I am picking up 3x2 ft concrete slabs and was wondering what the maximum I’d be able to load into the rear of the car. I’ll be travelling alone in the car so the slabs will be the only weight carried other than me. I was thinking  the likely limit would be about 6 or 7 max but wondered if anyone had a more qualified answer?

Just now, Davidr1986 said:

I am picking up 3x2 ft concrete slabs and was wondering what the maximum I’d be able to load into the rear of the car. I’ll be travelling alone in the car so the slabs will be the only weight carried other than me. I was thinking  the likely limit would be about 6 or 7 max but wondered if anyone had a more qualified answer?

Should add it’s the estate/ combi version of the Octavia I have

Is there a maximum weight in your handbook? But 6 or 7 should be okay

Hi David, welcome to the forum - a reminder if you have the variable-height floor, there is a weight restriction (max. 80KG, I think) with the floor in the raised position. 

9 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Hi David, welcome to the forum - a reminder if you have the variable-height floor, there is a weight restriction (max. 80KG, I think) with the floor in the raised position. 

I don’t have the variable floor so should be ok for a bit more

Are they the council street paving slabs?

 

Your first question will be can you even lift one and load it into the vehicle without a helper? Some of them can weigh 80kg.

 

Watch how the springs sag, you will be surprised how few it will be before it's dragging its ar5e like a dog with worms!

 

I bet you chicken out before 7!

8 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Are they the council street paving slabs?

 

Your first question will be can you even lift one and load it into the vehicle without a helper? Some of them can weigh 80kg.

 

Watch how the springs sag, you will be surprised how few it will be before it's dragging its ar5e like a dog with worms!

 

I bet you chicken out before 7!

I’ll have help there is a separate vehicle so lifting them won’t be an issue, if it’s only 5 that’s fine, just means an extra trip!

I've never loaded up an Octavia so i'm going to go with at least 6 as a sensible option, 8 if you are feeling brave. I think any more than that and the bump stops will be getting tested

 

Edited 7 March, 20215 yr by SuperbTWM

40 years ago now (how time flys) but I loaded some proper council ones in the back of my Suzuki Jeep which had a bone jarring ride on really stiff leaf springs, cant recall how many but it was too many, it didn't seem to noticeably drop on the springs but as soon as I tried to drive off I realised that I had made a big big mistake.

 

The car was never the same after that short drive, suspension and transmission felt & sounded like the vehicle was 20 years old & had been to the moon & back, not the almost brand new vehicle that it was.

 

If you just sit 2 adults on the rear loading lip of an Octavia Estate it is already on the bump stops, you need to get the slabs as far forward as you can to share the load between the axles.

Edited 7 March, 20215 yr by J.R.

Watch your tyre loading, many years ago my bro in law asked me to look at his 3 month old Cortina estate as it was handling funny. He had loaded it with a flat pack kitchen the previous day. Both back tyres had egged on the inner sidewalls. Being too tight to pay delivery really paid off!

Please upload some pictures of how low the car is once you have them loaded 

Each paving slab could weigh about 70-80kg. That is more than the weight of an average adult person. So just think what the car would be like with seven people in it as well as you - I wouldn't want to do it!

I recently carried six 450x450 concrete council type  slabs in my Mk3 Combi. I laid them equally over the axle with the seats folded flat and a good level of padding to protect the car. I wouldn't have wanted to carry any more than that in one go. 

Thanks for all the responses, luckily we got more in the van we had with us that we initially thought so thankfully only three needed to go in the car, folded seats flat and laid evenly, but yes, I wouldn’t have wanted any more than 5/6 in there!

If the slabs in question are for a Brookside type patio dont forget to allow another 70kg in your calculations for 2 bags of lime

nominally paving slabs are usually about 40mm thick.

so .6 x .9 x .040 x 2400 (conc density)

each slab is around 52-55kg.

 

how much of a draggy arse are you willing go for is the question...