European rule changes means more motorhome payload

The amount of available payload specified in UK-built motorhomes is expected to increase for 2016 models thanks to a change in the rules and regulation set down by the European Standards Committee. This has come about because the European Standard for Motorhome Payload is in conflict with the European Directive for the Masses and Dimensions of vehicles. As the Directive ranks higher in European law making, the Standard has now been withdrawn. The reason this makes a difference is because the Directive itself has recently changed in how it takes into consideration water when travelling.

Most British manufacturers, including firms like Elddis, have quoted available payload figures when the water tanks were at full capacity. As one litre of water weighs one one kilogram, this was often over 100kg being removed from the available payload. The new wording in the Directive says that the manufacturer can specify how much water is in the tanks when travelling to get a Mass in Running Order figure and thus the available payload. As the manufacturer would be required to install a second drain tap set at the level of any figure other than empty, the reality is that a motorhome will either be specified with full tanks or empty tanks.

David Whitehead of the National Caravan Council (NCC), the trade body for motorhome manufacturers, confirmed that when British manufacturers update their Type Approval for the 2016 launches they will be able to specify available payload with no water on board, which will push the figures up. For the customer it means that if they then fill the motorhome with gear to use that extra payload, they cannot travel with any water on board, but it does give them the choice and British manufacturers higher available payload figures to quote.

Want to know more about motorhome payload? Read this article.

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