Allen Morgan uprates the weight of his motorhome to provide more payload
We uprated the load capacity of a pre-owned Fiat Ducato Auto-Trail Apache 632 we recently purchased.
We chose this model because we needed a motorhome under seven metres long with a fixed double bed and a garage. Given that it had a 3,650kg gross vehicle weight, we thought it ticked all the boxes and a few weekends away confirmed that the layout was perfect for our needs.
However, having loaded up for our summer break, we headed to our weighbridge and discovered we were pushing the rear axle limit. Investigations made it clear the problem was caused by having a large garage and a long overhang on a ’van with a relatively short wheelbase.
We concluded we had a couple of options: either not carry so much or have the ’van uprated.
After an internet search, we came up with a couple of companies, one being Van Weight Engineering. Following a quick exchange of emails, it looked as if it was possible to uprate our Auto-Trail Apache.
Van Weight Engineering (VWE) is a small company and is one of the few listed by the DVLA as an approved engineering company for weight alternation to road vehicles.
VWE sent us a simple self-explanatory form to complete, which provided as much technical information about our ’van in order for the staff there to calculate what could be achieved in terms of altering the vehicle’s load capacity with or without any modifications.
Following a further email, it transpired that we had two options:
1. A paperwork exercise to upgrade the load capacity by 200kg but this wouldn’t increase the rear axle loading, or…
2. With some basic suspension modifications, we could increase the rear axle loading by 400kg and the overall vehicle weight to 4,250kg.
VWE sent us details of the two options with the pros and cons of each. It also provided a list of air suspension and leaf spring manufacturers, which could provide approved products and certificates to meet the technical requirements of both VWE and the DVLA.
After considering the options available we decided to fit rear axle air bags rather than fitting heavier-duty leaf springs as we felt this would be more advantageous overall (providing a smoother ride, for example).
Once the new suspension ( from Martech) was fitted, we collated the details of the system we had chosen, and a copy of the approval certificate confirming
