New motor home collection tips

Thank you all for your advice in particular Boleroboy for taking the time to provide such a detailed list of what to add to the payload weight - I'm beginning to think we might have to be more careful when packing than we first thougt. Out of interest has anyone ever been pulled over and had their weight checked? Some really interesting things to remember on pick up day.  We are away for two nights the weekend after we pick it up so hope have a good trial then.  Will let you know how it goes! 

....the only other issue to be aware of is that 'where' you add your 'stuff' will affect axle weights....

it is extremely likely in a 7.5m van with largish overhang, that the rear axle will overload before the 3500kg is reached.

this is because for every kilo slung out beyond the rear axle (this applies to almost all kgs for those of us who have large rear lockers or garages) will add (say) 1.25kg due to the pendulum/leverage effect.....similarly, it will reduce the loading on the front axle, but by a smaller amount....

std 3500kg Ducato chassis supports 1850 front and 2000kg rear.....this shows that the van 'could' be uprated to 3850 but both axles would be at their maximum and the spread of load would have to be 'perfectly judged'.

simple paper upgrades to 3650kg can be carried out bit do still leave the rear axle a bit 'vulnerable'....

again....just a little more info to keep you aware of what can be a bit of a minefield.

your van is in the upper end of the 3.5t category and a little care is needed, but doable....

six berth 3500kg vans with an adult driver, passenger and a 'few' kids, plus commensurate volumes of 'stuff' have no chance.

I would suggest weighing it empty when you collect it....this will give you a base line.....then again at the end of your trip with 'folk and stuff and water and fuel and gas' on board.....

good luck....

 

I would suggest weighing it empty when you collect it....this will give you a base line.....then again at the end of your trip with 'folk and stuff and water and fuel and gas' on board.....

good luck....

Write your comments here...Surely you should weigh fully loaded before a trip to make sure you are the right side of the limit?

michael, yes thats true of course, as in my 2nd clause...

however, if you weigh it at the dealers empty, it may be so bad that it would influence the sale....

in my example above, an 'empty' van with the extras, passengers and fluids listed might theoretically have a near zero payload....if this were the case, would you complete the sale on a totally impractical van?

id have it weighed prior to signing, and if it were workable, Id weigh it again, loaded, either prior to my first trip (better) or on my return, if more convenient...

its the 2nd weighing process that will determine its legality as you say, but it may be a bit of closing the door after the horse has bolted, as its the 1st weighing process that will confirm to the customer at the point of sale that the van he is buying is fit for his purpose.

If you can take someone with you to video the handover it might be useful for the bits you don't remember.  My friend used my tablet to video the more complex bits and I was able to review them later.

Thanks again - certainly some food for thought in all the responses.  I'm about to post again on an unbelievable conversation I had with an insurance company today.  Just need to work out which heading to put it under first!  

When we bought out current van, the only significant difference to our previous one was the Comfort-matic gearbox. Dealer explained it all to us and it seemed logical. The dealer insisted on showing us other things and then we went in to pay and do the paperwork. By the time we'd escaped, I'd forgotten how the Comfort-matic worked and had to go back inside the dealer to tell me!

There have been some very good comments.

I think it is vital that you are shown everything at the handover and that everything is working and in order, with nothing misssing or untoward before you pay the final settlement.

It is natural to be excited when going to collect a new van and to be greatly disappointed if anything is not as it should be. Hopefully everything will be OK but if it isn't don't be afraid to say that you will return another day to collect it and pay. We live 6 miles away from where we bought our vans. With the second one it wasn't completely prepared when we went to collect it (even though the dealer had asked for another couple of days owing to having a number of handovers to do). We should have left and returned when it was ready as they rushed the process and we had to return at least once a month for 4 months because of problems. Most of these should have been identified and dealt with at the factory  or by the dealer prior to our being told that the van was ready.

On handover Its a very different thing, being shown how things work and using them to find out if they do work. I have refused to sign the hand over form when I've picked mine up. We always book a site close by and spent one or two nights in it trying everything out before returning to sign the document sheet. In fact one or two dealer will allow you to stay at the dealership and the one at Lincoln has their own site. We have found several things wrong and on one occasions found things that did not work at all. Although some dealers are a bit reluctant to do this I have found they wanted my money so agreed to this arrangement. In fact wth my last one this arrangement was agreed before I signed the purchase agreement and noted in the documents.