DALEK
Member Since: 28 Jul 2011
Location: Near Stockport
Posts: 633
  
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| Calculating towing weight used to be easy....HELP |
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I went to view the Eterniti Genesis IB4 at the weekend and whilst I am fairly sure I will buy one it is a long term plan. I have my holidays arranged for this year so would be looking at delivery spring 2015. This gives me lots of time to get everything worked out. I was pleased to see the brochure picture was a discovery. 
So my discovery is a D3 2.7 diesel, the numbers on that we all know, the plastic tent is as follows
MIRO (mass in running order)1959/38.56cwt MTPLM (maximum technical permissible laden mass)2200Kg/48.54cwt Maximum User Payload241Kg/4.74cwt
If I am being thick please excuse me......
So how much can I put in it? is it 241kg, but I thought a Discovery could tow 3500 kg so is it that minus 2200kg leaving 1300kg.
I want Aircon 35kg, slide out canopy and awning 39kg, does the weight take account of water, gas etc etc.
It would seem on the face of it that even if you have the most capable and ideal vehicle for towing am I limited to around 100kg of stuff?
I have read that VOSA are all over this.
If my payload is low can I load up the car, top boxes, full load space etc...
I know you guys are really knowledgeable and I will get an unbiased answer so I am asking you and not the caravan provider. D3 HSE ........................Gone!!!
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 4th Mar 2014 8:30 am |
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Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
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My understanding is that extras like zircon, movers etc come off your payload allowance (241Kg) unless the manufacturer replaces it. It isn't the D3 that is limiting the load it is the chassis of the van. DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
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| 4th Mar 2014 8:44 am |
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L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2083
 
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I am not into caravans much but I understand one can get some caravans uprated ( At a cost ) by the maker to carry a higher load.( New VIN Plate). Caravan Manufacturers normally keep the loading as low as possible so that the maximum number of cars can tow them. It is the caravan not your car that is limiting the loading. One can load the car to its maximum axle loading remembering to include the hitch load of the caravan. Just a thought, make sure you have a driving licence to tow this combination.
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| 4th Mar 2014 8:55 am |
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DALEK
Member Since: 28 Jul 2011
Location: Near Stockport
Posts: 633
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Thanks guys that's really helpful, I will now email the manufacturer and see what can be done. I will advise D3 HSE ........................Gone!!!
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| 4th Mar 2014 9:20 am |
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Brian_DL13
Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: Teesdale
Posts: 1418
 
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L319 wrote:I am not into caravans much but I understand one can get some caravans uprated ( At a cost ) by the maker to carry a higher load.( New VIN Plate). Caravan Manufacturers normally keep the loading as low as possible so that the maximum number of cars can tow them. It is the caravan not your car that is limiting the loading. One can load the car to its maximum axle loading remembering to include the hitch load of the caravan. Just a thought, make sure you have a driving licence to tow this combination.
'Uprating' basically consists of issuing a new set of documentation - at a cost. NOTHING physical is done to the 'van.
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| 4th Mar 2014 6:04 pm |
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Landie71
Member Since: 23 Oct 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1019
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Just done our Bailey Senator - cost about £65. I sent them the chassis number & they sent me a new plate to stick over the original with the new weights & new tyre pressures on. Also were also a couple of big advertising stickers for the back. I think it gave us about another 55kg of payload - handy
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| 4th Mar 2014 7:49 pm |
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rodneydisco3
Member Since: 13 Sep 2009
Location: High Wycombe
Posts: 113
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Hello there,
I think you just reached a small minefield. The Caravan chassis and tyres limit the amount of the total mass. The Caravan manufacturer builds the caravan leaving a margin for user payload. in the case of the Eternitti it is 241Kgs. anything you add to the basic specification has to be deducted from the payload, so with air-con and Awning, the total load that can be carried within the Caravan is around 160kgs.
Regarding your Disco 3 you can load that to its maximum mass in running order ( see the plate under the bonnet)so all the heavies can go in the car.
Do not exceed the axle loads, or the roof rack load, these are also on the plate.
Some caravans can have the load margin increased by some kgs, some manufacturers charge others do it for free, if a paper exercise. In some cases the manufacturer can build on a heavier chassis at a cost.
The caravan tyres have at least 10% extra margin of weight capacity, as safety margin. Rodey L
2018 Discovery 5 3L HSE Idris silver and black
14MY liore Blue/Almond HSE (now with new custodian)
Discovery 3 09MY Gaulway Green/Almond (now with new custodian)
1933 MG J2
1934 MG PA
1935 MG PB
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| 4th Mar 2014 8:53 pm |
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DALEK
Member Since: 28 Jul 2011
Location: Near Stockport
Posts: 633
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Thanks everyone for the great advice, I wonder if this limitation will put us off as the compromises we would have to make are too much. Once we had food, liquid, clothes, bikes, pots pans and all the other paraphernalia on board for a 3 month trip we would be overweight. 
We are pretty set on that van so unless anyone has found a way around this? 
I will wait for a reply from Eterniti and let you know.
Thanks again D3 HSE ........................Gone!!!
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| 5th Mar 2014 8:58 am |
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Landie71
Member Since: 23 Oct 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1019
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I'd be tempted not to put bikes in the caravan anyway - they can make a real mess of the woodwork (there are bags to put them in but not sure I'd trust them). Not only that if you want to get in if you stop when traveling they're big things to climb around. For bikes I'd look at putting them on the back/top of the disco.
Also if you get a decent bike rack you can use it when you're not taking the caravan out as well (can you tell I've just got a bike rack on mine!) 
Hope you get it sorted
Marcus
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| 5th Mar 2014 9:08 am |
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rodneydisco3
Member Since: 13 Sep 2009
Location: High Wycombe
Posts: 113
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Don't forget the weigth of a tow ball mounted bike rack is part of the load on the two ball, limited to 150kgs. and you need the trailer to have a nose weight of between 7% and 10& of it's MPTL.
I know it does not help!
very few caravans have a load margin as high as the Caravan of your desire.
Willing t o help any way i can, the caravan Club has an excellent technicaldepartment managed by Martin Spencer. Rodey L
2018 Discovery 5 3L HSE Idris silver and black
14MY liore Blue/Almond HSE (now with new custodian)
Discovery 3 09MY Gaulway Green/Almond (now with new custodian)
1933 MG J2
1934 MG PA
1935 MG PB
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| 5th Mar 2014 9:40 am |
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Brian_DL13
Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: Teesdale
Posts: 1418
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Frankly, if Disco isn't able to tow one of them then I struggle to think what could.  flat bed truck maybe ? 
ANyway, let us know what Eterniti have to say !
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| 5th Mar 2014 9:53 am |
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Brian_DL13
Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: Teesdale
Posts: 1418
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Landie71 wrote:I'd be tempted not to put bikes in the caravan anyway - they can make a real mess of the woodwork
Marcus
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| 5th Mar 2014 9:54 am |
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THUB
Member Since: 10 Dec 2005
Location: West Berkshire.
Posts: 717
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I know that we now have all sorts of fancy acronyms relating to our caravans. I still use the old fashioned method. Weight ex works including all the "extras" plus whatever (personal luggage etc) I put in must not exceed the total permissible weight.I had a similar problem with a Castleton caravan (no longer made). After a great deal of hassle got the manufacturer to fit a higher rated axle, better wheels and more highly rated tyres. The wheels and tyres were no hassle at all. The axle needed to have somewhat different suspension (built into the axle), and higher rated shock absorbers. I cannot remember the difference in "luggage" allowance but it was a great deal more than the standard spec.
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| 5th Mar 2014 10:12 am |
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DALEK
Member Since: 28 Jul 2011
Location: Near Stockport
Posts: 633
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Yeah, sorry guys I was meaning on a rear carrier or A frame carrier, the point was the weight was a part of the caravan so takes away from available load.
Still waiting for Eterniti to respond.
I have been looking at 5th wheel as an option but would loose the use of my beloved disco 
They seem to get around it somehow..... further investigation required D3 HSE ........................Gone!!!
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| 5th Mar 2014 10:15 am |
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