Weight on Rear Axle

I have only just joined the motorhome community after retiring in June havining devoured every posting on weights I was concerned about my new motorhome.
It’s a 2016 Bessacarr 424 plated originally at 3500kg the van is 5.99 m long.
Axle limits are 2000kg rear and 1850kg front.
Since manufacture it gained a 150 watt solar panel and an extra leisure battery.
I have added a Fiamma bike rack for 2 x E bikes, also a drive away awning with associated extras pegs,carpet etc, just fitted a 2 x 6kg Gasit system with external fill point. Also included 100 litre fresh water and full tank of fuel.
The weighbridge is a commercial one at my local council refuse site, the results were total weight 3200kg
Front axle 1640kg
Rear axle 1540kg
A discrepancy of 20kg which is acceptable bearing in mind it’s a single weighing mechanism I had to position the front and rear separately.
The only thing missing was the wife, 2 dogs, food, clothing, bedding and a full camping Gaz 907 for the bbq.
I will probably check it again fully loaded when we set off to Spain in February.
Any thoughts on the results and have I missed anything lol. 

I took the view that It needed uprating the weights at a cost of £180 taking it from 3500kg to 3850kg to allow plenty of room for our trip to Spain in February It took 6/weeks to get the V5 back from Dvla but got a nice reduction in taxation from £255 to £165 per year

I think you should certainly weigh it again fully loaded in roadgoing trim because those are the weights that matter.

As you've only just retired you've probably got a few years yet before you need to consider the implications of your driving entitlement at 70 on being over 3500kg.

Happy travelling.

I fully considered the C1 implications as I’m 57 I have time before I need to consider applying, to take it back to 3500kg is a simple process. This will become more evident later as less people will have the C1 entitlement and need the max to be 3500kg

The payloads of Motorhomes are usually worked out on the back of a fag packet by the Manufacturers and bear no resemblance to real life

Weighing the vehicle, or talking to someone who owns the same model, is the only real way to find the payload.

Getting it in 'holiday' mode and then weighing will either confirm you are legal or not.

Ours supposedly had 650 kilos payload when we bought it but if we travelled with the five people, and their luggage, it was seat belted for we would be well over the limit.

Be very careful accepting what a Salesperson tells you.

I might be wrong but I think even if you up plate it to 3850kg the rear axle still has a 2000kg weight limit on it.

When we had a MH we had a very generous weight limit and never came near it, but we were never far off the rear axle limit with 2 x ebikes  on the rear and a PWS towbar. We always loaded the heavy items in the van between the axles. Only travelled with no more than 40 - 50 litres and less if we were staying on sites.

Funnily enough when I put my Boxer based MH on a weighbridge in its empty state, it was the front axle that was heaviest at 1480 and rear 1220. The fuel tank is towards the front with water and waste tanks more or less midships so by the time I add a passenger, it will be the front axle that gets close to the limit first.

your van is well balanced, you have 300kg spare in total but way more than this across the axles (210kg front, 460kg rear).

the approx weight of the missing items (depending on weight of wife and dogs) shouldn't be more than 200kg (probably a little less) so within the overall 3500 limit and all could be accommodated on either axle but will likely be spread fairly evenly...

your only slight concern is going over the 3500 limit (axles fine) so perhaps get absolutely everything on board and test again.

happy travelling.

When I weighed our Autosleepers before our first trip I put everything I could think of inside plus full 100 litres water, some waste, full fuel tank and my wife and I. Fortunately a few tens of kg to spare but had it been a bit over I would have drained off some water before returning.

Our nearest weigh bridge is at the public tip and they make no charge for writing the weights down on a scrap of paper. A modest charge if you want the official print-out.

You are quite right the axle weights remain the same it’s the overall weight that has increased so it’s important to keep the axle weights below the maximum of 2000kg and 1850kg.

thanks Gary