A couple of months ago I posted a thread 'Enough is Enough' in which I raise the issue of magazine van reviewers that were praising vans that were (In my opinion) 'Unfit for Purpose'. I've just received the lasted st copy of the same mag with a review for another van that is also typically 'Unfit for Purpose' as they is absolutely no way a couple could keep the loaded weight under the specified ATM with full water tanks unless they on took a change of underwear, slept in sleeping bags and dined out. While most tandem vans have a load allowance of 400Kg (Insufficient) and single axle vans 300Kg (also insufficient, only more so) shower vans with multiple water tanks require an even greater personal load capacity. The van reviewed was a single axle ensuite van with 2X80lt water tanks and 2X9Kg LPG cylinders with a Personal Load Allowance of only 300Kg. Water = 160Kg LPG = 17Kg (approx) HWS water = 21Kg Suburban or 14Kg Truma. Toilet top tank water = 10Kg (Estimate) Above Total = 194 - 208Kg That allows 106 - 92Kg for everything else added to the van. Power lead, sullage hose. water hose, bucket, broom, wheel chocks/levelers, bedding, cutlery, crockery, pots/pans, toaster, cloths etc etc...... In my opinion this is totally inadequate and the van reviewed is 'Unfit for Purpose'. Even though many of these reviews in magazine maybe paid for along with the companies usual adverts, reviewer are not carrying out due diligence and presenting the facts that the magazine readers have a right to expect. The unknowing readers take these reviews as gospel. The dealers will sell heaps of these vans to the unknowing readers who read the article. Caveat Emptor. A p....d off Ozjohn.
goinsoon said
03:05 PM Oct 14, 2011
The reviewers only look for the bling and pretty stuff, I have never seen a really critical remark by a reviewer and you are right, all the vans reviewed are advertised in their magazines
EilsnAlby said
03:12 PM Oct 14, 2011
Thankyou ozjohn for that info. As new "wannabee" nomads looking at getting our rig for the big trip, I never realised about all the weight stuff. My other half is researching van weights and tow ball weights, trying to get our heads around that one, so it is really important to understand about all the extra weight of our stuff. Your post was very clear, and have given us some insight. Thanks again.
Eils
Gerty Dancer said
04:21 PM Oct 14, 2011
Thank you Ozjohn, glad to find we arent the only ones who is p.... off. Not only magazine reviewers but caravan salesmen will "gloss over" the issue of weight. We had the distinction of being called "pedantic" when Mr D insisted on knowing the weight and load allowance of a van we were considering. Needless to say we moved on.
jimricho said
05:57 PM Oct 14, 2011
First Rule of Magazine Reviewers........Never bite the hand that feeds you!
-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 14th of October 2011 05:58:55 PM
dazren said
07:32 PM Oct 14, 2011
Well written ozjohn, and very informative, and a great help for any ''newbees'' that about to enter our caravanning domain, as for those books [ just about all of them ] I like a lot of us, started buying them when re-entering the caravanning way of life, but the more you learn, the more you realise, they do not give a fair and unbiased account of any reveiw they do, [ just try and get a letter of complaint printed in the magazine if it against one of their advertisers, [ it just won't happen ]
If i need any true and [ somtimes ] unbiased information i will ask on this and other forums. Anyway good article john and very beneficial to many Regards dazren.
Di-n-Gary said
08:49 PM Oct 14, 2011
Good on you O.J., pity the mags don't have a concience or we might see some truth in reporting, but until then we'll just live in a world where all vans are 'great, good value for money etc." I've phoned you previously about this and I've got a good idea where my money will go come retirement day
Elle on Wheels said
01:33 AM Oct 15, 2011
G'day OJ, what would be a reasonable guestimate of the average weight of the stuff you would take on a small van- surely it would not be too much more than 100kg - guess that's like how long's a piece of string
ozjohn said
11:08 AM Oct 15, 2011
Elle on Wheels wrote:
G'day OJ, what would be a reasonable guestimate of the average weight of the stuff you would take on a small van- surely it would not be too much more than 100kg - guess that's like how long's a piece of string
Have a look at the original post at the top of the page and work out from the list in the post what you're taking with you. Even cloths can a add up to quite a bit of weight especially if you take both summer and winter wear. Then their all the food, including heavy can, jars, bottles etc. 100Kg doesn't get close.
Cheers, ozjohn.
woody said
06:06 PM Oct 15, 2011
very interesting post esp. if you think about adding BBq, folding table and chairs, bicycles, annexe and poles, some pple even carry small washing machines these days.
I would be very interested in the view of the CCIA on this subject.!!
Cruising Granny said
06:49 PM Oct 15, 2011
Thank you OzJohn for the sensible, guiding comments. Advertising is so misleading, as is the information in those magazines. No wonder travellers get into so much trouble with tugs crashing under the pressure, gear boxes/transmission screaming to destruction, and everything tragically going belly up. When are they going to be held responsible for the information?
ozjohn said
10:04 AM Oct 16, 2011
Cruising Granny wrote:
Thank you OzJohn for the sensible, guiding comments. Advertising is so misleading, as is the information in those magazines. No wonder travellers get into so much trouble with tugs crashing under the pressure, gear boxes/transmission screaming to destruction, and everything tragically going belly up. When are they going to be held responsible for the information?
Not to mention all the roll overs, head on smashes, and other accidents caused by poor load distribution, owner add ons, and inappropriate speed.
Ozjohn
-- Edited by ozjohn on Sunday 16th of October 2011 10:05:55 AM
Cruising Granny said
04:27 PM Oct 16, 2011
Unfortunately the articles in magazines are advertorials, telling us the good stuff. The advertiser often pays for the space, or buys a lot of space in the magazine to make up for the coverage they get in the article. It's as honest as any other advertising, and we all know how "honest" that can be. It's very difficult to find a factual report on a trial run, the good and the bad. Maybe that will be my NEXT career.
blaze said
05:28 PM Oct 16, 2011
I have been amazed at the small section RHS used for drawbars on bigger vans, some 20 foot plus still using 100mm section for the drawbars, my thoughts are that 125mm would be minimun and 150mm preferable. Also note that 90% of them have no ladder support to strenthen them. cheers blaze
03_troopy said
06:44 PM Oct 20, 2011
blaze wrote:
I have been amazed at the small section RHS used for drawbars on bigger vans, some 20 foot plus still using 100mm section for the drawbars, my thoughts are that 125mm would be minimun and 150mm preferable. Also note that 90% of them have no ladder support to strenthen them. cheers blaze
I wonder if the wall thickness is any thicker though? Just a thought.
A couple of months ago I posted a thread 'Enough is Enough' in which I raise the issue of magazine van reviewers that were praising vans that were (In my opinion) 'Unfit for Purpose'.
I've just received the lasted st copy of the same mag with a review for another van that is also typically 'Unfit for Purpose' as they is absolutely no way a couple could keep the loaded weight under the specified ATM with full water tanks unless they on took a change of underwear, slept in sleeping bags and dined out.
While most tandem vans have a load allowance of 400Kg (Insufficient) and single axle vans 300Kg (also insufficient, only more so) shower vans with multiple water tanks require an even greater personal load capacity.
The van reviewed was a single axle ensuite van with 2X80lt water tanks and 2X9Kg LPG cylinders with a Personal Load Allowance of only 300Kg.
Water = 160Kg
LPG = 17Kg (approx)
HWS water = 21Kg Suburban or 14Kg Truma.
Toilet top tank water = 10Kg (Estimate)
Above Total = 194 - 208Kg
That allows 106 - 92Kg for everything else added to the van.
Power lead, sullage hose. water hose, bucket, broom, wheel chocks/levelers, bedding, cutlery, crockery, pots/pans, toaster, cloths etc etc......
In my opinion this is totally inadequate and the van reviewed is 'Unfit for Purpose'.
Even though many of these reviews in magazine maybe paid for along with the companies usual adverts, reviewer are not carrying out due diligence and presenting the facts that the magazine readers have a right to expect. The unknowing readers take these reviews as gospel. The dealers will sell heaps of these vans to the unknowing readers who read the article.
Caveat Emptor.
A p....d off Ozjohn.
The reviewers only look for the bling and pretty stuff, I have never seen a really critical remark by a reviewer and you are right, all the vans reviewed are advertised in their magazines
Eils
First Rule of Magazine Reviewers........Never bite the hand that feeds you!
-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 14th of October 2011 05:58:55 PM
Well written ozjohn, and very informative, and a great help for any ''newbees'' that about to enter our caravanning domain, as for those books [ just about all of them ] I like a lot of us, started buying them when re-entering the caravanning way of life, but the more you learn, the more you realise, they do not give a fair and unbiased account of any reveiw they do, [ just try and get a letter of complaint printed in the magazine if it against one of their advertisers, [ it just won't happen ]
If i need any true and [ somtimes ] unbiased information i will ask on this and other forums. Anyway good article john and very beneficial to many Regards dazren.
Have a look at the original post at the top of the page and work out from the list in the post what you're taking with you. Even cloths can a add up to quite a bit of weight especially if you take both summer and winter wear. Then their all the food, including heavy can, jars, bottles etc.
100Kg doesn't get close.
Cheers, ozjohn.
very interesting post esp. if you think about adding BBq, folding table and chairs, bicycles, annexe and poles, some pple even carry small washing machines these days.
I would be very interested in the view of the CCIA on this subject.!!
Advertising is so misleading, as is the information in those magazines.
No wonder travellers get into so much trouble with tugs crashing under the pressure, gear boxes/transmission screaming to destruction, and everything tragically going belly up.
When are they going to be held responsible for the information?
Not to mention all the roll overs, head on smashes, and other accidents caused by poor load distribution, owner add ons, and inappropriate speed.
Ozjohn
-- Edited by ozjohn on Sunday 16th of October 2011 10:05:55 AM
It's very difficult to find a factual report on a trial run, the good and the bad.
Maybe that will be my NEXT career.
cheers
blaze
I wonder if the wall thickness is any thicker though? Just a thought.