Up Plating answer from DVLA - Interesting

[DDJC]

A few weeks ago, I asked the DVLA about the process to up-plate from 3500 to 3850, by doing it yourself.

The response was this:

"Thank you for your email. As the vehicle is a motorhome and outside of the HGV scheme, DVSA don’t need to be notified of any alterations to the vehicle. A VTG10 is therefore not applicable.
To uprate your vehicle you would need to discuss with the manufacturer or a specialised vehicle converter. I have attached a small list of converters who may be able to assist you but this isn’t an exhaustive list.
You would then just notify the DVLA of the weight change."

Britcom International Market Weighton
01430 888164
www.britcom.co.uk
Brent Carmichael

Granning Lynx, Warrington
01925 810400
www.airsprings.com
Mark Quigley

J R Consultancy, Bury St Edmunds
01359 250808
John Ruffles

SvTech Leyland
01772 621800
www.svtech.co.uk
Gareth Marsh

Wheelbase Engineering, Blackburn
01254 819399
Simon Pickles

Now, I happen to know that sadly, John Ruffells of JR Consultancy has passed away and his son (when asked two years ago) isn't continuing the business. Unless anyone knows different?

Nevertheless, perhaps this could be the start of a MH resource?

 

[AJM2]

I wrote to Hymer myself. They were very efficient (they charged me for it) and I forwarded the response to the dvla and got the documentation through very quickly, together with a refund of the relevant proportion of the road tax. A simple process.

 

[Orion]

A few weeks ago, I asked the DVLA about the process to up-plate from 3500 to 3850, by doing it yourself.

The response was this:

"Thank you for your email. As the vehicle is a motorhome and outside of the HGV scheme, DVSA don’t need to be notified of any alterations to the vehicle. A VTG10 is therefore not applicable.
To uprate your vehicle you would need to discuss with the manufacturer or a specialised vehicle converter. I have attached a small list of converters who may be able to assist you but this isn’t an exhaustive list.
You would then just notify the DVLA of the weight change."

Britcom International Market Weighton
01430 888164
www.britcom.co.uk
Brent Carmichael

Granning Lynx, Warrington
01925 810400
www.airsprings.com
Mark Quigley

J R Consultancy, Bury St Edmunds
01359 250808
John Ruffles

SvTech Leyland
01772 621800
www.svtech.co.uk
Gareth Marsh

Wheelbase Engineering, Blackburn
01254 819399
Simon Pickles

Now, I happen to know that sadly, John Ruffells of JR Consultancy has passed away and his son (when asked two years ago) isn't continuing the business. Unless anyone knows different?

Nevertheless, perhaps this could be the start of a MH resource?

Interesting. Was your van originally plated at 3850kg by the base vehicle manufacturer? If that is the case then I imagine the process could be relatively easy and inexpensive - assuming converter dropping to 3500kg to make the spec more attractive to some licence holders.

If wanting to increase from the original plate then I presume it might entail some additional or upgraded components to be fitted - tyres, wheels, brake upgrade, rear air, etc., come to mind, plus a qualified engineer’s report?

Van Weight Engineering can be added to that list as well.

 

[Soycd]

A few weeks ago, I asked the DVLA about the process to up-plate from 3500 to 3850, by doing it yourself.

The response was this:

"Thank you for your email. As the vehicle is a motorhome and outside of the HGV scheme, DVSA don’t need to be notified of any alterations to the vehicle. A VTG10 is therefore not applicable.
To uprate your vehicle you would need to discuss with the manufacturer or a specialised vehicle converter. I have attached a small list of converters who may be able to assist you but this isn’t an exhaustive list.
You would then just notify the DVLA of the weight change."

Britcom International Market Weighton
01430 888164
www.britcom.co.uk
Brent Carmichael

Granning Lynx, Warrington
01925 810400
www.airsprings.com
Mark Quigley

J R Consultancy, Bury St Edmunds
01359 250808
John Ruffles

SvTech Leyland
01772 621800
www.svtech.co.uk
Gareth Marsh

Wheelbase Engineering, Blackburn
01254 819399
Simon Pickles

Now, I happen to know that sadly, John Ruffells of JR Consultancy has passed away and his son (when asked two years ago) isn't continuing the business. Unless anyone knows different?

Nevertheless, perhaps this could be the start of a MH resource?

DDJC, which email address did you write too? I may need to look into this at some stage in the future. Thanks.

 

[DDJC]

DDJC, which email address did you write too? I may need to look into this at some stage in the future. Thanks.

HGVTech@dvsa.gov.uk

The guy also included his own email address. Not fair on him to parade it on the web, but if you want it, PM me.

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[Soycd]

HGVTech@dvsa.gov.uk

The guy also included his own email address. Not fair on him to parade it on the web, but if you want it, PM me.

Many thanks! I'll stick with that one for now as it may be a few years before I need to do anything. Cheers.

 

[DDJC]

Interesting. Was your van originally plated at 3850kg by the base vehicle manufacturer? If that is the case then I imagine the process could be relatively easy and inexpensive - assuming converter dropping to 3500kg to make the spec more attractive to some licence holders.

No, 3650 by Fiat, knocked down to 3500 by Rimor.

If wanting to increase from the original plate then I presume it might entail some additional or upgraded components to be fitted - tyres, wheels, brake upgrade, rear air, etc., come to mind, plus a qualified engineer’s report?

You need to do three things, as far as I can work out

1. To increase the overall MTPM is an admin thing, and needs no additional tech. You just pay someone to say that it is OK. This will take me up to 3650.
2. To go above 3650, I need to augment the rear suspension. I have installed the VB semi air on the rear axle. This means that my bus can go up to 3850.
BUT
3. That doesn't increase the axle weights. To do that I need Semi Air suspension, AND to increase the Load Index of the tyres. For me, the simplest way to do that is to go up from 215 to 225. Many 225 17 R15 tyres have a Load Index of 112 at Speed R (up to 106mph) and 114 at Speed N (87mph, and how many of us go faster then 87 mph anyway?)

225 17 R15 with a load index of 112, have a carrying capacity of 1120; so an axle weight of 2240. This means that the total mass can now be 3850, and that weight can go where you store your stuff - on or over the back axle. Compare that with 215 tyres with a Load Index of 109. That makes your rear axle capacity 2060kg.

 

[PeterCarole29]

No, 3650 by Fiat, knocked down to 3500 by Rimor.



You need to do three things, as far as I can work out

1. To increase the overall MTPM is an admin thing, and needs no additional tech. You just pay someone to say that it is OK. This will take me up to 3650.
2. To go above 3650, I need to augment the rear suspension. I have installed the VB semi air on the rear axle. This means that my bus can go up to 3850.
BUT
3. That doesn't increase the axle weights. To do that I need Semi Air suspension, AND to increase the Load Index of the tyres. For me, the simplest way to do that is to go up from 215 to 225. Many 225 17 R15 tyres have a Load Index of 112 at Speed R (up to 106mph) and 114 at Speed N (87mph, and how many of us go faster then 87 mph anyway?)

225 17 R15 with a load index of 112, have a carrying capacity of 1120; so an axle weight of 2240. This means that the total mass can now be 3850, and that weight can go where you store your stuff - on or over the back axle. Compare that with 215 tyres with a Load Index of 109. That makes your rear axle capacity 2060kg.

Hi would that be 225 x 70 x R15 . if not what is the 17 .I just want to understand for my own upgrade
Cheers

 

[Itsmcb]

225 X 70 X 15 is correct

 

[DDJC]

Hi would that be 225 x 70 x R15 . if not what is the 17 .I just want to understand for my own upgrade
Cheers

225 tyre width
70 is the profile (how much tyre depth between rim and road)
15 is the rim size
R is the speed rating

Speed rating mph
K 68
L 75
M 81
N 87
P 93
Q 100
R 106
S 112
T 118
U 124
H 130
V 149
W 168
Y 186




Then look at Load index.
Rating Weight
108 1000
109 1030
110 1060
111 1090
112 1120
113 1150
114 1180
115 1215
116 1250
117 1285
118 1320
119 1360
120 1400
121 1450
122 1500
123 1550
124 1600
125 1650
126 1700

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[Jev88]

You could just call vanweightengineering and speak to the couple that run it. Did all the paperwork and filled in forms for me, sent to me to sign and post.
Would have taken just 7 days - IF I HAD NOT SENT RECORDED DELIVERY as that went to a different bulk sign office before being resent internally to the weights dept.

 

[DDJC]

You could just call vanweightengineering and speak to the couple that run it. Did all the paperwork and filled in forms for me, sent to me to sign and post.
Would have taken just 7 days - IF I HAD NOT SENT RECORDED DELIVERY as that went to a different bulk sign office before being resent internally to the weights dept.

Yeah you could. They are mentioned above. I was just curious whether it could be done without paying a third party.

 

[Jev88]

Yeah you could. They are mentioned above. I was just curious whether it could be done without paying a third party.

Yes it certainly can but very easy to miss a box out on their overly complicated forms, especially as it changes vehicle taxation class when you go over or under 3500Kg. £150 well spent imho.

 

[DDJC]

Yes it certainly can but very easy to miss a box out on their overly complicated forms, especially as it changes vehicle taxation class when you go over or under 3500Kg. £150 well spent imho.

Yes I'm inclined to agree Jev. In this case, although it seems possible to do it yourself, it looks a ballache. The labourer is worthy of his hire and if the Govt decided to wisely re-introduce automatoc Cat C1 to post 1997 driving licences, I am first in line. I got the semi-air, I got the tyres and I got the nod from my insurance.