Technical Can I update my rear axle on 2018 Ducato MoHo

[MoHo guy]

Hi. I'm new to motorhomes. I've just put our Ducato MoHo on a weighbridge.
I deliberately had a full fuel tank and half full water tank. Not a massive amount in the trunk..
I was shocked that the van came in at 3700kg ( GVW is 3650). Rear axle was 2080 ( plated at 2000 ). Front axle was ok at 1620 (rated at 1850).

Is there any way I can increase the rear axle rating ???

I believe I MAY be able to update it to 2085 GVW, BUT I've also read that the 2000kg rating on the rear axle can't be more easily uprated!?

Can any of you offer help/advice please??

Thanks

 

[bugsymike]

Your KG figures sound a little strange, what does the weight/Vin plate on the bonnet slam panel indicate?
I don't doubt yours and many MHs are running near or over limit.
I would have thought it cheaper to exchange your MH for one with a better capacity than trying to raise the limit. I know on tow vehicles it has to be done by a specialist company, involving chassis strengthening, uprated axles, springs, bump stops, wheels, tyres and brakes, etc. Followed up by a stamped certificate after weighbridge tests.
Is yours a proprietary brand or a conversion? What model and year etc?

 

[MoHo guy]

Your KG figures sound a little strange, what does the weight/Vin plate on the bonnet slam panel indicate?
I don't doubt yours and many MHs are running near or over limit.
I would have thought it cheaper to exchange your MH for one with a better capacity than trying to raise the limit. I know on tow vehicles it has to be done by a specialist company, involving chassis strengthening, uprated axles, springs, bump stops, wheels, tyres and brakes, etc. Followed up by a stamped certificate after weighbridge tests.
Is yours a proprietary brand or a conversion? What model and year etc?

Front axle is 1850kg.
Rear is 2000kg.
GVW is 3650
( Taken from VIN plate and adjacent Auto-Trail sticker ).

 

[MoHo guy]

Apologies!!!!!
This post should have read..

I was shocked that the van came in at 3700kg ( GVW is 3650). Rear axle was 2080 ( plated at 2000 ). Front axle was ok at 1620 (rated at 1850).

OP revised!

 

[bugsymike]

Apologies!!!!!
This post should have read..

I was shocked that the van came in at 3700kg ( GVW is 3650). Rear axle was 2080 ( plated at 2000 ). Front axle was ok at 1620 (rated at 1850).

OP revised!

So for now ideally you need to lose 50Kgs and as rear is "tail heavy" see if possible to move some of the weight forward towards the front axle, in my opinion, though others more familiar with MHs may advise better.
This would help handling as well. With MHs constantly at their Max. capacity it does put more strain on a vehicle than a comparable work van that can be loaded and emptied on a regular basis.
You don't have things like a motor scooter on a tow bar mount as some do?
I see some large MHs have a Fiat 500 or a Smart car inside the "boot".
I did have a customer with a 7.5 tonne Cherokee Sun Voyager who used to tow his Renault car behind him, though one time on his way back from Spain he noticed sparks in the middle of the night behind him, his friend hadn't released the Renaults handbrake and with the big American diesel pulling well didn't notice until the Renault had worn down to the brake back plates and he had lost the rear wheels and brake drums!

 

[MoHo guy]

So for now ideally you need to lose 50Kgs and as rear is "tail heavy" see if possible to move some of the weight forward towards the front axle, in my opinion, though others more familiar with MHs may advise better.
This would help handling as well. With MHs constantly at their Max. capacity it does put more strain on a vehicle than a comparable work van that can be loaded and emptied on a regular basis.
You don't have things like a motor scooter on a tow bar mount as some do?
I see some large MHs have a Fiat 500 or a Smart car inside the "boot".
I did have a customer with a 7.5 tonne Cherokee Sun Voyager who used to tow his Renault car behind him, though one time on his way back from Spain he noticed sparks in the middle of the night behind him, his friend hadn't released the Renaults handbrake and with the big American diesel pulling well didn't notice until the Renault had worn down to the brake back plates and he had lost the rear wheels and brake drums!

I had very little in the boot and mainly clothes and bedding at the rear ! There is a tow ball fitted, but I had nothing attached. That's why I was shocked that I was overweight. ...

 

[bugsymike]

Tow bars can weigh around 20-30 Kgs, but handy to have there even just for a recovery.
Water is heavy is the tank between the axles or near the rear?
It can be a surprise when weighing vehicles, I had an Iveco Daily 3.5 tonne Crewcab tipper that I fitted a small Hiab crane to, I was surprised that it left me with a 300Kg payload, 200 Kg less than a Ford Fiesta Van !!!

 

[MoHo guy]

Tow bars can weigh around 20-30 Kgs, but handy to have there even just for a recovery.
Water is heavy is the tank between the axles or near the rear?
It can be a surprise when weighing vehicles, I had an Iveco Daily 3.5 tonne Crewcab tipper that I fitted a small Hiab crane to, I was surprised that it left me with a 300Kg payload, 200 Kg less than a Ford Fiesta Van !!!

Yes. The fuel tank is around 1/3 from the front and was full. Water tank was 3/4 full and is in the middle of the van.

 

[portland_bill]

Gross weight can be a problem with motorhomes and minibuses, where the converter pays little attention to what may be added to the vehicle. With a motorhome, of course you are going to add clothing and crockery, etc. Many minibuses can be overweight if any passenger brings luggage.
The Ducato chassis can be available with various GVW, btu probably only Fiat will know the differences in specs. Likely the main chassis is the same, but springs, axles, and especially brakes may be different, so an upgrade might be complicated, as might the replating afterwards.
Might just be a set of springs needed.

Just a thought, with a GVW of 3650kg, hopefully you are aware that you need category C1 on your licence, as it is above the 3500kg of cat B.

 

[bugsymike]

Just checked my license as first plastic card type now 70 and I have lost the 7.5 tonne bit as I would have had to pay a Doctor for a certificate.

 

[Steve928]

Is there any way I can increase the rear axle rating ???

If your van has 16" wheels with 225/75R16 tyres with a load rating of 116 then replacing the rear bump stops (spring assisters) with air suspension (easy DIY, £300-400ish) will allow you to up-plate the rear axle to 2250Kg. This will give 1850 front + 2250 rear = 4100Kg. MAM/GVW/Or whatever it's called these days.
VanWeightEngineering (for example, other firms are available) will deal with the documentation for you for around £200.

Various other possibilities exist depending upon which wheels and tyres you have - I've even seen the 3650Kg light chassis up-plated to 4250Kg with a 2500Kg rear axle - but 4100Kg will probably be sufficient.

 

[portland_bill]

If your van has 16" wheels with 225/75R16 tyres with a load rating of 116 then replacing the rear bump stops (spring assisters) with air suspension (easy DIY, £300-400ish) will allow you to up-plate the rear axle to 2250Kg. This will give 1850 front + 2250 rear = 4100Kg. MAM/GVW/Or whatever it's called these days.
VanWeightEngineering (for example, other firms are available) will deal with the documentation for you for around £200.

Various other possibilities exist depending upon which wheels and tyres you have - I've even seen the 3650Kg light chassis up-plated to 4250Kg with a 2500Kg rear axle - but 4100Kg will probably be sufficient.

You can't add front and rear axles together to make the GVW, as that would mean the weight distribution would have to be exact. The front and rear axles added together will always come to more than the GVW, as post 3. Your own car will be like this too.

 

[MoHo guy]

Cheers for that mate. Yep I have a C1 (I'm an ex hgv1 back in the day). I've found some useful stuff online this morning. Look likely I can add air assistance on the rear springs and get it plated up from 2000 to 2240 on the rear. Should come in under £5-600 if I fit the air units myself.
Cheaper than getting nicked!

You can't add front and rear axles together to make the GVW, as that would mean the weight distribution would have to be exact. The front and rear axles added together will always come to more than the GVW, as post 3. Your own car will be like this too.

I was weighed on a computerised weighbridge.. they only weigh the front axle and both axles. Deduct the former from the latter to get GVW.
If you're talking about the individual axle weights shown on the VIN plate, I do understand that, but that's not my point.
Thanks anyway.

 

[VinceS]

Is it a manufacturer's MH or a conversion? If the former it would be interesting to see what model and what the manufacturer lists as weight?

 

[jackwhoo]

Hi,
I don't think it would be possible (economically viable) to change the vehicle axle plate to increase the axle weights.
You know the penalties for driving over weight are substantial.
The sensible way forward is reduce weight of vehicle as it stands.
Reducing water carried is an easy step.
Best wishes
Jack

 

[jackwhoo]

Sorry everyone.

I just re-read the complete thread . Others have stated upplating the rear axle may be possible and helpfully added some company names.

Insurance following any alteration would be an extra expense......it will all add up to a figure larger than anticipated.

Kind wishes

Jack

 

[Steve928]

You can't add front and rear axles together to make the GVW, as that would mean the weight distribution would have to be exact. The front and rear axles added together will always come to more than the GVW, as post 3. Your own car will be like this too.

Simply incorrect; my current van is plated at 4100Kg with 1850 front and 2250 rear. 1850+2250=4100.
Many thousands of Bailey motorhomes leave the factory plated at 3850 with 1850 front and 2000 rear. 1850+2000=3850.

Nobody, least of all me, is saying that you can use all of that plated weight but the vehicle can definitely be plated to a GVW/MAM that equals the total of the 2 axle maxima.

 

[theoneandonly]

Sorry everyone.

I just re-read the complete thread . Others have stated upplating the rear axle may be possible and helpfully added some company names.

Insurance following any alteration would be an extra expense......it will all add up to a figure larger than anticipated.

Kind wishes

Jack

Insurance doesnt necessary change on upplating or adding air suspension, havi g done both seperately.
My rapido is plated at 3850 1850 front plus 2000 rear. This is sufficient for my needs having done it before new suspension. When tyres wear out i may concider larger load rating .