A Wake Up Call At The Weighbridge (1 Viewer)

[PP Bear]

While passing the DVLA weighbridge on the A34 (Abingdon turn off, the one signposted for Dalton Barracks) I decided to take the plunge and pop the motorhome on a weighbridge to gauge exactly where I am in terms of axle weights.

It was quite a surprise to find that I was overweight on the rear axle and then overall weight.

I wasn't carrying much as I was only away a short period, however I did have a full water tank (136ltrs, meaning 136kg) and an extra supply stored under the rear bed (40ltrs, meaning another 40kgs), only 1/4 tank of fuel, but a belly locker full of tools, trolley jack, axle stands, torque wrenches etc (once a mechanic, always a mechanic), so now I need to shed some weight.

I used to like to carry the extra water, as we then showered mornings and nights, but I'll now leave it behind and top up the main tank from another source when required. We live and learn.

The red writing is my plated weight, while the black is the measured weight and the details in the brackets is the %overweight.

The chap was very polite and extremely helpful and informed me it would have been a £100 fine for the rear axle and another £100 for the total overweight if I'd have been pulled by the police and escorted to a weighbridge. He then suggested that I reduced the weight before setting off again. So I emptied some water and left for the weekend of wild camping, still slightly overweight. So this weekend will be a weight shedding exercise to see how much rubbish I'm carrying in all the hidyholes and hopefully get me above the load limit again

It did make me wonder just how many more must be running over the legal limit. We saw a number of others with roof boxes and cycle racks packed, one with 4 bikes loaded as well.

I guess the impact would be the insurance if there was ever an accident and they found out the vehicle was over it's legal weight limit.

 

[jumartoo]

We've just returned from our summer trip and emptied our van. It's amazing how much food, clothes and books/maps weigh. They get put in over time and the weight starts to creep up!

 

[Just smiffy]

Am I missing something ...? Your gross should be 3970kg...?

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[Mikeco]

Am I missing something ...? Your gross should be 3970kg...?

The plated total is rarely the total of the two axles.

 

[DavidG58]

Like you I popped on one a couple of years ago, just to see, but with a 5 ton limit always thought we would be well under

We weren't packed and without Bev I was already over, now replayed to 5.5T weighed while in Norway at 5.55T but were carrying stock and were full of water and fuel

Always a good heads up I for one thought with our weight we would be massively under

 

[DavidG58]

The plated total is rarely the total of the two axles.

Ours is since being uprated

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[Mikeco]

Ours is since being uprated

That maybe the case but your weight distribution has to be spot on to be at your maximum allowed weight. Very difficult to achieve especially on the front axle.

 

[DavidG58]

That maybe the case but your weight distribution has to be spot on to be at your maximum allowed weight. Very difficult to achieve especially on the front axle.

I see your point now, more that to actually weigh your gross weight limit is near impossible

Not that the max plated weight is rarely the sum of both axles, as I read it first time

Edit just read back over thread and seen other comment, all obvious what you meant now, my apologies using iPhone tonight knew it was a bad idea

 

[Podney]

So....what I have now learnt from this is that you don’t just get fined for being overweight in total,you also get fined for each axle that’s overweight..
You could be fined for an overweight axle even though your total is within limit.
Have I got that right?

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[PhilandMena]

Welcome to the club! I suspect most of us are overweight at sometime or other

 

[Mikeco]

So....what I have now learnt from this is that you don’t just get fined for being overweight in total,you also get fined for each axle that’s overweight..
You could be fined for an overweight axle even though your total is within limit.
Have I got that right?

Yes

 

[TheBig1]

So....what I have now learnt from this is that you don’t just get fined for being overweight in total,you also get fined for each axle that’s overweight..
You could be fined for an overweight axle even though your total is within limit.
Have I got that right?

correct

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[gus-lopez]

So....what I have now learnt from this is that you don’t just get fined for being overweight in total,you also get fined for each axle that’s overweight..
You could be fined for an overweight axle even though your total is within limit.
Have I got that right?

Yes but those rules normally only apply to commercial drivers. They won't fine unless an axle & total is overweight .if axle is over but total is under they are not supposed to issue a penalty. Guidelines are here.


GRADUATION OF FIXED PENALTY NOTICES
£100 FP -- 5% to 10% or over 1 tonne on axle, gross or train if less than 5%
£200 FP -- Over 10% and up to 15%
£300 FP -- Over 15% and up to 30%
Prosecute over 30% or over 5 tonnes on axle, gross or train if under 30%

NON COMMERCIAL DRIVERS
In genuine cases of ignorance e.g. moving house, and where the offence is unlikely to be
repeated, a prohibition should be issued and an overloading guidance leaflet handed to
the driver. To take into account the Public Interest Test no Fixed Penalty Notice should
be issued in these circumstances.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Ours is since being uprated

What chassis are you on, David, and what were you uprated to? Thanks

 

[DavidG58]

What chassis are you on, David, and what were you uprated to? Thanks

Mercedes gone from 5 to 5.5T we have twin rear axle

Hope that helps I have just about peaked on what I know other than SV tech did it

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[42208]

Why post it bright blue letters? What does it mean? Are you shouting, or emphasising a point, is it to get noticed? When do you go to capital letters, when do you use red or green? Just trying to understand the forum etiquette as at first it seems rather annoying, however, probably just that I do not understand how to interpret it

 

[Podney]

Don’t think there are any rules about it. When I first came across it I too thought it a bit strange,but now I am used to it.
I find it easier to read late at night,when the anaesthetic is starting to take effect.hic,hic.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Am I missing something ...? Your gross should be 3970kg...?

The plated total is rarely the total of the two axles.

It can be but it isn’t automatically.


The max possible weight of some chassis (standard Alko springs to mind) is 3850 (1850/2000) but it’s possible to get the rear up to 2400 with some work. The max remains at 3850 though.

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[Minxy]

Why post it bright blue letters? What does it mean? Are you shouting, or emphasising a point, is it to get noticed? When do you go to capital letters, when do you use red or green? Just trying to understand the forum etiquette as at first it seems rather annoying, however, probably just that I do not understand how to interpret it

It's just the poster's preference regarding text colour/font, nothing else. As a general rule text in capitals is usually when you want to EMPHASISE something you're saying so it isn't missed, or you're shouting, obviously depending on the context of the sentence, others use bold text, just down to personal preference.

 

[dabhand]

Welcome to the club! I suspect most of us are overweight at sometime or other

You are podgy!

 

[lawry]

Now you lot have got me thinking !
So .Off today to council weighbridge with twin axle 5T with van fully laden with water, fuel ,Angie and 2 goldies and supplies for trip to Spain in a week
Fingers crossed

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[jdk62]

Why post it bright blue letters? What does it mean? Are you shouting, or emphasising a point, is it to get noticed? When do you go to capital letters, when do you use red or green? Just trying to understand the forum etiquette as at first it seems rather annoying, however, probably just that I do not understand how to interpret it

Nobody moans about Old MO's postings which use same colour etc....

 

[Minxy]

Nobody moans about Old MO's postings which use same colour etc....

He wasn't moaning, just asking a question.

 

[jockaneezer]

Nobody moans about Old MO's postings which use same colour etc....

We're all too busy moaning about the content of Old Mo's to worry about the font/colour.

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[Rockcrawler]

I wonder how many Motorhomers have actually been pulled over and weighed

 

[funflair]

I wonder how many Motorhomers have actually been pulled over and weighed

Other than voluntarily I would say "not many"

Martin

 

[PhilandMena]

There all waiting behind trees to pounce on your motorhome as soon as you set off ! LOL

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[Neckender]

We loaded our Globecar Campscout up for our Benidorm trip and found out that we were 170kgs over our plated 3500kg, so going through with JR consultancy to be up plated.
Hope it’s worth it as I’ll be 70 in 2 years.
John.

 

[Rockcrawler]

There all waiting behind trees to pounce on your motorhome as soon as you set off ! LOL

Phew that's ok then, I always avoid the trees

 

[Rockcrawler]

Now you lot have got me thinking !
So .Off today to council weighbridge with twin axle 5T with van fully laden with water, fuel ,Angie and 2 goldies and supplies for trip to Spain in a week
Fingers crossed

How did you get on, what were the results ?

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