Weight

[BC Sunshine]

The info that came with my Highwayman says it's 'empty weight' is 2040kg.
I have no idea if this is referring to actual dry weight or not, but what kind of weight limit should I be keeping in mind? I do have access to weigh scales along the highways if needed.

Unless I'm doing some really rough camping where I need to haul in water, I'm not planning on using the onboard water tank much (I'm not even sure of its capacity..).
I do live in a part of the world with some serious hills however.

How concerned should I be about weight distribution?
Fridge, stovetop, water tank, driver are all on same side.
Fuel tank, propane tanks are on the other.

 

[Panky]

Even unladen you will be crawling up the big hills in first gear but it is a low enough gear to cope with most gradients with a good load on board. The heaviest thing you would normally be carrying, apart from passengers, would be a full tank of water (or the waste from the tank). I compare a full tank to carrying an average size adult and very rarely use it - I certainly wouldn't drink anything that came out of it We've got a water carrier that we fill up on site and a supply of bottles that can be re-filled, you can always distribute then around the van if you feel it will help with weight distribution.
You probably need to do a couple of short trips to get the feel for what your van (and you) can cope with, that way hopefully you wont be in for any nasty surprises when you set out on the big trips. Have fun

 

[BC Sunshine]

I was warned I'd need one of these...

Aside from a picnic sized water canteen inside for drinking water, I prefer to fill up on site. The camper doesn't have a grey water tank installed; back in the day it was acceptable when camping to drain your grey water at the edge of your campsite. There is a collapsible water jug under the sink now, connected with a piece of flexible hose stuck in, so it will be fairly easy to remove and empty before hitting the road.


I have no idea about the state of the current water tank; it does have an electric water pump though, and a rubber bathtub stopper to close the tank opening!

All I've really noticed thus far is the need for making sure everything is well secured; she's a bouncy girl.

Thanks for all the wise words - looking forward to a getaway after her check up next month!

 

[renaultvation]

It is most likely that the water tank would originally have had a whale footpump mounted in the floor. When not in use it would be flush with the floor, but when needed a quarter turn and it would pop up for use. Great trip hazard when you forget to retract it!

 

[TriComm]

Clara's water tank is 75 litres (one litre of fresh water weighs one kilo). We changed her tank for a new one so have no worries drinking out of it. We travel with it full so it acts as ballast as most of the heavy stuff is on the passenger side. Pump is on the floor behind a cupboard door so it's out of the way.