RV FEATURE
SUSPENSION
Naturally , a caravan ’ s suspension system is also load-rated . The ATM of the caravan can never exceed the suspension ’ s load rating .
However , that statement is true of every component requiring a rating . If , for example , your van ’ s suspension is rated to 3500kg but for some inexplicable reason the van only has one safety chain , you could never legally load the van such that it weighed more than 2500kg ATM .
Or let ’ s say the suspension was rated to 3000kg , but the van ’ s two tyres were only rated to 1200kg each . In this case , the van could never weigh more than 2400kg .
SUMMING UP
That ’ s but a brief overview of some of the components and their legal requirements . But you get the idea : ratings within the caravan lifestyle are important and omnipresent .
These ratings must never be exceeded . Your towing setup is literally only as strong ( and legal ) as its weakest link . Every other component might be rated to or above the van ’ s ATM , but if just one is rated below , that figure must become the maximum weight of the van , and there is simply no way around it other than to upgrade that under-rated component .
The brutal reality is , exceeding any one of the ratings associated with your rig will put you in hot water eventually .
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