carlston49:
If the towing vehicle is 2,000kg, the trailer can be 3,500kg as the train weight doesn’t exceed 5,500kg.
However, I would have thought it would be safer if the towing vehicle was 3,500kg if the trailer is 3,500kg so that the tail doesn’t wag the dog…but that would not be allowed as the train weight would then be more than 5,500kg.
The towing vehicle can’t be 2,000kg because he’s already stated the Gross weight is 3,500 and even if it actually weighs less than that, you can’t change its allowable weight. So in this case it’s always a trailer of no more than 2,000
The train weight goes on actual weight and not the plated weight
Train weight is what is shown on the ministry plate - the maximum combined weight.
carlston49:
If the towing vehicle is 2,000kg, the trailer can be 3,500kg as the train weight doesn’t exceed 5,500kg.
However, I would have thought it would be safer if the towing vehicle was 3,500kg if the trailer is 3,500kg so that the tail doesn’t wag the dog…but that would not be allowed as the train weight would then be more than 5,500kg.
The towing vehicle can’t be 2,000kg because he’s already stated the Gross weight is 3,500 and even if it actually weighs less than that, you can’t change its allowable weight. So in this case it’s always a trailer of no more than 2,000
The train weight goes on actual weight and not the plated weight
Train weight is what is shown on the ministry plate - the maximum combined weight.
But it’s not the combined gross weight of the vehicle and gross weight of the trailer, it’s the weight of the vehicle and trailer sat on a weighbridge, so solong as you’re not more than the train weight and the vehicle and the trailer isn’t over their gross, and you aren’t over on any axles or pin etc you’re good
Braveheart2009:
Been advised on here and elsewhere of prison sentence, community service, £100,000 fines, court appearence in the dock with the traffic commissioner grilling you about what you done, for being 2.71 ton over 77%. overloaded
They slapped me with 3 points and £245 fine. Main reason I plead guilty was £2000-4000 plus lawyer fees to pay following a failed investigation then court fines ontop of it. Also, didnt have enough paperwork, eye witness, video/audio recordings to defend just my geuine reasons which lawyers/public ridiculed me for apart from 1-2 good friends who defended me.
Lawyers gave me a very inaccurate picture like it was so serious you could face dangerous driving and case will be esculated to the crown court. oh deary me!, your better defending yourself in court and read some books.
Reason, I am posting is to calm drivers fears over overloading. The 3 points come off automatically after 3 years from the offence date but they remain on your driving history record between 4-11 years depending on severity. They give you 14 days to pay your fine online. No court appearence they just want your money.
They took around 6 months to complete everything. It doesn’t matter how much you overload its the same fine and 3 points for a first offence.
“Best” I ever managed was 47960 kg in the days where you were only supossed to run at 38 tons . Turned up to load cooking oil in Glasgow , normally I would have to pallet truck the oil into the fridge but this morning the owner decided he would take me to breakfast in the cafe at the end of the street. On return I was loaded and the back doors closed and sealed . On the way out of Glasgow I thought I was going to run out of gears going up the A77 (F10 Volvo and a Smitz fridge ) on arrival in Stranraer for the HSS ferry I was asked “You do know there is a 40 ton weight restriction on the HSS ? " " Why what weight am I ?” No answer just a weighbridge ticket reached out the window to me . When curiosity got the better of me I went and broke the seal and got up into the back of the fridge . First thing I noticed was that the pallets were wrapped in black plastic rather than the normal clear plastic . On closer inspection I had the normal number of pallets on board but this load of 25 l drums had a 25% extra free label on each and every drum .
Lesson learned
No such thing as a free breakfast
