Xantia HDi hatch. Payload?

Prilliant03 · Unread post by **Prilliant03** » 16 Mar 2012, 21:23

Perhaps a slightly odd question. I'm in the process of landscaping my back garden and need to collect a load of concrete blocks and patio slabs from a local builder's merchant.

So what would be considered a safe maximum payload in a 110 HDi Xantia? I don't want to kill my lovely French lady by asking her to carry too much.

What's the biggest/heaviest load you've carried in yours?

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 16 Mar 2012, 21:28

Considering the sphere pressures and suspension cylinder bores relative to my experiences with a break, 600kg ought to be a number in the back of your mind.

Prilliant03 · Unread post by **Prilliant03** » 16 Mar 2012, 21:47

600kg, wow! I'm surprised it's so much. That would mean I could get away with just 2 trips. Excellent!

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 16 Mar 2012, 22:06

Without checking in the handbook that seems very high to me ! It's over half a ton.

Unread post by **Rhothgar** » 16 Mar 2012, 22:42

I once did something over 500kg in a BX. Took the suspension some time to rise up. In fact, I'm not sure it did!!!!

Stepto1 · Unread post by **Stepto1** » 16 Mar 2012, 22:57

How much does 8 concrete paving slabs and two trees weigh? Managed that no probs in a 1.8 16V Xantia.

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 16 Mar 2012, 23:08

How big a tree?

8×.6×.6×.05×2400=345 kg concrete if 2'x2'x2" slabs.

Caveat on the weight: Fold back seat forward and locate the goods close as possible to the car's centre. Pump up your tyres first.

Considering that many people weigh 80+ kg now, four passengers is 320kg potentially.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 17 Mar 2012, 00:44

me..

a few hundred L of (wine or WVO) often

so maybe 500kg? without any issues

I think of five adults, kinda like me (but more adult!) with suitcases filling the boot.. 5-600 I reckon)

Unread post by **Dommo** » 17 Mar 2012, 00:47

jgra1 wrote:me..

a few hundred L of (wine or WVO) often

so maybe 500kg? without any issues

I think of five adults, kinda like me (but more adult!) with suitcases filling the boot.. 5-600 I reckon)

I remember driving down to Newquay in my Activa with 4 of us in the car and the boot absolutely rammed, coped just fine. We came back with 5 of us in the car and went to a shonky place in Wales, driving through the middle of Wales 5 up with literally no space left anywhere, and it was fine, we were a bit squashed mind you!

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:08

My concern was about having so much weight biased towards the rear, rather than the total payload. Just had a look in the owners handbook and these are the numbers for an HDi 110 :-

Unladen 1361 kg

Gross 1930 kg

Max on rear axle 850 kg

So it seems 600 kg would be overloading, given that the max on rear axle is 850 kg, including that part of the vehicle weight and fuel ?

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 17 Mar 2012, 10:24

Given the rear wheel location on a Xantia hatch, it's pretty hard not to load it forward of the rear axle - especially if you fold the seat base forward as I described.

I have driven 80 miles with almost 1000kg in an auto 16V estate (including a first gear pull up a 9.5 gradient over 2 miles) and would not recommend it for amateurs or long hauls. It's too much for engine durability or safe handling, but the car did get up.

50 miles of 500kg behind the rear axle was another dumb one I did - tail liked to wag the dog. 500kg forward of the rear wheels - no worries in an estate (you'd not notice it that much) but you have 55% less area on the suspension ram faces for a hatch and 25% less gas pressure.

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 17 Mar 2012, 11:38

Don't deny it's possible to have large payloads but given that the total acceptable payload is less than 600 kg then carrying 600 kg in the rear alone, with the driver and fuel etc the vehicle is overloaded. May be ok over a very short distance occasionally but as a routine practice it's going to cause damage or accelerated wear.

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 17 Mar 2012, 11:51

Definitely. Towing heavy loads the first chassis item I've noticed failing faster has been the "P" bushes.

Prilliant03 · Unread post by **Prilliant03** » 20 Mar 2012, 00:22

I bottled it in the end. The builders merchants offered delivery for £12 so I chose the safer option.

Picking up our new puppy in the Xantia on Sunday 25th. Reckon she'll be fine with that particular load

MJM · Unread post by **MJM** » 20 Mar 2012, 12:39

>>Picking up our new puppy in the Xantia on Sunday 25th<<

Put plenty of newspapers in, just in case. Pups can "leak" from several places.

French Car Forum