- Aug 20, 2007
- 570
- 625
- Funster No
- 128
- MH
- Frankia I7300 BD
- Exp
- since 1997 (many years tugger before then)
On our recent trip to Spain for the winter, we were delayed from setting off due to a big dump of snow. The van was fully loaded, scooter, bikes, awning, clothes, everything except for water (none at all due to the risk of it freezing0.
So I'm looking at the van parked up on the drive, wondering what to do for the next week, and I had this brill idea of taking the van to the local builders yard to get it weighed. I loaded 80 litres of water into containers then me & wife set off.
Result.....50 kgs overweight.
3950 kg, and the allowable gross wt on Hymer plate and reg doc was 3900 kg. So out came the scooter. We never missed the scooter in Spain so not really a problem.
What puzzled me was the discprencies in the wt plts on the van :- fiat plate: all wts were left blank. Hymer plt (and reg doc): gross wt 3900. Al-Ko plt 4000.
I rang Al-Ko, they confirmed my chassis was a 4000 kg chassis but that for some reason Hymer had only put a 3900 plate on it.
They also said if I get stopped by the police then show them (the police) your Al-Ko plate and all will be ok ! But I think that the police will want to see your reg doc to confirm allowable gross wt.
Anyway, on our return I visited the local DVLA office, who advised me to go to the local VOSA depot. I knew this to be rubbish and tried to tell them but no joy. So, after reading a bit more on the net I decide to photograph all the wt plates and the page in the Al-Ko handbook that referred to the chassis, then amend the vehicle details on the reg doc, and send the whole lot to DVLA Swansea.
7 Weeks later I received the amended reg doc now showing 4000 kg gross weight.
Now, do you think if I got in contact with Hymer (Germany) they would send me a revised weight plate (sticker) ?
Copied below is the letter I sent to Swansea.
''Re : Motorcaravan Registration ********
VIN / Chassis no.***************
The revenue weight on the V5C document states 3900 Kg.
This should be 4000 Kg in accordance with the AL-KO chassis weight plate which is riveted to the bonnet cross member.
The original Fiat weight plate is blank.
The AL-KO weight plate shows the chassis type as MC40XA, with an allowable gross weight (revenue weight) of 4000Kg.
I enclose the following documents :-
1.Photo of AL-KO weight plate showing VIN / chassis no., chassis type, gross weight.
2.Photo of Fiat weight plate showing VIN no. and blank weights.
3.Photo of AL-KO document showing chassis types and allowable gross weights.
I also enclose the V5C document for motorcaravan *******.
Would you please amend the revenue weight to 4000 Kg. in accordance with the supporting technical information described above.''
Hope this helps anyone else in a similar predicament.
regards
Allen
ps. I wonder what would've happened had I manipulated the digital images to read, say, 4200 kgs, which I think may have suited me better ?
So I'm looking at the van parked up on the drive, wondering what to do for the next week, and I had this brill idea of taking the van to the local builders yard to get it weighed. I loaded 80 litres of water into containers then me & wife set off.
Result.....50 kgs overweight.
3950 kg, and the allowable gross wt on Hymer plate and reg doc was 3900 kg. So out came the scooter. We never missed the scooter in Spain so not really a problem.
What puzzled me was the discprencies in the wt plts on the van :- fiat plate: all wts were left blank. Hymer plt (and reg doc): gross wt 3900. Al-Ko plt 4000.
I rang Al-Ko, they confirmed my chassis was a 4000 kg chassis but that for some reason Hymer had only put a 3900 plate on it.
They also said if I get stopped by the police then show them (the police) your Al-Ko plate and all will be ok ! But I think that the police will want to see your reg doc to confirm allowable gross wt.
Anyway, on our return I visited the local DVLA office, who advised me to go to the local VOSA depot. I knew this to be rubbish and tried to tell them but no joy. So, after reading a bit more on the net I decide to photograph all the wt plates and the page in the Al-Ko handbook that referred to the chassis, then amend the vehicle details on the reg doc, and send the whole lot to DVLA Swansea.
7 Weeks later I received the amended reg doc now showing 4000 kg gross weight.
Now, do you think if I got in contact with Hymer (Germany) they would send me a revised weight plate (sticker) ?
Copied below is the letter I sent to Swansea.
''Re : Motorcaravan Registration ********
VIN / Chassis no.***************
The revenue weight on the V5C document states 3900 Kg.
This should be 4000 Kg in accordance with the AL-KO chassis weight plate which is riveted to the bonnet cross member.
The original Fiat weight plate is blank.
The AL-KO weight plate shows the chassis type as MC40XA, with an allowable gross weight (revenue weight) of 4000Kg.
I enclose the following documents :-
1.Photo of AL-KO weight plate showing VIN / chassis no., chassis type, gross weight.
2.Photo of Fiat weight plate showing VIN no. and blank weights.
3.Photo of AL-KO document showing chassis types and allowable gross weights.
I also enclose the V5C document for motorcaravan *******.
Would you please amend the revenue weight to 4000 Kg. in accordance with the supporting technical information described above.''
Hope this helps anyone else in a similar predicament.
regards
Allen
ps. I wonder what would've happened had I manipulated the digital images to read, say, 4200 kgs, which I think may have suited me better ?