One of the most neglected / least discussed issues is that of your motorhome's payload.
Auto Trail Tracker FB's leave the factory with mass in service weight of 3210 kg (the weight after conversion by Auto Trail, including an average weight driver) and an authorised payload of 3500 kg (the total permitted weight) The difference between the two is 290 kg - to cover a passenger, any extras fitted, and luggage.
The 3500 kg figure is a compromise - reached by converters to keep the authorised weight in the category of Private Light Goods (PLG), rather than Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV). This enables those who passed their car test after 01/01/1997 to drive the vehicle on an ordinary car licence.
For some motorhomers, 3500 kg is sufficient. But for others, not. It took me right to the edge when I weighed the vehicle at a weigh bridge.
Auto Trail provide a most useful payload calculator to assist. Thus, I found that my extras: media pack added 12 kg, solar panel 20 kg, Gaslow system 36 kg, and towbar 70 kg - totalled 138 kg - leaving 152 kg for my passenger Stephanie, motorhome kit, clothing, food and water. Fortunately, Stephanie - as a dancer - is very light and slim!
There are some items which are not really negotiable when it comes to motorhoming, for example, bedding, towels, cutlery, crockery, cooking equipment, food, spare clothing, levelling blocks, mud mats. Other items all add up the weight - some light such as a laptop; others heavier such as a barbecue.
Concerns about being pulled up by police or revenue inspectors and sent to a weigh bridge are over-stated here in the UK. Most authorities are looking for overladen goods vehicles and not interested in the average motorhome. However, things are a little different in Europe, especially France, making the risk of being over-weight simply not worth taking.
The Tracker FB (like a number of other models built on the same chassis) is however 'type approved' for the higher Maximum Authorised Weight of 3650 - adding a significant 150 kg, and almost doubling my spare payload. I quickly realised that seeking the upgrade was the way forward. But how to do this? The answer came, most helpfully from Simon Chainey at Tyne Valley Motorhomes, with contact names and addresses at Auto Trail.
So, I thought it would
be useful to set out my free, definitive, simple six stage, tried and tested
approach, which allowed me to increase my payload in the space of two weeks.
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*****
Every Fiat base vehicle
leaves the Fiat factory with a metal VIN plate mounted at the front of the
engine compartment. This is a Fiat 1st stage plate. It reveals the
information about the base Fiat vehicle BEFORE conversion. It is of interest,
for it will tell you about the maximum permitted weights for this type of
chassis, a combined vehicle and towing weight, and separate figures for each
axle. This metal plate will remain unchanged on the vehicle.
The Tracker FB is built on
a Fiat Ducato X250 35 'Light' chassis’ - originally homologated by Fiat with a Maximum Authorised Weight of 3650 kg (as shown on the Fiat VIN plate under the bonnet).
At
conversion – Auto Trail as multi stage
body builder,
have ‘Type Approved’
the Tracker FB to both 3500kg
and 3650kg. This
permits Auto Trail to give their customers a choice - as drivers who passed
their car test after 1997 are restricted to 3500 kg. Auto Trail then simply attach
their secondary weight label to every vehicle that leaves their factory showing
the specified gross weight – usually 3500 kg by default.
Because
the model is type approved to either gross weight, it is a simple task to
change – either up to 3650 kg or down to 3500 kg – without making any technical
alteration to the motorhome.
Do
note that, whilst the vehicle remains ‘Class 4 for MOT purposes, the difference
in Maximum Authorised Weight changes the vehicle category from Private Light
Goods (PLG) to Private Heavy Goods (PHG) with some minor speed restrictions, or
French toll charges (if they check). Revenue tax rates change slightly, but
importantly, if you have passed your test after 01/01/1997 you will need to
upgrade your licence. For those reaching 70 years of age, you have to
provide a completed medical report indicating your fitness to drive an HGV https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/369458/D4_160414.pdf
Note that some breakdown recovery policies only cover vehicles up to 3500 kg, so you may need to review this.
Six stage process
.For
convenience, this specimen is for an upgrade from 3500 kg to 3650 kg:
- Go to ‘contact us’
on the Auto Trail web site http://www.auto-trail.co.uk/contact-us
and send a message to the Technical and Quality Manager, as follows:
“I am (your full name name) the registered keeper of
the Auto Trail (model) specified below, currently with a Maximum Authorised
Weight of 3500 kg. I seek a letter of confirmation, re-issued Certificate of
Conformity and new secondary weight label so that I can re-register the vehicle
at 3650 kg.
Vehicle: Auto
Trail motorhome
Model: Tracker
FB
Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
Chassis no: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Reg. no: xx
xx xxx
1st reg: (date)
Specification: factory
standard
- Auto Trail will send
you a letter, together with the other documents requested. Photocopy the
new secondary weight label to send to DVLA, then affix the label over Auto Trail’s original label
on your motorhome.
- Download, print and complete DVLA form V70 (if already taxed) or V85 (if not currently taxed) using these links V70https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364271/V70_180914.pdf V85 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/360106/V85_140714.pdf.
- Complete
- Keep photocopies,
and send to To DVLA,
·
Form V70 or V85
(completed)
·
UK Registration
Certificate (log book) completing box 7 & 8
·
Letter of
Confirmation
·
Certificate of
Conformity
·
Photocopy of
secondary weight label
- Within a few days
they will send you a new UK Registration Certificate (log book). Your
Certificate of Conformity will be returned to you under separate cover.
Ensure that your UK
Registration Certificate shows the new revenue weight at box (Y) and that you
store with it the original Certificate of Conformity and Auto Trail letter of
Confirmation to support the changes.
Inform your insurers if your vehicle weight is recorded on your insurance documentation, and ensure that your breakdown recovery scheme will recover your vehicle at the higher weight.
