Mis-selling of touring caravans

[Guest]

Touring caravans generally have two weights quoted MTPLM maximum technically permissible laden mass and MRO mass in running order. The MTPLM minus the MRO gives the load margin or available user payload all these are measurements are in Kg. The problem lies in the definition of Mass in Running Order. One would think that a touring caravan in running order would include all necessary items to facilitate the use of the caravan and it's associated gas, electrical and wet systems. Unfortunately this is not the case for most touring caravan manufacturers. Typically there is between 125-175Kg user payload which to a newcomer looks acceptable for carrying clothes food and leisure accessories say for a two week holiday. A study of the small print reveals that the manufacturers definition of running order is far from what one would expect. Typically MRO does not include a leisure battery (25Kg) or a mains hook up cable (5Kg) or a second gas bottle (14kg) or any fluid for the toilet (2Kg) or any water in the hot water system (10Kg) and many customers opt for a motor mover (30Kg) .All of the above must be subtracted from the user payload so the initial average 150Kg you thought you had can be reduced by around 86Kg before you put any "user" payload in. The remaining 64Kg is for most people totally insufficient user payload for a normal holiday. Many people do not realise this and as a result unwittingly overload their caravan to an illegal condition exceeding MTPLM. I believe I an many others have been mis-sold on this basis.