Eurovic22:
Apparently the VOSA position is that to justify a downrating the new GVW still needs to be able to allow a reasonable (in their opinion) payload. Of what I can gather, on a 7.5t plate the minimum payload would be 2t - whether that is abolute or whether there is discretion or exceptions, I don’t know.
I’m not so sure that uprating or downrating is anything to do with VOSA, so their position on it might be moot?
Eurovic22:
Gareth Marsh at SV Tech could clarify - they are great at answering these queries and determining what can be done and they don’t charge for the advice. Sorry, I don’t have their url to hand, but Google them and they’ll appear.
Thats it. I know this as i’ve just used them to uprate a van by 400kg MAM. No test, no inspection just their say so and they sent me a nice sticker to insert on the inside of the door, cost was £300. No VOSA involvement. From what i’ve seen the main thing you need to get right is the notification to DVLA so they can get the taxation class correct.
Eurovic22:
Downrating should be OK provided the unladen weight of the tractor is at least 2t less than the new gvw - so in the case of the DAF, the unladen weight should be no more than 5.5t to enable downplating to 7.5t. The actual downrating itself is straightforward, usually reducing the capacity of the suspension which is followed by a test and replate at a VOSA test station. Then you will need to get the log book details amended through the DVLA.
No chance in this example then, even the lightest DAF75 4x2 unit weighs in at about 6t according to their website. Is that a hard and fast rule or just some kind of flexible guideline?
Paul
Wheelbase Engineering have been very helpful in the past.
BuzzardBoy:
could you theoretically drive a tractor unit and a small trailer/caravan(under 750kgs) on a towball hitch like the one above(i know the caravan above weighs more than 750kgs)
but if you’re wanting to tow a 750kg trailer, why not just use a car or small van? there are very few caravans that are plated at under 750kg, and the trailers that are would be those cardboard boxes on wheels that halfords sell.
BuzzardBoy:
could you theoretically drive a tractor unit and a small trailer/caravan(under 750kgs) on a towball hitch like the one above(i know the caravan above weighs more than 750kgs)
but if you’re wanting to tow a 750kg trailer, why not just use a car or small van?
You would but from a strictly legal point of view you could use a tractor unit. As an aside, are caravans plated?
mrpj:
You would but from a strictly legal point of view you could use a tractor unit. As an aside, are caravans plated?
Yes. The law says all trailers made since 1982 must “be clearly marked with their maximum gross weight in kg”. So I guess that’s not quite the same as being plated but their MGW has to be marked.
mrpj:
You would but from a strictly legal point of view you could use a tractor unit. As an aside, are caravans plated?
Yes. The law says all trailers made since 1982 must “be clearly marked with their maximum gross weight in kg”. So I guess that’s not quite the same as being plated but their MGW has to be marked.
Paul
They have 2 weights on thier plates.
MRO (Mass in Running Order) or weight as it left the factory and
MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permitted Laden Mass) or the legal weight that cannot be exceeded.
The difference between the 2 is about 200kg depending on the type of van.