max gvw of a solo tractor unit will be 26t
as it is a 3 axle rigid
and these are the simplified rules that superceded axle weight limits.
del949:
but when driving I did know…MGVW = the permitted max weight of vehicle. The law in this regard treats vehicles as always fully loaded.
If the MGVW is under the weight restriction you are clear to cross the bridge etc.
If you are driving an empty 18 tonner , then it is an 18 MGVW vehicle regardless of actual weight.
If the sign says 18 t MGW , then it means that taking an empty 18 t or a 4x2 tractor over is legal because neither are over 18 ton MGW, but if the sign says 7.5 tons then neither can cross as they are both over 7.5 tons MGVW , regardless of their actual weight
That is how I’ve always understood it Del. There’s a bridge near Pontarddulais which has IIRC a 26 tonne restriction on it, but with a qualification below of “except empty vehicles”.
del949:
and these are the simplified rules that superceded axle weight limits.
The simplified rules are much easier to understand 
Rob Spanker.
The only reason I posted the car transporter was to confuse matters. The prime mover is actually a solo unit with a semi demountable body, it then pulls a drawbar trailer on a Ringfeder coupling. Without the trailer it becomes a 3 axle rigid, the transporter body can be easily dropped off for tilting the cab or very easily converting back to a lowcab artic unit.
The simplest thing to do would be to adandon using mgw and just say maximum weight xtons. Surely it would be better for the “weak” bridge?
One of the most stupid weight limits I’ve seen is the one at Weston on the Green flyover (A34); You can’t cross it to access the Southbound carriageway but you can cross it exiting Southbound to go along the B430 towards Middleton stoney. To go Southbound from Weston, lorries have to go Northbound upto M40 J9 interchange and come back down again. Completely pointless as it doesn’t keep lorries out of Weston nor is the bridge actually weak. 
To cap it all off, the weight limit is cancelled out when there’s a problem at J9 anyway.
All created to appease some coffin dodging NIMBYS who then kicked off a stink about affordable homes being built nearby 
It is allowed to come off the Frome by pass to pass by Cley Hill and Longleat to get to Warminster,but going the other way,there is a truck ban of 18 tons,but no signs the other way.
Why do people move near aiports,then set up a commitee to ban more run ways,if they plan to build or develop the airport,buy some ear plugs.
Muckaway:
The simplest thing to do would be to adandon using mgw and just say maximum weight xtons. Surely it would be better for the “weak” bridge?
One of the most stupid weight limits I’ve seen is the one at Weston on the Green flyover (A34); You can’t cross it to access the Southbound carriageway but you can cross it exiting Southbound to go along the B430 towards Middleton stoney. To go Southbound from Weston, lorries have to go Northbound upto M40 J9 interchange and come back down again. Completely pointless as it doesn’t keep lorries out of Weston nor is the bridge actually weak.
All created to appease some coffin dodging NIMBYS who then kicked off a stink about affordable homes being built nearby
I used to go down that road at stupid speeds. Well 56 actually , but you know what I mean!
The only reason I posted the car transporter was to confuse matters. The prime mover is actually a solo unit with a semi demountable body, it then pulls a drawbar trailer on a Ringfeder coupling. Without the trailer it becomes a 3 axle rigid, the transporter body can be easily dropped off for tilting the cab or very easily converting back to a lowcab artic unit.
[/quote]
Hi Malc,
Sorry to be pedantic, (seems to be a theme of this thread), but as an ex-transporter driver you should know that with that design of transporter (Transporter Engineering 11+), all the decking on the prime mover is bolted very firmly to the tractor unit and would require some form of lifting equipment to remove, after removing all connections. It is not demountable. Engine maintenance is carried out by lifting the deck over the cab to enable the cab to be tilted. Always a barrel of laughs when you break down on the M25 when carrying 11 cars and you can’t get the deck up…
Wheel nut you are ok but what about poeple like the one that ,after seeing in my boot 4 x10 liter drums of ablue,said that should be in red conainers and your not allowed to carry that much in your boot you could have an explosion,I could not think of anything good to shoot back at him.
it will be fun for all drivers who take 44 ton artics down lanes with 7.5ton limit and unsuitable for hgv to get to farms i dont think the bloke who decided to ask was thinking clearly.
Lank:
The only reason I posted the car transporter was to confuse matters. The prime mover is actually a solo unit with a semi demountable body, it then pulls a drawbar trailer on a Ringfeder coupling. Without the trailer it becomes a 3 axle rigid, the transporter body can be easily dropped off for tilting the cab or very easily converting back to a lowcab artic unit.
Hi Malc,
Sorry to be pedantic, (seems to be a theme of this thread), but as an ex-transporter driver you should know that with that design of transporter (Transporter Engineering 11+), all the decking on the prime mover is bolted very firmly to the tractor unit and would require some form of lifting equipment to remove, after removing all connections. It is not demountable. Engine maintenance is carried out by lifting the deck over the cab to enable the cab to be tilted. Always a barrel of laughs when you break down on the M25 when carrying 11 cars and you can’t get the deck up…
[/quote]
I wasn’t sure how demountable they were. I have seen the bodies sat on their own and the “unit” in the workshops but knew they did, “sort of come off.” I have spent a lot of time in Belle Engineering both in Yarmouth and Dunmow
Maybe when I said easy. I meant possible
fuse:
Wheel nut you are ok but what about poeple like the one that ,after seeing in my boot 4 x10 liter drums of ablue,said that should be in red conainers and your not allowed to carry that much in your boot you could have an explosion,I could not think of anything good to shoot back at him.
Don’t you know any firemen to ask?
fuse:
Wheel nut you are ok but what about poeple like the one that ,after seeing in my boot 4 x10 liter drums of ablue,said that should be in red conainers and your not allowed to carry that much in your boot you could have an explosion,I could not think of anything good to shoot back at him.
Have you tried “it’s moonshine now [zb] off and mind you own business.”