Recently, CHECK WEIGHT was asked to weigh two brand-new caravans to verify the compliance plate and assess its accuracy in relation to the actual weights. The caravans were brand new with gas bottles (but no gas), mattresses installed and ready for sale. We don’t often get the opportunity to weigh brand-new caravans, so this was an ideal time to check the accuracy of the compliance plate.
There has always been considerable conjecture about the accuracy of compliance plates, and numerous discussions have taken place on Facebook groups and around the campfire. I do not doubt that in years past, the compliance plates weren’t very accurate, but after six years of weighing caravans and vehicles, I would say that 90% of the time, caravan compliance plates are close to the actual weights. However, I have had several instances where the weights were way out, but I believe this is mostly due to added weight by the dealership or an error by the manufacturer in how they weighed the van.
When CHECK WEIGHT weighed these two caravans, we were in a shed on a flat concrete floor, at Newcastle Caravans & RVS display area and workshop in Heatherbrae.
To say I was surprised by the accuracy of the compliance plate would be an understatement, as I will show you in the figures below how results will CHECK WEIGHT results and the compliance plate were the same. That’s to say, kilo perfect! If we want to be pedantic, one was out half a kilo – just 500 grams!
The first caravan was a NewGen NG18
As weighed GTM 2240
Tow Ball 264
Total weight 2504
TARE WEIGHT on compliance plate
2504
Difference NIL
Second caravan was a NewGen NG20
As weighed GTM 2500
Tow Ball 241
Total weight 2741
TARE WEIGHT on compliance plate
2741
Difference NIL
I would like to congratulate NewGen Caravans and Newcastle Caravans & RVS on this awesome result and the assistance they provided in weighing these caravans.
So why do so many people believe that the compliance plates are inaccurate? I believe that the biggest problem that we face is a misunderstanding and misinformation on what is included in the TARE weight of a caravan. We should also acknowledge that there is no standard for what information goes on a compliance plate. What information you see on compliance plates will vary from van to van.
The majority will have a GTM or the gross trailer mass listed, but not all caravans will have a GTM listed. To make matters more confusing in New South Wales, quite often (but not always )the GTM of the caravan is listed on the registration as the GVM.
I’ve also heard old wives’ tales about caravans being weighed without spare wheels, without gas bottles etc. I don’t believe this happens very often, but I believe that it probably did happen in the past. I think because now weights are such an issue and are in the media and all over social media, caravan dealerships that try to fudge the weights would very quickly be found out.
However, one of the issues I have seen is where people have bought a caravan, loaded it and then taken it over a weigh bridge and then see a discrepancy. Gas bottles should be included but aren’t always in the TARE weight, however, gas and water are NOT included in the TARE weight of the caravan. Nor are any dealer-added accessories added at a dealership after manufacture. I weighed a caravan in 2024, and the owner thought that the weights were incorrect after going over a weighbridge post purchase. I weighed the caravan back at the dealership and found that the gas bottles were full. He put a jack in the van, post manufacture, and his wife had put other items under the bed, which he didn’t know about. All these items added to the weight after removing all these items and allowing for the gas, the discrepancy was about 20 kilograms, which I believe is more than acceptable.
In 2024 I also weighed a caravan that was exactly 200 kg heavier than the TARE Weight. In this case the dealer took responsibility – there had been a genuine mistake and the dealer gave the owner a different caravan.
if you’re unsure or would like to check the weight of a caravan then my suggestion is that you get CHECK WEIGHT to weigh at the dealership before taking ownership and paying for the caravan. It’s no use having paid for the caravan, then getting it weighed empty and then having a fight with the dealer over the true weights. Once you have the caravan registered and have driven away, technically its now 2nd hand. If the caravan is substantially heavier than what you ordered or what it says on the compliance plate, then you shouldn’t pay for it and should be prepared to walk away from the sale and get a refund. (but check the contract, you signed)
Changing the TARE weight post purchase achieves nothing – exceeding the TARE weight of your caravan is the only weight limit you wont be fined for !
If you’re buying a caravan that that weighs around 3500 kilograms and you expected a payload of 600 or 700 kilos when ordered, and you pick up the caravan and that TARE weight is now 3050 kilograms you have ended up with only 450 kilos of (potential) payload which I believe is not enough these days to do a big off grid trip. Most caravans will have at least 2 water tanks totaling around 190 to 220 litres of water which is 190 to 220 kilos in weight and you add gas so another 18 kilos and half of your payload is already gone!
Payload is the most important thing when looking at a caravan and a vehicle. The total weight or the maximum weight is irrelevant. It’s the difference between the TARE weight and the total weight or maximum weight limit (ATM) that’s important. That is your payload!
CHECK WEIGHT reminds new caravan purchasers – to Check the Payload (or Load Capacity) !!!
You can buy a caravan that has an ATM of 2500 kg that has 700 kilos of payload yet, we regularly see caravans that are 3500 ATM that only have 400- 500 kilos of payload. If you’ve got a family or are going around Australia, and doing a lap, 500 kgs of payload is going to disappear very quickly!
CHECK WEIGHT offer several different “caravan pre purchase” options.
1: First is get a CHECK WEIGHT vehicle weigh consultation. We weigh you vehicle then consult on what caravan you may be able to tow.
2: Jeff owner of CHECK WEIGHT offers ZOOM consultations where we cover the weight related issues concerning a proposed purchase. Many people have saved $$$$ in avoiding purchasing the wrong vehicle or caravan after talking through the weight related issues they may have.
3: Get a new or second-hand caravan weighed PRIOR to purchase.
If you would like any of the above,
please BOOK ONLINE at www.checkweight.com.au
or call 0419693975 9-5 pm Monday to Friday
