[lee_dewing]

hi, i have ford escort 75 diesel van 2001.
  been onto ford trying to find out payload person i need is on hols, tryed search on internet, no joy does 75 stand for 750 kilos?
if so could i get 300 ltr tank in vanor more?
how much do you allow extra for i.e me 14 stone, fuel tank full etc.
anyone out there know?
many thanks
lee

[Paul Coleman]

hi, i have ford escort 75 diesel van 2001.
  been onto ford trying to find out payload person i need is on hols, tryed search on internet, no joy does 75 stand for 750 kilos?
if so could i get 300 ltr tank in vanor more?
how much do you allow extra for i.e me 14 stone, fuel tank full etc.
anyone out there know?
many thanks
lee

This one is a good website for van payloads:-

http://www.whatvan.co.uk/search.asp?setversion=true

According to the data on it, the Escort 75 has a payload of 750kg unless it's the 1.8tD rather than the 1.8D.  The 1.8tD has a payload of 715kg.
A 300 litre tank should be mostly OK.

Weight calculation:-

The water will weigh maximum of 300 kilos.
The tank and bits will weigh any amount really depending on what sort you want (suggest checking before purchase).
You weigh about 70 kilos.
I believe that the Escort has a 55 litre tank so say 55 kilos for a full tank  (I believe that diesel actually weighs a bit less than water but let's be cautious).

So then, you with a full diesel and water tank will weigh 425 kilos.  Add the tank and other equipment to this too - not forgetting the possibility of water in a trolley or maybe containers.
Possibly a ladder and roof rack on top too don't forget.
A passenger as well?

It looks like you should be OK so long as you don't fill it up to the rafters with containers and have a heavy passenger at the same time.

[genesis_windows]

perfect answer!
nuff said.
i think i pushed it a bit in my early days with my 700kg maestro and my 650ltr tank
the fact that i weigh a little more than 70kgs didnt help either
looked like i was aiming for the sky when i pulled off my drive in the morning,,wouldnt recomend anyone did the same though :

[Paul Coleman]

perfect answer!
nuff said.
i think i pushed it a bit in my early days with my 700kg maestro and my 650ltr tank
the fact that i weigh a little more than 70kgs didnt help either
looked like i was aiming for the sky when i pulled off my drive in the morning,,wouldnt recomend anyone did the same though :

Wow  !! You pushed your luck a bit didn't you?  The tank and water alone probably ate up almost the entire payload.
The bigger problem with stuff like this is the braking distance.  Worst case scenario?  I reckon that if someone died in an accident involving an overloaded vehicle, the state would press for a manslaughter charge or, at the very least, causing death by dangerous driving.  The accident wouldn't even have to be your fault.  I intend to visit a weighbridge sometime with a full diesel tank, an empty water tank, and all my usual equipment on board.  That way, I will know exactly how much water I can put in the tank.  I believe I will be able to fill it up to the brim but that could leave things tight.  I want to know for future reference.  It may be a case of I can only have a passenger if I let the water level drop a fair bit but I do want to know for sure.

[genesis_windows]

like i said, wouldnt recommend anyone else did it.
on an empty fuel tank i only had 50 kgs left to cover driver, fuel, ladder, hoses etc.
yes, i believe i may have been a few pounds overladen ::)never again!

[lee_dewing]

thanks very much shiner; and genesis, still waiting for fords reply