Some interesting stuff here, I really must crawl under the van sometime and peer at the axle.

Deeps, saw a "how its made " program on the tv the other day............ showed a vehicle being built, the fitters marked a wheel bolt to show the assembly line inspector that they had been torqued up at assembly, might explain your blue mark in another topic.

Hi,
My Puck L 230gt has an axle plate for 850kg but the plate by the door is for 790kg, an extra 60kg doesn't sound like much but the current payload is only 160kg, the lowest figure for any of the post 2010 Eribas, and a mass which I have difficulty reaching even with hardly anything extra in the 'van (checked on a weighbridge at 800kg +/- 10kg) so that extra 60kg is very attractive!

Legally, if the axle is plated for 850kg, is it necessary to pay for a new plate to stick by the door in order to tow at 850kg?, if it came to it I'm sure I could persuade Mr Plod or DVLA man to shine his torch underneath to check the axle plate.

Chris

In my opinion you should treat the information given on the plate by the door as being gospel. This in all likelihood will be the last thing attached to the van following build and it being entered into the production log at the factory and, therefore, the rating applied by Hymer at that time for whatever reason. You could of course apply to Hymer for an upgraded plate and submit the conflicting information along with your request and await the official reply. Until that time, however, stick with what is shown on the plate by the door and don't expect PC Plod to go crawling underneath because he would most probably look at you somewhat strangely and simply point to the visible plate by the door.

Hmmm, sounds like an e-mail to Hymer is in order, hoped I could save myself €89!

Chris

P.S. E-mail sent so will await their response

Although not directly related to the question posed by, Chris, it does highlight one of the disadvantages of not having to register caravans in the UK thereby not having in ones possession a registration document as is the case of a motor vehicle.

Leaving aside the issue of taxation and the requirement for an MOT etc, the possession of a registration document provided by Hymer avoids these type of issues as this document details without ambiguity matters relating to weights and approved tyres among other things.

Well, I've received an automated reply from Hymer saying it may take some time to reply as due to the large number of requests they are rather busy, so come on guys, show yourselves

I await their proper reply with interest.

Chris

OK, I admit it, my 2005 Troll 552 is plated as 1200k but the axle plate says 1300k, so I emailed them on the 16th Nov, had an acknowledgment but told it may take some time.
Dave

Uprating the plate just because the axle has a higher rating than the plate is not taking into consideration other factors like chassis limits, floor load rating, Eriba framework load rating etc so a little more complicated than saying the axle rating is xxxx Kg therefore the load rating on the plate should be the same?

Hi Hob,
You may well be right but the Puck L 230 was sold with an " uprated " MTPLM of 850kg so I rather suspect that there can't be much difference in the construction of a 790kg van compared with an 850kg other than that darn plate! After all it's only 60kg. As others have suggested I think it's probably something to do with French/German registration or tax?


Chris

Another thought occurs, if you are close to your vehicle towing limit and do manage to get a van re-plated you may need to check you are still within the legal towing limit of the towcar.

Example: my towcar is rated to legally tow 1400 Kg if I have the higher rated axle already fitted and was able to get my Triton plate uprated to 1200 Kg then I would still be ok ........... but a lot closer to the limit.
If my towcar was rated to tow 1150 Kg for example I could be in a bit of bother.

Something for people looking to uprate to consider.

Something else to consider is the combined weight of the van and car, I would have thought the vast majority of us will have grandad rights with B, E on our license, however if you don't have the B E you will have to be mindful of the regulation below:

Licences issued from 1 January 1997
If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997 you can:

drive a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg
MAM is the limit on how much the vehicle can weigh when it’s loaded.

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

Luckily with my tow car towing capacity isn't an issue, up to 3500kg and I have B+E.

Had an email back from Hymer, they say that it can be upgraded to 850kg with no changes,( other than the plate!) they will send me a plate. The cost is €89, how I pay this I have no idea but I imagine they will invoice me and I can do a bank transfer.

Chris

I had an Email from Hymer today to say that my van can be upgraded to 1300 without modification, I have replied giving my address and asking for details of how to obtain the plate and pay, so now we wait.
Dave