I'm A Lightweight (1 Viewer)

Oct 1, 2013
7,487
19,763
Lanzarote
Funster No
28,377
MH
Nil by mouth
Exp
Lots
Well, I know that I am personally, but I meant the vee hickle :Smile:

Just got it weighed today and it came in at 2,820 Kg:Smile: (front 1,220 rear 1,620)

I am legal. I had no idea ::bigsmile:

Adding fuel and water and me & SWMBO and the bike, will bring it up to about 3340.

That gives us a bit to play with but not too much.

It would be nice to have a bit extra and have seen somewhere on here that it can be done quite easily.

What would it take to get about another 200Kg ? How much work ? How much dosh ?

Cheers

It's based on a 2005 Transit Jumbo High Top
 

gibbon

Free Member
Feb 25, 2013
307
325
Shatterford
Funster No
24,838
MH
C class
Exp
Since 2005
I spoke to Steve at SvTech this morning re an upgrade for our old Autotrail . He quoted me £312 including vat to go from 3200 on the Fiat plate to 3500 with no upgrades to the vehicle .
It's supposed to be 3400 anyway but Autotrail failed to put an upgrade plate on it way back in 2000!
I found Steve to be very informative & helpful.
 

DuxDeluxe

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 10, 2008
14,627
72,240
Planet Zog
Funster No
3,243
MH
A woosh bang van
Exp
since 2008
Worth a call to them. I think it was Gareth I spoke with and very, very helpful. Told me exactly what I needed to do

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Yorick
Oct 1, 2013
7,487
19,763
Lanzarote
Funster No
28,377
MH
Nil by mouth
Exp
Lots
I spoke to Steve at SvTech this morning re an upgrade for our old Autotrail . He quoted me £312 including vat to go from 3200 on the Fiat plate to 3500 with no upgrades to the vehicle .
It's supposed to be 3400 anyway but Autotrail failed to put an upgrade plate on it way back in 2000!
I found Steve to be very informative & helpful.
Have I read that right ?

He gets £312 for no actual work ?
 

DuxDeluxe

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 10, 2008
14,627
72,240
Planet Zog
Funster No
3,243
MH
A woosh bang van
Exp
since 2008
Not exactly. You can do it yourself but they have the knowledge and a certificate from them is simply accepted by DVLA based on their extensive knowledge of the business. Other companies also offer this service. I used SV Tech for simplicity and certainly worth the cost to those who take the same view.
 

gibbon

Free Member
Feb 25, 2013
307
325
Shatterford
Funster No
24,838
MH
C class
Exp
Since 2005
Have I read that right ?

He gets £312 for no actual work ?

Well, they supply the paperwork evidencing the upgrade & make a weight plate bearing the revised axle weights etc.
I tried Autotrail to see if they'd do me a plate but I got " your 14 year old vehicle predates this company sir".
So even though their records for my van confirm it's rated at 3400 by them they were still unwilling to help. The chap I spoke to was quite curt & sounded like he wanted me off the phone ASAP.

So it's pay an expert to give me proof of legal max weight or drive across France in a couple of months knowing that I can't prove that I'm not really 200kg overweight.
I reckon the fine would cost more than I'm paying for the upgrade.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Yorick
Oct 1, 2013
7,487
19,763
Lanzarote
Funster No
28,377
MH
Nil by mouth
Exp
Lots
So they just upgrade in theoretically?

Why doesn't it need any work or strengthening?
 

callumwa

Free Member
Jan 16, 2011
4,110
4,480
Tyne & Wear, sometimes..
Funster No
14,968
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
4 yrs +, 30+ yrs motorbike touring
So they just upgrade in theoretically?

Why doesn't it need any work or strengthening?

As I understand it a lot of vans are designed as a 3850kg chassis, but they have been downgraded to keep withing the licencing laws. Some are 3500kg chassis to start with and therefore may need additional suspension upgrades etc.

It all depends on the base model your van is built on.
 

DuxDeluxe

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 10, 2008
14,627
72,240
Planet Zog
Funster No
3,243
MH
A woosh bang van
Exp
since 2008
Exactly...... Mine was built on the Fiat light camper chassis. We would have to wait until october for one on the heavy chassis and it would cost a lot more, whereas the current chariot was in stock. Upgrade from 3500 to 3650 was done at time of registration. SV said it could go to 3700 without modification on that chassis but to go to 3850 required air assist at the back only and higher load rated tyres at the back only, which is what we did. SV did all the paperwork to satisfy DVLA and also sent a new weight plate evidencing the new gross weight

Edit and WHEN the DVLA lose the paperwork, they will send some more.............

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Chris

LIFE MEMBER
May 5, 2010
21,006
274,551
Funster No
11,412
MH
None
Exp
10 years
So, is there a downside to upgrading?
 

DuxDeluxe

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 10, 2008
14,627
72,240
Planet Zog
Funster No
3,243
MH
A woosh bang van
Exp
since 2008
Yes, go over 3500 and they really punish you on the licence fee. A whopping £165 or thereabouts............

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

movan

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 2, 2009
21,492
120,752
Moving around
Funster No
9,543
MH
Burstner
Exp
since07
Yes, go over 3500 and they really punish you on the licence fee. A whopping £165 or thereabouts............
What was the licence fee before your upgrade, please, David?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

DuxDeluxe

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 10, 2008
14,627
72,240
Planet Zog
Funster No
3,243
MH
A woosh bang van
Exp
since 2008
Well, the vehicle was new so I'm not sure but if yours is taxed as a PLG then it will be the same - £230 per year according to the link above as opposed to £165 right now at 3850. It triggers the change at 3500
 

gibbon

Free Member
Feb 25, 2013
307
325
Shatterford
Funster No
24,838
MH
C class
Exp
Since 2005
So, is there a downside to upgrading?

If you go over 3500 you need a C1 driving licence. Senior management ( my wife) doesn't have one & it costs a grand for her to get one!!!!!!
Therefor we are content with 3500 . It's 100kg more payload than Autotrail specify anyway.
 

Chris

LIFE MEMBER
May 5, 2010
21,006
274,551
Funster No
11,412
MH
None
Exp
10 years
C1 licence is that just passed your test before the 1990's or whatever date ?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top