How much will our stuff weigh???????????????

Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:10
ThreadID: 76476 Views:3464 Replies:15 FollowUps:6
This Thread has been Archived
Just a rough guessing question? How much weight would we add to a caravan with all our stuff? just 2 of us, van will be about 18-20 ft with ensuite but need to work how much all our bits & pieces will weigh before we pick our veichle.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:30

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:30
How long is a piece of string?
Seriously, how can we even make a wild guess if we don't know what you want to carry?
AnswerID: 406848

Follow Up By: nighttrain - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 13:10

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 13:10
The string is not very long but it sure is heavy :)
0
FollowupID: 676667

Reply By: signman - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:39

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:39
Toothbrush and 'jamas...not much (or you can leave oout the jamas) !!


AnswerID: 406850

Reply By: Karen & Geoff - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:40

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:40
Will you have 2 jumpers or 4, will you have 4 cups or 6. How do you really expect us to answer that question?
Karen
AnswerID: 406851

Reply By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:51

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:51
Make it 150Kgs and if I am wrong sorry. Thats a lot for food and a pair of underdaks though.

For your luggage surely you will know from the last time you flew at checking. For the food take a guess. What else was there/

Phil
AnswerID: 406853

Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:04

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:04
Usually not much to play around with once you pick up the van. I also suggest you weigh it empty before you start so you know what weight you are dealing with (as opposed to that stamped on the plate). The thing that will surprise you most is how much all those little things weigh and they all add up to something that usually has you looking at all the stuff again. Leaving you scratching your head to leave stuff at home or overloading.

Kind regards
AnswerID: 406856

Reply By: Alloy c/t - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:16

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:16
Really the weight becomes a non issue , the real trick is working out what you ''need" to take and what you "want"to take , if you only take whats needed you generally end up within the weight range of the van , its that "extra" pair of shoes ect that never come out of the cupboard that is the weight problem.
AnswerID: 406858

Reply By: Mick O - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:22

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:22
If you need to go to that extreme then a set of old bathrooms scales is always handy. I tend to get an approximate weight of items (or as close to exact as you can get with a set of bathroom scales) and then add them into an excel spread sheet. Don't forget to add water and fluids (fuel for the gennie etc).

Chuck all your kitchen utensils etc in a clothes basket or cardboard box and weigh them on the scales prior to packing the van. Same with food, bedding, grog etc. Using the spread sheet then gives you a record for future trips as well.

Works well for me with the Patrol on the desert trips when weight was a crucial factor.

Cheers Mick
''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 406860

Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:30

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:30
Did you stand on the scales also?? :-))

VKS737 - Mobile 6352 (Selcall 6352)

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 676663

Reply By: Member - Tour Boy ( Bundy QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:37

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:37
I have found that if you take out everything you will think you need and lay it out on the lawn. Then cut the amount in half and then weigh what is left.

You will relise that you don't really need all that you think you do once you see how much stuff there is.

Cheers
Dave
Cheers,
Dave
2010 Isuzu FTS800 Expedition camper
2015 Fortuner
Had 72 cruisers in my time

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 406863

Follow Up By: nighttrain - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 13:17

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 13:17
Thanks to everyone for the advice. It is very helpful. This adventure is going to be all new to us and hope you don't mind the dumb questions because we do enjoy the answers.
0
FollowupID: 676668

Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 14:36

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 14:36
Hi nighttrain, As a "rule of Thumb" a figure of 300 Kg is often used on top of the tare weight of the van. The 300 Kg includes such things as gas bottles, weight of water in your tanks, batteries, tools & your personal stuff such as food & clothing & of course a carton of your favourite grog.
As a number of people have already mentioned, avoid taking things that you "might" need & depending where you are headed avoid taking heaps of tinned food as it is heavy.

When we first started out I had a hard time convincing SWMBI that there were supermarkets & shops all along the way & that there was no need to pack a couple of months worth of tucker in the van before leaving home!

Hope that helps. Cheers & good luck
AnswerID: 406878

Reply By: Shaker - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 15:15

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 15:15
Buy a vehicle that is capable enough for the ATM of the van.

AnswerID: 406883

Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 15:30

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 15:30
There are lots of things to consider re extra weight, as people have mentioned,
Just a few things that are taken for granted,
*Annex Walls
*Shademesh LeanTo
*Ropes and Pegs
*A few Tent Poles
*Caravan Jack, in our case a Sidewinder Jack
*Who carries an Outside Table when you sit under the Awning
*Even a Couple of Camp Chairs
*Long Handle Broom
*A reasonable Door Mat so you can wipe your feet
*Even an Annex Mesh Floor
*Potable Water Hose to connect from a Tap to the Van
*Sullage Hose
*Caravan Toilet Chemicals
*Everyone carries a couple of Plastic Buckets
as mentioned have your van weighed before an after, you will be amazed.

Cheers
AnswerID: 406885

Reply By: Member -Dodger - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:55

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:55
Simple solution is...
After you get the van go for a shakedown cruise, somewhere local that you know and stay for at least one week..
Then Pack everything that you and your other half think you would need for a trip for say 2 weeks without shopping.
Then whilst away simply use what you need and mark each item with a texta and when you get back home unload and if it does not have a texta mark then you do not need it.
This excludes the 1st aid box and emergency gear.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 406904

Reply By: pop2jocem - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:57

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:57
If you let my good wife do the packing the first two items you will need are an overload permit and a more powerful tow vehicle.........lol

What the hell am I laughing at this is dead set


Seriously though we would need more info to even make a rational guess. Are you going off road, caravan park to caravan park type of van and vehicle etc etc


Cheers Pop
AnswerID: 406905

Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 18:16

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 18:16
pop2jocem , women/wives LOL. [hope shes not in earshot] ; Years ago , 21 is close to the mark , we were heading off on our touring honeymoon on my BMW R100R motorcycle ,had fitted panniers and small top box , said to the beloved "1 pannier each should be enough and can share the topbox ,plenty of room for just a 10 day trip staying in 4/5 star places and eating out every meal " ,,,, packing the day before we are due to leave I was told in no uncertain terms to get my butt down to the m/cycle accessories shop and buy a tank bag , which of course I duly did, ,,, Swmbo 2 panniers + topbox , Me 1 tankbag that could just hold 1 tee shirt,1pair of jocks and an extra pair of socks ....... Laughing point now , one of the panniers was full of 10 pairs of shoes , absolutly none of which were worn/used in the following 10 days , women ? Gotta love em,,,
0
FollowupID: 676731

Reply By: Tenpounder (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 17:21

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 17:21
Hi. I am quite confused. When you talk about 'all your stuff', do you mean just water in the tank, gas in the bottles, food, clothes, kitchen contents etc. buckets brooms and so forth? [if so, say 150 to 200kg] or do you also mean microwave, awning, fan heater? [another 100kg] or do you also mean generator, bike rack with bikes, toolbox on drawbar or back bumper? say another 100kg].
As a rule of thumb, many vans hit the road at about 100 to 200kg above ATM, so it would certainly not be wise to work on anything less than ATM as the towing requirement (and some will say your tow vehicle MUST be rated to tow the ATM of your van, even if the van is not actually that heavy).
Don't forget you must not go above max drawbar down load for the tow vehicle, and you must not go above GCM as stated for that tow vehicle. But plenty of people drive around with a van that's way too heavy for the tow vehicle.
There'd be blokes on this site who have a rig that's 300kg above GCM, a van that's 200kg above the max for the tow vehicle, and a drawbar down load of 50kg above max. Them the crank up the rear of the vehicle with airbags and pretend that weight distribution hitches take weight off the back axle of the tow vehicle (which of course they cannot do).
It is likely that a street legal outfit for a 20ft van with the trimmings will have a Patrol, Disco Grand Cherokee or Land Cruiser doing the work. It is also likely that a Prado/Pajero will be close to or even above its limit, likewise the 2.5l CRD ute based vehicles. An 18ft van would be easier, unless you carry a boat, motor etc and a few of the other toys!!
AnswerID: 406911

Reply By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 17:48

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 17:48
We have an 18' (internal measurement) van, and licence shows TARE as 2.22 tonne. I try and travel as light as possible, but last year packed up for the big lap, we came in at 3 tonne whilst still ON the tow bar. I use plastic plates, light weight cutlery, and don't carry electric cooking stuff as it is heavy and bulky. We add water (320 kilos), 2 gas bottles, two spare tyres, more batteries than when van was manufactured, and a have genny box with Honda 2 and ULP on the a-frame. Clothes for all seasons (still not a lot), food and books. Most of the tools and spares were in the tow vehicle. A little bit of this and that sure adds up quick!

Motherhen
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

AnswerID: 406912

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 20:13

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 20:13
Tare doesnt matter its ATM you worry about So if it was a tandem van and was still attached to tug you would have been about 600kg over weight.

Glad you got home with no probs like stuffed bearings, blown tyres etc
0
FollowupID: 676757

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 22:39

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 22:39
Hi Graham

Our suspension is up to the job, but many others have only a small allowance for load. My example just shows how quickly a load can add up.

Cheers

Mh
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 677208

Sponsored Links