Upgrade payload.

Mr and Mrs Tupcox

Mr and Mrs Tupcox

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Upgrade payload.

Hi. Can anyone give me some help. We want to upgrade the van from 3300 to 3500. I don't want to pay a company to do it. Does anyone have a link to do it. We can't seem to find out how to do it on DVLA gov .... ta...
 
I did mine via a company, not sure what proof you will need to do it yourself.
 
You cannot up plate the van yoursself unless you have the required qualifications to issue the certificate that DVLA will accept. The companies that do this will advise on cost and if your van can be updated without modification before you have to pay.

some vans can and some cannot be up plated without modification.
 
I have used SVTech and another company run by John Ruffles to upgrade the weight on 2 vans. The first one was upgraded from 3500 to 3800kg, the second from 3200 to 3400. With both upgrades I was given a certificate of the new weights, I believe only a proper company can supply these certificates, after all, they are certifying that your vehicle is safe to use at that weight, something you would not be qualified to do.
John Ruffles cost was under half of SVTech prices, if you need contact details let me know.
 
snapster;n31557 said:
I have used SVTech and another company run by John Ruffles to upgrade the weight on 2 vans. The first one was upgraded from 3500 to 3800kg, the second from 3200 to 3400. With both upgrades I was given a certificate of the new weights, I believe only a proper company can supply these certificates, after all, they are certifying that your vehicle is safe to use at that weight, something you would not be qualified to do.
John Ruffles cost was under half of SVTech prices, if you need contact details let me know.
Click to expand...

If you are going from 3300to 3500 you may well have a short wheelbase van, if so and it has a relatively long overhang you will find that in order to load it with the full 3500 you probably will need to also upgrade the rear axle from 1900kg to 2000kg otherwise it will be too easily overloaded. The total weight upgrade is usually just a paper excersize, but to gain an extra 100kg on the rear would require air assist on the back axle.
A certificate with the new weights alone will not make it legal, you also need to get your logbook amended by DVLA.
 
I suppose the sensible route would be to visit a weighbridge and see how your weight is distributed in the van so, as Barge1914 says above, the back axle is not overloaded if you utilise the extra payload.
These upgrading companies will be able to determine if your van can be uprated and any mods necessary, but it’s up to you to ensure it’s not overweight on either axle when you are travelling.
 
We have spoken to DVLA. They have said all we need to do .book in at one of there recommended weigh bridges.
get cert from them post on to DVLA and that's it on our van .rear axle 1900.so can go to 3500 just paper work.

also rang sv to .. this is all they would do .to get to 3500.
our van is swb..only 5.99 in length..

 
Barge1914;n32598 said:
If you are going from 3300to 3500 you may well have a short wheelbase van, if so and it has a relatively long overhang you will find that in order to load it with the full 3500 you probably will need to also upgrade the rear axle from 1900kg to 2000kg otherwise it will be too easily overloaded. The total weight upgrade is usually just a paper excersize, but to gain an extra 100kg on the rear would require air assist on the back axle.
A certificate with the new weights alone will not make it legal, you also need to get your logbook amended by DVLA.
Click to expand...

you do not need to advise DVLA if after the weight change if it stays within the same taxation group. Been involved in changing weights on trucks as an operator for years, you may need to advise your insurer.
 
I'm considering down plating my van before I need to renew my licence again, having had to do it twice after reaching 70. The first time I got it for 1 year, last year they gave it me for 2 years, I will have to renew it again in March, also the wife is getting nearer to 70 so she would have to go through the process as well. The cost & hassle of both of us having medicals, the wife's should be straightforward but I know I would probably have to do the treadmill test again. So as we are only plated at 3700kgs I am thinking it just isn't worth it so want to know if I can down plate myself. The van is originally sold at 3500kgs & the up plating was an option. Interested if anybody has managed to get their van down plated themselves. I know I could use Svtech but is this necessary?
 
What exactly is needed when you reach 70 Kontiki? I have seen various posts from just a letter upwards but this is first mention of a treadmill. I presume any medical would be tailored to the person to an extent, I couldn't use a treadmill so its got me wondering, we didn't realise Caz had had her C1 part of license removed until after we got the mh either, she has what I think is called a medical license(?) due to diabetes and has had to have it renewed every so from in her early 50's. Is the 70+ C1 thing the same as what she would do?
 
The C1 category is for driving vehicles over 3.5 ton (think up 7.5 ton). When any driver gets to 70 their license expires, you can renew it for 3 years by self certifying you are ok to drive if you only want to drive a vehicle below 3.5 ton. If you want to retain your C1 category for heavier vehicles it's not as straightforward. You have to have a full medical, depending on your medical history certain conditions as mion my case heart problems then they might ask you to take a treadmill test (I believe there are alternatives such as on an exercise cycle of a profusion scan but I wasn't given the option) then depending on all this they can either issue you a license or a license without the C1. In my case the first time they gave me a license for 1 year, when I applied the next year they sent me form after form to fill in I was getting sure they were going to reject me but no they gave me a license for 2 years. Either way over 70 the max length of your license is 3 years. Friend of ours is 79 & just renewed his C1 for another 3 years despite having had prostrate cancer & other problems.
I think some diabetics are restricted to under 3.5 ton regardless, any heart problems seemed to cause problems.
As my birthday is in March (a time when we like to be away) it is difficult to be able to get my license for when I want.
 
Thanks for that, I dont know how true it is but one post I read said you just needed a weigh bridge slip and letter to DVLA to downgrade. I would think a call to SVTech would give a proper answer though
 
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