Thoughts on weight limits

[VXman]

I imagine there are a lot of folk out there who do not have a clue what their overall weight is and how it relates to their legal GVW and probably drive arounf quite happily unaware to the illegality or risk to the perfromance of their MH.

I have uprated the rear suspension on my 3500KG to cater for carrying a motorscooter/bikes and all the other stuff in our large garage which has a long overhang. Along with the 16 inch wheels and appropriate tyres I am satisfied it is perfectly able to take a much higher payload and could easily be uprated to 4000KG plus.

However - given the downsides to uprating (speed limits/resale) I'm wonderland whether not to bother. The way I see it, it is safe and it would be very rare to be checked on the road.

Thoughts?

 

[Just smiffy]

Lots of checking going on all over Cornwall this weekend, if you can’t unload some weight there and then it gets lifted away….

plus a fine and it’s also dangerous to be over weight… I don’t understand why you would want to do it…

 

[Backdraft]

Just put the V5 in the post this morning to up-plate Chausson 640 to 4.1T. Had the MH 2 months and been running it over next door's weighbridge as and when we have gone out returned home. Clear that we could stay under 3.5T but would often be juggling water vs passengers vs bosses shoes.
Said at the start that if we were only going to stay in UK it would be a no brainer to uprate. Makes no difference to speeds, and increase in a couple of bridge tolls and carparks, vs not having to worry about giving someone a lift.

Europe presents a few more problems but they are not that great and being weight illegal could be more of an issue there.
Cost wise £150 to uprate, less to downrate, if we wanted to sell later and £100 a year less VED each year will soon cover the cost.

Rare being checked on the road, possibly, but if anyone is going to be stopped it will be me

 

[Emmit]

There is no "downside" to up plating a van, at least, not the two you mention.
It might be that you can't go down a road limited to 3.5 T but they are few and far between.
What you do get from scaling up the weight is peace of mind that your outfit is legal and a reduction of £100 per year in vehicle tax.

 

[BDM]

I would like everyone to know the weights of their van and use it within the laws that are applicable.

....why wouldn't you?

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[Minxy]

You will save around £100 a year on road tax for a start so that will pay a good chunk towards the cost of uprating, then you'll know that you will be legal if you want to take more with you, be it passengers, water, shoes etc ... I certainly wouldn't risk knowingly travelling with it overweight and if you had an accident whilst it was I don't think your insurance company would be very happy if they found out, not to mention any fines that might then be forthcoming from the authorities.

In the UK your speed limit is based on the unladen weight so you may already be restricted to lower ones anyway. Resale I wouldn't worry about as its easy to down plate in the future and shouldn't actually cost anything to do it.

 

[Grummyb]

Pretty much impossible for me to overload my BOS it struggles to pull itself along empty so no hope getting off the drive it's over weight

 

[Minxy]

Pretty much impossible for me to overload my BOS it struggles to pull itself along empty so no hope getting off the drive it's over weight

You haven't found the handbrake release leaver yet have you!

 

[Phill D]

I would like everyone to know the weights of their van and use it within the laws that are applicable.

....why wouldn't you?

..... Why don't you.......
read the OP again.
At no point is there any reference to them wanting to drive illegally.
In fact the op has already made a start at ensuring their van is capable of any additional weight.

 

[Grummyb]

It's too old to have a handbrake I lasso it to a tree

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[BDM]

..... Why don't you.......
read the OP again.
At no point is there any reference to them wanting to drive illegally.
In fact the op has already made a start at ensuring their van is capable of any additional weight.

I was making a more general comment Re. the thread title, without reference to the OP.

The way I see it, it is safe and it would be very rare to be checked on the road.

But maybe....

..... Why don't you.......
read the OP again.

 

[pappajohn]

It might be that you can't go down a road limited to 3500kg

Theoretically yes, but as its physically and visibly exactly the same van as it was at 3500kg, only the VIN plate has changed, who would bother to check what it weighs..... They would have to stop and weigh every van and that ain't going to happen.

 

[VXman]

Lots of checking going on all over Cornwall this weekend, if you can’t unload some weight there and then it gets lifted away….

plus a fine and it’s also dangerous to be over weight… I don’t understand why you would want to do it…

I think you misunderstood my post. My van is physically capable of carrying lots more weight so therefore it is far from dangerous. I'm just talking about the paperwork side of things. A piece of paper doesn't make it safer....just legal.

Suprised by your mention of checks in Cornwall....never seen vehicles being checked. How are they weighing them?

 

[VXman]

You will save around £100 a year on road tax for a start so that will pay a good chunk towards the cost of uprating, then you'll know that you will be legal if you want to take more with you, be it passengers, water, shoes etc ... I certainly wouldn't risk knowingly travelling with it overweight and if you had an accident whilst it was I don't think your insurance company would be very happy if they found out, not to mention any fines that might then be forthcoming from the authorities.

In the UK your speed limit is based on the unladen weight so you may already be restricted to lower ones anyway. Resale I wouldn't worry about as its easy to down plate in the future and shouldn't actually cost anything to do it.

I was thinking particularly about speed limits in Europe. I believe Spain is only 55mph for over 3500kg.

Not sure on rules in UK. 60mph and no outside lane of motorway? Or am I making this up?

 

[Emmit]

I live on the Saltash-Launceston Road.
VOSA do checks in a large layby just outside Callington.
They have 'drive over' weighing equipment.

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[pandas]

I think you misunderstood my post. My van is physically capable of carrying lots more weight so therefore it is far from dangerous. I'm just talking about the paperwork side of things. A piece of paper doesn't make it safer....just legal.

Suprised by your mention of checks in Cornwall....never seen vehicles being checked. How are they weighing them?

I think you misunderstood my post. My van is physically capable of carrying lots more weight so therefore it is far from dangerous. I'm just talking about the paperwork side of things. A piece of paper doesn't make it safer....just legal.

Suprised by your mention of checks in Cornwall....never seen vehicles being checked. How are they weighing them?

The ‘legal’ aspect is an important point particularly if you were involved in an accident which may influence your insurance. Not that insurance companies try a wriggle out of anything of course but just a potentially significant as it could possibly reduce your insurance to 3rd party only.

 

[Just smiffy]

I think you misunderstood my post. My van is physically capable of carrying lots more weight so therefore it is far from dangerous. I'm just talking about the paperwork side of things. A piece of paper doesn't make it safer....just legal.

Suprised by your mention of checks in Cornwall....never seen vehicles being checked. How are they weighing them?

They have portable scales….

Caravans and trailer owners face safety checks across Devon

As part of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, Devon & Cornwall Police is committed to making the region’s roads free of all fatal and serious collisions by 2040

www.inyourarea.co.uk

DVSA to target campers with roadside caravan checks over bank holiday

On-the-spot trailer and caravan safety checks will be part of a targeted campaign. DVSA warned these 20 minute assessments will take place through summer.

www.thisismoney.co.uk

I’ve seen them on the A30 regularly.

 

[Potty]

We have been stopped and weighed in France.

 

[Just smiffy]

I think you misunderstood my post. My van is physically capable of carrying lots more weight so therefore it is far from dangerous. I'm just talking about the paperwork side of things. A piece of paper doesn't make it safer....just legal.

Suprised by your mention of checks in Cornwall....never seen vehicles being checked. How are they weighing them?

I’m physically capable of using my mobile phone in the car…. But it’s still illegal

 

[cmcardle75]

Your main problem is Europe is tolls. Particularly Austria etc., where > 3500kg means you get treated as an HGV and have to buy an electronic tolling device and pay extortionate "tolls" actually more like fines. If you are < 3500kg you can buy a vignette for a few quid.

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[Bailey 15]

Lots of checking going on all over Cornwall this weekend, if you can’t unload some weight there and then it gets lifted away….

plus a fine and it’s also dangerous to be over weight… I don’t understand why you would want to do it…

Are they ? Where to ?

 

[cmcardle75]

I’m physically capable of using my mobile phone in the car…. But it’s still illegal

What he means is that the only difference between his van with a 4100kg MAM and a 3500kg MAM will be what it is written on a piece of paper as the van will not require any further physical modifications. Clearly, what is written on a piece of paper makes little difference to actual safety (although it could indirectly reflect the owner's attitude to safety in other areas). Using a mobile or not in a car is not an equivalent, as it has a direct effect on the attention of the driver to road conditions, so it clearly dangerous.

 

[Just smiffy]

Just seems some people are quite happy knowingly breaking the law…..

 

[Just smiffy]

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[huck999]

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[Emmit]

I was thinking particularly about speed limits in Europe. I believe Spain is only 55mph for over 3500kg.

Not sure on rules in UK. 60mph and no outside lane of motorway? Or am I making this up?

Yes you are. (cut out the cheese before bedtime)
Because the van is a passenger vehicle, admittedly with benefits, you are allowed to go into Lane 3 (or 4) and your limit is the same as everyone else. ie, National speed limit unless indicated lower.

 

[pandas]

What he means is that the only difference between his van with a 4100kg MAM and a 3500kg MAM will be what it is written on a piece of paper as the van will not require any further physical modifications. Clearly, what is written on a piece of paper makes little difference to actual safety (although it could indirectly reflect the owner's attitude to safety in other areas). Using a mobile or not in a car is not an equivalent, as it has a direct effect on the attention of the driver to road conditions, so it clearly dangerous.

The registered weight of the vehicle is a point of law outside of any physical aspects. If the vehicle is say registered over 3.5 tons on the registration document but you are travelling lighter you still need a C1 licence.

 

[BDM]

Just seems some people are quite happy knowingly breaking the law…..

Bottom line. This is what it's all about!

 

[Speve]

I was thinking particularly about speed limits in Europe. I believe Spain is only 55mph for over 3500kg.

Not sure on rules in UK. 60mph and no outside lane of motorway? Or am I making this up?

When we are away in the van we are not in any hurry 55 mph is plenty fast enough so heavier vans not a problem for us

 

[gus-lopez]

I was thinking particularly about speed limits in Europe. I believe Spain is only 55mph for over 3500kg.

Motorhomes it is 100km/hr on motorways. Now bit debatabe but spanish van based pvc many are only 90km/hr. What they say to a foreigner I've no idea?
France is 130km/hr , under 3,5T,unless raining plus same limits even with a trailer on the back

You'd be amazed at how many people have no idea, do not wish to know ,don't care what weight there van is at.
My mate who comes here I offered to weigh it locally , it is only 1€ per weigh ,certified & with ticket. Or any builders merchants free of charge . Not interested in the slightest.