3,500kg or 4,050kg plating?

[Nick555]

There are 2 plating options on the 4x4 6m PVC we will be shortly ordering. Giving an approx payload of 400kg or 950kg. Carrying 2 adults + 1 cat, 160 litre freshwater laptops, clothes, food, drone & camera equipment, I think we're looking at 950kg as more sensible. My licence covers the increased plating, my wife cannot drive.

What are the plus & minus points of a higher plating for things such as insurance, road tax, ferries & anything else I forgot?

 

[Lenny HB]

Slightly reduced speed limits in Europe. Some villages have a 3500 kg limit but they don't worry about Motorhomes and certainly not a PVC.

No substitute for decent payload, heavy chassis also has better brakes but the ride is firmer.

 

[Pausim]

When I up plated from 3500kg to 3850kg it made no difference to insurance and reduced the cost of road tax. I think ferries go by length rather than weight.

 

[Bessy765]

Go for the higher option, if when selling you could always down rate it. Cheaper tax over 3500 kg

 

[nicholsong]

Road tax will be less, at standard £165. for >3.5t

Ferries do not take weight into account, only length.

I never remember being asked by an insurance company about weight, so probably no difference.

At 400kg payload (if real) with 160 lt water =160kg, diesel 70lt = 50kg, two people = 150kg(?) you would only have 40kg left, which is nothing.

I cannot think of any disadvantages so I would go for the higher weight.

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[Old Gibber]

Road tax will be less, at standard £165. for >3.5t

Ferries do not take weight into account, only length.

I never remember being asked by an insurance company about weight, so probably no difference.

At 400kg payload (if real) with 160 lt water =160kg, diesel 70lt = 50kg, two people = 150kg(?) you would only have 40kg left, which is nothing.

I cannot think of any disadvantages so I would go for the higher weight.

The driver is always included in the MIRO, and usually some of the diesel. You need to check what MIRO includes with the manufacturer.

 

[royandsharont]

The only disadvantage, and it does apply regularly if you travel in EU, is the speed limit as mentioned above, 50 mph as an example on Spanish motorways and the same or similar elsewhere. However we got there in the end, just a bit slower or a day later

A big one for us was having to get an electronic Go box to put huge credits on for tolls in Austria and similar in Slovenia and probably more countries now. Some members won’t go to Austria anymore as a result, be we always do & put up with the additional problems but it was a big consideration to the list when we decided to downsize. Going in the new van will be a breeze.

Also we never found any legal restrictions for access in France to exclude Motorhomes, they were all just anything over 3.5t, unlike many here, so we couldn’t legally enter.

I think you need to just check what weights carried are already included in your MIRO, eg I expect some water, you, gas etc to be included, but if not then I think 400k payload will not be enough so I’d go higher plate weight.

 

[BillandHelen]

Hi from a fellow Scot! We have a 7m Mercedes panel van, updated from 3500 to 4050. Would absolutely recommend the higher weight, 400 kg for 2 just isn’t enough if your travelling for a while and off grid. Your full water tank would take away 160kg of your payload straightaway, we always start full with our 120l tank.

 

[mikebeaches]

All things being equal, if I was offered the choice and had a C1 licence, I'd probably go for the higher payload - for the reasons mentioned in the previous posts.

However, we have a 6.4-metre pvc plated at 3,500kg and manage fine. And there are some advantages also...

Strangely, you often get a slightly higher payload on a similar sized coachbuilt plated at 3,500kg, because the habitation bodywork is lighter than the steel in a pvc. Our previous 6-metre coachbuilt weighed around 2,700kg, whereas the pvc is about 3,000kg - so we previously had an extra 300kg to play with - quite a decent amount at almost 800kg, compared to circa 500kg now.

 

[Nick555]

Thank you everyone, the higher plating seems the way to go. Our only foreign plans are over to Norway for a month or so - via whatever countries we have to go through to get there. Most of our touring will be UK & Islands.

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[gus-lopez]

What are the plus & minus points of a higher plating for things such as insurance, road tax, ferries & anything else I forgot?

Road tax is cheaper at the higher weight. The rest have no interest.

The only disadvantage, and it does apply regularly if you travel in EU, is the speed limit as mentioned above, 50 mph as an example on Spanish motorways and the same or similar elsewhere. However we got there in the end, just a bit slower or a day later

That isn't the limit in spain on autovias.even at the higher weight it would be 56mph(90 kms/hr) as lgv but most run at spanish limits of 100kms/hour.
being a registered motorhome the limit for all is 100km/hr.

 

[DumfriesDik]

Bigger is better.

 

[Lenny HB]

Road tax is cheaper at the higher weight. The rest have no interest.

That isn't the limit in spain on autovias.even at the higher weight it would be 56mph(90 kms/hr) as lgv but most run at spanish limits of 100kms/hour.
being a registered motorhome the limit for all is 100km/hr.

I thought that changed a couple of years ago.
New limit came in for Motorhomes at 90 kph Spanish Motorhome association contested it and limit for under 3 5t raised to 120 kph, still 90 for over 3.5t.

 

[royandsharont]

That was my understanding too but I thought it was 50mph or 80kph that it ended up at

 

[jongood]

The only disadvantage, and it does apply regularly if you travel in EU, is the speed limit as mentioned above, 50 mph as an example on Spanish motorways and the same or similar elsewhere. However we got there in the end, just a bit slower or a day later

A big one for us was having to get an electronic Go box to put huge credits on for tolls in Austria and similar in Slovenia and probably more countries now. Some members won’t go to Austria anymore as a result, be we always do & put up with the additional problems but it was a big consideration to the list when we decided to downsize. Going in the new van will be a breeze.

Also we never found any legal restrictions for access in France to exclude Motorhomes, they were all just anything over 3.5t, unlike many here, so we couldn’t legally enter.

I think you need to just check what weights carried are already included in your MIRO, eg I expect some water, you, gas etc to be included, but if not then I think 400k payload will not be enough so I’d go higher plate weight.

56 on Spanish motorways , I add 10% and its how fast I'm happy with anyway, Spanish don't seem bothered anyway.

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[vzac]

Thank you everyone, the higher plating seems the way to go. Our only foreign plans are over to Norway for a month or so - via whatever countries we have to go through to get there. Most of our touring will be UK & Islands.

Hi like a previous person said Austria etc you need a tag/bizz if over 3.5. if your planning to go to Norway you need to register the vehicle, and choose a company to go with, as they to require 3.5 plus MHS to use tags etc, plus prepayments if you want discounts. Ferries, tunnels and rds are tolled. Plus some of the ferries between Sweden and Denmark do not accept pets. Some of the ferries also use weight and length as a calculation to price the crossing. Take care have a good adventure

 

[Jamesh]

You haven't mentioned how old you are or how fit you are....

Forms and Medicals beckon after 70 I believe.

 

[jongood]

Hi like a previous person said Austria etc you need a tag/bizz if over 3.5. if your planning to go to Norway you need to register the vehicle, and choose a company to go with, as they to require 3.5 plus MHS to use tags etc, plus prepayments if you want discounts. Ferries, tunnels and rds are tolled. Plus some of the ferries between Sweden and Denmark do not accept pets. Some of the ferries also use weight and length as a calculation to price the crossing. Take care have a good adventure

You only need gobox in Austria over 3500kgs for motorways. It is possible to navigate some parts of Austria without i.e Grossglockner but yes Austria is a pita.

 

[Thornebt]

It seems strange that road tax is cheaper over 3500kg. Don't understand the logic of that. I'm glad it is that way as my Costswold Autosleeper is 4005kg.

 

[The Wino]

Isn't the speed limit lower in the UK as well on some roads ?

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[Lenny HB]

Isn't the speed limit lower in the UK as well on some roads ?

UK speed limit is based on unladen weight of 3050 kg. The only converter that quotes unladen weight as well as MIRO is Carthago.

If the converter uses the European standard allowances (driver at 75kg, 20lt water, 1 x 11kg aluminium gas bottle & 90% fuel) for MIRO if you take 185 kg off the MIRO you should be close to the unladen weight, that's based on a 90 Lt fuel tank.

 

[Lenny HB]

It seems strange that road tax is cheaper over 3500kg. Don't understand the logic of that. I'm glad it is that way as my Costswold Autosleeper is 4005kg.

For VED they put over 3500kg in the same class as goods vehicles who's VED has not increased for around 20 years.

 

[Pausim]

The only converter that quotes unladen weight as well as MIRO is Carthago.

My Carthago CofC has two unladen weights, one below 3050kg and one above 3050kg. I have no idea which one applies but since I am usually towing I have to keep to lower speeds anyway.

 

[Lenny HB]

My Carthago CofC has two unladen weights, one below 3050kg and one above 3050kg. I have no idea which one applies but since I am usually towing I have to keep to lower speeds anyway.

I think you will find one is the unladen the other is the MIRO.

 

[Nick555]

Hi like a previous person said Austria etc you need a tag/bizz if over 3.5. if your planning to go to Norway you need to register the vehicle, and choose a company to go with, as they to require 3.5 plus MHS to use tags etc, plus prepayments if you want discounts. Ferries, tunnels and rds are tolled. Plus some of the ferries between Sweden and Denmark do not accept pets. Some of the ferries also use weight and length as a calculation to price the crossing. Take care have a good adventure

Thanks you, that's interesting. We probably wouldnt take our cat to Norway. Can you detail a little more about registering please, I don't understand what I would need to register.

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[TonyEmm]

The driver is always included in the MIRO, and usually some of the diesel. You need to check what MIRO includes with the manufacturer.

As long as he/she only weighs 75kgs!

 

[TonyEmm]

My Carthago CofC has two unladen weights, one below 3050kg and one above 3050kg. I have no idea which one applies but since I am usually towing I have to keep to lower speeds anyway.

3050kg unladen weight is the cutoff point for speed limits on single and dual carriageway roads when not towing.

Motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight)	30 (48)	60 (96)	70 (112)	70 (112)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight)	30 (48)	50 (80)	60 (96)	70 (112)
Buses, coaches and minibuses (not more than 12 metres overall length)	30 (48)	50 (80)	60 (96)	70 (112)
Buses, coaches and minibuses (more than 12 metres overall length)	30 (48)	50 (80)	60 (96)	60 (96)
Goods vehicles (not more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight)	30 (48)	50 (80)	60 (96)	70 (112) 60 (96) if articulated or towing a trailer
Goods vehicles (more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) in England and Wales	30 (48)	50 (80)	60 (96)	60 (96)
Goods vehicles (more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) in Scotland	30 (48)	40 (64)	50 (80)	60 (96)

 

[Lenny HB]

As long as he/she only weighs 75kgs!

Don't most of us?

 

[Pausim]

I think you will find one is the unladen the other is the MIRO.

That makes sense, thanks. This is what it says.

 

[vzac]

Thanks you, that's interesting. We probably wouldnt take our cat to Norway. Can you detail a little more about registering please, I don't understand what I would need to register.

If you go to autopass Norway. You need to register the vehicle in the country, so they know what it is a copy of the v5 needs to be sent. Then you choose a company who will take payments, there are several, but for UK vehicles and over 3.5t you are limited, I went with brobizz of nice you have registered with them you will need to hire a tag from them to put in the windscreen for me I choose to pay automatically, so had to give bank details. Then if you are going to get ferries, you need to then register with autopassferje.no, and if you want discount you need to pay minimum 3000 k ( about 300£). Once you have done that if you are going to use the bridge between Denmark and Sweden you need to then register with the bridge company to get discount on that ( it's about £120 each way if you don't). There are a couple of other companies you could use but I think they are all as complicated as this. It took me over a month to get sorted
Good luck.
Ps Poland I gave up on, so not even going to Poland ( it's impossible to work out, how to register for 3.5+ vehicles).