My mate imported this from the States .Its taxed as a private vehicle ,no tacho . The only thing he had to do was weld a small steel plate across the 5 wheel to prevent hooking up to a trailer. He trundles about in it at weekends. He got it all legal at the Customs office in Chelmsford. They could probably help you when you want to change from commercial to private tax.
This might help you. You can get the phone number from BT.
Thanks for the welcome and the various conflicting points of view so far.
I had a six month job driving a 3.5 ton Merc Sprinter pulling a 3.5 ton trailer with a train weight of 5.5 ton. (if I remember correctly) It had a tacho fitted but only needed to be used when the trailer was hooked up.
How many grey areas must there be in transport related regulations…and how many drivers are on the wrong side of them right now…the mind boggles!
global.
global:
How many grey areas must there be in transport related regulations…
Very few if any at all.
Wheel Nut:
Were any of these emails from a member called ROG by any chance?
Which if so are more likely to be incorrect rather than correct.
I* have had 3 questions on tacho and other regulations answered incorrectly in another place by him in recent weeks, two of which if followed could prove very costly. 
*When I say ‘I’, I mean two or three of the other people who live inside my head.
steadymabo:
tachograph:
As far as I’m aware the EU regulations only cover vehicles used for the carriage of goods, if a vehicle over 7.5 tonnes is used for private use whilst carrying goods then it comes in-scope of EU regulations and a tachograph should be used.As far as I’m aware a vehicle that never carries goods as is being discussed here is not bound by the EU regulations nor the Domestic regulations so no tachograph or log sheet is needed.
Now does the carriage of the weeks shopping constitute the carriage of goods in a vehicle over 7.5 tonnes is another question ?I would advise you to contact VOSA and get this in writing to cover your own back
The way i understand it is if the vehicle is taxed and insured as private, and not used for hire or reward then tacograph and wtd regs dont apply, if you think about it your car is a private vehicle, so going from a to b in a car is no different in a private hgv.
Basicly the same as you put Tachograph
what about chrons law ? - if i got it right ■■
harry:
The only thing he had to do was weld a small steel plate across the 5 wheel to prevent hooking up to a trailer.
Who made this one up? or was it before 1997?
Wheel Nut:
harry:
The only thing he had to do was weld a small steel plate across the 5 wheel to prevent hooking up to a trailer.Who made this one up? or was it before 1997?
I don’t understand the Q. but it was imported 2008 & put on the road as a private vehicle.
harry:
Wheel Nut:
harry:
The only thing he had to do was weld a small steel plate across the 5 wheel to prevent hooking up to a trailer.Who made this one up? or was it before 1997?
I don’t understand the Q. but it was imported 2008 & put on the road as a private vehicle.
Then as Wheel Nut suggested whoever told him to weld a plate across the 5th wheel was talking a load of rubbish. There’s nothing stopping you pulling a trailer with a private HGV as long as you have the correct licence.
Paul
scourfield:
what about chrons law ? - if i got it right ■■
I suspect you mean Croner, a good source of information published by Kogan Page, but definitely not law.
or a simple email to VOSA could save you £714.19
Rob K:
Don’t forget you need an artic licence to drive it.
Not according to VOSA at the test centre - to driver a solo tractor unit over 7.5t only requires a class ‘C’ as it does not become an articulated vehicle (C+E) until a trailer is put behind it regardless of its gross weight. However if you turn up to take a class ‘C’ test in a solo tractor unit, it is deemed as being not large enough for test purposes!!!.
Ref the tacho issue - whilst there is debate over the use of a tacho disc by the driver, this is an extract from the VOSA Tacho exemption form. When my private tractor unit went for test this year the two yearly check was out of date but the 6 yearly calibration was OK. i was told not to worry about the check as this was just an advisory issue.
I have deleted a lot of the exemption categories as they relate to use by harbour authorities, used for the carriage of blood or used by Railway Companies etc etc.
This form is to be completed and submitted at time of test if a vehicle does not have a calibrated tachograph fitted according to the requirements of IM26 of the Heavy Goods Vehicle Inspection Manual and the presenter wishes to declare it to be exempt. One of the following reasons should be selected and the declaration on page 2 signed:
volvof10:
Rob K:
Don’t forget you need an artic licence to drive it.Not according to VOSA at the test centre - to driver a solo tractor unit over 7.5t only requires a class ‘C’ as it does not become an articulated vehicle (C+E) until a trailer is put behind it regardless of its gross weight. However if you turn up to take a class ‘C’ test in a solo tractor unit, it is deemed as being not large enough for test purposes!!!.
Coffeeholic:
PMSL
volvof10:
Rob K:
Don’t forget you need an artic licence to drive it.Not according to VOSA at the test centre.
I think Rob K’s reply was said a bit tongue in cheek
Wheel Nut:
scourfield:
what about chrons law ? - if i got it right ■■I suspect you mean Croner, a good source of information published by Kogan Page, but definitely not law.
or a simple email to VOSA could save you £714.19
Thanks for that clarification , - it’s gone up from when i last knew of someone buying it ! .there is one bit inthere i am led to believe about non profit making - hauling own or exhibition good to & from place of show ■■ - therefore not requiring hgv licence ■■
scourfield:
there is one bit inthere i am led to believe about non profit making - hauling own or exhibition good to & from place of show ■■ - therefore not requiring hgv licence ■■
There are exemptions but this AFAIK isn’t one of them.
Contacted VOSA about this and here is their response!
Thank you for your email received on 29/10/10. Your email reference number is …
We cannot comment on the legalities of running an artic unit for private use.
It will depend on the weight of the vehicle what licence you require However, the following information may be of assistance to you:
B motor cars and light vans up to 3.5 tonnes (3500kg) with up to 8 passenger seats
BE motor cars and light vans up to 3.5 tonnes (3500kg) with up to 8 passenger seats, pulling a trailer over 750kgs
C1 vehicles between 3.5 tonnes with a trailer up to 750kgs
C1E vehicles between 3.5 tonnes with a trailer over 750kgs
(The combination must not exceed 8.25 tonnes)
C heavy rigid vehicles + trailer up to 750kgs
CE heavy rigid + trailer over 750kgs
If your licence does not give you cover to drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes it will be necessary for you to apply for the provisional entitlement, have a a medical examination with your G.P and sit the relevant tests.
If C1 or above is required you will need to obtain CPC training please contact the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) for assistance
Tel: 0300 200 1122
Email: customer.services@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
Website: dsa.gov.uk
Cheers.
global
global:
Contacted VOSA about this and here is their response!Thank you for your email received on 29/10/10. Your email reference number is …
We cannot comment on the legalities of running an artic unit for private use.
It will depend on the weight of the vehicle what licence you require However, the following information may be of assistance to you:B motor cars and light vans up to 3.5 tonnes (3500kg) with up to 8 passenger seats
BE motor cars and light vans up to 3.5 tonnes (3500kg) with up to 8 passenger seats, pulling a trailer over 750kgs
C1 vehicles between 3.5 tonnes with a trailer up to 750kgs
C1E vehicles between 3.5 tonnes with a trailer over 750kgs
(The combination must not exceed 8.25 tonnes)
C heavy rigid vehicles + trailer up to 750kgs
CE heavy rigid + trailer over 750kgs
If your licence does not give you cover to drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes it will be necessary for you to apply for the provisional entitlement, have a a medical examination with your G.P and sit the relevant tests.
If C1 or above is required you will need to obtain CPC training please contact the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) for assistanceTel: 0300 200 1122
Email: customer.services@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
Website: dsa.gov.ukCheers.
global
So basically they’ve evaded giving any useful information that isn’t already available on the DirectGov website 
tachograph, heres the answer I received from DVLA then.
Thank you for your email received on 28/10/10. Your email reference number is …
From a driving licence perspective, providing you have the appropriate, valid category on your licence you are able to drive the vehicle in question.
You are able to check the validity dates of your entitlements by looking on the reverse of your photocard section.
If you wish to operate a private business you may need to register this with your local council.
It may help if I explain that the cost of vehicle tax varies depending on your vehicles age and CO2 emission figure.
The rates of vehicle tax for all vehicle types are available on the form Rates of vehicle tax (V149) which is available on the website direct.gov.uk/motoring.
Cheers.
global.
More information received from Richard, a VOSA inspectror. Not sure if anyone is still interested but posting just in case.
You do not say what the gross weight of this artic is or its Reg Mark.
If it’s over 7500kg GVW the driver will need a Category C (HGV) vocational driving licence to drive it solo without a trailer on, even for privateuse.
The fifth-wheel coupling can remain on it, in fact it will have to befitted for the test because it is a testable item.
For private use the taxation class is ‘Private HGV’
It will have to be tested at a VOSA HGV test station as an HGV.
Goods vehicles over 3500kg cannot be parked in the street.
You can tow a trailer if you have the appropriate Category C+E (HGV) vocational driving licence.
Yours sincerely
Richard
