Before you load up for your summer vacance...

[silverbullet]

While reading through the finer details of the excellent "Schrader-Typen-Chronik" VW Transporter T3* book by Michael Steinke (ISBN 978-3-613-03103-6) I realized that there's a little more syncro info in there than at first glance, especially about payloads. Rather than list the lot, here's the most useful comparisons:

Typically, a 2wd Kombi, Pritschen or Kastenwagen has a payload (Nutzlast) of 995 kg, the maximum for any T3. Hitops ar allowed 945kg, Doka 940 (all with driver onboard).
Multivan 995, Caravelle C 910 (I guess 8-seater), Joker with poptop only "circa" 590kg (these without driver)

These are all for petrol wbx. N/A Diesels minus 0, TD minus 15kg but some of the data says "not available" especially when it comes to TD Westys

Moving to syncro, a 14" maxes out at 960kg for the petrol Kombi etc, so minus 35kg across the board.
16" versions minus an additional 50kg. Highest for a 14" TD is 875kg.

2500 GVW across the board, 2wd or syncro.

So for example: a 16" Multivan tintop syncro can carry 825kg. The worst case for petrol is a 16" Westy poptop, with a payload of only "circa" 555 kg.
Reading between the lines the TD comes out worse of all at only 540 kg (again, not stated) All of these payloads are for driver, all passengers and luggage. It doesn't state if the Westys have a water allowance.

Travel light, travel safe folks!


*German language, so get a Collins Gem for the tech bits if you don't speak it fluently...

[max and caddy]

How do "they" know how heavy the driver is?

[silverbullet]

1 x German late 1970's average male. There's probably a DIN standard for it somewhere

PS Dehler Profi has a 5kg higher allowance compared to the Westy...

and a 2wd petrol Carat only 610 kg without driver. 6 x fat German businessmen @ 100kg each, wallets and executive portfolios only

[lloydy]

We are a small family, and i have a light multivan interior. I can pack whatever i like

[silverbullet]

Try explaining that to the Polizei/Gendarmes/Garda etc if you get caught with an overloaded wagon

What I didn't appreciate was the fact that the 16's give away 50kg, despite being "heavy duty". I guess this is to adjust for the van's slightly higher centre of gravity?

[silverbullet]

Just checked the van's commisson plates and they state a GVW of 2390kg, so there's an allowance of 110 kg somewhere. Is this for driver only or with 1/2 tank of fuel? 17+ stone is fairly hefty for any Bavarian, so...

Petrol is 0.71 kg/litre x 35 litres = approx 25kg, leaving 85kg for the driver, which sounds reasonable; around 13 stone 5 lb.

I'm ok then

[Roving Rich]

I came across this the other day, from the Royal Geographical Society, with their take on vehicle based expeditions.
This is of course based more on exploration and expedition, than a trip to Cornwall with the kids.
Makes for some very interesting reading IMHO.

http://www.rgs.org/NR/rdonlyres/7A814B0 ... HBETve.pdf

Enjoy
Rich

[silverbullet]

Interesting perspective on the use of trailers to reduce GVW by exploiting towing allowance, would apply equally well to almost all vehicles whether on a true expedition or a touring holiday.

Good find

PS Note the author's comment about the usefulness of winches!

[Roving Rich]

Yeah, tis a good point, winches aint much cop in the desert.
Did you also see the bit on uprated springs ?
The trailer seems like a good option, but I really wouldn't fancy a failed ascent with one !
That said I was shown pics of a custom offroad trailer with roof tent, fold out kitchen, wardrobe etc looked like a great idea.
Cheers
Rich

[clift_d]

That's part of RGS Expedition Handbook and is made up of info taken from Tom Sheppard's classic 'Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide'.

This is an absolutely fantastic book - I can't recommend it enough if you are thinking about any kind of serious vehicle based travel. I managed to get a copy from the Royal Geographical Society a few years back when they had some stock of the second edition.

Unfortunately it is out of print at the moment and so copies are fetching ludicrous prices secondhand on Amazon or eBay.

Fortunately however, according to the author's website, a new edition is going to be coming off the presses later this summer.

[silverbullet]

Yeah, tis a good point, winches aint much cop in the desert.
Did you also see the bit on uprated springs ?
The trailer seems like a good option, but I really wouldn't fancy a failed ascent with one !
That said I was shown pics of a custom offroad trailer with roof tent, fold out kitchen, wardrobe etc looked like a great idea.
Cheers
Rich

Heavy springs = cracked bodyshells and/or chassis! That trailer sounds like the old Landy Sankey field kitchen units but this is a proper bit of kit of you need to feed a lot of mouths
http://www.exmod-uk.com/equip.php?ID=606" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[toomanytoys]

On a side note..
Any mention of the factory HD suspension option on a 2wd with increased GVW of 2600kgs??
My 1983 Caravelle has it....

[axeman]

We are a small family, and i have a light multivan interior. I can pack whatever i like

light or heavy van it changes from thread to thread.

neil

[lloydy]

Just joking Neil, the laughing smiley might have given it away......

[Mudlark]

I was pulled over by the gendarme at one of the major motorway tolls on the way in to Paris and they checked the weight of each axle, with the family on board, while a friendly Gendarme fired off twenty questions which I could not understand. He then proceeded to fine me 25 Euros for a crime which I did not understand at the time but which later turned out to be failure to carry the log book.

So yes they do check and I would not have known whether I was over or under if i am honest