Heavy 18 footer?!

[Sunny]

Hi there,

Returned home from a recent trip and decided I'd run the van whilst still loaded across a nearby public weigh bridge...

Before I weighed it I emptied both my water tanks, but left everything else in the van. I was shocked when I disconnected my vehicle to see 2540kg still sitting on the scales!!!

I knew I was close to my towing limit with Prado but not that close!

Some consideration was given to the added drawbar box and custom steel roll-out drawers in the front hatch but other than those two items I didn't expect with our family luggage, kids bikes, food, chairs, table, tools, annexe vinyls and poles, battery, (half full) toilet cartridge tank and (half full) twin gas bottles to be that close to my ATM.
Guess I won't be travelling with water in the tanks

Anyway, the positive I took out of my excursion is I now have reference for future packing and travelling.

Curious if any other 18footer owners have done a weigh- in??

 

[Soaring]

Hi @Sunny what is the actual ATM of your van stated on the compliance plate?

 

[Sunny]

Hi Soaring, ATM is stated at 2565kg from memory.

 

[Soaring]

Hmm. I've got say you are playing with fire there @Sunny .
Your ATM is higher than your vehicle tow rating, and it sounds like you are running at your ATM with just your normal load with no water.
From an insurance point if view, if the worst was to happen, they have grounds to refuse your claim. Both tug and van....
I think the Prado is a great tug, and certainly well within its capabilities at the load you have, but unfortunately that matters little to an insurance auditor.

 

[gspy4u]

That's why we ended up gtting a 17.56-2 OB instead of an 18. To heavy for legally towing with the Prado.

 

[Sunny]

What a dilemna?!

I love the Prado and I preferred the 18 series...

 

[17triton]

My 17 is lighter and happy to swap!!!!!

 

[17triton]

Hmm. I've got say you are playing with fire there @Sunny .
Your ATM is higher than your vehicle tow rating, and it sounds like you are running at your ATM with just your normal load with no water.
From an insurance point if view, if the worst was to happen, they have grounds to refuse your claim. Both tug and van....
I think the Prado is a great tug, and certainly well within its capabilities at the load you have, but unfortunately that matters little to an insurance auditor.

Well said Soaring! The insurance companies will always try to get out of paying.

 

[Sunny]

Had a thought today...

Will have to chat with Jayco if I were to get my TARE weight 65kg below what it is stamped on my compliance plate and have it re weighed/ confirmed, would they would issue an amended compliance plate showing reduced load ratings?

Could be a waste of time but I've got nothing to lose asking the question...

 

[17triton]

A fellow I work with got that done on his van so he could tow with his Cluger legally 2000kg, but thats in Victoria and your in NSW aren`t you? and we know what your authorities are like so good luck.

 

[Soaring]

Had a thought today...

Will have to chat with Jayco if I were to get my TARE weight 65kg below what it is stamped on my compliance plate and have it re weighed/ confirmed, would they would issue an amended compliance plate showing reduced load ratings?

Could be a waste of time but I've got nothing to lose asking the question...

Good idea, but you will also have to cut down what you carry. Perhaps move some things to the tug.
Try @Xpandafan s trick of putting a stick on dot on everything in your van. Remove the dot when you actually use the item. After a few trips check to see what still has a dot on it. You probably don't need it.

 

[Sunny]

What a can of worms this has become...

Firstly I would like to acknowledge the service fella at Jayco (service department in their head office) his genuine interest and sympathy for my issue was very appreciated.
Unfortunately it seems my request to reduce my Tare and subsequent weights is unlikely to be supported by them though. Apparently most people seek to raise their carrying capacity not reduce it!

At this stage I know what 2500kg 'worth of weight' is and will continue to pack and travel with this in mind. Thanks for the packing tip too soaring!
I realise insurance wise I am playing with fire but until I upgrade my vehicle or replace the van I have little options.

The other point which was raised by an independent engineer is the 'Industry Standards' applied to caravan mass and carrying capacity is a massive grey area which seems to be manipulated by some caravan builders to portray more attractive packages...
My argument with this is, if they want to crack down on us as users of caravanners then they need to first regulate what is an acceptable system for calculating and compliancing the caravans.

Anyway, can't see things changing in the near future but it has been an interesting process all the same.

Time will tell which I'll replace first.... Van or car??

 

[17triton]

Stupid Prado weight limits! Everyone knows they can handle more than 2.5t ! Such a shame , I'd get rid of the Prado and get a jeep or the like with the 3.5 - 3.0 t rating just my 2c.

 

[Sunny]

It's a Toyota thing alright! I struggled to justify the $'s for the Prado let alone a 200 Cruiser!!

Need the seating of the prado, had bad experiences with the ML Triton and carbon so that ruled out Pajeros... Heard mixed reviews with Nissans and Land Rovers?

If Jeep did a 7 seater they'd get my attention for sure!!
Great lookin rigs

 

[Pace]

Ok, I'll jump in, get a Pathfinder.

 

[Sunny]

Thinking there's a 18-57-6 OB Regretful sale coming soon...

 

[Soaring]

Thinking there's a 18-57-6 OB Regretful sale coming soon...

At least on the bright side they do have fantastic resale/trade.
A 17.56-2ob will come in under your limit! Mine is 2450 ATM.

 

[Dove]

Even my Ford Territory diesel can pull 2700kg. You can get those with a third row seat too. Also built by Aussies.

 

[prado]

Thinking there's a 18-57-6 OB Regretful sale coming soon...

Thats why I didnt get the ob model. I brought a touring 18.57-6 and had it factory underslung. Not much difference between the ob and mine excepting the checker plate. Atm 2470 with batterys installed at factory. I have 2 prados so had to compromise.

 

[Sunny]

Just phoned a fella selling same model and year as mine but with the larger 180lt fridge, full size oven and ibis air. All fitted at factory... His TARE weight was nearly 100kg higher than mine yet his ATM weight is 2512kg?! Go figure??

Also, Jayco Newcastle advised today that they could get the compliance plate set 2500kg for ATM if I were to order a new 18-57-6 OB van from factory. Proving they will bend the rules when it suits...

According to a source from the police, highway patrols will only check that the TARE weight of van/trailers is within the tow vehicles limits. They are not interested in ATM, however if obvious overloading is suspected they can instruct and escort you to a nearby weigh bridge for confirmation.

Think I'll raise this issue with my insurance company and see where they stand on this?!
If assurance can't be given I think it's the underslung touring model which will be the replacement.