Van Weight Engineering - A New Option For Up-plating, Uprating & Downplating Motorhomes (1 Viewer)

[Russell's Dad]

What road tax refund, its rated at 3500kg.

When you change tax class to Heavy Private Goods ( still motor caravan) it's £160 per year and you get refunded for any tax remaining at the old band. I remember there was a separate form to fill out to change tax class.

 

[Minxy]

Just been to my local weighbridge and fully loaded except for water tank empty and quarter tank of fuel, weight is 3540kg. My V5C has the revenue weight as 3500 and Mass in service is 3500.

The original Fiat plate shows the weight as 3650, but the Pilote plate is 3500.

Am I right in thinking that it is just a paperwork exercise to up plate to 3650 by completing "Section 1 Change my vehicle details" and returning the V5C to DVLA without the need for any upgrades or a V70

You will need confirmation from a specialist company regarding vehicle weighting that you are okay to go above the Pilote plated weight as that will take into account any modifications that Pilote may have made to the chassis etc. Its not something that 'joe public' can do so the likes of SVTech or the new company that Wombles has mentioned on another thread (who are much cheaper) can do it for you, but you cannot just do it yourself. Once you have the written approval from the specialist company you can then submit it along with the other bits and bobs the DVLA need to get the uprating done.

Hi,
You won't be able to get it to the Sum of the Two Axles (3850Kgs) because, frankly, it would be impossible to be able to balance the weights to such a fine tune.
However, if you engage one of the engineers mentioned on here, you may find that they will be able to issue you with a new plate of, perhaps, 3800Kgs.
Our last van had a total axle weight of 3750Kgs with 3500Kgs on the plate and we got one to allow a MAM of 3700Kgs

That's wrong I'm afraid - you can have it uprated to the sum of the 2 axles for MAM purposes, many do including us, the difficulty is that it's impossible to get the weights on both axles to be exactly at their maximums to be able to carry 3850kg in total legally.

 

[Jonny1953]

You will need confirmation from a specialist company regarding vehicle weighting that you are okay to go above the Pilote plated weight as that will take into account any modifications that Pilote may have made to the chassis etc. Its not something that 'joe public' can do so the likes of SVTech or the new company that Wombles has mentioned on another thread (who are much cheaper) can do it for you, but you cannot just do it yourself. Once you have the written approval from the specialist company you can then submit it along with the other bits and bobs the DVLA need to get the uprating done.

But surely if Pilote had modified the chassis, brakes etc then they would have had to remove the original Fiat Vin plate as it would be no longer valid and the reason for the Pilote Vin plate is nothing to do with the capabilities of the chassis but only so that the moho complies with the 3500kg regulations

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[SandraL]

But surely if Pilote had modified the chassis, brakes etc then they would have had to remove the original Fiat Vin plate as it would be no longer valid and the reason for the Pilote Vin plate is nothing to do with the capabilities of the chassis but only so that the moho complies with the 3500kg regulations

Old plates seem to be left on.
Our van has 1, fiat plate,. 2 alko chassis plate,. 3rd hymer plate( they upgraded front suspension). 4 upgrade plate as we had rear suspension upgraded, 5 th plate as we upgraded rear suspension again.
Total 5 plates on display.
Hymer actually numbered theirs plate 3, we numbered the later ones 4 and 5.

 

[Minxy]

But surely if Pilote had modified the chassis, brakes etc then they would have had to remove the original Fiat Vin plate as it would be no longer valid and the reason for the Pilote Vin plate is nothing to do with the capabilities of the chassis but only so that the moho complies with the 3500kg regulations

If only it was that easy! The Fiat plate is when the chassis was made and passed on to Pilote and as soon as Pilote modified it (ie by putting a great big body on it) the Fiat plate became irrelevant and the Pilot plate was the one that became legal.

Only Pilote and/or a specialist company can confirm whether or not the chassis can safely be registered and used at a higher weight, hence the need for the formal approval.

 

[Lenny HB]

But surely if Pilote had modified the chassis, brakes etc then they would have had to remove the original Fiat Vin plate as it would be no longer valid and the reason for the Pilote Vin plate is nothing to do with the capabilities of the chassis but only so that the moho complies with the 3500kg regulations

It is a requirement to leave the original plate on and the latest one fitted takes precedence.

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[Emmit]

And if it was a modern conversion, the Axle2 Figure on the plate is of no value because the Fiat/Citroen/Peugeot invariably arrives at the Converters like this. ie there is no No2 Axle;

 

[Cliffyboy]

Hi guys and i have been to the weighbridge several times and only had it work once ! wouldnt mind paying for it if it was actually working properly !

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi guys and i have been to the weighbridge several times and only had it work once ! wouldnt mind paying for it if it was actually working properly !

Which one ?

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[Cliffyboy]

It's the one next to Shoreham airport on the A27 !

 

[Lenny HB]

It's the one next to Shoreham airport on the A27 !

Very seldom out of action if it does go it's repaired very quickly as it's a DVSA one.
What problems have you found with it?

 

[Cliffyboy]

Very seldom out of action if it does go it's repaired very quickly as it's a DVSA one.
What problems have you found with it?

Last time I went on it got read out on front axle but no reading on rear axle ! .

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[Lenny HB]

Last time I went on it got read out on front axle but no reading on rear axle ! .

If you drive over too fast I think it comes up with "error".
I always used to go over at least 3 times as it will read slightly different depending on speed and how central you are.
Don't bother now as we have 300kg of spare payload when fully loaded with full tanks.

 

[Cliffyboy]

No didn't drive to fast Lenny, tried few times but no luck last time but wont give up on it as it's only 15 minutes away from us ! .

 

[Lenny HB]

No didn't drive to fast Lenny, tried few times but no luck last time but wont give up on it as it's only 15 minutes away from us ! .

Not far from us then, we are just south of the airport.

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[Cliffyboy]

Yes I think I will have to upgrade my suspension then not have to worry to much about weight problems ,!,.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes I think I will have to upgrade my suspension then not have to worry to much about weight problems ,!,.

Well worth it best thing we did was to buy a van with a decent payload.
Now I've bought a Paddle board might have to leave the washing machine behind but will be due to space not weight.

 

[Cliffyboy]

Listen to you Lenny ! Paddle boarding ,you little devil ! Is it a solid board or an inflatable ? .

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[Lenny HB]

Listen to you Lenny ! Paddle boarding ,you little devil ! Is it a solid board or an inflatable ? .

Inflatable can't get a solid one in the van. Brought for daughter's birthday present but her hubby bought her one so I decided to keep it for myself.
Tried it out the other day I didn't fall off, I will try on the water next time.
Can't get to the beach easily at the moment until the new footbridge over the lagoon is finished & I need a new wet suit, must have thrown the last one.

 

[Minxy]

Inflatable can't get a solid one in the van. Brought for daughter's birthday present but her hubby bought her one so I decided to keep it for myself.
Tried it out the other day I didn't fall off, I will try on the water next time.
Can't get to the beach easily at the moment until the new footbridge over the lagoon is finished & I need a new wet suit, must have thrown the last one.

You're gonna have to get someone to video your 'first attempt' on water Lenny ....

 

[WESTY66]

Got mine this Morning, £150 and Painless, 7 Days start to finish...
Waiting for DVLA to do their bit now...
Fitted Air Assist on the back, Already had 225/75/16 Q116 on Alloys fitted all round, fitted uprated coil springs on the front to get the extra 250Kg...View attachment 472169

just out of interest, what weight did you uprate from? I’m on the Fiat maxi chassis at 4250kg and I would like to go higher, I just may have to make some enquiries

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[Cliffyboy]

Well I think I will have to fit air assisted on the rear of mine to get max weight up ! .

 

[Lenny HB]

Well I think I will have to fit air assisted on the rear of mine to get max weight up ! .

Treat yourself go for full air.

 

[Cliffyboy]

I would love to but I dont think her indoors will rate that ! .

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[Lenny HB]

I would love to but I dont think her indoors will rate that ! .

I'm still alive - just.

 

[WESTY66]

I'm still alive - just.

Where did you have yours done Lenny HB ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Where did you have yours done Lenny HB ?

VanQuip in Belguim.
VB didn't work on our van had VB fitted by SAP but had to get them to take it off, the rear end was too low. Had to have Goldsmichtt it was £1500 cheaper in Belgium.

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[orridge]

Thanks Lenny,

I am actually in East Sussex and believe there is a weighbridge in Hastings, which I will investigate. Nice to know about the Shoreham one though, we will be going that way to get our solar panel fitted as soon as we get the van.

Did you get a chance to try the weighbridge nr Hastings?.

 

[Lenny HB]

Did you get a chance to try the weighbridge nr Hastings?.

Only ever used the one at Lancing as it's 2 miles from home, I think it's out of action at the moment with all the building work going on there.

 

[orridge]

Only ever used the one at Lancing as it's 2 miles from home, I think it's out of action at the moment with all the building work going on there.

Sorry I thought I was replying to GirlyVanGirly comment about Hastings weighbridge. Yes the A27 was out of action two weeks ago when I went past.

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