Weights

[headlight]

I only have the Fiat plate on my 2006 Swift Suntor 590RL 2.3L (Ducato 15 JTD MWB), no converters plate.
The Fiat plate says
3400kg
5400kg
1. 1750kg
2. 1900kg
My V5 says 3400kg gross
The van was weighed with the results being front axle 1361kg, rear axle 1587kg and overall weight 2948kg giving me a payload of 452kgs.
Wheels are 15' alloy with 215/70 R15 C109/107 tyres.
My question is could the van be up plated without any modifications from 3400kg to say about 3,600kgs ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Aware of that but the gross weight is never the sum of both axle weights, is it?

All depends on what the manufacturer/converter plates the gross weight as, in this case it has been plated to 3400 but can be uprated to 3650 without any mods.

 

[eurajohn]

Didn't think that was the case unless the original manufacturers plate was in excess of or at least the same as the desired new weight, as in when the converters plate effectively down plated a 3650Kg manufacturers one to 3500Kg, then it was literally a paper exercise to revert to the manufacturers gross (no change to axle weights).

 

[headlight]

I wonder how accurate weighbridges actually are ?
The reason I ask is since weighing the van and getting a rear axle figure of 1571kg I've added a second leisure battery, a second gas bottle, 115 watt solar panel and a tiny (600 watt peak 300 watt continuous) inverter all over the rear axle.
The 2nd leisure battery can't be more than 30kgs, gas bottle 15kgs, solar panel no idea and inverter maybe 1 kg and yet the rear axle weight is now 1780kg so 209kg heavier than before ?
I used 2 different weighbridges and was expecting a rear axle weight of maybe 70kg max heavier not 209kg.

 

[Lenny HB]

Weighbridge tolerances are (doing this from memory) Plate weighbridge +/- 110kg, Dynamic weighbridge +/- 150kg per axle.
They are calibrated at 18 tonnes.

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

 

[headlight]

Today's weighing was on a Biffa waste transfer station weighbridge.
The first weighbridge I used was a VOSA one.
I guess the VOSA one would probably be more accurate then.
Unfortunately the VOSA one no longer allows members of the public to use it.

 

[nicholsong]

I too have been wondering how accurate weighbridges are, particularly down in the 3-4-5ton range, and therefore whether it is worth the authorities weighing for what might be minor differences.

Obviously they do when they see a van/truck down on the bumpers.

 

[Lenny HB]

Today's weighing was on a Biffa waste transfer station weighbridge.
The first weighbridge I used was a VOSA one.
I guess the VOSA one would probably be more accurate then.
Unfortunately the VOSA one no longer allows members of the public to use it.

They will both be checked to the same standard.
Although the tolerance seems high they are made to weigh 40 tonners. In practice modern strain gauges are fairly accurate, I would expect them to be within 50kg.

Just err on the safe side if using a dynamic weighbridge make sure you are 300kg under.

 

[headlight]

They will both be checked to the same standard.
Although the tolerance seems high they are made to weigh 40 tonners. In practice modern strain gauges are fairly accurate, I would expect them to be within 50kg.

Just err on the safe side if using a dynamic weighbridge make sure you are 300kg under.

Is there a sticking 2 fingers up emoji
Luckily even if this morning's weights were spot on I am under and even with the extra bit of stuff I carry in the summer I'll still be under
Anyway back to my continually adjusting the Truma heating temp.
To hot to cold, to hot to cold etc etc.
I never had this problem with my PVC with its £20 domestic 2kw fan heater