Only 40Kg Up-Plate Possible, but I’m going for it anyway…..

[CRD]

When we bought our Adria Matrix, VWE did a paper exercise up-plate that increased the weight from 3650 to 3960Kg, with these axle loadings :

Front : 1960Kg
Rear : 2000Kg

We want to improve the ride quality and have ordered the Comfort Plus air suspension for the rear axle from Airide. Thinking this will also allow us to up-plate to 4250Kg, I contacted SV Tech.

They’ve said that the maximum weight that they will authorise is 4,000 Kg, even with the rear air suspension, which was initially disappointing, as it’s only 40 Kg than we have already. It didn’t seem worth their £280 + VAT fee.

But, to achieve the 4,000Kg, they could increase the loading on the rear axle with the rear air suspension:

Front : 1960Kg
Rear : 2240Kg

This gives us another 240Kg weight allowance on the rear axle, which is important, so despite the disappointing 40Kg overall weight increase, it’s actually worth spending the money on up-plating.

Unfortunately, VWE were wrong in simply adding up the axle loadings to achieve their stated maximum weight.

 

[chatteris]

how much does the kit weigh

 

[CRD]

Actually, I don’t know, but I’m guessing around 20Kg, as it contains two inflatable bags, a compressor and some control electronics.

I’ll check with Airide to find out.

 

[Phill D]

Unfortunately, VWE were wrong in simply adding up the axle loadings to achieve their stated maximum weight.

That is not quite an accurate statement, your chassis is capable of the 1960 at the front and the original 2000 at the rear so a total of 3960 was in order as a max.
It was not that useable though as there was no increase over the rear axle.

 

[Jev88]

As often happens, you won't be able to use much of your increase as it will be 80%? applied to rear axle. Rear axle will be overloaded way before front gets close (usually).

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[CRD]

That is not quite an accurate statement, your chassis is capable of the 1960 at the front and the original 2000 at the rear so a total of 3960 was in order as a max.
It was not that useable though as there was no increase over the rear axle.

Interesting, as SV Tech would only offer a max weight of 3,700Kg for a paper exercise with no rear air suspension, compared to the 3,960Kg suggested by VWE.

This implies that SV Tech are using a more sophisticated algorithm than just axle additions, or, of course, that they are wrong, which would be concerning.

 

[Bill-H]

Is the rear axle limit, limited by what the axle with air assist will phisically handle, or limited by your tyre load rating?
What chassis is your vehicle built on?
When I uprated mine through VWE, the standard wheel rims were only rated for 1,000kg each, so I needed to fit higher rated rims (1,250kg alloys)

 

[Phill D]

Interesting, as SV Tech would only offer a max weight of 3,700Kg for a paper exercise with no rear air suspension, compared to the 3,960Kg suggested by VWE.

This implies that SV Tech are using a more sophisticated algorithm than just axle additions, or, of course, that they are wrong, which would be concerning.

Or stench like to leave a %age unused tolerance

 

[CRD]

We have the Fiat light chassis, but as we have an auto box, the wheels rims are rated at 1250Kg. There are disk brakes all round and I believe we have upgraded, but standard, front struts.

The tyres are 225/75 R 16 CP with a 116 load rating.

 

[Bill-H]

We have the Fiat light chassis, but as we have an auto box, the wheels rims are rated at 1250Kg. There are disk brakes all round and I believe we have upgraded, but standard, front struts.

The tyres are 225/75 R 16 CP with a 116 load rating.

My (2010) Fiat light chassis needed rims upgrading to the 1,250 like yours, and my tyres then became the limiting factor at 112 load rated. Once I'd fitted the air assist and rims, VWE plated my rear axle from 2,000kg to 2240kg - standard rear springs but heavier front springs. I then had an up-plate of 4,090kg from 3,850 - the extra all on the rear axle.

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[Scottish Scrutineer]

As often happens, you won't be able to use much of your increase as it will be 80%? applied to rear axle. Rear axle will be overloaded way before front gets close (usually).

Hence the addition of the air helpers to increase the rear axle weight capacity which will have a realistic benefit.

 

[TrudeandDall]

Interesting, as SV Tech would only offer a max weight of 3,700Kg for a paper exercise with no rear air suspension, compared to the 3,960Kg suggested by VWE.

This implies that SV Tech are using a more sophisticated algorithm than just axle additions, or, of course, that they are wrong, which would be concerning.

My 6.4 PVC with AT9 gearbox axle limits are the same as yours and 3700kg paper uplate without air assist what SV Tech told me. 4000kg with air assist.....

Maybe VWE uplating to the maximum axle weights without uprating the rear axle, has a bearing on their current status with the DVLA?

 

[CRD]

My (2010) Fiat light chassis needed rims upgrading to the 1,250 like yours, and my tyres then became the limiting factor at 112 load rated. Once I'd fitted the air assist and rims, VWE plated my rear axle from 2,000kg to 2240kg - standard rear springs but heavier front springs. I then had an up-plate of 4,090kg from 3,850 - the extra all on the rear axle.

It’s interesting that VWE and SV Tech agreed on the rear axle uprating of 240Kg, however VWE was more generous with the max weight with you, than SV Tech are being with me, unless your upgraded front springs increased the front axle loading more than our standard loading of 1960Kg.

Hence the addition of the air helpers to increase the rear axle weight capacity which will have a realistic benefit.

Yep , even though we’re only getting a 40Kg overall payload increase (minus the weight of the air suspension)

 

[CRD]

My 6.4 PVC with AT9 gearbox axle limits are the same as yours and 3700kg paper uplate without air assist what SV Tech told me. 4000kg with air assist.....

Maybe VWE uplating to the maximum axle weights without uprating the rear axle, has a bearing on their current status with the DVLA?

My thoughts too.

I am slightly concerned that DVLA might do an audit on up-plates authorised by VWE, so registering another up-plate albeit by only 40Kg, but with better official rear axle loading, authorised by SV Tech, might prevent potential problems with DVLA.

It would be really useful if there is anybody on MHF who actually knows the correct and DVLA approved procedure to calculate max weights so that we can judge which supplier is most reliable in the future.

At the moment, it looks like DVLA have more confidence in SV Tech.