changing max gross weight
Discussion
The company I work for has a large fleet of vans including a few hundred Ford connect vans.
It was highlight that they are over weight with kit that's on them. So after a few weeks flapping the solution is a new sticker to cover the old weight sticker. This one has a new higher weight.
No changers or mods to the van at all? How is this safe or legal?
It was highlight that they are over weight with kit that's on them. So after a few weeks flapping the solution is a new sticker to cover the old weight sticker. This one has a new higher weight.
No changers or mods to the van at all? How is this safe or legal?
hoppo4.2 said:
The company I work for has a large fleet of vans including a few hundred Ford connect vans.
It was highlight that they are over weight with kit that's on them. So after a few weeks flapping the solution is a new sticker to cover the old weight sticker. This one has a new higher weight.
No changers or mods to the van at all? How is this safe or legal?
Not legal.It was highlight that they are over weight with kit that's on them. So after a few weeks flapping the solution is a new sticker to cover the old weight sticker. This one has a new higher weight.
No changers or mods to the van at all? How is this safe or legal?
Probably not unsafe.
What are the original and new weights?
Is the new gross weight greater than the sum of the axle weights?
The correct way of doing this is to request the changes from DVSA. They will normally want to see some testing to prove the new weights are safe.
Usually just brakes (which it will almost certainly pass unless the weight has doubled) and maybe steering efforts if the front axle weight has changed.
You can usually get away with testing one van and converting the others if they use the same brakes etc.
It's not a cheap process. A few grand at least.
Before you get carried away, you can "replate" vehicles. Some are downgraded at the factory for tax, licence and speed limit reasons.
You can get a Connect with a range of payloads and I bet there's no difference between the actual vehicles apart from the rating.
I don't know exactly what's involved but it could simply be a paperwork exercise.
You can get a Connect with a range of payloads and I bet there's no difference between the actual vehicles apart from the rating.
I don't know exactly what's involved but it could simply be a paperwork exercise.
I can't see that they would do anything illegal. In fact I'm sure it all above board. This is a multi billion pound business.
It was more a how is it done type of question.
Like you say it could be that they just requested permission for the change from Ford. If they say ok I'm sure vosa will agree to it.
I don't have one of the vans so I'd have to check weights when I next see one
It was more a how is it done type of question.
Like you say it could be that they just requested permission for the change from Ford. If they say ok I'm sure vosa will agree to it.
I don't have one of the vans so I'd have to check weights when I next see one
hoppo4.2 said:
I can't see that they would do anything illegal. In fact I'm sure it all above board. This is a multi billion pound business.
It was more a how is it done type of question.
Like you say it could be that they just requested permission for the change from Ford. If they say ok I'm sure vosa will agree to it.
I don't have one of the vans so I'd have to check weights when I next see one
I doubt it'll be as simple as printing some labels. If you look at vans with multiple weight/payload offerings, e.g. Transit custom with 260/280/300/320/340 variants, each one up costs a bit more.It was more a how is it done type of question.
Like you say it could be that they just requested permission for the change from Ford. If they say ok I'm sure vosa will agree to it.
I don't have one of the vans so I'd have to check weights when I next see one
hoppo4.2 said:
I can't see that they would do anything illegal. In fact I'm sure it all above board. This is a multi billion pound business.
It was more a how is it done type of question.
Like you say it could be that they just requested permission for the change from Ford. If they say ok I'm sure vosa will agree to it.
I don't have one of the vans so I'd have to check weights when I next see one
Ford can't just say OK. Theyd need to be rehomologated, and I guarantee that hasn't been done. It was more a how is it done type of question.
Like you say it could be that they just requested permission for the change from Ford. If they say ok I'm sure vosa will agree to it.
I don't have one of the vans so I'd have to check weights when I next see one
Very common in the Motorhome world.
MH departs the factory bound for Europe where 3.5T is a magical number...plated as such.
Someone with the right licence/tax position decide they want more payload, goes to an “approved test company” they review MH and “approve” up to the real max weight (as per factory design)- paperwork job only! (Issue new sticker)
If you need more payload, company reviews axle weight capacity and defines what assistor springs/air springs etc would be needed.
Final tweak would be max weight capacity of the tyres.
Rgds
Jim
MH departs the factory bound for Europe where 3.5T is a magical number...plated as such.
Someone with the right licence/tax position decide they want more payload, goes to an “approved test company” they review MH and “approve” up to the real max weight (as per factory design)- paperwork job only! (Issue new sticker)
If you need more payload, company reviews axle weight capacity and defines what assistor springs/air springs etc would be needed.
Final tweak would be max weight capacity of the tyres.
Rgds
Jim
Happy Jim said:
Very common in the Motorhome world.
MH departs the factory bound for Europe where 3.5T is a magical number...plated as such.
Someone with the right licence/tax position decide they want more payload, goes to an “approved test company” they review MH and “approve” up to the real max weight (as per factory design)- paperwork job only! (Issue new sticker)
If you need more payload, company reviews axle weight capacity and defines what assistor springs/air springs etc would be needed.
Final tweak would be max weight capacity of the tyres.
Rgds
Jim
makes sense for a largish motor home to hit the magic 3.5, but why would a smaller class of van be potentially under-plated?MH departs the factory bound for Europe where 3.5T is a magical number...plated as such.
Someone with the right licence/tax position decide they want more payload, goes to an “approved test company” they review MH and “approve” up to the real max weight (as per factory design)- paperwork job only! (Issue new sticker)
If you need more payload, company reviews axle weight capacity and defines what assistor springs/air springs etc would be needed.
Final tweak would be max weight capacity of the tyres.
Rgds
Jim
Happy Jim said:
Very common in the Motorhome world.
MH departs the factory bound for Europe where 3.5T is a magical number...plated as such.
Someone with the right licence/tax position decide they want more payload, goes to an “approved test company” they review MH and “approve” up to the real max weight (as per factory design)- paperwork job only! (Issue new sticker)
If you need more payload, company reviews axle weight capacity and defines what assistor springs/air springs etc would be needed.
Final tweak would be max weight capacity of the tyres.
Rgds
Jim
As Jim says. There's a company called SVTech who do this kind of thing all the time. MH departs the factory bound for Europe where 3.5T is a magical number...plated as such.
Someone with the right licence/tax position decide they want more payload, goes to an “approved test company” they review MH and “approve” up to the real max weight (as per factory design)- paperwork job only! (Issue new sticker)
If you need more payload, company reviews axle weight capacity and defines what assistor springs/air springs etc would be needed.
Final tweak would be max weight capacity of the tyres.
Rgds
Jim
http://www.svtech.co.uk
Yes SV Tech is the company to ask, they are DVSA approved for both up & down rating of all classes of vehicle, I'm sure that an email or call to them expressing any concerns & they will be able to confirm/deny if it's possible with the vehicles in question.
As said, with many vehicles it's just a paperwork exercise or in some cases it's alot of mechanical changes.
As said, with many vehicles it's just a paperwork exercise or in some cases it's alot of mechanical changes.
I'm having this conversation at the moment with a customer and supplier, albeit on a 3.5t vehicle.
The uprating process will ensure spring rates, braking and axle loading are all safe and meet the relevant standards before a new plating certificate is issued.
In the case of the vehicle I'm dealing with, it will also need a tacho and a HGV licence, but that shouldn't be an issue with a Connect.
The cost of this exercise isn't cheap though, and I would suggest looking at replacing the Connects with something more suited to the job, like a 270 Custom or T28 Transporter.
If something catastrophic or contentious happened resulting in a formal investigation, the consequences could be crippling to the business, or even result in a custodial for the business owners - duty of care, corporate responsibilities etc.
It's not something I would want to fudge if it was my business.
As above though SVtech are recognised as the UK experts on re-plating.
The uprating process will ensure spring rates, braking and axle loading are all safe and meet the relevant standards before a new plating certificate is issued.
In the case of the vehicle I'm dealing with, it will also need a tacho and a HGV licence, but that shouldn't be an issue with a Connect.
The cost of this exercise isn't cheap though, and I would suggest looking at replacing the Connects with something more suited to the job, like a 270 Custom or T28 Transporter.
If something catastrophic or contentious happened resulting in a formal investigation, the consequences could be crippling to the business, or even result in a custodial for the business owners - duty of care, corporate responsibilities etc.
It's not something I would want to fudge if it was my business.
As above though SVtech are recognised as the UK experts on re-plating.
hoppo4.2 said:
The company I work for has a large fleet of vans including a few hundred Ford connect vans.
It was highlight that they are over weight with kit that's on them. So after a few weeks flapping the solution is a new sticker to cover the old weight sticker. This one has a new higher weight.
No changers or mods to the van at all? How is this safe or legal?
There are two questions I have. Firstly if you are a driver of one of these vans, as you are clearly aware they are overweight, why are you still driving it?It was highlight that they are over weight with kit that's on them. So after a few weeks flapping the solution is a new sticker to cover the old weight sticker. This one has a new higher weight.
No changers or mods to the van at all? How is this safe or legal?
The company can not fire you for refusing to take an over weight van out.
If you are a manager and again you clearly know the vans are over weight. Why are you instructing your drivers to take these vehicles out?
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