Down-plating Anyone done this?

Gellyneck said:
Not suggesting Stewart does it but a question for future for us.
If you have a motorhome plated at 3,500kg is it possible \ sensible to tow a trailer behind in which you could carry the "external" stuff like table, chairs, levelling ramps, etc, etc, .......?
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Yes, up to 750kg on a standard B car licence
Up to the max train weight on a BE car licence
 
Gellyneck said:
Not suggesting Stewart does it but a question for future for us.
If you have a motorhome plated at 3,500kg is it possible \ sensible to tow a trailer behind in which you could carry the "external" stuff like table, chairs, levelling ramps, etc, etc, .......?
Click to expand...
Yes it's possible but only up to 750kg max and so long as you remain within your towing weight limit for MH and trailer and have a licence that permits you to do so.
 
Gellyneck said:
Not suggesting Stewart does it but a question for future for us.
If you have a motorhome plated at 3,500kg is it possible \ sensible to tow a trailer behind in which you could carry the "external" stuff like table, chairs, levelling ramps, etc, etc, .......?
Click to expand...
Towing a trailer will decide on what the weight plate on the vehicle says , and further depend on the license of the driver .
 
tacr2man said:
Not if the vehicle is actually being weighed without the driver onboard :)
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DVLA definition of Unladen weight includes a driver weighing 75kg and all fluids necessary for running the vehicle, oil, water etc.
It will be assumed the weight of a driver is included in any weight certificate.

Converters definition means fu(k all in law.
 
pappajohn said:
DVLA definition of Unladen weight includes a driver weighing 75kg and all fluids necessary for running the vehicle, oil, water etc.
It will be assumed the weight of a driver is included in any weight certificate.

Converters definition means fu(k all in law.
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You need to read the posts more carefully , I am fully aware of legal definition of ULW for purposes of The Authorised Weight Regulations 1998 or The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (as amended). I was inquiring as to whether the op had the same understanding , I then tried to explain that in my reply to your quote of my post . I hope that clarifies the matter to your satisfaction .

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tacr2man said:
Does under 3500kg include passengers and driver ?
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tacr2man said:
You need to read the posts more carefully , I am fully aware of legal definition of ULW for purposes of The Authorised Weight Regulations 1998 or The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (as amended). I was inquiring as to whether the op had the same understanding , I then tried to explain that in my reply to your quote of my post . I hope that clarifies the matter to your satisfaction .
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My apologies, your post appeared to be asking the question to the forum, not just of Stewart J :D
 
An update, phoned DVLA last Thursday vehicle downplate request not showing in their systems suggested if nothing heard in 14 days to phone them back?
So came as a surprise to find a dreaded brown envelope waiting on the door mat when we returned home after a day out.
My new logbook still showing as 3850kg this really spoilt my weekend.
On the phone this morning for almost 40 minutes, they have no trace of all the paperwork I submitted with my application and I have to do it all again, I was not impressed by the officious young man I spoke to so was fizzing once off the phone.
Wife phoned the dealers for advice and they said to phone SVTech as trying to deal with the DVLA for this sort of thing is a nightmare.
I phoned them and they couldn't have been more helpful and expressed no surprise at the DVLA actions they get horror stories about them all the time.
I was asked to photograph the 2 plates under the bonnet, the Hymer weight plate on skirt beside rear wheel, photocopy of weighbridge certificate and a copy of the letter I sent to the DVLA, duly emailed them phone call a short while confirmed receipt and they went through all the actions to follow once I receive the paperwork and new weight plate from them later this week.
It was like a weight had been lifted off me, OK there is a fee involved but I now have peace of mind.
Watch this space for another episode. :):):)
 
Just give Gareth at SV Tech, they helped me down plate a motorhome before and were brilliant.

Simon
 
Minxy Girl said:
Yes it's possible but only up to 750kg max and so long as you remain within your towing weight limit for MH and trailer and have a licence that permits you to do so.
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I think you can go well beyond 750kg if you have +E on your license.

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9915EB8B-7795-47B5-AA82-56D5DC179BE4.jpeg
Gellyneck said:
Not suggesting Stewart does it but a question for future for us.
If you have a motorhome plated at 3,500kg is it possible \ sensible to tow a trailer behind in which you could carry the "external" stuff like table, chairs, levelling ramps, etc, etc, .......?
Click to expand...
We are now looking at downsizing our car for a so called city car and towing it on a trailer. This is the madness of the DVLA standards so if we go this route the total weight of the rig will be approaching 5000kgs. My present weight plates shown in photo.
 
Stewart J said:
View attachment 279902
We are now looking at downsizing our car for a so called city car and towing it on a trailer. This is the madness of the DVLA standards so if we go this route the total weight of the rig will be approaching 5000kgs. My present weight plates shown in photo.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is a crazy system but one just has to work it to suit oneself.
 
Stewart J said:
View attachment 279902
We are now looking at downsizing our car for a so called city car and towing it on a trailer. This is the madness of the DVLA standards so if we go this route the total weight of the rig will be approaching 5000kgs. My present weight plates shown in photo.
Click to expand...
You are downrating the mam not train weight so you will have over 500kg margin . If that is what you are asking ?
That might be affected by the rated capacity of the towbar fitted .

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tacr2man said:
You are downrating the mam not train weight so you will have over 500kg margin . If that is what you are asking ?
That might be affected by the rated capacity of the towbar fitted .
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No I was posting to clarify it for others, the topic always seems to cause a lot of confusion
 
Sv tec, good company and very helpful.
Mike
 
I can't see the point in paying SVTech for something that has already been able to do themselves ... the paperwork they send will AFAIK be the same as already supplied to the DVLA and the OP will probably still have to send it off, unless SVTech do so, in which case it's an expensive postage stamp!
 
Minxy Girl said:
I can't see the point in paying SVTech for something that has already been able to do themselves ... the paperwork they send will AFAIK be the same as already supplied to the DVLA and the OP will probably still have to send it off, unless SVTech do so, in which case it's an expensive postage stamp!
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Mel that’s your opinion, I stated in my post earlier today I sent in all the paperwork requested by them they have no record of it no doubt been destroyed by now. Apparently if you send in such a request they are not obliged to send a letter informing if you get something wrong they just send a new V5.
I consider its money well spent and I am getting a bit twitchy as we have a ferry booked and paid for to Spain in March.
SV tech will also send me new wieght plates all in with the price, as Lenny said in an earlier post if I did this through Hymer I would be paying more than £200
 
Stewart J said:
Mel that’s your opinion, I stated in my post earlier today I sent in all the paperwork requested by them they have no record of it no doubt been destroyed by now. Apparently if you send in such a request they are not obliged to send a letter informing if you get something wrong they just send a new V5..
I consider its money well spent and I am getting a bit twitchy as we have a ferry booked and paid for to Spain in March.
SV tech will also send me new wieght plates all in with the price, as Lenny said in an earlier post if I did this through Hymer I would be paying more than £200
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Everyone should do as they wish, I was just commenting on my view of doing this. :)

When we uprated our previous camper we were also going on holiday and had been sent a wrong V5C so I got in touch with them on the phone then explained the problem and they issued me with a temporary one whilst they got the correct one issued as it wouldn't arrive before I left. I put the info on here somewhere.

Edit ... some info here:

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/driving-abroad-without-v5c-doc.135107/#post-1954618

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Get the other plate and stick it on the other side, Then if you have a licence check point that one out and a weighbridge check point the other one out, Simples. Just pay more tax.:rolleyes:
 
An update, 3.5 weeks since I posted the paperwork to the DVLA and nothing back from them. Phoned them at lunchtime explained all and the helpful lady asked the vehicle details so she could check on the progress of the application, came back with nothing yet on the system phone back next week. On the advice of SV Tech I stopped the standing order for the monthly payment of road tax when I submitted the paperwork along with a completed V70 and a cheque for 6 months tax at the higher rate for a 3500 weight.
That made me wonder If van was not taxed now, so onto the DVLA site and checked vehicle status, so it was a surprise to find it’s taxed at 3500kg till August.
The incompetence shown by the DVLA beggars belief there’s obviously no communication between departments. So hopefully my V5 will arrive shortly. Why did they ever shut down the regional offices it was so much easier speaking face to face, no doubt a money saving gesture but dealing with them long distance can be a nightmare. Rant over (for now)
 
Pausim said:
That sounds like good news. If it is taxed it must be registered, all you are now missing is some paperwork.
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It’s been a real struggle with them and has been going on since 15th January when I submitted the first application when they mysteriously lost all the accompanying paperwork. Not fit for purpose springs to mind, but at least I can now legally use my van on a public road.

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