Help wanted please Transit mark one

[urbanhippy]

I have a coachbuilt motorhome on a mark one chassis.I beleive this to be a model 160.it lists a revenue weight of 1511 kilograms unladen on the V5C which I am guessing gives me a gross weight of about 2411 kilograms.Can anyone tell me what the front and rear axle weights would be please,as the vin plate is unreadable.

[fortyeight]

get it weighed

[DougT]

What you describe does not seem to make sense (to me anyway). My info is that the Revenue Weight is the same as the Gross Vehicle Weight so it looks like the weights have been confused somewhere as no mk1 transit has a GVW of 1511kg.

For all petrol models, I have a front axle max weight of 1060kg, and for diesel SWB 1150kg, diesel LWB 1250 kg

Rear axle max weights for petrol SWB go from 1170kg to 1850kg, diesel SWB from 1170kg to 1650kg, and LWB (both Petrol and Diesel) from 2020kg to 2340kg.

So first question is whether it is SWB single rear wheel or LWB twin rear wheel ?

cheers

Doug

[urbanhippy]

Hi,the van is a single wheel swb camper mounted on a pickup chassis.I suspect it has been downrated at some point because it says 1511kg unladen on the v5C.No gross weight.I would weigh it but need to sort this out for the mot.

[DougT]

So if it is a SWB single wheel then it can't be a model 160. Depending on year, but the most it could be would be a model 115 but more likely a model 100. Model 125 and upward used the LWB chassis. I presume it is a flat front petrol V4.

I think that the 1511kg will actually be the kerb weight, which will be higher than a standard van because of the camper conversion. But the camper conversion will not change the GVW which will therefore be 2240kg for a model 100. I don't have the figures for the 115 but using the capacity of 1150kg not 1000kg, it would be around 2300kg for a model 115.

Front axle weights will be the same for both at 1060kg
Rear axle weight will be 1340 for a 100 and approx 1400kg for a 115.

I am guessing the MOT man really only wants to know that the GVW is less than 3000kg as it means it is a class 4 not a class 7 MOT. If it single rear wheel, it is definitely under 3000kg and therefore a class 4.

Doug

[urbanhippy]

Thanks Doug that helps a lot.The van was originally a flat front V4 but i fitted a Diesel front and a 2.5 di.I suspect that a previous owner changed the registered weight,which is why it says unladen on the V5C,which as you rightly say is the kerbside weight.My only concern is that it comes out at under 2500 kg gross,in order to comply with the exemptions of the London low emmision zone.The van is on a 1976 plate,any idea what the Gross train weight woud be?

[DodgeRover]

I don't think you can make a diesel transit comply unless its registered as an MPV? Or fitted with the EMINOX gear and reduced pollution stuff, it doesn't matter about the age of the engine....

[DougT]

From 2200kg to 2450kg GVW for Mk1, the GTW is 3250kg for manual transmission & braked trailer. 2850kg for unbraked trailer as if that is any use apart from towing an empty cardboard box !

As it was originally a flat front, I think you will still need to use the petrol engined figure for the front axle weight and I hadn't seen that exemption for motor caravans from LEZ so that is a good spot.

Dodge, I don't see what they can do if it says motor caravan on the V5 ? The under 2.5 tonne exemption for motorised caravans is on their website for all ages of vehicles.

And apart from springs, I can't see that there is any difference in the construction of the vehicle due to the weight limits , so I don't see why you can't just ask DVLA to add GVW of 2300kg to the v5. The only danger is that you need to keep within it and campers are very easy to overload. It is the latest cash machine game of the French police apparently, stopping british reg campers and checking weights....

Doug

[urbanhippy]

Thanks Doug those figures help a lot.Dealing with Dvla is really not worth the hassle.They wanted an engineers report to change the fuel type from petrol to heavy oil.I have fitted uprated springs as the front dropped quite a bit when I fitted the DI. The TFL low emission website accepts my reg as exempt. Motor homes and campers under 2500 kg gross even as diesel are ,my V%C says Motor home.Thanks for the info.