My new speed limits Help please (1 Viewer)

[Fragle]

Having taken the new van to the local weigh bridge. Two people, dog, 20 litres water.Empty fridge and no clothes packed and bikes on back. More importantly no gas tanks fitted yet and we are already at 3540kg
Speaking with dealer and upping to 3650kg should cover what we need. Not happy with real world payload, But cheaper road tax. licence not a problem, but as far as I'm aware this does not change the 3.05 max unladen weight. The questions are.

what is my new speed limit uk ? (only change to 60mph on dual carriageway I believe so 50 60 70 )

What is my speed limit in France? Do I have to follow the Lorry speed limit when reduced say going down hill as they often do as now over 3500 possibly 80 kph max.
What about the Aires in village with 3.5t sign how will they know ?

Can I just say this is not about speeding and getting somewhere as fast as possible. Just keeping good road progress. we don't use motorways in France. Prefer the village route but constant speed changes can catch anybody out. Just want to stay legal as possible.

Any real world help would be helpful please as dealer hasn't a clue

 

[Lenny HB]

UK limits are the same as cars if the unladen weight is under 3050kg.
All other countries the speed limit is governed by the gross weight over 3500kg in most countries HGV limits apply. In France you are allowed to go faster on Dual carriageways & Autoroutes 100 & 110kmh.

 

[Fragle]

UK limits are the same as cars if the unladen weight is under 3050kg.
All other countries the speed limit is governed by the gross weight over 3500kg in most countries HGV limits apply. In France you are allowed to go faster on Dual carriageways & Autoroutes 100 & 110kmh.

I assume that the 3050 weight will not change then even if we go to 3650 from 3500

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[68c]

It will stay the same. Your problem is knowing your 'UNLADEN' weight.

www.gov.uk/vehicle-weights-explained

Unladen weight
The unladen weight of any vehicle is the weight of the vehicle when it’s not carrying any passengers, goods or other items.

It includes the body and all parts normally used with the vehicle or trailer when it’s used on a road.

It doesn’t include the weight of:

• fuel
• batteries in an electric vehicle - unless it’s a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair

So you would have to remove all extras fitted by you or previous owners, solar panels, extra batteries, coffee maker etc. then get a weighbridge report showing under 3050Kg.

Good luck with that.

 

[mitzimad]

i would return the van as unfit for pupose what would happen if you didnt have the licence for an upgrade

 

[Wagoneer]

Before you uprate to 3650kg from 3500kg you really need to know your individual axle weights. You may already be close to the maximum permitted on one of the axles.

If so, you'll have to devise ways to equalise the load between the two axles.

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[Lenny HB]

Why 3650 and not 3850 which most light chassis can be uprated to?

 

[Nanniemate]

Does the weight of the van have an effect on the brake peddle or the right foot when going down hills?

What is my speed limit in France? Do I have to follow the Lorry speed limit when reduced say going down hill as they often do as now over 3500 possibly 80 kph max.


n hills?

 

[TinaLes]

What make of van do you have, some as we have seen on here before, some have very low payloads of 220KG, which is not enough to make it usable, they should IMHO, not be be on the market, especially if they sate its suitable for 4 people.
I think this was all covered on Jim's van payload thread, many UK vans were certainly not suitable for family use. The problem gets worse with most vans available with a max overall weight of 3500KG's.

LES

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[TinaLes]

Why 3650 and not 3850 which most light chassis can be uprated to?

I think its because some vans can easily be plated up to 3600KG's as a paperwork exercise to The DVLA to get the V5 changed to 3650KG's, to get to 3850KG's they might need further mods that the dealer is probably not willing to accept the cost of, like air assist suspension on rear axle, plus different wheels & tyres.
Its a con, as we all know by now. I think most vans loaded with max seat belted passengers, and usual payload allowance per person would struggle to remain legal on the road.
Thats before any dogs are added also
LES

 

[Fragle]

Before you uprate to 3650kg from 3500kg you really need to know your individual axle weights. You may already be close to the maximum permitted on one of the axles.

If so, you'll have to devise ways to equalise the load between the two axles.

I’m ok within the axle weights ref data plate

 

[Fragle]

Why 3650 and not 3850 which most light chassis can be uprated to?

Apparently I would have to use air suspension and greater costs

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[Wagoneer]

I’m ok within the axle weights ref data plate

Yes, the permissable axle load on the front axle is 1850kg and the rear axle is 2000kg. These permissable axle loads don't change if you uprate to 3650kg. The uprate to 3650kg gives you more flexibility on how you distribute the load between the two axles.

As mentioned previously, it's best to initially check the surplus payload on each axle under your current loading configuration (as used at your weighbridge figure of 3540kg).

It could be that your actual rear axle load is close to the permissable of 2000kg (although hopefully that won't be the case). If that was the case, you'd need to consider how you would shift weight forwards to optimise the load on the front axle.

 

[rb62]

I'd speak to SV tech direct concerning the weight upgrade,

Welcome

We are the UK’s leading vehicle re-rating specialist and experts in all matters relating to Vehicle Type Approval, particularly braking systems. We Support a Range of Vehicles We Provide an Accurate, Quality Service

www.svtech.co.uk

 

[The Coops]

In the UK over 3.05 tons 20, or 30 built up areas, Single carriageway 50, dual carriageway 60 motorway 70mph. In France over 3,5 tonnes built up area 30kph single 56kph dual carriageway 80 kph and motorways 90 kph, on some autoroutes you allowed to faster but as you have to pay to use it why would you?, that is why you see the 80 and 90 stickers on some vehicles as it is like our black box sticker, that is the maximum they are allowed to travel and the gendarmes are not very discretionary with dishing out speeding fines

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[Nanniemate]

Speed limits

A limit of 30 miles per hour or 48 kilometres per hour usually applies to all traffic on all roads with street lighting

www.gov.uk

 

[Fragle]

Yes, the permissable axle load on the front axle is 1850kg and the rear axle is 2000kg. These permissable axle loads don't change if you uprate to 3650kg. The uprate to 3650kg gives you more flexibility on how you distribute the load between the two axles.

As mentioned previously, it's best to initially check the surplus payload on each axle under your current loading configuration (as used at your weighbridge figure of 3540kg).

It could be that your actual rear axle load is close to the permissable of 2000kg (although hopefully that won't be the case). If that was the case, you'd need to consider how you would shift weight forwards to optimise the load on the front axle.

Yes only 40 kg spare on rear trouble is the bikes on a rear carrier don’t help

 

[Fragle]

What make of van do you have, some as we have seen on here before, some have very low payloads of 220KG, which is not enough to make it usable, they should IMHO, not be be on the market, especially if they sate its suitable for 4 people.
I think this was all covered on Jim's van payload thread, many UK vans were certainly not suitable for family use. The problem gets worse with most vans available with a max overall weight of 3500KG's.

LES

Adria coral 670 slt. I don’t understand how they can sell the coral XL 7 berth and be below 3500

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[DandG5515]

My van is 2950kg unlaiden, but plated @ 3850kg. Get payload. But how does plod know which speed limit? As unlaiden in not on logbook. Has this caused anyone a problem? I drove 5 years at the lower speed limit until I checked it?

 

[dunnah01]

Slight drift but how do 'they' now the weight of your van in Europe? For all the world mine looks like all other 3500kg vans but is actually 4250kg. I have a friend of a friend who inadvertently went into a sub 3500kg van in his 4250kg van who wants to know. .

 

[klaatu]

Adria coral 670 slt. I don’t understand how they can sell the coral XL 7 berth and be below 3500

7 berth motorhome under 3500 kg? Laughable. One might almost say criminal.

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[TinaLes]

I dont think I was the only one a little concerned with the detail I provided to get The French/German emission stickersi.e The V5 docs
It seems the speeding fines for UK MH drivers are appearing quicker these days, sometimes on your doorstep to welcome you home.
As for claiming "Classe Deux" at toll booths, might be a little harder also,with ANPR cameras, especially for heavy tag axles.
I will have to wait & see I guess.I hope I haven't started another conspiracy theory

LES E&OE

 

[TinaLes]

7 berth motorhome under 3500 kg? Laughable. One might almost say criminal.

Yes it should be criminal I agree, 7 passengers!!!! Seven belted seats? What are we supposed to do?, fill em up with Helium for the journey
This has to stop, so many 1st timers will be sucked in, thinking surely it would be illegal to sell this to me if it hadn't been checked by the authorities?, and the manufactures should be ashamed & stopped after all these years of selling them.
LES

 

[sussexlad]

Here is a list of European speed limits according to Comfort Ins.

https://www.comfort-insurance.co.uk/guides/caravan-motorhome-speed-limits-uk-europe

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[gus-lopez]

Adria coral 670 slt. I don’t understand how they can sell the coral XL 7 berth and be below 3500

As long as it is below 3500kgs it is legal It only becomes overloaded if you fill with diesel,water,passengers,etc. The fact that it is totally wrong doesn't come in to it. It is legal to sell.You just can't use it.
Like here you can buy a tow rope anywhere. Just illegal to use them .

Slight drift but how do 'they' now the weight of your van in Europe? For all the world mine looks like all other 3500kg vans but is actually 4250kg. I have a friend of a friend who inadvertently went into a sub 3500kg van in his 4250kg van who wants to know. .

when they stop you & look at your v5

 

[pappajohn]

7 berth motorhome under 3500 kg? Laughable. One might almost say criminal.

That would be sleeping facility for 7.
Berth = bed... As on a ship.
Some may have to travel by alternate means but will have a bed space when needed.
7 belted seats is of course a different matter.

 

[Fragle]

That would be sleeping facility for 7.
Berth = bed... As on a ship.
Some may have to travel by alternate means but will have a bed space when needed.
7 belted seats is of course a different matter.

No seven seats. Sold for large families

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[Fragle]

Thanks for all the info. We are going through SV Tech and upgrading to 3850 instead of 3650 to get the extra rear axle weight. I have to fit the rear air assist and they will supply it. But at least the tyres are ok. Hopefully this will keep us all legal.