Down-plating Anyone done this?

Stewart J

Stewart J

Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Posts
3,272
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Location
SW Northumberland
Funster No
12,394
MH
Hymer B 588 DL
Exp
Since September 2010
As stated in my other running thread re loss of C1 entitlement I need to down-plate my Hymer, on purchase 2 years ago we had it upped from 3500 to 3850kg, the dealer had to do this through Hymer.
Now I need to return it to 3500kg, spoke to the DVLA yesterday they need it weighing and a certificate for proof (job for this morning) and a covering letter explaining my request and the reasons and fill out section 7 of my V5. I will also attach a copy of the vehicles COC.
If anyone has done this what other pitfalls can I expect, they tell me it will take 4 weeks or more to reissue a new V5.
TIA
 
Other than having to reduce what you carry with you the only 'pitfall' here is the increase in road tax! Abroad you'll have different charges for vignettes etc but it may be better, or worse, depending on where you go and for how long and what roads you use.
 
mfw said:
SV tech know all about it
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Yes they will do but will probably want to charge a silly amount of money to do what the OP can do herself, but they will give her some advice I'm sure.

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Only said SV tech as they can probably get you back to original manafacturers stated weights without the trimmings - weigh it now it will be a lot heavier than original stated vehicle weight - and that is why i suggested them - if you weigh it now for dvla records it will be heavier
 
Don't know anything about down-plating, Stewart, but as you know we have the same van as you. We've up-plated to 3850 because we felt more comfortable with that. However, I think it's do-able at 3500 if you're careful.
We weighed ours with full load of clothes, food, books etc, 2xbikes, full fuel tank and half-full water tank, and were 3540kg (including ourselves and a 30kg dog.) We don't have an awning, though.
You may just have to dump your water, if you get stopped! :)
 
I know someone on another forum that down plated a Hymer, they got a letter and new plate from Hymer it was £200.:eek::eek::eek:

You can buy "show Plates" on Ebay for a few quid and fairly certain all DVLA want is an offical weighbridge ticket. You will probably have to send payment for the difference in VED with your application or they will have a reason to reject it. Don't hold your hopes up on getting done in 4 weeks the last van we uprated only took them over 4 months to get it right, pot luck with DVLA.

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you dont need sv tec just send in the unladen weight weighbridge slip provided it's below 3.5 they cant refuse its then up to you to not go over weight classic lorries are often downplated to allow more people to drive them
 
They (DVLA) will be looking for a usable margin for operational purposes . If weighbridge says 3470kg unladen then its unlikely that you would be allowed to downrate . So make sure that the vehicle is definitely unladen when weighing . Thats any movable load (not fixed items) .
 
I suggest you ring DVLA again, you will get a different set of criteria.
No two DVLA desk jockey's sing from the same hymn book....never have, never will.
All you should have to do is alter the V5 we're it says and return it to DVLA.
It's your responsibility to ensure its capable of being downrated to the weight you want, not theirs.
 
tacr2man said:
They (DVLA) will be looking for a usable margin for operational purposes . If weighbridge says 3470kg unladen then its unlikely that you would be allowed to downrate . So make sure that the vehicle is definitely unladen when weighing . Thats any movable load (not fixed items) .
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They aren't downrating as such, more returning to the original registered gross weight of 3500kg which will still be on record.
 
tacr2man said:
They (DVLA) will be looking for a usable margin for operational purposes . If weighbridge says 3470kg unladen then its unlikely that you would be allowed to downrate . So make sure that the vehicle is definitely unladen when weighing . Thats any movable load (not fixed items) .
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doesnt need any usable weight its then up to you to not load it

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I would remove everything possible from the vehicle including hub caps, spare wheel ,empty water & waste tanks , empty diesel tank bike rack , tow bar ,etc; etc, before weighing.
 
My license has been restricted and my van is running on 16in wheels heavy suspension never looks overweight but i'm definately running overweight but only full water tank weight so bottom line i can dump fresh water to get weight inline also A class at 6.8mts long
 
pappajohn said:
Stick that in yer tyres.
As Tesco keep shoving down our throats..... Every little helps.
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Check out the price of diving grade helium probably evaporated by now anyway even with closed cylinder basic rebreather mix 10/50 or 10/52
 
mfw said:
Check out the price of diving grade helium probably evaporated by now anyway even with closed cylinder basic rebreather mix 10/50 or 10/52
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We'll, if there's nowt in your dive tank your tyres will stay flat.. .... Confirmation it evaporated. :D

But the tyres will still be lighter than they would be with air in them.
 
mitzimad said:
doesnt need any usable weight its then up to you to not load it
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The point I was making is they wont let you downrate a vehicle that unladen is more than the weight you want to down rate to , :)
none intended .
 
Busy day, emptied the garage, then along to weighbridge, 3260kg (front axle 1601kg, rear 1659kg) with 14.5 kg of lpg, 42 kgs of fuel. Left all our clothing, bedding, crockery cutlery, toiletries, towels etc in van. Then to garage to top up with fuel and gas so I could calculate the above weights.
COC states van left factory at 3104 kg additional extras fitted by dealer, 2x 125 ampere Varta leisure batteries (Hymer supplied 95ampere battery removed) 125amp solar panel, and a spare wheel at 21 kg. Weighed everything as I put it back into garage, ramps, jack, chairs, table and all the stuff and it came to 57.9 kgs. So 3500kg is just possible with care.
Van is a 2017 Hymer B588DL.
Filled out the V5, attached a covering letter, along with copies of the COC with weights highlighted, confirmation from Hymer van upped from 3500 to 3850kg, Hymer advert flier for the van showing rated at 3500kg and a copy of the dealer letter at time of purchase showing the extras including upgrade to 3850kg. Sent off 1st class signed for.
I know await the DVLA.

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Stewart J said:
Busy day, emptied the garage, then along to weighbridge, 3260kg (front axle 1601kg, rear 1659kg) with 14.5 kg of lpg, 42 kgs of fuel. Left all our clothing, bedding, crockery cutlery, toiletries, towels etc in van. Then to garage to top up with fuel and gas so I could calculate the above weights.
COC states van left factory at 3104 kg additional extras fitted by dealer, 2x 125 ampere Varta leisure batteries (Hymer supplied 95ampere battery removed) 125amp solar panel, and a spare wheel at 21 kg. Weighed everything as I put it back into garage, ramps, jack, chairs, table and all the stuff and it came to 57.9 kgs. So 3500kg is just possible with care.
Van is a 2017 Hymer B588DL.
Filled out the V5, attached a covering letter, along with copies of the COC with weights highlighted, confirmation from Hymer van upped from 3500 to 3850kg, Hymer advert flier for the van showing rated at 3500kg and a copy of the dealer letter at time of purchase showing the extras including upgrade to 3850kg. Sent off 1st class signed for.
I know await the DVLA.
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Does under 3500kg include passengers and driver ?
 
Not suggesting Stewart does it but a question for future for us.
If you have a motorhome plated at 3,500kg is it possible \ sensible to tow a trailer behind in which you could carry the "external" stuff like table, chairs, levelling ramps, etc, etc, .......?
 
pappajohn said:
All Unladen weights include 75kg driver.
Passengers are payload.
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Not if the vehicle is actually being weighed without the driver onboard :)

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