DVLA Downplating - US Pickup Trucks
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm really keen to buy a big US pickup truck. Specifically one of the big double-cab barges with a long enough bed to camp in!
Problem is, a lot of the big boy trucks are 10000lb GVW - 4535kg! And i'm a post-97 license holder, limiting me to 3500kg.
The gross weight of the truck minus its max payload suggests it's about 2500kg unladen according to brochures.
I messaged the seller of a truck I'm interested in, he said that no weights were listed in the logbook. So if I got pulled by VOSA, they'll likely look at the plate on the truck and regardless of the unladen weight i'd be done for.
As the vehicle has no revenue weights except what is listed on the plate, is it possible to downplate to 3.5t? Do I even need to worry about this as a private individual? I really don't want to have to bother taking a C license and maintaining it (though i will if necessary!) as that's a lot of cash to burn, just for a bit of fun to drive a HGV for a bit!
Cheers!
I'm really keen to buy a big US pickup truck. Specifically one of the big double-cab barges with a long enough bed to camp in!
Problem is, a lot of the big boy trucks are 10000lb GVW - 4535kg! And i'm a post-97 license holder, limiting me to 3500kg.
The gross weight of the truck minus its max payload suggests it's about 2500kg unladen according to brochures.
I messaged the seller of a truck I'm interested in, he said that no weights were listed in the logbook. So if I got pulled by VOSA, they'll likely look at the plate on the truck and regardless of the unladen weight i'd be done for.
As the vehicle has no revenue weights except what is listed on the plate, is it possible to downplate to 3.5t? Do I even need to worry about this as a private individual? I really don't want to have to bother taking a C license and maintaining it (though i will if necessary!) as that's a lot of cash to burn, just for a bit of fun to drive a HGV for a bit!
Cheers!
Following on from the much debated B+E trailer rules before the December 2021 change, licence categories are based on the plated weight of the vehicle.
To me, I'd think that if a vehicle has a MAM of over 3,500kg/7716lbs then surely you'd need a category C1 licence. Regardless of its actual weight.
I'd imagine it is possible, somehow, to downplate it so it fits within the 3,500kg/7716lbs restraint of a category B licence.
Having looked further into The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999, the term "maximum authorised mass" has the same meaning as “maximum gross weight" in regulation 3(2) of the Construction and Use Regulations.
In The C&U regulations, maximum gross weight:
(a) in the case of a vehicle equipped with a Ministry plate in accordance with regulation 70, the design gross weight shown in column (3) of that plate or, if no such weight is shown, the gross weight shown in column (2) of that plate;
(b) in the case of a vehicle not equipped with a Ministry plate, but which is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 66, the maximum gross weight shown on the plate in respect of item 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 8 in the case of a motor vehicle and item 6 of Part II of Schedule 8 in the case of a trailer;
(c) in any other case, the weight which the vehicle is designed or adapted not to exceed when the vehicle is travelling on a road
Based on Regulation 70 and 66 of the C&U Regulations, a US pick up would fall under (c). Therefore, I'd interpret this as the vehicle has been designed to exceed 3,500kg/7716lbs and therefore a C1 licence is required.
However, I may have interpreted this all completely wrong!
To me, I'd think that if a vehicle has a MAM of over 3,500kg/7716lbs then surely you'd need a category C1 licence. Regardless of its actual weight.
I'd imagine it is possible, somehow, to downplate it so it fits within the 3,500kg/7716lbs restraint of a category B licence.
Having looked further into The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999, the term "maximum authorised mass" has the same meaning as “maximum gross weight" in regulation 3(2) of the Construction and Use Regulations.
In The C&U regulations, maximum gross weight:
(a) in the case of a vehicle equipped with a Ministry plate in accordance with regulation 70, the design gross weight shown in column (3) of that plate or, if no such weight is shown, the gross weight shown in column (2) of that plate;
(b) in the case of a vehicle not equipped with a Ministry plate, but which is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 66, the maximum gross weight shown on the plate in respect of item 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 8 in the case of a motor vehicle and item 6 of Part II of Schedule 8 in the case of a trailer;
(c) in any other case, the weight which the vehicle is designed or adapted not to exceed when the vehicle is travelling on a road
Based on Regulation 70 and 66 of the C&U Regulations, a US pick up would fall under (c). Therefore, I'd interpret this as the vehicle has been designed to exceed 3,500kg/7716lbs and therefore a C1 licence is required.
However, I may have interpreted this all completely wrong!
Edited by Powerfully Built Company Directors Secretary on Wednesday 13th March 20:12
andrew_baran said:
Hi all,
I'm really keen to buy a big US pickup truck. Specifically one of the big double-cab barges with a long enough bed to camp in!
Problem is, a lot of the big boy trucks are 10000lb GVW - 4535kg! And i'm a post-97 license holder, limiting me to 3500kg.
The gross weight of the truck minus its max payload suggests it's about 2500kg unladen according to brochures.
I messaged the seller of a truck I'm interested in, he said that no weights were listed in the logbook. So if I got pulled by VOSA, they'll likely look at the plate on the truck and regardless of the unladen weight i'd be done for.
As the vehicle has no revenue weights except what is listed on the plate, is it possible to downplate to 3.5t? Do I even need to worry about this as a private individual? I really don't want to have to bother taking a C license and maintaining it (though i will if necessary!) as that's a lot of cash to burn, just for a bit of fun to drive a HGV for a bit!
Cheers!
It will be based on the weight plate rather than what the brochure says its unladen weight is (remember that is with nothing but the basic shell from memory, no oils, fuel, water seats maybe?). I'm really keen to buy a big US pickup truck. Specifically one of the big double-cab barges with a long enough bed to camp in!
Problem is, a lot of the big boy trucks are 10000lb GVW - 4535kg! And i'm a post-97 license holder, limiting me to 3500kg.
The gross weight of the truck minus its max payload suggests it's about 2500kg unladen according to brochures.
I messaged the seller of a truck I'm interested in, he said that no weights were listed in the logbook. So if I got pulled by VOSA, they'll likely look at the plate on the truck and regardless of the unladen weight i'd be done for.
As the vehicle has no revenue weights except what is listed on the plate, is it possible to downplate to 3.5t? Do I even need to worry about this as a private individual? I really don't want to have to bother taking a C license and maintaining it (though i will if necessary!) as that's a lot of cash to burn, just for a bit of fun to drive a HGV for a bit!
Cheers!
I have no doubt it will be really hard but i would speak to dvsa, i am sure you could rock up to one of their centres (if they still exist) and try and get sense that way.
I am fairly sure it goes on plated weight, or you wouldn't need the licence for certain vehicles as unladen they weigh a lot less than plated weight.
The chance of you getting pulled though? slim to none, however, if you were involved in an accident you would be f
ked. Its just not worth the risk imo.
I am fairly sure it goes on plated weight, or you wouldn't need the licence for certain vehicles as unladen they weigh a lot less than plated weight.
The chance of you getting pulled though? slim to none, however, if you were involved in an accident you would be f
ked. Its just not worth the risk imo.LosingGrip said:
andrew_baran said:
Hi all,
I'm really keen to buy a big US pickup truck. Specifically one of the big double-cab barges with a long enough bed to camp in!
Problem is, a lot of the big boy trucks are 10000lb GVW - 4535kg! And i'm a post-97 license holder, limiting me to 3500kg.
The gross weight of the truck minus its max payload suggests it's about 2500kg unladen according to brochures.
I messaged the seller of a truck I'm interested in, he said that no weights were listed in the logbook. So if I got pulled by VOSA, they'll likely look at the plate on the truck and regardless of the unladen weight i'd be done for.
As the vehicle has no revenue weights except what is listed on the plate, is it possible to downplate to 3.5t? Do I even need to worry about this as a private individual? I really don't want to have to bother taking a C license and maintaining it (though i will if necessary!) as that's a lot of cash to burn, just for a bit of fun to drive a HGV for a bit!
Cheers!
It will be based on the weight plate rather than what the brochure says its unladen weight is (remember that is with nothing but the basic shell from memory, no oils, fuel, water seats maybe?). I'm really keen to buy a big US pickup truck. Specifically one of the big double-cab barges with a long enough bed to camp in!
Problem is, a lot of the big boy trucks are 10000lb GVW - 4535kg! And i'm a post-97 license holder, limiting me to 3500kg.
The gross weight of the truck minus its max payload suggests it's about 2500kg unladen according to brochures.
I messaged the seller of a truck I'm interested in, he said that no weights were listed in the logbook. So if I got pulled by VOSA, they'll likely look at the plate on the truck and regardless of the unladen weight i'd be done for.
As the vehicle has no revenue weights except what is listed on the plate, is it possible to downplate to 3.5t? Do I even need to worry about this as a private individual? I really don't want to have to bother taking a C license and maintaining it (though i will if necessary!) as that's a lot of cash to burn, just for a bit of fun to drive a HGV for a bit!
Cheers!
SVTech can do this I think.
They do the same with motorhomes - homologating them to either have more payload, or downrating them to allow them to be driven on a normal licence.
Looks like they can do US pickups
https://www.svtech.co.uk/vehicles/pickups/
They do the same with motorhomes - homologating them to either have more payload, or downrating them to allow them to be driven on a normal licence.
Looks like they can do US pickups
https://www.svtech.co.uk/vehicles/pickups/
This is all great info, thanks to you all.
I've dropped SVTech an email to see what they say about it.
I guess the thing i'm most intrigued about is the fact there's no weights listed in the V5. Up-plating a camper or down-plating a van usually is done to change the V5... Would you fit a new plate on the vehicle after doing this? Because if so, Autumnsum has a point - I could literally just stamp my own 3500kg limit on it and carry on...
I've dropped SVTech an email to see what they say about it.
I guess the thing i'm most intrigued about is the fact there's no weights listed in the V5. Up-plating a camper or down-plating a van usually is done to change the V5... Would you fit a new plate on the vehicle after doing this? Because if so, Autumnsum has a point - I could literally just stamp my own 3500kg limit on it and carry on...
andrew_baran said:
Hi all,
I'm really keen to buy a big US pickup truck. Specifically one of the big double-cab barges with a long enough bed to camp in!
Problem is, a lot of the big boy trucks are 10000lb GVW - 4535kg! And i'm a post-97 license holder, limiting me to 3500kg.
The gross weight of the truck minus its max payload suggests it's about 2500kg unladen according to brochures.
I messaged the seller of a truck I'm interested in, he said that no weights were listed in the logbook. So if I got pulled by VOSA, they'll likely look at the plate on the truck and regardless of the unladen weight i'd be done for.
As the vehicle has no revenue weights except what is listed on the plate, is it possible to downplate to 3.5t? Do I even need to worry about this as a private individual? I really don't want to have to bother taking a C license and maintaining it (though i will if necessary!) as that's a lot of cash to burn, just for a bit of fun to drive a HGV for a bit!
Cheers!
I was parked next to a Dodge Ram 1500 yesterday. The cab is enormous, but the truck bed is not much longer than that of a Ford Ranger that was also parked near it. Get the bed measurements before you commit.I'm really keen to buy a big US pickup truck. Specifically one of the big double-cab barges with a long enough bed to camp in!
Problem is, a lot of the big boy trucks are 10000lb GVW - 4535kg! And i'm a post-97 license holder, limiting me to 3500kg.
The gross weight of the truck minus its max payload suggests it's about 2500kg unladen according to brochures.
I messaged the seller of a truck I'm interested in, he said that no weights were listed in the logbook. So if I got pulled by VOSA, they'll likely look at the plate on the truck and regardless of the unladen weight i'd be done for.
As the vehicle has no revenue weights except what is listed on the plate, is it possible to downplate to 3.5t? Do I even need to worry about this as a private individual? I really don't want to have to bother taking a C license and maintaining it (though i will if necessary!) as that's a lot of cash to burn, just for a bit of fun to drive a HGV for a bit!
Cheers!
MustangGT said:
I was parked next to a Dodge Ram 1500 yesterday. The cab is enormous, but the truck bed is not much longer than that of a Ford Ranger that was also parked near it. Get the bed measurements before you commit.
They do up to 8.5 foot beds. Depends on the spec. Duallys are the biggest ones. You can drive them all on a normal UK licence if you downplate them. They are the same size as the ford double cab pickups the council use. 20 foot long or so.It was really simple when I did it, made the plate, put it on (it has to be securely attached over the old one, they will try to pull it off) and they signed it off, and I was able to go and MOT it. I'd already changed the lights over to amber and had to disconnect 2 indicators in the front lights.
Oh I also had to put a muffler on the exhaust as it was a V8 and typically American loud. They tested the volume of the exhaust and it must meet sound standards.
I used to work with the bedding industry you know the ones that always have a trailer the same size as the rigid truck. We down plated them by submitting the vehicles for approval with a set of really narrow tyres that could only support a certain weight. Then when the truck got back to the factory fit the proper wheels and tyres. The testing authority got on to this and we had to come up with a technical solution. Which is still working and a trade secret
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