Replace air suspension with coils?

[nabsim]

@zizajaun
Did you just say it plated as 3500kg on the V5?
If so what is it plated at on the vehicles weight plate?

The info held by the DVLA and as stated on the V5 is the source of truth and I have over the past couple of years come across a few examples where something dodgy has been going on and vehicles have SVtech weight plates (stickers) on them giving the false impression they have been uplated but the paperwork was never sent to the DVLA by the vehicles owner (if it ever existed). So they are still plated at 3500kg.

If you have become the victim of one of these scams unfortunately you will find Steve at SVtech totally unhelpful he will probably point blank refuse to provide copies of the original paperwork (again if it ever existed) and you will have to go through the entire plating exercise again. I would then recommend Dee Thorne at Van weight engineering cheaper and far more proactive!

In the meantime if the V5 does say 3500kg they you really must get it weighed, if it weighs over 3500kg you can’t drive it until the V5 has been changed or you have gutted it to get it below and remain below 3500kg, and obviously just a reminder you need to have a C1 licence to drive anything plated over 3500kg.

Re your suspension I would 100% recommend you repair it as is, changing to springs will almost certainly require an engineers report for your insurance company

Strange how different people get different responses. I have always had excellent responses from SVTech, they went out of their way to track down suitable tyres for me and it was a previous owner who had been their customer. Treated so well I decided to use them when I down plated in January

 

[CriftinsCampers]

Strange how different people get different responses. I have always had excellent responses from SVTech, they went out of their way to track down suitable tyres for me and it was a previous owner who had been their customer. Treated so well I decided to use them when I down plated in January

My gut feeling is there’s some sort of sod them type activity going on by less honest sellers to deceive gullible buyers or business drivers, after all it’s not exactly difficult to fake a weight plate sticker. Or if obtained legitimately I wouldn’t be surprised if some fleet operators even ‘ forget‘ to send everything off to the DVLA especially if it would delay a sale or putting an over weight vehicle into service.

SVtech are probably aware of the practice but what I find odd is their unwillingness to provide any original paperwork on file I find that a bit strange. I have had to deal with this problem three times in the last 18 months.

i am very curious what the op van is supposedly plated at and by whom.

 

[nabsim]

My gut feeling is there’s some sort of sod them type activity going on by less honest sellers to deceive gullible buyers or business drivers, after all it’s not exactly difficult to fake a weight plate sticker. Or if obtained legitimately I wouldn’t be surprised if some fleet operators even ‘ forget‘ to send everything off to the DVLA especially if it would delay a sale or putting an over weight vehicle into service.

SVtech are probably aware of the practice but what I find odd is their unwillingness to provide any original paperwork on file I find that a bit strange. I have had to deal with this problem three times in the last 18 months.

i am very curious what the op van is supposedly plated at and by whom.

I have three weight plates at side of the step in the hab door. Original converters (3860) uprated (4000) and downplated current (3500). Instructions from SVTech was to leave existing plates and add latest. V5 shows the 3500 so I assume so long as one of the plates matched that all is good.
They dug old info out for me and in fact offered to send me stuff through the post. Hope you got everything sorted out in the end ok

 

[zizajaun]

As I said earlier, there is a huge price difference between an AlKo tag axle setup and a normal 4 wheel ehicle with cart springs.

This wasn't specifically for a tag axle or alko, just their normal cost. Might have included fitting a compressor, reservoir, etc - not sure. The coil cost was likewise just a standard cost.

Just given the vehicle to a mechanic to replace the clutch. He said he'll try to find out what bags are needed.

 

[maingate]

The OP has said that his van is rated at 3.5 tonnes. I doubt if it will be as low as that when empty of personal possessions, gas cylinders etc. It sounds a bit odd to me.

 

[CriftinsCampers]

The OP has said that his van is rated at 3.5 tonnes. I doubt if it will be as low as that when empty of personal possessions, gas cylinders etc. It sounds a bit odd to me.

That’s why it raised a red flag with me as well. A certain once popular youtube couple recently sold their single torsion barred van because their conversion plus possessions etc meant it was well over weight and they did not want to do a C1 plus it needed a new torsion bar and they were very limited on what I could have been plated to anyway, 3900kg max iirc.

unlike a lot of dishonest sellers off loading overweight self builds to gullible buyers especially on eBay and Marketplace they really went out of their way to point out to any prospective buyer that it was over weight as it stood yet they still got a good price for it. So good on them for doing so.

 

[CriftinsCampers]

Op seems to have vanished hopefully he’s been able to cancel the purchase of what sounds like a dodgy potentially well overweight vehicle

 

[Glass man]

Specialist Automotive Products, Doncaster is the firm to contact,
Suspension is the area their specialisation!
I have found them most knowledgeable and helpful.
They work on a variety of different vehicles from smaller campers to large special conversations and ambulances. Air and coil suspension.
Unit 13 Wellsyke Ind Est, Bentley Moor Ln, Adwick le Street, Doncaster DN6 7BD
Phone; 01302 215 296