Looking for Advice Please

[Yes dear]

I assume it's a 400i, not 4001, as I couldn't find the latter so I've had a shuftie at 400i models and they seem to be 4200kg so it could be that the one you have was originally at that weight and down-plated by a previous owner.

Van Weight Engineering as already mentioned can do the paperwork necessary to get it back up to 4200kg but make sure you have C1 on your driving licence to allow you to drive over 3500kg otherwise you'll be going no-where.

The converter's plate (ie Laika) is the one you need to look at.

Yes we have the right class to drive it so no worries there. My other half is in his favourite place behind the wheel of a left hand drive motorhome. We haven't had this one for long so he's currently doing a few things to it, to make life easier for me. We suspect, as you say that it might be 4200kg but we will post some pics over the weekend & maybe someone will be able to tell us from the plate

 

[Yes dear]

Yes we have the right class to drive it so no worries there. My other half is in his favourite place behind the wheel of a left hand drive motorhome. We haven't had this one for long so he's currently doing a few things to it, to make life easier for me. We suspect, as you say that it might be 4200kg but we will post some pics over the weekend & maybe someone will be able to tell us from the plate

Yes sorry it is 400i not 4001

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Great idea I will do that over the weekend. We are looking to safely make the changes, its not just a paper exercise. I'm Wheelchair dependant & need to carry substantial medical kit. My power wheelchair alone adds considerable weight so it all needs careful consideration & planning.
Thank you to everyone who has posted, all your comments/help is very much appreciated

Have you considered a small trailer to take your heavier and bulky items.?

 

[Lenny HB]

If the requirement is a simple uprate or downrate with no changes needed to safely take the higher weight, it is actually very possible to do all the paperwork yourself and buy a replacement sticker from eBay (or even create your own).

You can down rate yourself but to uprate an engineers report is required. In both cases the sticker has to be supplied by an engineer.
The ones sold on ebay are classed as show stickers as they are not legal.

 

[Hoovie]

You can down rate yourself but to uprate an engineers report is required. In both cases the sticker has to be supplied by an engineer.
The ones sold on ebay are classed as show stickers as they are not legal.

I think I meant to say "upplate" which is a little different.
I think if a van has been downplated (as opposed to downrated), usually for licencing reasons, it is a simple process to upplate again as no changes are required.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Yes dear]

Have you considered a small trailer to take your heavier and bulky items.?

No that never crossed my mind but thanks cos its certainly worth thinking about

 

[Yes dear]

Great idea I will do that over the weekend. We are looking to safely make the changes, its not just a paper exercise. I'm Wheelchair dependant & need to carry substantial medical kit. My power wheelchair alone adds considerable weight so it all needs careful consideration & planning.
Thank you to everyone who has posted, all your comments/help is very much appreciated

 

[Yes dear]

View attachment 728451 View attachment 728452

As promised the

 

[Yes dear]

As promised, these are photos of plates on the vehicle. We've been looking through the substantial amount of paperwork & can find nothing to answer our question as yet. So, any help/ guidance/explanation relating to the info on the plates would be most welcome

 

[Lenny HB]

View attachment 728451 View attachment 728452

With that Laika plate you can go back to 4200 without an engineers report just send a photo of the plate with the correct form to DVLA. With an engineers report you could go to 5000kg.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

Basically what said.

 

[Yes dear]

With that Laika plate you can go back to 4200 without an engineers report just send a photo of the plate with the correct form to DVLA. With an engineers report you could go to 5000kg.

So do you think its been down rated by someone which is how & why all the paperwork is showing 3500kg?
I cant for the life of me think why anyone would do that??! Unless their driving licence doesn't cover them

 

[Lenny HB]

So do you think its been down rated by someone which is how & why all the paperwork is showing 3500kg?
I cant for the life of me think why anyone would do that??! Unless their driving licence doesn't cover them

Yes looks like it, I doubt if it could be driven legally at 3500kg.

 

[lunarman]

What I find interesting is that the train weight on the Laika plate is only 4700 and not 7700 as on the Iveco one.
Could this be something to do with light weight chassis extension having been fitted?

 

[VXman]

Van Weight Engineering

Need to change the weight of your vehicle? You're in the right place.

www.vanweightengineering.com

This is the alternative to SV tech. They will give you free advice as to what is possible. You just need to send them a few details and photographs. Details on their website. They will then charge you for doing the paperwork. I found their service excellent and we're a lot cheaper than SV tech 2 years ago. (Prices may have changed)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Van Weight Engineering

Need to change the weight of your vehicle? You're in the right place.

www.vanweightengineering.com

This is the alternative to SV tech. They will give you free advice as to what is possible. You just need to send them a few details and photographs. Details on their website. They will then charge you for doing the paperwork. I found their service excellent and we're a lot cheaper than SV tech 2 years ago. (Prices may have changed)

If he only wants to go to 4200 no need to pay anyone.

 

[busby]

If it's over 3500kg, it should be "private hgv" then the tax should be £165 (unless it has gone up?

Would imagine it's over 3.5 tonne on 3 axles..BUSBY.

 

[Lenny HB]

Would imagine it's over 3.5 tonne on 3 axles..BUSBY.

??? It's an Iveco chassis.

 

[Yes dear]

Hi everyone
We've bought a year 2000 Iveco Laika Eco VIP 4001 2.8 Diesel Twin Axle.
Log book says Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)
Currently Sorn whilst we sort a few things out. Road Tax is around £300 a year we believe.
Is there ANY way of reducing this amount & if so, how?
We'd appreciate any help & guidance for this please? Many thanks

UPDATE
Thank You to everyone who contributed & gave advice regarding this.
Great news, we finally managed to get the revenue weight corrected, which then changed the Taxation class to Private HGV, which is considerably cheaper tax! We contacted an engineer regarding a report being done, along with an application to the DVLA on our behalf, but as some of you warned, it was quite costly So, after a bit more research, we bit the bullet & took the challenge on ourselves!!
Now, one vital question we asked the DVLA the first time we contacted them, was if there had ever been ANY changes since the vehicle was first registered from new. The answer they gave was no.
That gave us the answer we needed, instantly. It was a long drawn out process to do, but very simple. The DVLA only work at one speed. Its painstakingly slow & creates no end of frustrations, but nothing is going to change them! You just have to follow their procedures, provide the evidence & wait (we sent photographs) which they insisted could only be posted not emailed. Crazy when you consider that on arrival at the DVLA they get scanned onto their system!
During all of this we had to tax the motorhome at the full incorrect price so it could go 2 miles down the road to our local garage for a cam belt change. We then had to apply for the refund of overpaid duty which took another 6 - 8 weeks!
Eventually we were issued a new V5C UK Registration Certificate with the correct details on.
Yes we managed to get it all done ourselves, with a lot of help & guidance from our new found friends here, on MHF Forum! So Thank You again everyone
If any of you can offer advice about the best Cheap motor home insurance, for left hand drive vehicle but without travel abroad, then please let us know

Hi everyone
We've bought a year 2000 Iveco Laika Eco VIP 4001 2.8 Diesel Twin Axle.
Log book says Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)
Currently Sorn whilst we sort a few things out. Road Tax is around £300 a year we believe.
Is there ANY way of reducing this amount & if so, how?
We'd appreciate any help & guidance for this please? Many thanks

Hi everyone
We've bought a year 2000 Iveco Laika Eco VIP 4001 2.8 Diesel Twin Axle.
Log book says Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)
Currently Sorn whilst we sort a few things out. Road Tax is around £300 a year we believe.
Is there ANY way of reducing this amount & if so, how?
We'd appreciate any help & guidance for this please? Many thanks

Google: How to change vehicle tax class: https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-tax-class
Basically changes that affect your vehicle include:

• the engine size (cc)
• the fuel type
• the weight (goods vehicles only)
• the number of seats (buses only)
• what you use the vehicle for, for example using a minibus for profit

You will not have to pay vehicle tax or will pay a lower rate if it’s being used by:

• a disabled person
• an organisation providing transport for disabled people

If automatic you only need one leg.

Hi everyone
We've bought a year 2000 Iveco Laika Eco VIP 4001 2.8 Diesel Twin Axle.
Log book says Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)
Currently Sorn whilst we sort a few things out. Road Tax is around £300 a year we believe.
Is there ANY way of reducing this amount & if so, how?
We'd appreciate any help & guidance for this please? Many thanks

Hi everyone
We've bought a year 2000 Iveco Laika Eco VIP 4001 2.8 Diesel Twin Axle.
Log book says Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)
Currently Sorn whilst we sort a few things out. Road Tax is around £300 a year we believe.
Is there ANY way of reducing this amount & if so, how?
We'd appreciate any help & guidance for this please? Many thanks

 

[Yes dear]

Google: How to change vehicle tax class: https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-tax-class
Basically changes that affect your vehicle include:

• the engine size (cc)
• the fuel type
• the weight (goods vehicles only)
• the number of seats (buses only)
• what you use the vehicle for, for example using a minibus for profit

You will not have to pay vehicle tax or will pay a lower rate if it’s being used by:

• a disabled person
• an organisation providing transport for disabled people

If automatic you only need one leg.

Hi everyone
We've bought a year 2000 Iveco Laika Eco VIP 4001 2.8 Diesel Twin Axle.
Log book says Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)
Currently Sorn whilst we sort a few things out. Road Tax is around £300 a year we believe.
Is there ANY way of reducing this amount & if so, how?
We'd appreciate any help & guidance for this please? Many thanks

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Yes dear]

Hi everyone
We've bought a year 2000 Iveco Laika Eco VIP 4001 2.8 Diesel Twin Axle.
Log book says Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)
Currently Sorn whilst we sort a few things out. Road Tax is around £300 a year we believe.
Is there ANY way of reducing this amount & if so, how?
We'd appreciate any help & guidance for this please? Many thanks