Legal and technical information on vehicle weights and weight-related information - from Ahorn Camp GmbH

As every motorhome is only approved for a certain total weight on the road, the legal and technical specifications for vehicle weights play a special role when selecting and configuring the right motorhome. It is important that the permissible total weight must not be exceeded under any circumstances while driving, otherwise you could be fined. The legal requirements for the vehicle weights of motorhomes are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/535 of March 31, 2021 (until 06/2022: Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1230/2012 of December 12, 2012). These must be observed when selecting and configuring your motorhome. You will therefore find some explanations and further information on the subject of "Vehicle weights and weight-related information" below. Our sales staff will also be happy to assist you with the selection and configuration of your motorhome.

1. The permissible total weight

The permissible gross weight (or technically permissible gross weight) of the vehicle is the maximum weight that your motorhome may weigh when loaded and driving (e.g. 3,500 kg) as entered in the registration certificate under point F.1. If the permissible total weight is exceeded while driving, fines may be imposed in many European countries, including Germany. Since you as the driver are responsible for complying with the technically permissible gross vehicle weight, you should weigh your motorhome before every journey and check that the permissible gross vehicle weight is not exceeded. You will find the permissible gross weight for each layout in the technical data shown in our catalogs.

2. The weight in running order

The weight in running order (or also: mass in running order) refers to the weight of the vehicle including:

the standard equipment of the vehicle according to

• Manufacturer information,
• the mass of the body, the driver's cab, the
• trailer hitch and the tire repair kit as well as the
• tool,
• of the fuel tank filled to 90 %,
• 1 / 5
• of the fresh water tank filled to 100 % in
• Fairway adjustment (20 l),
• an aluminum gas cylinder filled to 100 % with a
• Total weight of 9 kg,
• the weight of the driver, which is set at a flat rate of 75 kg
• is calculated,
• of the spare wheel and the tool.

The weight in running order is therefore the standard factory configuration of your motorhome plus the legally stipulated weight for the driver of 75 kg. This is entered by the manufacturer in section 13.1 of the EC Certificate of Conformity (CoC). Information on the weight in running order can also be found in the technical data for each floor plan.

Please note: The values stated in the CoC and in the technical data for the weight in running order are calculated values from the type approval procedure, which are subject to legally permissible tolerances of up to +/- 5 %. These tolerances can have a direct effect on the weight of your motorhome, the remaining payload and thus also on the remaining weight for optional equipment and accessories.

Example:

• Weight in running order according to technical data: 2,868 kg
• Legally permissible tolerance of ± 5 %: 143.4 kg
• Legally permissible weight range in running order: 2,724.6 - 3,011.4 kg

The legally permissible weight range in running order can also be found for each floor plan in the technical data.

3. The number of authorized seats & the weight of passengers and passengers

The number of approved seats is determined by the manufacturer in the type approval procedure. This determines the weight of the passengers. Regardless of the actual weight of the passengers, this is calculated at a flat rate of 75 kg for each approved seat minus the weight of the driver, whose weight has already been taken into account in the weight in running order (see above). For a motorhome with four registered seats, the weight of the passengers is therefore 225 kg (3*75 kg).

The number of permitted seats stated in our sales documents refers to the respective layout in standard condition without optional extras and accessories. This is the maximum number of people that can be transported in the vehicle. However, the number of permitted seats depends on the individual vehicle weight and axle loads and may be reduced by the installation of optional extras and accessories. Depending on the layout, the specified number of seats can also only be achieved by increasing the gross vehicle weight rating and/or by removing optional equipment and accessories.

4. The actual weight

The actual weight (or actual mass) of the motorhome is the weight in running order plus the weight of the optional equipment (or additional equipment) already fitted at the factory. The actual weight is entered by the manufacturer in section 13.2 of the EC Certificate of Conformity (CoC).

Please note: The values for the actual weight stated in the CoC and in the technical data are also calculated values from the type approval procedure.

As the weight in running order as part of the actual weight is subject to legally permissible tolerances of up to +/- 5 %, deviations also affect the actual weight.

5. Special equipment and accessories

Optional extras and accessories refer to all equipment that is not part of the standard factory configuration of your motorhome and can therefore only be ordered as an option (at an extra charge). Information on optional extras and accessories can be found in our sales documents.

Please note: The installation of optional equipment and/or accessories always leads to a reduction in the remaining payload.

6. The payload and the minimum payload

The payload of a motorhome is calculated by subtracting the weight in running order, the weight of the passengers and the weight of the configured optional equipment and accessories from the total weight.

The law stipulates that a motorhome must have a certain payload for luggage and other items, which must not be undercut when configuring the motorhome. This so-called minimum payload is calculated as follows: Minimum payload in kg ≥ 10 * (n + L) Where: "n" = maximum number of passengers plus the driver and "L" = total length of the vehicle in meters.

Example: For a motorhome with a length of six meters and four approved seats (including the driver), the minimum payload is 10 kg * (4 + 6) = 100 kg. Please note: Compliance with the minimum payload must be observed when configuring the motorhome and must not be undercut. The legally permissible tolerances of up to +/- 5 % must also be taken into account, as these can lead to a reduction in the actual payload.

To ensure compliance with the legally prescribed minimum payload, we have limited the weight available for optional extras and accessories in our product configurator for each layout on the basis of the legally permissible tolerances of up to ± 5 % for the mass in running order.

If the actual weight of the vehicle increases due to the configuration of optional extras and accessories to such an extent that there is no longer sufficient free weight to carry the permitted passengers and the minimum payload, you have the option, depending on the layout, of selecting a vehicle load increase, selecting a reduction in the permitted number of seats and/or deselecting optional extras or accessories in order to be able to continue with the configuration. However, regardless of the legal requirements for the minimum payload, you should also take into account when configuring your motorhome that legally permissible tolerances for the weight in running order affect the remaining payload.

If you order the motorhome from the previous example with optional extras and accessories with a total weight of 200 kg, the remaining payload (or also: payload) is 207 kg based on the weight specified in the technical data in running order:

3,500 kg Technically permissible total mass

- 2,868 kg Weight in running order

- 3*75 kg Weight of passengers and passengers - 200 kg Configured special equipment/accessories 

= 207 kg Remaining payload

However, the actual payload may be higher or lower due to the legally permissible tolerances. If, for example, the actual weight in running order deviates by + 3 % from the weight specified in the technical data, the remaining payload is reduced from 207 kg to 149.6 kg:

Example:

3,500 kg Technically permissible total mass

- 2,925.4 kg Real weight of the vehicle in running order (+ 3 % compared to the weight in running order of 2,868 kg specified in the technical data)

- 3*75 kg mass of passengers and passengers

- 200 kg Additional equipment ordered for the specifically configured vehicle = 149.6 kg Remaining payload  

(Note: The remaining payload must always be greater than the minimum payload)

We therefore recommend that you weigh your motorhome before each journey to ensure that the permissible gross weight is not exceeded when driving and that the axle loads are complied with. As the driver, you are responsible for ensuring that the technically permissible gross vehicle weight is adhered to.

Our sales staff will also be happy to answer any questions you may have on the subject of "Vehicle weights and weight-related information".