Load Capacity

prospero · Post by **prospero** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:54 am

Does any one have any experience or knowledge to suggest what the load capacity is of a Chamonix? I'm thinking of getting one for my touring theatre company of 6. We typically take ourselves and up to about 5- 700lbs. of gear. So that's about 1500-1750 lbs. We might add another company member. So I guess we might get close to 2,000 lbs, depending on who we cast!

We have been using a Hiace, but I fear we have been overloading it a hair, and without a Turbo it so far has not performed well on the highway. Stupefyingly comfortable though - way more pleasant to sit in that for four hours than in a Dodge Caravan for 2 ! The company that sold it to us is working with us to troubleshoot power and mileage issues. But even if performance improves, load capacity will not, and this thing will not pull a trailer at this altitude unless we put a turbo on it for 2-3 grand.

So I am curious to know if the Delica might be a better choice. I drove one at this altitude and found it much more peppy. They are spec'd out at lower power than the Hiace, but are a good 400+ kg lighter, and have the turbo. So my hope is that, weighing less than a Hiace full of features and a very heavy cast-iron 3L engine, and having at this altitude about the same power and torque, they might carry more than the Hiace, and still be faster.

I have noticed a lot of information on this site about towing capacity. Most of it refers to towing really heavy stuff. I wonder what kind of speed I could expect to keep up hills in a Deli with 6-7 people and a light trailer loaded with 700lbs of gear. Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Mark

docsavage · Post by **docsavage** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:04 pm

I had 7 adults and riding gear in my van (no seats though) this weekend. We climbed out of the Fraser Valley at Sheep Creek Bridge - about 20 km uphill with some 8-10% grades - in 35 degree weather at about 50 km/h on the steeper pitches. That was about the best I could do without climbing the temperature insanely hot.

I would think that you would have some very long drives with 6 or 7 adults and a trailer. Be better off to take two vans and split the loads. No need for a trailer then and the fuel economy wouldn't be much worse than one Delica with a load on.

James