So I've bought a dually! Advice please?
Discussion
OK so I've bitten the bullet & put phase one of my retirement plan into operation, I've just bough an F350 Lariat, Super Cab, 4WD. Very low mileage & not messed with. First problem, I had my mechanic give it a service & asked him to get the MOT done as the truck has been in storage for several years, got a phone call today to say the MOT station are refusing to test it because of the GVW being 5200kg, the old MOTs show it has had either a class 4 or a class 7 test. My interpretation of this is that it can be classed as a dual purpose vehicle ( class 4, no weight limit AFAIK) which according to some research has been done away with & a note to say test as class 7 (which has a 3500kg weight limit) so my good PH dually fans & ex owners what is the answer?
I have downloaded a form for Exemption from Goods Vehicle Testing https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=... Paragraphs 35 & 15 are relevant,OK just re read that & I misunderstood, it can be defined as a heavy motor car http://www.transportsfriend.org/road/definitions.h... which then makes it a class 4 MOT, HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP...............!!!
Edited by shovelheadrob on Thursday 6th March 20:27
I bought a 7.3, I'd ruled out a 6.o for the known problems so was looking at a later 6.4 from the States when this one turned up. Had to get it back from Spain, but it is seriously low mileage, been in dry storage since 2009 & as it is already registered here I thought that would make things a bit easier! Just want to get it MOT'd so I can drive it! (I had to send a couple of mates over to fetch it back due to work commitments)
Sold the Roush Harley, all part of the retirement plan to go travelling wherever the mood takes us. These pics were taken before it came home
It has only done 22000km & is as clean underneath as it is on top.
All Mot'd now with no reduction in weight or towing ability, it's actually quite easy when you ask the right questions to the right people, finding those people though is another matter! Fortunately a member on another forum that I frequent is a VOSA technical advisor who explained the ins & outs of what I needed to do.
It has only done 22000km & is as clean underneath as it is on top.
All Mot'd now with no reduction in weight or towing ability, it's actually quite easy when you ask the right questions to the right people, finding those people though is another matter! Fortunately a member on another forum that I frequent is a VOSA technical advisor who explained the ins & outs of what I needed to do.
Thanks Ade, I have thought about a tuner, there are so many to choose from, I must admit I'm surprised at how quick it is stock. Bit slow off the mark, but once it's moving & the turbo spools up it can move! Obviously not as quick as my last truck but I think that with a tune it shouldn't be too far behind. The fuel economy isn't as bad as I was expecting either, should have got one a long time ago!
My truck has never been downrated & it is classed as a car not a commercial, so as long as it's under 6500kg it gets a class 4 MOT & retains it's original towing capacity, I have had a new door sticker made which now shows the GCWR (train weight) as well as the original stuff, to keep within EU regs for towing.
I was going to source one from The USA but then a mate of mine brought this one back, he'd been using it out there for a few years for holidays, it had a layout that works for us & I got a really good deal IMHO. I also got to learn about the in's & out's of them by doing all the conversion for EU use myself.
It's 33ft & 11,700lbs GVW Andy, I have a weighbridge where I keep it & with the truck full of diesel & the fresh water tank on the trailer full the whole rig goes close to 8 tonnes.
To ecuremap, you need to have it tested as class 4,VOSA DVSA are quite happy about this, you just need to find a testing station that can accommodate the size & weight, I use my local Ford dealership as they can handle the largest Transit tippers & the like & accept it as a class 4, I had a chat with our local DVSA people the other week regarding my 5th wheel trailer & brakes, brake controllers, MOTs etc & he did say that having a class 7 or class 4 MOT was not an issue as he realised that many testers aren't aware of how these truck should be tested & if you were to get stopped & checked they would be looking to see if everything was in good order regardless of having an MOT of either class.
To ecuremap, you need to have it tested as class 4,
I think you asked on the Facebook truck forum, if not I'll post it here anyway, if your truck has been down plated to 3500kg or less it means that it can be tested as a class 7 but as it will weigh quite close to that with a full tank of fuel you will be overweight by the time you have a couple of passengers. Class 4 does not have a weight limit (it does technically as M1 passenger vehicles only go up to 5500kg IIRC) so you should get it tested as a class 4, but may struggle to find a class 4 place with a ramp capable of taking it. I use my local Ford Transit dealer & they are fine about it.
Does it have a weight on the V5? Probably not & the plate you posted before is just something that a previous owner has made up thinking that he's doing the right thing. Is there a door sticker? Usually on the drivers side B pillar, will have the original axle weights, GVW & tyre information.
Just remove the other plate & you should be good to go, it's not like an HGV where changing the weight puts you in a different tax class, although I know some people that tax there f350s as "private HGV" which is quite a bit less than plg!
Just remove the other plate & you should be good to go, it's not like an HGV where changing the weight puts you in a different tax class, although I know some people that tax there f350s as "private HGV" which is quite a bit less than plg!
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