Caravan weights

Our 19ft van has 4 tanks, 4 batteries and 4 panels along with the normal range of goodies like larger ensuite, 190l fridge, rollout awning etc.

Tare 2560
ATM 3500

200 series
GVM 3300
Trailer Mass 3500
Tow ball 350

We filled up the tanks with water and vehicle with fuel and two of us in it and went to a weighbridge

Vehicle 3440
Van 3180
Towball 240

Cheers

Alan

Hi Alan and Get It Right,

We have an 18' BT with 3 batteries 3 solar panels 4 water tanks and 2 jerry can holders. Roll out awning and Webasto Heater 1300watt inverter.

Tare: 2360 kg - before suspension upgrade
ATM: 3500kg

With all tanks,jerry cans and gas bottles full and all our traveling gear fully loaded with Honda Generator and Flip n Easy folding trailer, we went over the public weighbridge at Amidale and the BT weighed in at 3380kg.

We did have our old 3000kg suspension changed over for the heavier 3500kg suspension so the tare weight would be inaccurate now.

Hope this helps
Cheers
Rick & Julie

Our vehicle is a BMW X5 3.0d and it's primary mission is a people mover not a tow master but I did buy it with the upgraded suspension which has rear ride height adjustment. Capacity is a few hundred kg's more which isn't that much but helps.

Howdy - GetItRight,
We have an 80 Series TLC Man'f Nov 1996, therefore has 3500Kg tow ability by ADR.
With High Lift Comfort King Springs, compatible shocks and always LT Tyres, we have had it approved to have a GVM of 3350Kg as per the tyre placard (up from the original 2960Kg which was on the VIN plate).

BT is 19', 4Tonne suspension upgrade, 3500Kg rated GVM as per VIN & 2440Kg Tare ex factory.
We have 4 x 80 l water, a few extras like 190L fridge, three solar panels and 3 batteries, 3 jerry cans of fuel on A-frame, larger ensuite, stove-oven-cooktop combo and 1800w Inverter and on the road are weighing in at around 3300Kg.

This makes us 6850 legal max'm, but are under that by around 200Kg. We have towed across outback tracks, Kimberly Roads, GRR, Tanami Rd, Arkaroola roads, Vic Alps (Sassafrass Gap, Hotham Heights etc) and sandy river runs without a hassle.

Hayman Reese WDH is employed just about 100% of travelling, and we have had a dream run thus far.
Hope this helps.

G'day Getitright,

I reckon with 270kg limit on Ball weight and 2700kg ATM, you would be stretching the limits if you went to an 18ft BT. Vehicle sounds more suited to a 16 or 17ft BT.

We have an 18 ft BT with 3 solar, 3 batteries, 4 tanks, and with all our gear we are just over 3 tonne. Our LC100 Turbo Diesel/Gas tug is also 3t when trip ready.

Safety is the key issue, particularly going downhill on gravel with a 3t van pushing the vehicle.

It doesn't take much to get "out of shape", and a rig which has a lighter weight tow vehicle has much less chance of recovery.

If you go 18ft+ with that vehicle, you'll have to take it very easy.....and this could be detrimental for other road users.

Safe travels.........Rob

My mistake, the tow vehicle GVW in our config is : 2965 kg
Tow vehicle wt is 3085 kg

Although I see 20' vans being pulled by 3.0 Nissan's and given this land roving is a testing of lifestyle waters an 18' should be the right weight and price. The trips will not be very long and simple dirt road excursions until we see if we even like it, if not we can keep the van for 3-4 day trips or just go sailing ;). We tried this once before 20 years ago in a motorhome with two kids and we are thankful we borrowed the rig from my stepfather versus purchase. We are hopeful that with just the two of us, a lot more land mass to explore and helpful caravaners well be happy, upgrade and contribute to those that follow.

Regards,
Scott

Hi GetItRight,
Be carefullllll.
Our 20ft Tare is 2700kg which is your tow total capacity, that means no gas no water no food no clothes em; interesting?
Yes we have 4 of everything.

Don't rely on the length of the van to be a reliable indication as to what the tare weight might be. Our BT is 17' and has a tare of 2580 Kg. BT has not been able to explain why our van is so heavy.

If you're serious about towing a BT with that vehicle, have a look at the new 17' BT with an aluminium chassis.

Regards Col

Hi there,

Our 5 cents worth.

We have a 19ft - 2008 model. With Centre En-suite; 190lt fridge; 3 solar; 3 batteries; Webasto; And the usual other goodies put into the BT these days.

We tow with a LC 100 series, with Old Man Emu Heavy Duty Springs; poly air bags for towing.

In the 15months we have had the van we have been on the road constantly.
So far the van has travelled 34,897kms of which we have been on the dirt for 4724kms.

VAN:
Tare (per factory): 2620
Weighbridge Weight: 3490kg (the van is weighed regularly)

Our condrum is that we have weighed everything in the van several times using bathroom and kitchen scales and obviously we have added in the weight of the water; gas; diesel in the Webasto; and water in the HWS. And we seem to have nearly 200kgs that we cannot account for. BT have been most helpful but cannot fathom it out either.

SO if you are buying a second hand BT maybe ask the owner or have the van weighted before you purchase just check it is right. You will not get it 100% as there will always be water in the tanks or a bit of gas.

We always travel with less water now so we are well under the weight.

Hope this helps.

Allan and Sharon