Weight restrictions for over 70s after removal of C1 class.Giving a maximum Gross weight of 3.500kg = 3.5 tonnes

[Disco Duck]

I managed to find the Citroën spec sheet on line for my 2005 Citroën Relay 2.2hdi model 1800 long wheel base and hightop.
Giving.
Gross weight of 3.500kg 3 .5 tonnes
Unladen weight of 1995kg. 2.0 tonne aprox
Payload of 1505kg. 1.5 tonne
It was converted by Wild AXE campervan conversions in 2008.
Conversion weight was added 1/2"ply floor ,2 birth bed frame cum seating,storage locker /wardrobe. Over head cupboards, cooker/grill ,fridge, 50ltr water tank , 15 ltr under slung gas tank ,wc combined with shower cubical.
Not been weighed but best guess would be around 3/4 of a tonne which would have to be deducted from 1505 kgPayload.including driver .
So some where around 3/4 of a tonne left for ME and clothing ,food , sea fishing gear etc .
Plus Molly my Border Collie.
I will take the camper over a weigh bridge to check front and rear axle weigh distrabution.to get loaded weight ,which will HOPEFULLY be less than maximum Gross Weight of 3.500kg = 3.5 tonnes.
I have posted this to clarify my own Mind and hope it will be of use to others facing the over 70s driving restrictions .
Without having to apply for the C1 classification that I had on Grandfather rights .
It would involve a Dr's check up and eyesight test which I would pass but would have to be repeated every 2 years and cost a small fortune .

 

[guerdeval]

Well I wish you the best of luck but I had a Wildax LWB and my payload was 160kg albeit on the latest model, I had a rapido V55 and it was only 110kg payload so I hope you have shiatsus not Great Danes

 

[mry716]

I have to agree with Guerdeval - you really must get to a weighbridge loaded as if you were off on holiday. The problems if you get caught overweight are significant plus you would be uninsured. I check every year in holiday trim as during the year we add and remove things and although we note the weight of the items an accurate check gives peace of mind. GET to a Weighbridge.

 

[guerdeval]

Without having to apply for the C1 classification that I had on Grandfather rights .

I was a HGV instructor but gave up the licence at 65 as I had no plans to use it again and the medical cost a lot of money, as I’m now over 70 I only get short erm licences but as I self declare I’m in good health I fly below the radar so to speak,if I still wanted a HGV I’d probably fail on eyesight and open a whole new can of worms.

 

[Caz]

I think you are approaching this from the wrong angle.

The maximum authorised weight of your vehicle is 3.5 tonnes - so it must not exceed that regardless of what categories of vehicles you are licensed for.

Even if you hold a C1, this vehicle must not weigh more than 3.5 tonnes! The over 70s restrictions have nothing to do with it.

 

[Disco Duck]

I think you are approaching this from the wrong angle.

The maximum authorised weight of your vehicle is 3.5 tonnes - so it must not exceed that regardless of what categories of vehicles you are licensed for.

Even if you hold a C1, this vehicle must not weigh more than 3.5 tonnes! The over 70s restrictions have nothing to do with it.

Yes I realise the max gross is 3.500 kg.
The van unaiden weight before conversion was 1995 kg so that leaves me with approx 1 .5 tonnes.
No way will it exceed 3.500 kg.
I fully intend to get it weighed .
The van is fully loaded apart from water and a few bits and bobs.
We used 12 of these as service vans fully loaded with welder compressor and full heavy plant fitters took kit they still came in under the 3,500kg

 

[Geek]

There seems to be a little confusion here. Your vehicle has a GVW of 3500. That's inside the nornal car weight limit.

Definitely get it weighed, loaded up fully for a trip. Really cheap: free in some places.

The C1 licence medical is under £60. Hardly a huge expense.

If your eyesight isn't good enough for that medical, you shouldn't be driving anything bigger than a mobility scooter.

 

[Disco Duck]

There seems to be a little confusion here. Your vehicle has a GVW of 3500. That's inside the nornal car weight limit.

Definitely get it weighed, loaded up fully for a trip. Really cheap: free in some places.

The C1 licence medical is under £60. Hardly a huge expense.

If your eyesight isn't good enough for that medical, you shouldn't be driving anything bigger than a mobility scooter.

3.500kg as you say I know it's OK to drive on car lience

 

[colinm]

Yes I realise the max gross is 3.500 kg.
The van unaiden weight before conversion was 1995 kg so that leaves me with approx 1 .5 tonnes.
No way will it exceed 3.500 kg.
I fully intend to get it weighed .
The van is fully loaded apart from water and a few bits and bobs.
We used 12 of these as service vans fully loaded with welder compressor and full heavy plant fitters took kit they still came in under the 3,500kg

I'm not sure what materials WildAx where using for conversions back then, but they where a simpler van, so hopefully will be under 3,500kg when you load up. Many people underestimate the weight of conversions and think they can pile whatever they like in a campervan, but a lot of them nowadays come in at over 3,000kg before you even get in the drivers seat!

 

[ArDachaidh]

Don’t forget weight of driver and any passengers, fuel, and water - unless you always drive with an empty tank. 1 litre h2o = 1 kg.

 

[guerdeval]

Before I bought my leisure trekka I looked at a VW Crafter converted professionally in Devon ,lovely van all polished wood everywhere ,I asked the dealer what it weighed but he didn’t know, I told him I’d have it if he weighed it on the Monday, he never called me back and I’m pretty sure I know why.

 

[Thistle]

@Disco Duck
Highly unlikely the unladen weight in that table is accurate post rolling out of the factory often it's published as a dry weight +/- 5% so definitely put your fully loaded van on a weighbridge and you are right to do each axle individually as most overweight motor caravans exeed the plated weight of the rear axle.

If you have and use a towbar don’t forget to subtract the trailer nose weight from any available payload

Have fun.

 

[TonyEmm]

I managed to find the Citroën spec sheet on line for my 2005 Citroën Relay 2.2hdi model 1800 long wheel base and hightop.
Giving.
Gross weight of 3.500kg 3 .5 tonnes
Unladen weight of 1995kg. 2.0 tonne aprox
Payload of 1505kg. 1.5 tonne
It was converted by Wild AXE campervan conversions in 2008.
Conversion weight was added 1/2"ply floor ,2 birth bed frame cum seating,storage locker /wardrobe. Over head cupboards, cooker/grill ,fridge, 50ltr water tank , 15 ltr under slung gas tank ,wc combined with shower cubical.
Not been weighed but best guess would be around 3/4 of a tonne which would have to be deducted from 1505 kgPayload.including driver .
So some where around 3/4 of a tonne left for ME and clothing ,food , sea fishing gear etc .
Plus Molly my Border Collie.
I will take the camper over a weigh bridge to check front and rear axle weigh distrabution.to get loaded weight ,which will HOPEFULLY be less than maximum Gross Weight of 3.500kg = 3.5 tonnes.
I have posted this to clarify my own Mind and hope it will be of use to others facing the over 70s driving restrictions .
Without having to apply for the C1 classification that I had on Grandfather rights .
It would involve a Dr's check up and eyesight test which I would pass but would have to be repeated every 2 years and cost a small fortune .


View attachment 128128

It’s every 3 years and just £55 at D4Drivers for medical & eye test together. If it’s over 3.5t (PHG) the VED is halved so you’d SAVE money!

 

[Glandwr]

Second that every 3 yrs and not a hassle or big expense to renew. I'm om my 3rd renewal.

 

[RoaminRog]

I can’t see what the issue is here. If your van is plated at 3500kg, a C1 licence doesn’t come into the equation at all.
Have you checked what the vehicle plate says, attached normally to the cab. It will also give you the maximum weights for the axles.

 

[Okta]

Second that every 3 yrs and not a hassle or big expense to renew. I'm om my 3rd renewal.

Until you have a health problem. My latest renewal is only for 2 years because they will want me to do another treadmill stress test at the next renewal. No thank you, I thought the last stress test was going to kill me the next one might.

 

[Glandwr]

Until you have a health problem. My latest renewal is only for 2 years because they will want me to do another treadmill stress test at the next renewal. No thank you, I thought the last stress test was going to kill me the next one might.

The idiots in Swansea made me do 2 stress tests last time. I had a heart attack in 2020 the consultant waved me through on the treadmill one BUT the printout he forwarded to Swansea was 20plus seconds short of the mandatory 9mins.

Such is the state of the NHS that I had had to wait 9mths for that one. Consequently they wanted me to do a drug induced one. That was another 8mths wait.

I ended up with a gap of 16mths between my old licence expiring and the start date of my new one. The new ones runs for a full 3yrs too. So big win.

Incidentally when I asked them about driving without a valid licence they told me (in an email) that "I could continue to drive until they inform me that I cannot!"

Never had the occasion to verify that with Mr Plod, or thankfully Monsieur Plod.

 

[Nabsim]

The idiots in Swansea made me do 2 stress tests last time. I had a heart attack in 2020 the consultant waved me through on the treadmill one BUT the printout he forwarded to Swansea was 20plus seconds short of the mandatory 9mins.

Such is the state of the NHS that I had had to wait 9mths for that one. Consequently they wanted me to do a drug induced one. That was another 8mths wait.

I ended up with a gap of 16mths between my old licence expiring and the start date of my new one. The new ones runs for a full 3yrs too. So big win.

Incidentally when I asked them about driving without a valid licence they told me (in an email) that "I could continue to drive until they inform me that I cannot!"

Never had the occasion to verify that with Mr Plod, or thankfully Monsieur Plod.

If I remember right it tells you the same on gov site about renewing due to age.

 

[Okta]

The idiots in Swansea made me do 2 stress tests last time. I had a heart attack in 2020 the consultant waved me through on the treadmill one BUT the printout he forwarded to Swansea was 20plus seconds short of the mandatory 9mins.

Such is the state of the NHS that I had had to wait 9mths for that one. Consequently they wanted me to do a drug induced one. That was another 8mths wait.

I ended up with a gap of 16mths between my old licence expiring and the start date of my new one. The new ones runs for a full 3yrs too. So big win.

Incidentally when I asked them about driving without a valid licence they told me (in an email) that "I could continue to drive until they inform me that I cannot!"

Never had the occasion to verify that with Mr Plod, or thankfully Monsieur Plod.

C1 is a lorry classification as far as I can make out. The advice on the DVLA website now says that for lorry licenses you must not drive for 6 weeks and then must get a doctor/GP assessment before driving. The difficult bit is finding a doctor who can do this assessment, my GP said the only way to do the assessment was a stress test and they didn’t have the treadmill equipment to do this. I had to wait until the DVLA one came up at which point the doctor said I had passed and could drive again. The DVLA confirmed this a couple of weeks later.

In your case the Consultant giving you the ok at the first treadmill test would satisfy the rules for getting back on the road. The second test would be to keep the DVLA records straight.

Heart attacks, angioplasty, and driving

You may need to send DVLA a form if you've had a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or heart, cardiac or coronary angioplasty.

www.gov.uk

 

[Fisherman]

Most manufacturers use this method of determining your payload.
My van has a starting payload of 440kg. (After conversion)
This includes driver at 80kg, 90% full diesel tank, 20L of water, and a 13kg gas cylinder.
They then give you a full list of optional extras with the weight of each item.
Some are actually quite surprising IE, and auto box 25KG, second battery 27KG, small oven 15KG, Panoramic sunroof (Skyeview) 20KG, Alloy wheels 12KG, canopy 30KG.
So choosing to many heavy optional extras can severely limit your payload.
After I emptied my old van, I took the opportunity of weighing everything.
Kitchen equipment, 46KG, Garage contents 55KG, Brolly 5KG, 6KG gas 15KG, Solar Panels 14KG, TV and soundbar 4KG, Bottled water 15KG, food and clothing 10KG, Vehicle and options taken 74KG,. Total 238 KG
This left me with 200KG. My water tank takes 110L less the 20L allowance thats 90KG then there's my wife well she's well below 110KG

I took the van to the cleansing dept weigh station in Glasgow, and much to my surprise I had 65 KG more than Rapido reckoned.
So with all of the above I am roughly 100KG below the threshold.

But read this
A £100 penalty will be given for a 0% to 9.99% overload, but DVSA examiners will allow a 5% leeway before issuing a fixed penalty or prohibition, unless the relevant weight has been exceeded by 1 tonne or more.

So if you are say 4% overweight on a 3.5T van (140KG) , you should be ok.
I avoided a canopy, we only used the previous one twice in four years saving 30KG, and replaced my lead batteries with lithium saving another 27KG.