Up-plating

[drpeej]

I am sorry if this has been answered elsewhere but I am not sure how to find a suitable company to advise on up-plating.

The requirements are fairly modest so I would have thought it would be straightforward.

My MH is a 2009 Autosleepers Symbol ES PVC. It is plated to 3300kg and I want to increase this to 3500kg.

Do I need a specialist company to do this or can any decent service centre do it?

Does anyone have any recommendations of companies in the Midlands area?

Peter

 

[Hoovie]

There is only paperwork to fill out and sign.
There is nothing to do mechanically to the axles or suspension.

sorry, almost certainly wrong generally speaking to go to 3850. and especially so on a van that is rated at 3300, as there is no difference in terms of regulations between a 3300 and a 3500, so it will be a limitation of how the van came out the factory. even going to 3500 will likely need changes of some sort and not just a matter of filling in a form.

 

[Gaza1515]

You really need to get your facts right.

Instead of your sarcastic comment.
Why not give us the facts then?

 

[Hoovie]

Instead of your sarcastic comment.
Why not give us the facts then?

I'll do that ...
to go to 3500 to 3700 for me was a requirement to uprate the tyres
to go to 3850 was a requirement to uprate the rear suspension.

both involved more than filling in a form.


PS. I suspect your info on the medicals, even corrected, is wrong as well. I think you have quoted the requirements for a driver operating HGV commercially rather than a PHGV for pleasure.

 

[Two on Tour]

Instead of your sarcastic comment.
Why not give us the facts then?

Many Funster's have had to have semi-air fitted on the rear and upgrade wheels and tyres to get the required load rating for the rear axle increase.
We had to do both to get our increased plating on our van. I know of another Funster who needs to fit a bracing bar between the rear chassis extensions to get their up-plating.

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

 

[Sapper520]

I up plated our Ducato (light chassis) PVC from 3300 to 3500, which was a paperwork exercise.

Anything higher than that would have required some modifications, but because it’s the light chassis there was a maximum but I can’t remember what that was…….I think about 3850, but I may be wrong. It was something like that anyway.

I weighted it back in September, when it was almost fully kitted out for our holiday, it came in at 3140kgs.

 

[Howard B]

Mine is currently at 3500kg, i was told i could go to 3700 without any mods or 3850 with airbags & uprated tyres. Have done all the mods , still debating whether to up rate it.

 

[Gaza1515]

I'll do that ...
to go to 3500 to 3700 for me was a requirement to uprate the tyres
to go to 3850 was a requirement to uprate the rear suspension.

both involved more than filling in a form.


PS. I suspect your info on the medicals, even corrected, is wrong as well. I think you have quoted the requirements for a driver operating HGV commercially rather than a PHGV for pleasure.

Axle 1 1850kg this would need tyres with a load index of 108
Axle 2 2000kg this would need tyres with a load index of 108

Driving Licence Entitlements – Do You Need A D4 Medical?

Do you need a D4 medical? Find out what vehicles you can drive and which entitlements require a D4 Medical. D4Drivers specialise in driver medicals.

d4drivers.uk

 

[Hoovie]

Axle 1 1850kg this would need tyres with a load index of 108
Axle 2 2000kg this would need tyres with a load index of 108

you like life on the edge eh

3850 rating would mean your weight distribution would need to be absolutely perfect to the kilo

a 108 load rating would mean again you weight distribution would have to be perfect to the kilo

remind me not to travel with you


Oh, would a van that is rated at 3300 have tyres with a 108 load rating? or a rear axle at 2000? maybe, maybe not.

 

[Two on Tour]

Axle 1 1850kg this would need tyres with a load index of 108
Axle 2 2000kg this would need tyres with a load index of 108

Not the figures for my van.

I needed to go to 16" wheels and 225 wide tyres to get a safe load index and semi-air on the rear when I up-plated.

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

 

[Kiters74]

we have just recently up plated our Adria from 3500 to 3850, as the wheels are 16" with 225 wide tyres, just had to have a semi -air suspension fitted, used SV to upgrade, just waiting for the refund of tax from DVLA, tax drops to £165 per year.

 

[Hoovie]

Something that is worth pointing out .... There seems to be a general assumption that to get tyres with a suitable load rating for 3700 or 3850 you need to get 16" wheels as they are not available in 15" tyres.
As part of my 3850 Uprate, the rear axle got uprated to 2240. To go along with that I got tyres with a 112 Load rating (1120, so the minimum for a 2240 axle), but stayed with the 15" wheels (I preferred to stay with 15" wheels so I could keep a higher profile tyre).

 

[WildBunch]

I used SV Tech to do the paperwork to down plate my Hymer to 3500 kg. It cost £120 plus vat.
I did get a lot of free & as it turns out, most helpful, advise on the process. As I still have ongoing correspondence with the DVLA about my C1 licence, I have not as yet applied the new plate & am still driving the van at 3850 kg under section 88. If SV tech are few quid dearer than others it is well worth it for the extra customer care they have given me. As I have not personally used Van Weight Engineering, I cannot comment on their service.

It is a long & difficult story. I completed the necessary D2/D4 forms & applied for my C1 licence (at 70) the 1st week of March. Whilst I do have several medical issues, these are well controlled & at no time have I been told that I can't drive by my doctors. I have even had a letter from the DVLA to say I meet their medical standards to drive with a ICD (defibrillator) fitted. They then issued my new licence without the C1 status as requested. I promptly returned the licence & requested they add the C1 noting they have not given any reason as to why the C1 was not issued.
Almost 5 months later they sent me the licence back but without the C1 & any explanation or acknowledgement of my letter ! I returned the licence for a second time, with yet another letter outlining all the relevant points & correspondence.
I have given up in phoning the DVLA as they do not reply. Whilst I am happy that I am covered to drive under section 88, this cannot go on for ever & I cannot drive outside the UK. My problem is, due to the lack of feedback from the DVLA I don't know where I stand about my C1 entitlement. I know that I am not the only person who are suffering at the hands of the DVLA. I still await DVLA to reply.

 

[Realist]

I up-plated mine via SV last year and did it all via email and phone calls.

I went from 4500kg to 5500kg and it was a simple process and only £80 if I recall.

I want to update the above comment of mine, I was wrong.

What I paid for was just the upgrade of the tow bar towing weight to cover my wife’s car not the whole vans weight.

So the van I had at the time was still 4005kgs max but the tow bar was upgraded to tow a max of 1500kgs and the label that SvTech provided only showed this.

I assumed the whole van was upgraded and after a phone call I was corrected of my incorrect fact.

So I’m posting this just to update my error.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Something that is worth pointing out .... There seems to be a general assumption that to get tyres with a suitable load rating for 3700 or 3850 you need to get 16" wheels as they are not available in 15" tyres.
As part of my 3850 Uprate, the rear axle got uprated to 2240. To go along with that I got tyres with a 112 Load rating (1120, so the minimum for a 2240 axle), but stayed with the 15" wheels (I preferred to stay with 15" wheels so I could keep a higher profile tyre).

Me too, I put the part worn's on EBay, and they sold for £150. Not a kings ransom,but better than a "poke in the eye with a rusty stick", and having them sit about in the shed/garage going out of date.
Mike.