a grasp on the difference between the Tare weight, the ATM and therefore the maximum allowable load. If I am correct the van's tare is 2225kg the ATM on the plate is 3200kg therefore theoretically the maximum load would be 975kg. The question I was asking, hoping to gain from the experience of others in what they are carrying around with them is - am I being realistic in estimating a 400kg to 500kg payload taking into account the things that I mentioned. The reason I ask this is that I need to keep the load to around 2700/2800kg to stay within the the tug manufacture's guidelines on the GCM (if I had the tow vehicle loaded to its 665kg maximum payload).
With a Pajero "sport".
Basically a Pajero cab on a challenger chassis.
The most weight you want to be putting behind that. with safety.
is around 2.2 to 2.5ton MAX.
The only three you should have with 3 ton and over.
are the Troopy. Patrol (manual) and 200 ser Tojo.
All the middleweight ones are around the 2.5 ton.
People in this country tend to tow waaay over their vehicle safe limits.
Because the Manufacturers say they will.
For one reason only.
to sell the things.
NEVER tow anything that weights more than you.
preferably keep the tow a minimum of 3 to 400kg's less than the tug for safety's sake.
My prev tug was 400kg plus heavier than van ALL the time.
This rig.
Van 1.8ton. Ute 2.7-8 ton.
Just nice.
I KNOW I'm travelling with safety.As far as balance concerned.
Can't account for the idiots or a puncture.
I've driven 600 ton mobile crane and Multi's (road trains)
These little toy things we wheel around.
Because of lack of knowledge with a lot of drivers. and
inexperience.
ARE COMPLETELY the most dangerous rigs on our roads.
BAR NONE.
Until more advising/training is done.
It'll never change.
Too many old farts ( I'm one) getting out and about.
with their only experience being, basically.
a Falcon/Valiant and 6x4.
IT Has to change one day.
There are too many unnecessary/stupid/lack of experience, accidents happening nowadays.
We're starting to get noticed.
Buy a rig to suit each other weight/size wise.
GET a towing course under your belt.
ANd you can then. maybe advise others after a while.
And travel safely with such for rest of your lives.
Check this site out. Interesting read.
I agree with Macka 17
Just because the manufacturer says your tug will tow whatever. They are trying to sell you something and they have been lying for years and getting away with it.
http://caravanbuyersguide.com.au/tow-vehicle-caravan-weight/
Dave, The type of travel and Your psyche will have some bearing on the amount of stuff You "need". I regularly go walkabout for 2-3 months & 500kg would be more than enough, Just back from 5 weeks away 300 kg would of probably pulled it up. Some Guys take their workshop & half the spare parts dept. & the Cook takes the sewing machine etc. Lot,s of kitchen gear can add a fair bit. Obviously full time live in owners have a different requirement. One rule of thumb is if it,s not used on two trips chuck it.
Mike.
ALL PEOPLE WHO TOW SHOULD HAVE A LOOK AT THIS ARTICLE!!!!!!
Thanks. Definite food for thought.
With many vans known to be overloaded with respect to towing capacity of the vehicle, it is even worse with respect to towing vehicle mass.
weedpharma
Regarding loading and weight INSIDE vans.
After 50 plus yrs you tend to get it down to a fine(ish) art.
I've been from a 28ft static (truck transported) to a 22ft.
which really did have the kitchen sink and everything else.
to a 12 ft 6in rear door which you could virtually tow with your push bike. (Wellll. ALmost)
The last 4 vans have never been loaded more than about 1\3rd to half of capacity for 3 plus month trips
with tinny. the lot. Apart from water weight.
never more than 250 kg's max.
and that incl foodstuffs.
Liveaboard different kettle of ----.
Young, starting out. you have zilch. Easy.
At other end of life. you have accumulation of 50 yrs of crap. then some.
You really NEED Family\Mates storage, or a container somewhere.
Otherwise you overweight b4 you step out of front door.
Short term/seasonal different.
Kitchen gear. Bedding. clothes to suit areas you going. TV etc.
Tools in car. Fishing gear. Push bikes?. Whatever you and missus do to occupy mind/hands.
EVERYTHING else. Basically is overweight items.
OH. Most importantly.
2 VERY COMFORTABLE chairs.. We find the "upright "steel frame/Canvas back,
the most comfortable for long term sitting.
And being able to stand up again afterwards.
2 single beds. with ply sheets to make double when somebody frisky.
Gives access to full length of van, not just half of it.
How many ACTUAL hrs do you spend IN that space wasting double/queen bed
taking up half,and more of the van?.
and get rid of that fixed table. THAT really opens up interior of van.
Small mobile folder inside, for playing cards, eating.
Normal folding table outside for everything else/visitors
THEY can bring their own chairs etc.
Everybody carry's a min of 3 times more than they need.
Trouble being it takes some, ten yrs and more to realise it.
Some never.
We have van permanently fitted with living gear that never comes out.
Stainless cutlery. Correlle crockery and GLASS glasses.
Kitchen. bedding, amusement etc.
Load food, clothing, fill tanks and fuel
Fishing gear in car. tinnie on top and away.
What most need to do is mark EVERYTHING they don't use. After EVERY trip for first coupla yrs.
And ALWAYS remove.
Not the "well. Maybe next trip I might", syndrome.
You'll find that.
Apart from the Household lady who CAN'T do without everything.
and shouldn't really be travelling anyway.
There's a thing called "divorce" for them chuckle??. (Did I say that)
You DON'T really need all that much.
I virtually "divorced" my first one when I bought a house and they stopped travelling with me.
Long weekend at home every 6 weeks work in those days, after that.
7 days a week Take no holidays for first 10 yrs or so.
Great life but not for a marriage. Mine lasted 3 weeks short of 30 yrs in numbers.
Probably 5 or 6 physically.
If people WANT to get/keep their weights comfortable and LEGAL.
they have to be cutthroat for first few yrs.
After that it natural after you realise how little you really DO need.
When working from a home base...
Then.
FLASH. BINGO....
What the hell am I doing dragging this huge. heavy clumsy.
cumbersome box trailer everywhere for.
There is NO need then for such huge vans.
Bin ther'. Dun that.
But never the size the MFG's are conning people into buying nowadays.
6.5m MAX.
But . there again.
I'm only an old 75yr old.
What do I know hey.
have a gud one.
From the bloke that don't sleep much or often.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 3rd of September 2016 06:18:25 AM
That IS a bloody long one hey. OOOps.
1) Mitsubishi says that the Sport should be capable of towing 3.1T,
2) "The National Caravan & Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide" quotes the 1998 national regulation "If the manufacture has not stipulated a recommended tow mass the vehicle may tow one and a half times its unladen mass if the trailer has brakes". In the Sports case this would equate to 3067.5KGs.
3) The 1 for 1 rule would suggest that I should not exceed 2710kgs.
4) The link you sent quotes an Australian 85% guideline which would mean with a 2700KG loaded tug the ATM of the trailer should be no more than 2300kg.
5) The weight of experience on this site tells me that my vehicle having a similar capability to the MUX should not exceed the 2.5T.
Macka17 the advice you gave me on payload also suggests 250kgs should be what I aim for as a maximum. To sum up if I stick to this 250kg , try where possible to fill my fresh water tanks closer to the destination then my ATM when travelling should be 2225 + 250 = 2475kg approx.
By the way I happen to be one of those inexperienced old farts with no previous experience towing a van although I have driven all sorts of vehicles including 4x4s,light trucks and towed boats /trailers in remote Australia and in countries scattered across 4 other continents including 3rd world Africa (sometimes in conditions that would give you nightmares). I intend to do the government accredited training course on towing and believe me I will be taking it very easy until I can gain some of that valuable experience that you guys must have once had to learn. I have also had the pleasure of driving on the autobahn in Germany and the autoroutes of France. It's no wonder that they err on the safe side - the speeds that they are travelling especially in extreme weather conditions means that any mishap could be catastrophic and even result in a chain reaction involving lots of other vehicles.
For you non Mitsubishi owners & experts I have nothing against either the Challenger or larger Pajero but the Sport actually has a different motor, 8 speed transmission, rear suspension set up, extra safety/passenger features and body so I guess you are right other than that its probably exactly the same as both of them..
Forget 1/2/3.
go straight to 4 and you'll be right. 2.3/2.5 MAX.
BUT. only if you have load in rear.
That weight WILL control your empty back end if something happens.
You NEED the weight to control. Mainly over rear wheels as well as spread over the vehicle.
Run with empty water tanks and fill when arriving.
I fitted a small Stainless tank under a side seat just for drinking and travelling.
hand pump on side of sink.
Mate.
I learned to Drive in Germany in late '50's
when the Autobahns were still bare concrete ripples.
Avon tyres on there.
You could GUARANTEE. Never to go to sleep.
and never go into outside lane under around 200/230km MIN.
You'll get wiped..
Worked in Sth Africa for a few yrs b4 coming here.
Girl fr, in Tanzania. and Son ran Safari's in Gambia a few yrs ago (15 or so)
So did a few miles in their scrub too
Just watch your loading. and learn to reverse with hand on BOTTOM of steering wheel.
rear of van goes the direction you steer then..
Have fun.
Great advice I will try to keep the load to a max. of 2.5T by being a bit more sensible about what we take with us. I will also transfer some of the things I was planning to carry in the van to the tug in order to get it's weight up to nearer to its 2.7T GVM. I also worked in South Africa 95/96 and Mozambique in 2003/4 did a fair bit of driving both on and off road but not with anything behind me. I know what your saying about the autobahn and autoroutes I would normally cruise at around 140ks in one of the middle lanes and get passed like I was standing still. You see the big engined sports cars coming up behind in your rearview mirror and you can tell by the way that they sitting flat on the road they are really motoring. You are taking your life in your hands driving in the fast lane because you haven't got a real lot of time to get out of their way if you happen to see them late.
Whilst i almost always agree with most of Mackas suggestions and advice, I can't agree with his assertion that only Japanese vehicles are a suitable choice. Maybe he needs a little more European/British vehicle experience.
Ftriar
Ftiar.
I said the only Safe vehicles on Aust Market for that size.
without going to truck and US Ute size.
Are basically the large Toyota and Patrol Manual.
Maybe a Range Rover but that one not at NORMAL persons wage levels.
But the rest I know of Euro, and Jap/Thai. are only around 2.5t.
A lot of them less.
Regardless of figures MFG's state on paper.
The physical veh weight comes into it.
along with wheeelbase, Tyre size. chassis length and Gearing.
The Disco comes under that title too. What others pray???
The Safety clause for actual driving.
is tow NOTHING that weighs more than your tugs physical weight
and hopefully around 400kg less.
The Practicality has always been 80/85% of veh. gross,
at the actual time of the tow.
What car licence drivable vehicle Euro, or UK cames into that please.
Let us all know hey. with price ranges, availability.
It would help all with more choices.
With the exception of the lack of reliability of most Euro veh's to date.
Merc about the only one I'd touch.
Even the Audi (my perenial favourite, I've had 2)
have bad electronics since VW took the helm..
-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 4th of September 2016 12:06:26 AM
I think that a realistic load capacity for a van would be 450 kg plus the weight of the total capacity of the water tanks. Do your own figuring using that as the basis for dual axle vans. I have a single axle van and work on a loading of 400 kg plus the 80 kg of water I carry.
Keep asking questions, get it right from the start and you should be fine.
Have a look at my weights blog page below, you may find something you haven't thought of
https://chrisanddiannesultimaadventure.wordpress.com/educational-links/weights-explained/
Thanks Chris,
That page is the best & clearest explanation of the different loading terminologies that I have seen especially for a novice like me, the sketches leave no doubt as to how you can determine the different loadings. I will definitely continue asking questions because the information I get from people on this site has been invaluable. Here is another one for you I hope that it's clear -
The ATM that will be stamped on the caravan's compliance plate by the manufacturer will be 3200kg I know through the limitations of my vehicle i.e. 3.1T towing capacity and that if was fully loaded (including the ball weight) that I couldn't exceed 2750kg. Legally Do I have to have the plate changed to 2750kg or can I just ensure that I never exceed any of the allowable maximum weights ? My advice from the dealer is to leave it at the 3200kg because if I ever did upgrade to a larger vehicle or sell the van I would then have to get an engineering certificate to put it back. Doesn't worry me either way I just want to make sure that I am staying legal.
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 5th of September 2016 10:00:52 AM