Information on weights

Pursuant to EU Implementing Regulation No 2021/535, Westfalia Mobil GmbH is required to provide clear and complete information on weight-related vehicle data. The following explanations are intended to help you, as a customer, better understand the effects of equipment, load, and legal requirements.

1. Definitions of terms pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/535

Mass of the vehicle in running order

The “mass in running order” includes:

• the unladen weight of the vehicle in its standard configuration (without options/extras),
• one person (driver) weighing 75 kg (a fixed figure specified by EU regulations)
• filled fuel tank (90%),
• fresh water to 100% of tank capacity (our running position includes 10L of fresh water)
• gas container (including gas cylinder) filled to 100%,
• all necessary operating fluids such as oil, AdBlue, etc.

This mass forms the basis for calculating the load and pay-mass.

The mass in running order may vary in a series production process (supplied parts, quantities of adhesive, etc.). The legally permissible tolerance for this is ± 5%.
We try not to exploit this margin in the series production process, which means that the extreme values of the tolerance are not usually reached.

Westfalia always checks the actual weight of the vehicle and compliance with the permissible tolerance by weighing each vehicle at the end of the production line.

Technically permissible maximum mass

This is the maximum permissible mass (e.g., 3500 kg) of the vehicle specified by the vehicle manufacturer, including all occupants, optional equipment, luggage, accessories, and fluids. This information can be found in the technical data for your model and in your vehicle documents. (CoC, vehicle registration certificate)

Please note that exceeding this limit constitutes a violation of the applicable road traffic regulations.

Mass of the passengers

The mass of the passengers is calculated at a fixed figure of 75 kg per approved seating position, regardless of the actual weight of the passengers. This assumption is based on EU regulations and serves to standardize vehicle classification.

The 75 kg for the driver is already included in the mass in running order. Each additional passenger is calculated at the specified 75 kg – for example, in a camper van with 4 seating positions, the mass of the passengers is 3*75 kg = 225 kg.

Mass of the optional equipment

This includes all optional equipment that is not included in the standard version of the model in question. This includes all optional equipment selected ex works, such as special packages, awnings, trailer hitches, solar systems, satellite systems, furniture extensions, additional batteries, etc. These increase the unladen weight of the vehicle. They therefore directly reduce the available pay-mass.

Information on how our optional equipment changes the weight can be found in sales documentation.

Please note: the weight calculations ex works and your vehicle documents do not include any additional equipment or accessories installed by you or your dealer, even if this adds additional weight.

Actual mass

The mass of the vehicle in running order and the mass of the optional equipment installed at the factory on a specific vehicle are referred to collectively as the actual mass. You can find the relevant information for your vehicle after delivery in section 13.2 of the Certificate of Conformity (CoC).

This information is determined individually by Westfalia from the vehicle’s weight data at the end of the production line.

2. Pay-mass and minimum pay-mass

Pay-mass

The pay-mass is calculated as follows:

Pay-mass = Technically permissible maximum mass – Mass in running order – Mass of  the optional equipment – Mass of the passengers

The EU Regulation specifies a fixed minimum pay-mass for motorhomes that must be available for luggage or other accessories not installed at the factory.

Minimum pay-mass

This minimum pay-mass is calculated as follows:

Minimum pay-mass in kg ≥ 10 * (n + L)

Where: ‘n’ = maximum number of passengers plus the driver and ‘L’ = overall length of the vehicle in meters. For a camper van with a length of 5.4 m and 4 approved seating positions, the minimum pay-mass is therefore 10 kg * (4 + 5.4) = 94 kg.

The minimum pay-mass is mandatory and therefore limits the maximum permissible mass of the optional equipment. This is illustrated again with an example:

Westfalia Columbus 540D

   3,500 kg       technically permissible maximum mass

– 2,830 kg       mass in running order

– 3 * 75 kg      mass of the passengers

– 94 kg                        minimum pay-mass

= 351 kg maximum permissible mass of optional equipment that can be selected

If you require a higher pay-mass for your use, the choice of optional equipment must be restricted accordingly. Alternatively, you can choose a different permissible maximum mass if this is offered as an option, or reduce the number of seating positions if not all are required.

Please also note that tolerances may occur, particularly in the mass in running order, so that a theoretical value may be exceeded in practice.

In rare cases, if the minimum pay-mass cannot be maintained after weighing at the end of the production line, Westfalia will check with you and your dealer before delivery of the vehicle to see whether, for example, the vehicle needs to be re-rated, the number of seating positions reduced, or optional equipment removed.

3. Sample calculations for illustrative purposes

Example 1: Westfalia Columbus 540D

   3,500 kg       technically permissible maximum mass

– 2,830 kg       mass in running order

– 3 * 75 kg      mass of the passengers

– 200 kg          optional equipment ordered ex works for the individual vehicle

= 245 kg         actual remaining standard pay-mass capacity

Check:            Minimum pay-mass: → 94 kg ✅ fulfilled

 

Example 2: Westfalia Columbus 640E

   3,500 kg       technically permissible maximum mass

– 3,050 kg       mass in running order

– 3 * 75 kg      mass of the passengers (4 seating positions)

– 120kg           optional equipment ordered ex works for the individual vehicle

= 105 kg         actual remaining standard pay-mass capacity

Check:            Minimum pay-mass: → 104 kg ✅ fulfilled (10 kg * (6.4+4))

In example 2, the limit of the standard minimum pay-mass is nearly reached. If this value is confirmed at the end of the production line, the vehicle can be registered as is. If such a value is exceeded within the manufacturing tolerance, we will discuss measures with you and your dealer so that the vehicle can be uprated, the number of seating positions reduced, or optional equipment removed.

4. Important information and recommendations

To ensure that the calculated pay-mass is actually available, you should therefore take the precaution of taking into account the possible and permissible tolerances for the mass in running order when configuring your vehicle.

We also recommend weighing the laden motorhome on a certified weighbridge before each trip and determining whether the technically permissible maximum weight and the technically permissible maximum mass on the axle are complied with, taking into account the individual weight of the passengers and your personal equipment. 

Contact

If you have any questions about weight configurations or selecting equipment in a way that is optimized for registration, please contact your Westfalia dealer or the technical customer service department of Westfalia Mobil GmbH.