Uprate to 3550kgs or stick with 3500?

Itsmcb

Itsmcb

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I've been considering up-plating to allow me to have a scooter on a rack. However, I cant get the payload I need for a scooter and rack without fitting air assist and since I have an Alko axle its not worth the expense on an older van. I have therefore scrapped the scooter plan for now and will stick with a pedalbike :rolleyes:. However I have discovered I can up-plate to 3550kgs as just a paper exercise. Now I'm wondering if I should do that, firstly to gain the extra 50kgs (always handy) but more to save £130 a year in tax. Any real cons to going just over the 3500kgs? (I have a C1 licence). (Sensible) thoughts appreciated ;)
 
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Quite a few villages in France prohibit access to vehicles over 3,500 kg.

Believe different speed limits (lower) also apply.
 
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How about a towbar & trailer to carry the scooter?

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I went from 3400 to 3500. I could have gone higher but decided not to.
we manage at that weight and not speed restricted to. 60:eek:n the motorway but can still do 70 not that i am a speed freak

but thought anybody can drive mine with a std licence a C1 licence not required means family can use it as well.

and when selling if that time comes I or the new buyer will not have to pay anymore towards the sale or purchase.
and I will not have the expense of renewing a licence every so often just to keep the C1 on my licence .

the C1 part of my licence is not important to me anyway.
 
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sonar said:
I went from 3400 to 3500. I could have gone higher but decided not to.
we manage at that weight and not speed restricted to. 60:eek:n the motorway but can still do 70 not that i am a speed freak

but thought anybody can drive mine with a std licence a C1 licence not required means family can use it as well.

and when selling if that time comes I or the new buyer will not have to pay anymore towards the sale or purchase.
and I will not have the expense of renewing a licence every so often just to keep the C1 on my licence .

the C1 part of my licence is not important to me anyway.
Click to expand...

Isn’t the speed limit cut off calculated at 3.05 tonnes unladen weight rather than >3.5 tonnes GVW?
 
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Orion said:
Thanks. It was the reference to ‘70’ that made me query the U.K. situation.
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My last van was 3.06 tonnes unladen. I asked a friend of mine who had been a traffic cop most of his working life about the speed limit being linked to the unladen weight, and he was not aware of it at all, so I don't think anyone need worry about this aspect of the weight.
 
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mikebeaches said:
Quite a few villages in France prohibit access to vehicles over 3,500 kg.

Believe different speed limits (lower) also apply.
Click to expand...
I have yet to see how they know.
It's the same van as it was at 3500kg.
I really can't see the French authorities contacting DVLA for every van that passes through their town or village.
 
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pappajohn said:
I have yet to see how they know.
It's the same van as it was at 3500kg.
I really can't see the French authorities contacting DVLA for every van that passes through their town or village.
Click to expand...
Apparently the police will stop vans and check the plate under the bonnet. Angles Mort stickers will be a dead give-away.
 
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I think my mass running order is 2769 kg
with an added payload of 631 kg
sundance 600 B

does that keep me at 60. Or. 70 mph on uk motorways.


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Single 50 / dual 60 / Motorway 70 ??
 
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pappajohn said:
I have yet to see how they know.
It's the same van as it was at 3500kg.
I really can't see the French authorities contacting DVLA for every van that passes through their town or village.
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As Old Gibber has mentioned - Monsieur Gendarme can simply look under your bonnet if stopped.

I agree, you might be unlucky to be pulled, but given some of the ridiculously low speed limits in some settlements it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.

And in any case, the OP asked for +s & -s of up-plating, and I happened to provide 2 possible downsides, one of which related to village weight limits in France. ;) :unsure:
 
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Jamesh said:
How about an electric bike? Higher powered ones are quite nippy.

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Now this has me thinking. I saw one of these back in the summer, 135kgs payload so would take me and the Mrs. Only 35kgs including battery so would go on my existing bike rack. I'm only looking for something to nip into a village or to pick up a bottle of wine so might well fit the bill. We have two bikes at the moment but my wife is not a confident cyclist, however she will happily sit behind me hence the scooter idea. Maybe I will explore this further 👍👍
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sonar said:
I went from 3400 to 3500. I could have gone higher but decided not to.
we manage at that weight and not speed restricted to. 60:eek:n the motorway but can still do 70 not that i am a speed freak

but thought anybody can drive mine with a std licence a C1 licence not required means family can use it as well.

and when selling if that time comes I or the new buyer will not have to pay anymore towards the sale or purchase.
and I will not have the expense of renewing a licence every so often just to keep the C1 on my licence .

the C1 part of my licence is not important to me anyway.
Click to expand...
A few good points here. I think sticking to the 3500 limit seems a good idea, too many potential drawbacks to being over I think.👍
 
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ROCHESB said:
How about a towbar & trailer to carry the scooter?
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I did think about this but then I would need a towbar fitted and buy a trailer plus all the extra parking hassle plus extra on the tunnel etc etc.

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pappajohn said:
And illegal.
The max power is 300watts
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The limit is 250 Watts but the latest ones have much higher torque motors where they used to be 50nm latest ones are 85nm with 95nm coming on the market. Although for a 85nm one you will have to pay the wrong side of £3k.
 
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Bobby-gg said:
Whilst you'll save on ved going over 3500kg, you'll pay extra if you go into any lez places
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Think you might find it’s the total opposite.
Ours was 3.5t and had some LEZ charges below left
Now 3.7t and no charges below right.
 

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Eh, how does that work?

Mine was quoted at something like £9 at 3500kgs, but £140 at over 3501kgs!
 
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Mine is exempt in all areas, uprated from 3.5t to 4t.
 
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Absolutely no idea Bobby. Saving on road tax and LEZ charges and helps a bit with payload. Result.
 
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