GVM Uprating

[Minxy]

Looking at the existing max weights on the plate perhaps there is no need to uprate anything? The possible max weight is already 4500kg, as the tyres are rated at 1250kg then perhaps it should just be a paper exercise? In their quote to me they stated “...I am pleased to confirm that we can uprate your vehicle and have carried out full dynamic brake test results on a precedent vehicle to achieve a GVW of 3900 or 4500kg for category M1 and N2.” And they go on to say that to achieve 4500kg I would need to fit supplementary air assist to the rear.

There's something 'weird' with what you are being told by SVTech ... I'm wondering if they are under the impression you have a coachbuilt which may be more restrictive/need more adapting or are just getting their knickers in a twist generally.

How did you go about your uprating, did you use SV Tech or some other company? Though to be honest I rather like the idea of the air assist on the rear suspension and it’s not too expensive if I can fit it myself.

I used a chap I found called John Ruffles he was new to doing the uprating paperwork (I was his first customer!) but since then lots of funsters have used him. He obviously doesn't have the database that SVTech have for MHs but for most he can do the necessary, for a PVC like yours it shouldn't be an issue as it's just a straightforward paper exercise.

Some funsters have been quite critical of John but I know he had some issues with his phones and email and moving I believe, but more recently I've only heard good info about him, he's about half the cost of SVTech too.

There are quite a few threads on the subject but this one gives John's contact details:

Weight uprating

Has anyone on here uprated their MH weight themselves and not through an agency. If you have was it an easy process or should I leave it to the agency

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

As for the rear air assistance, you can get the kit cheaper than SVTech are offering it for so have a shuftie on Ebay and search on the forum as there was an excellent thread about someone who fitted with blow-by-blow instructions. I was going to put it on our last PVC and actually bought the kit but before I fitted it we change for the Carthago so never got to do it and sold it to another funster ... unfortunately to get the payload we needed for our Carthago we had to spend a hell of a lot more for the semi-air as it has an Alko chassis ... it cost us £2,000!

 

[Minxy]

jezport have you any ideas as to why SVTech are giving such funny info?

 

[IRHP]

Ha!
Got the rubber off, it's not got a hex head on the bolt! Completely circular. Have to get the stilsons out...

Inside the chassis there is a captive nut welded on to take the bump stop bolt. Was it that that has came loose. That could be trouble if it has.

 

[jezport]

jezport have you any ideas as to why SVTech are giving such funny info?

I asked them about my Maxi Chassis and they told me that no mods were required for up to 4500kg if the rear axle was to be left at 2400kg. To raise the load on the rear axle I would only need the correct tyres, no further modifications. Alko chassis will differ even on a maxi cab.

 

[Headrush]

Inside the chassis there is a captive nut welded on to take the bump stop bolt. Was it that that has came loose. That could be trouble if it has.

Thankfully not. The cup that holds the rubber is separated from the bolt so turning the cup does nothing. I can see the head of the bolt and part of the thread but can't get a tool close enough to the bolt because of the cup. I would think either the cup or bolt needs to be cut off to get the bolt out.

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[IRHP]

Thankfully not. The cup that holds the rubber is separated from the bolt so turning the cup does nothing. I can see the head of the bolt and part of the thread but can't get a tool close enough to the bolt because of the cup. I would think either the cup or bolt needs to be cut off to get the bolt out.

Or welded back together? Or cut the cup with a grinder and then flatten the edges of the round headed bolt and get a spanner on it.

 

[Headrush]

Or welded back together? Or cut the cup with a grinder and then flatten the edges of the round headed bolt and get a spanner on it.

All good ideas but not things I'm equipped for at home. If I could get the cup off, the stilsons would probably have done the job. Plus with the cup being free to move it makes it harder to cut. Better off letting someone with the right gear do it. I would get it done eventually myself but working with the van on stands is worrying as it is.

 

[HugoBNB]

There's something 'weird' with what you are being told by SVTech ... I'm wondering if they are under the impression you have a coachbuilt which may be more restrictive/need more adapting or are just getting their knickers in a twist generally.


I used a chap I found called John Ruffles he was new to doing the uprating paperwork (I was his first customer!) but since then lots of funsters have used him. He obviously doesn't have the database that SVTech have for MHs but for most he can do the necessary, for a PVC like yours it shouldn't be an issue as it's just a straightforward paper exercise.

Some funsters have been quite critical of John but I know he had some issues with his phones and email and moving I believe, but more recently I've only heard good info about him, he's about half the cost of SVTech too.

There are quite a few threads on the subject but this one gives John's contact details:

Weight uprating

Has anyone on here uprated their MH weight themselves and not through an agency. If you have was it an easy process or should I leave it to the agency

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

As for the rear air assistance, you can get the kit cheaper than SVTech are offering it for so have a shuftie on Ebay and search on the forum as there was an excellent thread about someone who fitted with blow-by-blow instructions. I was going to put it on our last PVC and actually bought the kit but before I fitted it we change for the Carthago so never got to do it and sold it to another funster ... unfortunately to get the payload we needed for our Carthago we had to spend a hell of a lot more for the semi-air as it has an Alko chassis ... it cost us £2,000!

I have just used John. No problem at all. Fast, friendly and efficient service.
Got out rear air assist supplied and fitted for £400

 

[Minxy]

I asked them about my Maxi Chassis and they told me that no mods were required for up to 4500kg if the rear axle was to be left at 2400kg. To raise the load on the rear axle I would only need the correct tyres, no further modifications. Alko chassis will differ even on a maxi cab.

Weird isn't it. I can't get my head round the info they've supplied to Chris for a PVC which is why I think they've got 'mixed up' with a coachbuilt, or they were just having a 'bad day'!

 

[jezport]

Weird isn't it. I can't get my head round the info they've supplied to Chris for a PVC which is why I think they've got 'mixed up' with a coachbuilt, or they were just having a 'bad day'!

Sounds like they think its an alko chassis

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[ManTheVan]

Thankfully not. The cup that holds the rubber is separated from the bolt so turning the cup does nothing. I can see the head of the bolt and part of the thread but can't get a tool close enough to the bolt because of the cup. I would think either the cup or bolt needs to be cut off to get the bolt out.

I used a strap wrench to remove the bump stops. Made it a very quick and easy job.

 

[Russell's Dad]

Weird isn't it. I can't get my head round the info they've supplied to Chris for a PVC which is why I think they've got 'mixed up' with a coachbuilt, or they were just having a 'bad day'!

I got the same info from SV Tech. Globescout on Maxi chassis. 225/75 R16 CP116 tyres.


Re. Uprating 3500 to 3900, 4500 kg GVW.

Thank you for your enquiry, I am pleased to confirm that we can uprate your vehicles and have carried out full dynamic brake test results on a precedent vehicle to achieve a new GVW of 3900 or 4500 kg for category M1 & N2.

For the uprate to 4500 kg you will require a supplementary air assist kit to the rear axle

For the uprating element, we supply a converter plate, which would be unique to your vehicle, and a letter of sign-off to be used with the DVLA. Inspection of the vehicle will be at the discretion of the DVLA though motorhomes and non-fare collecting vehicles are usually exempt.

The axle weights of the vehicle post conversion will be:-

3900kg Axle 1 = 2100 kg ; Axle 2 = 2400 kg

4500 – wt kg ; Axle 1 = 2100 kg ; Axle 2 = 2500 kg / 2600kg * subject to tyres 118 load index

 

[Minxy]

I got the same info from SV Tech. Globescout on Maxi chassis. 225/75 R16 CP116 tyres.


Re. Uprating 3500 to 3900, 4500 kg GVW.

Thank you for your enquiry, I am pleased to confirm that we can uprate your vehicles and have carried out full dynamic brake test results on a precedent vehicle to achieve a new GVW of 3900 or 4500 kg for category M1 & N2.

For the uprate to 4500 kg you will require a supplementary air assist kit to the rear axle

For the uprating element, we supply a converter plate, which would be unique to your vehicle, and a letter of sign-off to be used with the DVLA. Inspection of the vehicle will be at the discretion of the DVLA though motorhomes and non-fare collecting vehicles are usually exempt.

The axle weights of the vehicle post conversion will be:-

3900kg Axle 1 = 2100 kg ; Axle 2 = 2400 kg

4500 – wt kg ; Axle 1 = 2100 kg ; Axle 2 = 2500 kg / 2600kg * subject to tyres 118 load index

It 'might' be because of the existing tyres that are skewing things but it still doesn't make sense. Just changing the tyres should enable you to go up to 4500kg without any other change.

Have you gone back to query this with them as they did the uprating to 4500kg for other PVCs on the Maxi heavy chassis with no mods required (although I believe they would already have had the 118 load tyres)?

Something still doesn't add up though ... and it concerns me that they 'may' be giving out 'overcautious' information causing people to have to pay for something (ie semi-air) that they don't really need.

 

[dunnah01]

Are the Maxi brakes bigger on both fiat and Alko chassis? Adding a ton on the smaller brakes would be interesting..

 

[Minxy]

Are the Maxi brakes bigger on both fiat and Alko chassis? Adding a ton on the smaller brakes would be interesting..

The Maxi has disc brakes all round on the heavy chassis - this is a vehicle that can go up to 4500kg just as a van (ie not PVC) so has to be able to do that anyway. As for the Alko chassis variants, I can't say for certain as we have the light version but if it's based on the Maxi heavy chassis then I would imagine it will have the same braking as the non-converted Maxi heavy chassis.

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[Chris CM]

Russell’s Dad,
That’s exactly the same advice I got from SV Tech. I have decided to fit the air assist and have got a set on order from EasyTop. I’m going to leave the existing tyres for the moment but change them for 118 rated when they wear out. Even before I realised I had a payload issue the air assist was on my wish list, now just have to get it fitted

 

[Russell's Dad]

Russell’s Dad,
That’s exactly the same advice I got from SV Tech. I have decided to fit the air assist and have got a set on order from EasyTop. I’m going to leave the existing tyres for the moment but change them for 118 rated when they wear out. Even before I realised I had a payload issue the air assist was on my wish list, now just have to get it fitted

Probably a standard email.
Personally I'm not fitting air assist as I reckon my back axle won't go over it's plated weight, even with a loaded bike rack( if I fit one) Front axle was just under 1800kg rear just under 2000kg, so I have wiggle room axle-wise. I doubt iJust want a bit of extra payload for future bike additions.

Russell’s Dad,
That’s exactly the same advice I got from SV Tech. I have decided to fit the air assist and have got a set on order from EasyTop. I’m going to leave the existing tyres for the moment but change them for 118 rated when they wear out. Even before I realised I had a payload issue the air assist was on my wish list, now just have to get it fitted

Possibly just a standard email template.
Personally I'm not fitting air assist as I reckon my back axle won't go over it's plated weight 2400kg, even with a loaded bike rack( if I fit one) . Fully loaded on weighbridge I was only just below 3.5t Front axle was just under 1800kg (plated for 2100) rear just under 2200kg, so I have wiggle room axle-wise, even with a pop-top, awning and 2x11kg Gas-it.
Just want a bit of extra payload for future bike additions.

 

[pappajohn]

This ratio is called the profile.

While it is the profile its called the Aspect ratio.

 

[Russell's Dad]

Probably a standard email.
Personally I'm not fitting air assist as I reckon my back axle won't go over it's plated weight, even with a loaded bike rack( if I fit one) Front axle was just under 1800kg rear just under 2000kg, so I have wiggle room axle-wise. I doubt iJust want a bit of extra payload for future bike additions.

Possibly just a standard email template.
Personally I'm not fitting air assist as I reckon my back axle won't go over it's plated weight 2400kg, even with a loaded bike rack( if I fit one) . Fully loaded on weighbridge I was only just below 3.5t Front axle was just under 1800kg (plated for 2100) rear just under 2200kg, so I have wiggle room axle-wise, even with a pop-top, awning and 2x11kg Gas-it.
Just want a bit of extra payload for future bike additions.

Sorry for duplication. Thought I had deleted the first post as the weights I stated were wrong. I checked weighbridge stats and changed the post ( or so I thought!).

 

[Chris CM]

Well, the kit arrived from EastTop on Friday, and with the assistance of my son, who is a DAF HGV technician, we got the bellows installed in a couple of hours, then a couple more to route the air lines to the cab and install the control panel. I’m glad I went for the EasyTop and so didn’t have to unbolt the spring shackles! We were able to do it all from the side of the van and didn’t have to go underneath other than to route the air lines at which stage the wheels were back on and I drove her onto our levelling blocks on one side to make scrambling about underneath easier!

give more access.
Now for the paperwork!

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[Headrush]

I got the garage to fit my easytop system in the end. £120 which I think is reasonable. Apparently the other bumpstop was a cow to get off as well.
One thing I've noticed since they've been fitted is that they seem to be affected by the sun. One side seems to warm up more than the other and the pressure rises. Consequently there's about 0.4 bar difference between the two now because I let some air out before I realised. Doesn't seem to affect the handling though. I need a nice cool morning to set them up equally then see how things go from there.

 

[Chris CM]

I got the garage to fit my easytop system in the end. £120 which I think is reasonable. Apparently the other bumpstop was a cow to get off as well.
One thing I've noticed since they've been fitted is that they seem to be affected by the sun. One side seems to warm up more than the other and the pressure rises. Consequently there's about 0.4 bar difference between the two now because I let some air out before I realised. Doesn't seem to affect the handling though. I need a nice cool morning to set them up equally then see how things go from there.

That was bad luck with the bump stop, mine just unscrewed after I started them by tapping the castellations at the top as shown on one of the instal videos on YouTube, it was a bit of a faf to get them in but my Son wasn’t going to give up and we used cable ties to hold them compressed as we put them in, probably took a couple of hours one day then I completed the airline runs and control panel the next day, again a couple of hours. Re the difference in pressure, I haven’t noticed that - yet, but it is very noticeable on my TPMS so I suppose only to be expected? I’m sure someone will let us know