Weigh Bridge.

[NC35]

Hi Everyone,
Still new to the camper scene, so please forgive.
Out of sheer curiosity I asked if I could put the van on the weigh bridge at work.
Spot on 2500kg.
MY17 T6 Highline Manual 150, Nearly a full tank of fuel, RnR bed, Kitchen, Stove, Fridge, PopTop, Nearly Full Gas Bottle Leisure Battery. Bits and bats, Air Bed, Bedding, Pots & Pans, a Few Tins. No water tank. No ProtaPotty.
Wasn't expecting 2.5 Tonne. Doesn't leave much for a passenger, awning etc etc.
Or am I be a bit nieve?

 

[Mick]

What is it? T30, T32 .....

 

[Bav]

I'm presuming you have a T28 (otherwise you wouldn't be asking), so you've got 300kg to play with?

Were you sat in the van when it was weighed?
How many passengers will you be carrying?
Are the passengers toddlers, kids, teens or adults?

 

[cgtmiles]

I think our camper (loaded with all the standard kit that’s kept in the van) weighed ~2300 with me and the daughter in it too. When 4 up with teenage kids (who actually rarely come now anyway), bikes, clothes, awnings etc I thought our T28 would be a bit close to the limit (or over it!) so up plated to T30.

Now there’s often only 2 of us, we rarely take bikes and the awning is a much smaller lighter one but still good to have that extra allowance just in case

 

[Sasquatch]

My T28 came in under 2300 with full conversion, gas bottle, full water tank, big heavy swamper tyres and a near full tank of fuel, and me grinning like an idiot.

 

[cgtmiles]

So round the same park park as mine. Does make you think that 2500 seems a little high. Do you have solid granite worktops and lead lining or something?

 

[NC35]

Well that's some of my concerns answered.
Thank you.
Yes its only a T28
Yes I was in the van.
20" Rims and Tyres, which feel lighter than the 17" that came off. No swampers.
Will have my partner Rachel and a big labrador as well. Some more clothes, boots, food etc. The porta potty with the chemicals.
No granite (l wish it was that plush). Hopefully weighing in the lead lining to the scrappers will contribute towards this money pit.
So...
300kg is going to be quite tight me thinks!
Perhaps I should invest in getting it re-plated to T30. Some more Google time and beer tokens lol.

 

[Bav]

Perhaps I should invest in getting it re-plated to T30. Some more Google time and beer tokens lol.

Yep, should just be a paper exercise to up-plate to a T30 (or even a T31) - no physicals mods required.

 

[Lubrown]

My T28 came in under 2300 with full conversion, gas bottle, full water tank, big heavy swamper tyres and a near full tank of fuel, and me grinning like an idiot.

Same. 2260kg with full fuel and water and a gas bottle and a couple of bits like kettle and sleeping bag (got it in my mind I wanted it testing so just headed out without packing or fully unpacking, just filled the liquids as they count most and are quick to do).

 

[Green Giant]

,when we had a 4 week trip away, all our kit weighed an extra 240 kg, but we took a lot of gear on that trip to Norway, that’s everything that doesn’t live in the van permanently, so lots of bedding, 4weeks food, clothes, power bank, etc etc I would go visit the weigh bridge next time you are all packed up for a week away in the van, and see the difference,

 

[cgtmiles]

I’d love to check the van once fully loaded but it never works time wise as it’s often early morning, a weekend and the focus is on hitting the road ASAFP. We try and keep the van ready to go with just clothes, food and the trip specific awnings/bbq etc setup to add so ours started with 500kg of space for gear and now has 700kg after up plating. And no one should really be taking 700kg of gear on a camping holiday!

 

[Bav]

...no one should really be taking 700kg of gear on a camping holiday!

Have you met my wife?

 

[NC35]

I have only had the van for just over a month, so when we get back from this adventure I am going to take EVERYTHING that isn't bolted down out and reweigh.
Being really fortunate, the weigh bridge at work is on 24/7 and a simple drive on and drive off - unless you need a printout, which opens a whole can of worms...
On the wish list is T32 rear springs as IMHO it sags a bit at the back, plus I would love to get some T32 380mm discs and calipers.
When I have the beer tokens for this, I will have a look at getting the van "up plated". I assume you need a registered garage or MOT station???
Thank you everyone for your replies

 

[Bav]

I have only had the van for just over a month, so when we get back from this adventure I am going to take EVERYTHING that isn't bolted down out and reweigh.
Being really fortunate, the weigh bridge at work is on 24/7 and a simple drive on and drive off - unless you need a printout, which opens a whole can of worms...
On the wish list is T32 rear springs as IMHO it sags a bit at the back, plus I would love to get some T32 380mm discs and calipers.
When I have the beer tokens for this, I will have a look at getting the van "up plated". I assume you need a registered garage or MOT station???
Thank you everyone for your replies

Plenty of discussion on the forum about up-plating. I know that @Drive Wayne, for example, has been through the process.

I intend to get my van weighed twice - fully loaded and completely empty - though, as my van's a T32, my only motivation is idle curiosity. For you, the "stuffed to the gunwales" weight will be the really interesting number, as that's what will determine if you need to up-plate.

EDIT: Be aware that if you use an official DVSA weighbridge and your van is found to be overweight, you won't be allowed to just drive away - you'll be required to off-load persons and/or items such that the van is no longer overweight.

 

[ginkster]

I have only had the van for just over a month, so when we get back from this adventure I am going to take EVERYTHING that isn't bolted down out and reweigh.
Being really fortunate, the weigh bridge at work is on 24/7 and a simple drive on and drive off - unless you need a printout, which opens a whole can of worms...
On the wish list is T32 rear springs as IMHO it sags a bit at the back, plus I would love to get some T32 380mm discs and calipers.
When I have the beer tokens for this, I will have a look at getting the van "up plated". I assume you need a registered garage or MOT station???
Thank you everyone for your replies

I up plated my T28 to a T31.5 last year with Dan at Van Weight Engineering. Paperwork exercise that cost £275. No need for MOT station or anything like that. Just fill in a form and send some pics. Someone on here mentioned very recently that they had lost their DVLA accreditation but I’ve seen nothing on their website or Facebook page so worth dropping them a message to see. Definitely worth doing as it removes any worry about going overweight although you do have to keep an eye on individual axle limits. It’s given me a theoretical 750kg carrying capacity for beer and wine.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Have you met my wife?

Is she a big girl?

 

[Sasquatch]

Have you met my wife?

Mrs Sasquatch packs 700kg of holiday shoes, never mind the rest of it.

 

[Bav]

Is she a big girl?

I wanted to be offended by this, but I can't stop laughing.

I just hope, for your sake, she never sees your comment!

 

[Salty Spuds]

I wanted to be offended by this, but I can't stop laughing.

I just hope, for your sake, she never sees your comment!

Laughing beats offended any day. That’s half the problem these days.

 

[Lubrown]

And no one should really be taking 700kg of gear on a camping holiday!

Our neighbours (two adults and two children) take both cars (one is a huge people carrier… with a roof box added) as they can’t fit all their camping ‘necessities’ in one. Packing goes on for hours. Even then it’s not uncommon they’ll pop back for more stuff.