The Dreaded Weighbridge. (1 Viewer)

hilldweller

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Dec 5, 2008
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So I thought, time to weigh it again. Got the weight, 3020 and it's 3500 max. Deep joy.

Which did not last very long, I looked at the Burstner plate on the side

1.1650
2.1750

Then I looked at my weights 1220, 1740.

Well under gross weight but on these figure I can't carry anything more :(

Looks like we've been illegal for 8 years.
 
2

2657

Deleted User
Those figures don't seem to add up if your gross weight is 3500 then the axle weights on the plate can't be correct, there is always a margin, when the two axle weights are added together the sum is always greater than the max weight on the plate.

Your actual weighing's don't add up either, the sum of the two axles is 2960 and your quoted gross is 3020, a difference of 60k which is too much, they should be very close.
 
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hilldweller

hilldweller

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Those figures don't seem to add up.

Yes, it's gone down hill from post one. In the Burstner handbook there is an example calculation showing max weight at 3500. This idiot never twigged the Burstner plate actually said 3200. So we have 1650+1750=3400 on the plate.

Actual weights, 60k is a fair old error, pass ! At the local waste place the girl said "printed or written" and I asked what is the difference, "£10 or free". I went for free.

The weighing was "iffy" too. She asked me to stop with the front wheels on the bridge but because it's 4 foot up a ramp the back wheels would be a foot lower. For the back weighing the front wheels were a foot down, certainly not exactly the same as the first weigh.

I have just asked SV Tech if fitting some form of rear spring assist would boost the back capacity.

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2657

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Yes, it's gone down hill from post one. In the Burstner handbook there is an example calculation showing max weight at 3500. This idiot never twigged the Burstner plate actually said 3200. So we have 1650+1750=3400 on the plate.

Actual weights, 60k is a fair old error, pass ! At the local waste place the girl said "printed or written" and I asked what is the difference, "£10 or free". I went for free.

The weighing was "iffy" too. She asked me to stop with the front wheels on the bridge but because it's 4 foot up a ramp the back wheels would be a foot lower. For the back weighing the front wheels were a foot down, certainly not exactly the same as the first weigh.

I have just asked SV Tech if fitting some form of rear spring assist would boost the back capacity.

The plate makes sense now and the difference in heights would account for the difference in actual weights.
Good luck with getting an uprate.
 

Forestboy

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Weighed mine an hour ago fully loaded ready to go Weds am.
Full diesel full water full gas all food and clothes and junk loaded Kawasaki in the garage leccy bikes on the back.
4600kgs
400 kgs left on gross
20kgs left on rear axles
330kgs left on front axle
Perfeck :)(y)

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Forestboy

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Brian I used to own several weighbridges and all were registered as public weighbridges. You cannot get an accurate weight if the vehicle is not level if you're gonna weigh axles like that the concrete each end has to be level.

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Puddleduck

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3200 doesn't seem correct to me (but what do I know?) - even our little 5.99m low profile Chausson has a plate of 3500 max overall.
 
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2657

Deleted User
I once had an argument with a sergeant traffic policeman about the availability of axle weighing facilities in the area that I operate a truck in. He pointed me in the direction of the corporation public weighbridge which was up a slight ramp, when I pointed out that this method was not accurate he told me that was how they did it and it was my responsibility anyway. Really helpful chappy he was.
I had just been fined over £600 for being 11% overloaded on the front axle of a 7.5 tonner, about 40k, I moved 4 cartons from the front and it was OK. Summons said that I was grossly overloaded and dangerous this was many years ago before fixed penalty's came in and justice was meted out by magistrates who knew SFA about transport........it still rankles.
 

Forestboy

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Weighed mine an hour ago fully loaded ready to go Weds am.
Full diesel full water full gas all food and clothes and junk loaded Kawasaki in the garage leccy bikes on the back.
4600kgs
400 kgs left on gross
20kgs left on rear axles
330kgs left on front axle
Perfeck :)(y)

Losing the plot Old Age Doesn't Come Alone they say.
Used to be good at mental arithmetic :oops:
Just rechecked the weights as 20kg on the rear didn't seem right.
100kgs left on front
200kgs left on rear.
Doh :doh:

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Sundowners

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We had our Flair MOTd last week and it is virtually loaded as we travel with two people on-board----mainly fridge contents/water and Pamala's buggy to go in-----and we have 800 kilos left !!!!!
Nigel & Pamala

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Bailey58

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Weighed mine an hour ago fully loaded ready to go Weds am.
Full diesel full water full gas all food and clothes and junk loaded Kawasaki in the garage leccy bikes on the back.
4600kgs
400 kgs left on gross
20kgs left on rear axles
330kgs left on front axle
Perfeck :)(y)

Ok I've seen your later post now and edited my response. I'm now close to max on the rear and light on the front. Something I mentioned on an uprating thread here but the gist of it was:

The only thing I would add is the increased weight on the rear axle does lighten the traction on the front and I suspect I may have grip problems similar to my old van which had a marked difference between the two. Difficult pulling away at times, particularly hill starts in the wet. With the front axle so far forward it's not easy to shift loads to compensate.

I only discovered this when checking the new weight with bikes and new towbar on the back but pulling away onto the main road from the weighbridge saw the front wheels searching for grip for a second or two, or was it just me being heavy on the throttle?
 

Judge Mental

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rear axle limit often reached before all up weight reached, unless you have maxi chassis......... a light front axle ain't to cleaver either:(
 

Forestboy

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Is there not a "margin of error" on weighbridges?
They surely can't be 100% accurate!
If a registered public weighbridge 20 kgs max error allowed over the total so must be within 2okgs over 50 tons in our case. All bridges have a zero button which allows you to reset if heavy with rain muck or snow but after so many resets (can't remember how many) bridge has to be recalibrated by engineers (expensive job) steam cleaning can often get back to a minus weight then you can reset again.

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andy63

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On the subject of weights can someone tell me if the read out of the mot brake test is likely to be the axel weights..
It's showing front weight as 1122kg and rear at 1164kg and a total of 2286kg..
I weighed the van a couple years ago and sure it was in order of 2800kg and I've added one or two bits since...so what are the recorded weights on the sheet....
Ta Andy.
20150427_190306.jpg

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Forestboy

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Thanks for the info guys even if it was in conflict! ::bigsmile:

No conflict I haven't owned or operated a weighbridge for 10 years or more and was talking from my own experience rather than copy n paste.

Remembering when I had my first weighbridge it was 30 ton max, 40 tonners were few and far between and 20 tonners were the norm now everyone has a 50 tonner so obviously tolerances have changed.

Used to dread the weights and measures lorry turning up once a year it meant at best operations ceased for an hour and at worst many many thousands to be spent on refurb/ recalibration, a busy weighbridge wears very quickly.

Anyway I'm packed and ready for 6 weeks away and underweight so Am I Bovvered :)
 

pappajohn

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Brian
....just remove the Burster plate.

the chassis is the same chassis as when it came out the base vehicle factory with the same physical load carrying capacity.

Only Burstner deemed it necessary to downplate it....not the factory.

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hilldweller

hilldweller

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Brian
....just remove the Burster plate.

the chassis is the same chassis as when it came out the base vehicle factory with the same physical load carrying capacity.

Only Burstner deemed it necessary to downplate it....not the factory.

So I pull of Burstner's 3200 leaving the FIAT 3000. I'm stuffed all ways.
 

mike mcglynn

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I concur with Forestboy I was a weighbridge operator for years and trading standards used to come and check our weighbridge on a very regular basis the allowance was 20 kilos on our particular weighbridge some were 10 kilos and some were even less .I think most council depots have a weighbridge these days and are used to multiple weighs as motorhomes need front and back axle weights and gross weight , vosa weighstations that I have seen only have axle weights on a single narrow plate for hgv checks.Ramped entrance and exit will not give true weights

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May 16, 2014
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Is there not a "margin of error" on weighbridges?
They surely can't be 100% accurate!
5% on a dynamic bridge and, in effect 5% on plate bridges too as there is a defence to being overweight in the Road Traffic Act 1988. there are certain conditions that have to be in place to get the defence but, in essence, DVSA (VOSA) will generally allow the 5% tolerance before looking to prosecute (or indeed offer a Graduated Fixed Penalty). DVSA generally allow 5% or a tonne, whichever is the lower.
 
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May 16, 2014
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Just to add to the above....
The tolerances are lower when the bridge is calibrated by Trading Standards than when actually used by the enforcement authorities. This is just the enforcement authorities "playing safe" and giving the culprit (sorry, customer) a little more leaway
 

Lenny HB

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@Forestboy and @mike mcglynn, OK guys whats your verdict on the VOSA roadside drive over weighbridges. Have one near us and I use it regular I have noticed weights can vary on each pass. I usually go over it 2 or 3 times sometimes the readings are the same other times can vary by 20 or 30 kg, is it anything to do with depending how central you drive over or how fast? Always try to keep central & as slow as possible.

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