How are speed limits changed by vehicle weight?

I am waiting on delivery of a 2015 Chausson 718EB on a new Ford chassis which has been increased to 4.1t. I have tried emailing Chausson to find out what they do to the chassis to increase the capacity to this figure (it costs another £800) but have no reply to any of my emails, and Highbridge couldn't tell me either as Ford supply the chassis to Chausson direct. My question however is how does the increased carrying capacity change the speed limits I can go on dual carriageways and derestricted roads? I know when you go over 3.5t the limits drop to 60 and 50 mph, but does this apply to the actual weight of the vehicle (its just over 3.1t I believe unladen) or the plated capacity? This is all new to me, so sorry if I am being a bit dim. Thanks.

 

Plated gross weight....loaded or not.

 

Theres every chance the chassis is already capable of 4.1t but for the uk market they are downrated to 3.5t to cover car licence drivers who can only drive up to 3.5t.

If it is rated at 3.5t then the extra charge may be uprated tyres and suspension to bring it up to 4.1t spc.

 

What are the graded rights weight wise
Is it 3.5t or 7.5t I can never remember
Old age I suppose

 

If you mean grandfather rights.....7500kg

Thats cat C1 on your pre 1997 licence

Everyone with an unrestricted car licence can drive 3500kg.

 

hi, not sure myself but the speed limits are based on the unladen weight of the vehicle. for that definition look at the gov web site but think its the weight of the vehicle excluding fuel, water occupants etc.. if that comes in at under 3.05t then the speed limits are as for a car.. and think a lot of motorhomes come in at that..
ta andy

 

sorry just looked at your post again...3.1t unladen wht takes you over the limit I mentioned above, so the lower limits would apply to you...

 

Andy, you are correct but limits also change depending on gross weight

 

ta, for that, and never looked in to that side of it as my conversion is on a transit 350 so my max wht is 3.5t, and take it I fall within the car speed limits...... please tell me if I have that wrong ....
ta andy

 

Oh dear !!!!!

Vans and ‘car-derived’ vans
Most vans are under 7.5 tonnes laden (loaded) weight and must follow the speed limits for goods vehicles of the same weight. This includes Ford Transit vans.

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

I wouldnt worry....just the way its worded.

 

but I have re registered as a motor caravan, and that led me to believe car speed limits apply to my conversion.
that was my understanding.. sorry don't want to hijack the op original post lol, but wanted to be clear about my situation as well..
ta andy

 

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)

You may fall into catagory 2....more than.

 

I could , but the weigh bridge shows me as not doing so...and that's carrying fuel and myself which are not included in the definition of unladen wht. I came in at 2.9t from memory hence my assumptions..
but got the idea, and still think im ok the car speed limits.
ta andy

 

Not for a motor caravan.
3.05 tonnes unladen is the threshold for lower speed limits.

50mph single carriageway
60mph dual carriageway
70mpg motorway

 

Thanks
Yes I meant grandad rights
Bloody predictive text

Being an old git then I'm on 7.5t test taken in 1977 god I feel old

 

Agreed....which makes a mockery of the law.

Smudger can also drive at those speeds, yet his RV weighs 23 tonnes

 

Got done first trip out in my Auto Trail 6 years ago by a camera speed trap I was doing 60 istead of 50 which was the limit for my class of vehicle,dealers should include information about the limits for the vehicles they sell.

 

3119kg unfortunately. Perhaps I could shave 69kg off somewhere?

 

Easy.
No passenger.

 

well at least your post cleared the matter up again .. think it keeps cropping up from time to time on forums, and think folk keep getting confused with what unladen wht is or thinking its max permissible wht that matters.
ta andy