Which direction on weight increase.

[3crispies]

Having read previous posts about 3500kg weight increase we have started to look at options. Have contacted SV tech and Van weight engineering but alarming have had complete opposite answers back. SV telling us we need air assist at the rear and Vwe saying no mods required...
The van is a 2022 ducato based al-ko chassis with standard spring/shocks up front and leaf springs/shocks in the rear running 116 rated tyres, we need to sort this asap as the log book has been incorrectly filled in at GWE of 2908kg by main dealer when we purchased van. We have spoke to them to sort this but getting nowhere which is disappointing but what we expected with all the other mistakes they made on collection.
We are in theory overweight before we start but at 3850kg would be running nowhere near the limit and a rfl refund is always a nice start to the new year.

 

[Langtoftlad]

IMHO
SVTech do uprating properly but at a cost.
Others, such as Van Weight do what's legal.

 

[MrPG]

IMHO
SVTech do uprating properly but at a cost.
Others, such as Van Weight do what's legal.

That’s interesting. Have you had direct personal experience of both?

 

[pappajohn]

Alko chassis doesn't have leaf springs......it's a torsion bar axle.
Standard ducato chassis has rear leaf and front coils springs.
Alko chassis is galvanised
Fiat chassis is painted.

Looks like you have a Standard Fiat chassis

 

[shawn&emma]

I found SVTech gave me incorrect information which I followed and I’m disappointed with their approach personally. Found Van Weight to be genuine and honest from other research I’ve done since.

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[bigtwin]

The van is a 2022 ducato based al-ko chassis with standard spring/shocks up front and leaf springs/shocks in the rear

I suspect that SVTech have responded to your reference to leaf springs and VWEngineering have responded to your reference to Al-Ko.

What did you actually tell each of them?

Ian

 

[Lenny HB]

First of all what do the plates say on the van, there will be two or three plates. If it is a Fiat chassis there will be two plates a Fiat one and the converters, an Al-Ko chassis will have a third Al-Ko plate.
In both cases the last fitted plate (converters plate) takes presedence and that is the one it should have been registered at.

It would be helpful if you uploaded photos of the plates.

 

[3crispies]

Alko chassis doesn't have leaf springs......it's a torsion bar axle.
Standard ducato chassis has rear leaf and front coils springs.
Alko chassis is galvanised
Fiat chassis is painted.

Looks like you have a Standard Fiat chassis

Possible, Sent both this picture and didn't mention al-ko to them

 

[3crispies]

First of all what do the plates say on the van, there will be two or three plates. If it is a Fiat chassis there will be two plates a Fiat one and the converters, an Al-Ko chassis will have a third Al-Ko plate.
In both cases the last fitted plate (converters plate) takes presedence and that is the one it should have been registered at.

It would be helpful if you uploaded photos of the plates.

only have two plates, fiat and knaus but sent both same information, thanks

 

[Lenny HB]

Possible, Sent both this picture and didn't mention al-ko to them

Thats a Fiat chassis.
So what is on the Fiat plate?

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[3crispies]

I suspect that SVTech have responded to your reference to leaf springs and VWEngineering have responded to your reference to Al-Ko.

What did you actually tell each of them?

Ian

both had forms filled in the same info about suspension, tyres etc, Vwe their form was a lot more indepth tbh asking about brake disc size, rear overhang, width dimensions etc. That is why as previous it seems weird.

 

[3crispies]

Thats a Fiat chassis.
So what is on the Fiat plate?

Thanks

 

[3crispies]

I found SVTech gave me incorrect information which I followed and I’m disappointed with their approach personally. Found Van Weight to be genuine and honest from other research I’ve done since.

elaborate please ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks

Can be registered at 3850 without any mods but as the MAM on the Knuas plate and the C of C will probably be 3500kg it will need an engineers report from Van Weight or SV.

 

[dunnah01]

They could both be correct as it depends on how much weight you end up with over the rear axle. 2000kg is the limit without air assist and soon disappears if you have an a class or coach-built with long overhang. SV Tech may be thinking that some extra capacity at the rear axle would give a practical increase, whereas VWE are providing what is legally permitted.

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[Minxy]

Are you looking to increase the rear axle capacity from it's existing 2000kg? If yes then you will need semi-air to do so, if no and you just want to update to 3850kg but keep the axle weights as they are then no mods required.

 

[3crispies]

Are you looking to increase the rear axle capacity from it's existing 2000kg? If yes then you will need semi-air to do so, if no and you just want to update to 3850kg but keep the axle weights as they are then no mods required.

Just keep rear under 2000kg, as we are running near 3500kg limit now so really peace of mind. Was hoping it would be a paper exercise.

 

[3crispies]

They could both be correct as it depends on how much weight you end up with over the rear axle. 2000kg is the limit without air assist and soon disappears if you have an a class or coach-built with long overhang. SV Tech may be thinking that some extra capacity at the rear axle would give a practical increase, whereas VWE are providing what is legally permitted.

True but SV didn't even ask for overhang unless they have all their own info but they must be efficient as had an answer within an hour of submitting paperwork to them !!

 

[Ranger]

The weight plate shown in the photo is already at 3650 so why bother?

 

[the1andonly]

The weight plate shown in the photo is already at 3650 so why bother?

we need to sort this asap as the log book has been incorrectly filled in at GWE of 2908kg by main dealer when we purchased van.

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[Lenny HB]

The weight plate shown in the photo is already at 3650 so why bother?

That is the Fiat plate it is irrelevant as the Knaus one overrides that one and will be 3500kg, the C of C will also be 3500kg so that will be the max it can be registered at without an engineer's report.

 

[Russell's Dad]

In my opinion SV Tech possibly try to drum up some business for themselves saying fitting air-assist is required. They tried this with my Ducato PVC on a Maxi chassis, which can be plated at 4500kg without modification. Said I needed air-assist. Got the engineers report done elsewhere (cheaper) and no modifications done.
VWE did my current van's report. Dee was really helpful and even told me my van already had uprated front shocks so I could uprate to nearly 4000kg with no modification.
As already stated, just make sure your uprated individual axle weights will work for you.

 

[Lenny HB]

In my opinion SV Tech possibly try to drum up some business for themselves saying fitting air-assist is required. They tried this with my Ducato PVC on a Maxi chassis, which can be plated at 4500kg without modification. Said I needed air-assist. Got the engineers report done elsewhere (cheaper) and no modifications done.

My mate had the same problem with SV Tech, he wanted to go from 4500 to 4700 which was the tally of the axle weights fine for him as he had loads of underfloor storeage and easy to move stuff forward. They wanted air on the rear new wheel rims & tyres would have cost around 3½k. I told him to go to JR, sorted uprated without any mods.

 

[Badknee]

VWE for me, 3500 to 4250 on a Ducato maxi chassis. Dee sorted it by a paperwork exercise only

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

VWE for me, 3500 to 4250 on a Ducato maxi chassis. Dee sorted it by a paperwork exercise only

Same for me. Went from 3500 to 4500 on a Ducato maxi chassis with VWE with no mods. Dee was very helpful during the whole process and with a subsequent problem with the DVLA.

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[Gordo]

Not sure if it helps but I’ve just had terrific service from Dee at VWE (updating Carthago from 4,200kg to 4,500kg). They were a pleasure to deal with.

Gordon

 

[shawn&emma]

elaborate please ?

SV told me that before I could start the up rating I’d have to have our self build changed from van to either van with windows or Motorhome, all to do with changing to private hgv as over 3500, this was back early October so I went ahead and changed details on logbook and requested change to van with windows. DVLA sent me letter confirming change but logbook never arrived.
Anyway because of that misinformation from SV the whole process has taken forever to sort.
Also SV was adamant I needed to change to Air on the rear and I wanted to change to heavy duty springs, turns out heavy duty springs are acceptable.

 

[Two on Tour]

Have any Funster that has had SV Tech process their up-plating from 3500Kg not been told that they need to fit semi-air at the rear?
I ask as I have seen that some motorhomes that have been bought new, the buyer has had the option to up-plate from 3500kg to 3850Kg by the dealer seemingly without semi-air having to be fitted to do so.

 

[Lenny HB]

Had any Funster that has had SV Tech process their up-plating from 3500Kg not been told that they need to fit semi-air at the rear?
I ask as I have seen that some motorhomes that have been bought new, the buyer has had the option to up-plate from 3500kg to 3850Kg by the dealer seemingly without semi-air having to be fitted to do so.

The did my last van without requiring any changes but that was back in 2014/2015.

 

[Speve]

Have any Funster that has had SV Tech process their up-plating from 3500Kg not been told that they need to fit semi-air at the rear?
I ask as I have seen that some motorhomes that have been bought new, the buyer has had the option to up-plate from 3500kg to 3850Kg by the dealer seemingly without semi-air having to be fitted to do so.

When we bought our Autotrail Tracker FB back in 2013 we took the option from dealer to uprate to 3650 kg but then realised we needed more capacity and SV uprated to 3850 which needed semi air and larger tyres (on 15” wheels)