Legal notice on weight-related information

The weight specifications and tests for motorhomes are standardised EU-wide in the EU Implementing Regulation No 2021/535 (until June 2022: EU Implementing Regulation No. 1230/2012). The main terminology and legal rules defined in this regulation are summarised and explained for you below. You can also contact your dealer and use the PÖSSL configurator on our website for extra help with configuring your vehicle.

1. Technically permissible maximum mass

The echnically permissible maximum mass of the vehicle (e.g. 3,500 kg) is a fixed mass specification that the vehicle may not exceed. Information on the technically permissible maximum mass of your chosen model can be found in the technical data. If the vehicle exceeds the technically permissible maximum mass in real world driving conditions, this constitutes a misdemeanour and is punishable by a fine.

2. Mass in running order

Simply put, mass in running order is the basic vehicle with standard equipment plus a legally defined average weight of 75 kg for the driver. This essentially consists of the following elements:

the unladen weight of the vehicle together with the bodywork, including operating fluids such as lubricants, oil and coolants
the standard equipment, i.e. all equipment items included as standard in the factory-fitted scope of delivery
the fresh water tank filled to 100% in driving mode (drive-ready fill according to manufacturer's specifications; 20 litres) and an aluminium gas cylinder filled to 100% and weighing 16 kg;
the fuel tank, which is 90% full with fuel;
the driver, whose weight – regardless of the actual weight – is generally specified as 75 kg in accordance with EU law.

Information on the mass in running order for every model is available in our sales material. The important thing to know is that the mass in running order stated in the sales materials is a standard value determined during the type approval process and is checked by the authorities. It is legally permissible, and also possible, that the mass in running order of the vehicle delivered to you will vary from the nominal value stated in the sales material. The legally permissible tolerance is ± 5%. Here the EU legislator is taking account of the fact that weight variations in supplied parts, combined with process and weather-related effects can create some fluctuation in the mass in running order. These weight variations are more easily understood by looking at a sample calculation:

Mass in running order acc. to sales material: 2,700 kg
Legally permissible tolerance of ± 5%: 135 kg
Legally permissible range of the mass in running order: 2,565 kg to 2,835 kg

PÖSSL takes great efforts to reduce these weight variations to the absolute minimum, unavoidable for technical production reasons. Variances at the upper and lower end of the range are therefore very rare; however, for technical reasons they cannot be totally ruled out despite all the optimisations made. The real weight of the vehicle and compliance with the permissible tolerance is determined by weighing.

3. Mass of the passengers

The mass of the passengers is set to a default value of 75 kg for each seat provided by the manufacturer, regardless of the actual weight of the passengers. The mass of the driver is already included in the mass in running order (see no. 2 above) and is therefore not included again. In the case of a motorhome with four approved seats, the mass of the passengers is therefore 3 x 75 kg = 225 kg.

4. Optional equipment and actual mass

According to the legal definition, optional equipment (also referred to as special equipment or additional equipment) includes all optional equipment not provided as standard which is fitted to the vehicle under the manufacturer's responsibility - i.e. ex works - and which can be ordered by the customer. Information about individual and package weights of optional equipment available to order, can be found in our sales material. For this definition, optional equipment does not include other accessories retro-fitted to the vehicle by you or the dealer after it has left the factory.

The mass of the vehicle in running order (see no. 2 above) plus the mass of the optional equipment factory-fitted to a specific vehicle add up to the actual mass. Following delivery, you will find the relevant information for your vehicle under no. 13.2 of the Certificate of Conformity (CoC). PÖSSL determines each value individually and states the weighed value in the CoC.

5. Pay-mass and minimum pay-mass

The installation of optional equipment is also subject to technical and legal limits: There is only so much optional equipment that can be ordered and factory-fitted to leave enough spare weight for luggage and other belongings (the pay-mass) without the technically permissible maximum mass being exceeded. The pay-mass is calculated by subtracting the mass in running order (nominal value according to sales material, see no. 2 above), mass of the optional equipment and the mass of the passengers (see no. 3 above) from the technically permissible maximum mass (see no. 1 above). The EU regulations for motorhomes stipulates a fixed minimum pay-mass, which is the very least that must remain free for luggage and other non-factory-fitted accessories. This minimum pay-mass is calculated as follows:
Maximum pay-mass in kg ≥ 10 x (n + L)
Where: “n” is the maximum number of passengers plus driver and “L” is the overall length of the vehicle in metres.
For a motorhome with a length of 6 m and 4 approved seats, the minimum pay-mass is therefore e.g. 10 kg * (4 + 6) = 100 kg.
To preserve this minimum pay-mass, for every model of vehicle there is a maximum combination of optional equipment available to order. In the example shown above with a minimum pay-mass of 100 kg, the total mass of the optional equipment in a vehicle with four approved seats and a mass in running order of 2,700 kg cannot exceed 325 kg, for example:

3,500 kg technically permissible total mass
- 2,700 kg mass in running order
- 3 x 75 kg mass of the passengers
- 100 kg minimum pay-mass
= 475 kg maximum permissible mass of the optional equipment

It is important to note that this calculation is based on the standard value for the mass in running order determined in the type approval procedure, without the permissible weight variances with the mass in running order (see No. 2 above). If the maximum permissible value for the optional equipment of 325 kg (in the example) is almost or completely exhausted, an upward weight deviation can therefore result in the minimum pay-mass of 100 kg being met mathematically using the default value for the mass in running order, although in fact there is no corresponding load capacity.

To avoid this type of situation, PÖSSL is further reducing the permissible maximum weight of the total optional equipment available to order on a model-by-model basis. The limit on optional equipment is intended to ensure that the minimum pay-mass, i.e. the legally prescribed free mass for baggage and retrofitted accessories, is actually available for the vehicle load capacity of PÖSSL’s delivered vehicles.

Since the weight of a specific vehicle can only be determined when it is weighed at the end of the production line, in very rare cases a situation may arise in which the minimum pay-mass at the end of the line is not guaranteed, despite the restrictions put on optional equipment. To ensure the minimum pay-mass is still met in these cases, before delivering your vehicle, PÖSSL, along with you and your dealer, will check if the vehicle might be loaded up, have the number of seats reduced, or optional equipment removed.

6. Recommendations

Production-related fluctuations in the running mass can result in variances in the load-carrying capacity. That means that the information contained in the brochure / configurator may possibly be undercut in reality. When performing the calculation, make sure you factor in the permissible tolerances, and weigh the completed vehicle before commencing your journey, in order to determine the remaining load capacity.