Up, Up and Away - Up Plating our Burstner

[AlanF1]

Hello All,

Appreciate this has been asked many times but I have some additional points I could not see answered - apologies if some of these are basic but am new to this and trying to get my head around it all.

We have had our Burstner Lyseo for a little under a year now. It is plated by Burstner at 3500 and on the Fiat plate at 3650. We recently had it weighed with my wife and I on board and we came in at 3460, which is bit close for comfort! I do have C1 by the way.

My questions are:

1. I am assuming I can go to 3650 on existing suspension and this is just an "administrative exercise"?
2. Would you recommend a suspension upgrade and what roughly is the cost of this?.
3. If I were to upgrade the suspension am I correct in assuming I could still not go above 3650?
4. Would it be necessary to upgrade tyres and if so, any recommendations?
5. While I appreciate an up plating would put me in a different vehicle tax group, does this have any impact on insurance?
6. I see SV Tech and Van Weight Engineering are two companies offering this. I live near Bedford - does anyone know and have experience of Midlands-based companies?
7. Any other advice based on your experience?

All help with this much appreciated!

 

[Phill D]

Hello All,

Appreciate this has been asked many times but I have some additional points I could not see answered - apologies if some of these are basic but am new to this and trying to get my head around it all.

We have had our Burstner Lyseo for a little under a year now. It is plated by Burstner at 3500 and on the Fiat plate at 3650. We recently had it weighed with my wife and I on board and we came in at 3460, which is bit close for comfort! I do have C1 by the way.

My questions are:

1. I am assuming I can go to 3650 on existing suspension and this is just an "administrative exercise"?

looks that way but you may find that the extra 150kgs is on the front axle and not much use.

2. Would you recommend a suspension upgrade and what roughly is the cost of this?.
3. If I were to upgrade the suspension am I correct in assuming I could still not go above 3650?

tyres are likely to need upgrading in terms of load rating also, that could involve a move to 16" wheels if you not already got them/

4. Would it be necessary to upgrade tyres and if so, any recommendations?
5. While I appreciate an up plating would put me in a different vehicle tax group, does this have any impact on insurance?

not really its insuring the same vehicle but you will need to inform ins. vehicle road tax will be cheaper.

6. I see SV Tech and Van Weight Engineering are two companies offering this. I live near Bedford - does anyone know and have experience of Midlands-based companies?

you can do this with either company over the tinternet by email and photos and receipts you dont need to visit them. they do not do any physical changes to the van. you need to do that yourself or get a garage to do it.

7. Any other advice based on your experience?

All help with this much appreciated!

see above..

basic reply, hope it helps a little,

 

[Lenny HB]

You should be able to go to 3850kg without any mods, this is assuming the axle loading on the plate is Front 1850kg, Rear 2000kg.

You will still be limited to 2000kg on the rear axle so you may want to increase that to 2240kg, you would need to add air assistance to the rear axle.
If you have a Fiat chassis cost will be between £300 to £800 depending on the kit and if it is DIY or done by a garage.
The Al-Ko chassis cost is about £2000 for semi-air of £4000 for full air.
If you have 15" wheels you will have to change the tyres to 225 profile with a higher load rating, 16" should be OK.

I've used SV tech, very good but expensive.

Insurance are not really interested and VED will reduce to £165.

 

[Minxy]

1. I am assuming I can go to 3650 on existing suspension and this is just an "administrative exercise"?

Purely admin, it won't change your axle weights so you will still be within the safe limits this is assuming that your existing tyres are already suitable for the current axle weight which they should be.

2. Would you recommend a suspension upgrade and what roughly is the cost of this?.

Depends on whether you do it yourself or get it done for you, DIY anywhere from £300-£600, fitted probably £500-700, possibly more.

3. If I were to upgrade the suspension am I correct in assuming I could still not go above 3650?

It would depends on what suspension you install and tyres you have/get, but initially the answer is yes.

4. Would it be necessary to upgrade tyres and if so, any recommendations?

See above.

5. While I appreciate an up plating would put me in a different vehicle tax group, does this have any impact on insurance?

No.

6. I see SV Tech and Van Weight Engineering are two companies offering this. I live near Bedford - does anyone know and have experience of Midlands-based companies?

It doesn't make any difference as you do it all online/via email with no actual physical visit, VWE are about half the cost of SVTech

7. Any other advice based on your experience?

Check any recovery you may already have to ensure it covers vehicles over 3500kg. In the UK speed limits are based on unladen weight so no difference here but abroad they are usually based on MTPLM (ie 3500kg for you presently) so over that you may have reduced speeds if you go above this but seeing as most MH drivers don't drive like racing drivers it's not an issue.