Do I upgrade to a heavier chassis?

[Minxy]

Yes. The rule is a medical for licence renewal every 5 years from 45 to 65, then annually from 65.

The licence validity, when issued, will therefore only be for five years. In respect of those classes (C, C1) it will require a medical for renewal, unless the driver chooses only to renew those classes (A, B) that don't require the medical.

(The 'medical when applying for provisional' just means you can't have a provisional licence without a medical. So too the 5-year renewals.)

Not correct I'm afraid, if you read the links I've posted above it difference depending on when you get the C1 licence:

If they are under 44 at the time of application, then it lasts for five years. If they are 44 and over at the time of applying, then it lasts for one year.

 

[Minxy]

I wouldn’t put too much faith into that blog being totally correct. Check out one of the Q&As:

“I think I know what’s needed to to enable me to continue driving my Autotrail Mohican Motorhome beyond my upcoming 70th birthday, but need to be sure.
So although I don’t need to get a C1 licence (because I have a pre -97 car licence),
to keep my current (or a replacement) licence, I need to:
have a medical and vision assessment by my GP
arrange to take and pass the theory tests that are going to cost me at least £150 ???!
complete and send the D4 form to DVLA
Is that correct and complete?
Many thanks!
Reply

1. 
   David Murden says:
   01/08/2023 at 10:37
   That sounds about right. There are companies which specialise in help people such as yourself get through the medical and keep your entitlement. At least for the first renewal, it’s probably best to use a professioanl company to help you.”

Yes, I know that's not right, as you do not have to take a theory test to keep your licence 70+, just a medical, however the same thing has been mentioned on the other link and in post #59 link too.

 

[Orion]

But that's not right, you do not have to take a theory test to keep your licence 70+, just a medical.

That’s exactly why I said I wouldn’t trust the information it contained.

 

[PaulW2]

Not correct I'm afraid, if you read the links I've posted above it difference depending on when you get the C1 licence:

That's not right. They just wrote the blog badly.

I have a C licence under these rules so I know them.

 

[Minxy]

That’s exactly why I said I wouldn’t trust the information it contained.

That's not right. They just wrote the blog badly.

I have a C licence under these rules so I know them.

We seem to be crossing in posts. I've put a further link in #59

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[Swiss]

With all this confusion over medicals etc., I'm wondering how many people on this forum are actually driving legally . Perhaps another reason to stick to 3500Kg

 

[knokinonabit]

I'm 73 and just in the process of renewing my HGV. I do it every year because with the confusion caused with licensing categories and who can drive what at least I know I am covered for anything

 

[minesapint]

I haven't read all of the comments but will do later, however the note about having to have a medical every 5 years if you've got your C1 from 1997 onwards refers specifically to a provisional licence, not a full licence, so is it really necessary to do the medical or not?

You need to do a D4Drivers check for DVLA every three years after 70. But what makes it so stupid is if you do not want to do the medical, you can buy a huge 4x4 and a four wheel giant caravan, and tow that around, without a medical.

 

[PaulW2]

I'm 73 and just in the process of renewing my HGV. I do it every year because with the confusion caused with licensing categories and who can drive what at least I know I am covered for anything

How long does it take you to get your licence back?

(We've had some horror stories here of people whose renewals took a long time or who ended up to-ing and fro-ing with DVLA.)

 

[knokinonabit]

How long does it take you to get your licence back?

(We've had some horror stories here of people whose renewals took a long time or who ended up to-ing and fro-ing with DVLA.)

Usually it's never been longer than six weeks. It came back in one week once.

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[Ingwe]

Get your payload down by dispensing with fresh water. Yes, just take along a few of these and add water when you get to your destination.

 

[Peter_Cooke]

'We will be full-time travelling around Europe next year'
How will you get around 90 days Schenegen?

 

[Lenny HB]

'We will be full-time travelling around Europe next year'
How will you get around 90 days Schenegen?

By going to countries outside the Schengen zone, Ireland, Marocco, Turkey, etc.

 

[Lazyboy]

Definitely go for the heavy version if you can obtain the relevant licence. It will save you "sweating" and give you scope to carry want you want within reason. Don't be put off by the negative comments about where you can go and speed limits. We have always had vans over 3,500 kgs and I cannot recall a major issue. Speed limit not a problem as we do not drive like we have stolen it!! Weight limits on roads have never presented any issues, we either go a different way or on occasion have ignored ( is that a hanging offence?!!) Angles Morts stickers are not a problem, it's not like you have a contageous disease just a heavier van that is most probaly more legal than most rated at 3,500 kgs (Inc in the UK)

 

[ED O'DARAC]

Hi all,

Looking to get some opinions on whether to upgrade to a heavier (4,100kg) Ford chassis on my Etrusco which is currently being built. We will be full-time travelling around Europe next year and our dealer has asked whether we want to go for this option to allow flexibility with our weight. The basic model will be 3 tonnes before we do anything with it, leaving 500kg for us and our things before we hit the fully laden threshold (due to age I'd need to get my C1 license to drive anything heavier). Would love to get people's experience with this, is 500kg enough for 2 people (and a dog!) to work with or are we likely to go over? If we're likely to go over do we go for the heavier chassis? Does that effect insurance? Do I get my C1 license but stick with the base chassis?

We aren't planning on taking heaps with us, it'll mainly be our clothes, a couple of bikes, kitchen stuff, etc... any advice would be appreciated! I've got all these thoughts going through my head on this and I don't want to make the wrong decision!

Cheers,
Jonny

Hi, my two pennerth is that Etrusco is a Hymer Group product and they are pretty well spot on with their weights. They include driver, half tank diesel, some water and gas bottle in the vehicle weight. They then give weights for each accessory you can add from the factory, so it should be fairly easy to predict final weight of yours.
Some people are ok with living minimally (we are, we view it as a 'life laundry' for our souls when in the van).
However, we aren't full timers.

If you don't intend to travel with 'the kitchen sink' then you should be fine at 3500kg plus the proviso that you can always upplate the existing chassis (and down plate for resale).

Have a great trip.

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[Fdhadi]

I'm 73 and just in the process of renewing my HGV. I do it every year because with the confusion caused with licensing categories and who can drive what at least I know I am covered for anything

I will do exactly the same if and when I get to 70.

 

[Jonny193]

'We will be full-time travelling around Europe next year'
How will you get around 90 days Schenegen?

Unfortunately we won't, we will be partaking in the wonderful "Schengen-shuffle" throughout the year unless something changes before we leave (fingers crossed). I was more referring to the continent

 

[Jonny193]

A final thank you to everyone who weighed in with experience and opinions, I've just spoken with our dealer and confirmed the heavier 4.1 chassis. Now to make arrangements for getting my C1 license....!

 

[Folkranger]

If your going full time then how about a small trailer then you can carry what you like? Saw plenty Germans pulling trailers of all sorts last year

If you're going to tow, just get a caravan. You'll have more living space and a car to use at your destination. Of course if you don't want a caravan, just get a bigger/heavier motorhome.

 

[Stumbleweed]

When I passed my C and C+E tests in 2017, there was no practical or financial difference in passing a C as opposed to a C1 test - at the time I was considering buying an older N+B Clou Liner or similar, some of which are over 7.5t, so went for the C licence instead.
In the end we bought a 6.7t Concorde which gives us 1300 kg payload.

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