70 years old and motorhomes over 3500kgs

[Teutone]

And there's the anomaly with the law,according to the manufacturers of the motorhome and chassis you are safely capable of a MGVW up to 4000kg yet according to the V5 you could be prosecuted for being above 3500kg.I've also never been asked about vehicle weights,nor been pulled in for a roadside check.

if the previous owner has decreased the maximum weight to have a 3.5t van, the chassis plate should state this and needs to be replaced.
Personally I would change this for clarity. I terms of law I would hazard a guess that the V5 weight will be used in case of dispute.

As well as increasing the weight capacity (if the manufacturer/chassis is fit for it) one can DECREASE the total maximum weight to anything they see fit.
Doesn't mean you are allowed to load 4t even if the chassis is build for it. It's just to comply with the regulations which suit you.

So to get round the medical and if you are happy with the payload, decrease the van weight to 3.5t. No need to buy another Motorhome.
All depends on your unladen weight. If your Motorhome weighs empty close to 3.5t, then you have no choice. But if you can live with the reduced payload get it downplated to 3.5t and change the V5

 

[r4dent]

On a related subject ..

If you start injecting insulin for diabetes the DVLA take away the over 3.5 tonne class with immediate effect.

You can appeal and get it back subject to medical assessment but until you succeed the restricion remains in place.

I was lucky. I downsized in March 2015 (history of heart problems and approaching 70) and in November 2015 was prescribed insulin.
If I hadn't downsized I would have not be allowed to drive the MH.

My insulin dose is still being finalised and my sugar levels are all over the place. Once this sorted I will try to get my old classes back.

Forget all that stuff about "I've never been stopped"... If you haven't got the right class of license you are not insured.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Paperwork exercise isn't it, same vehicle, same driver , legal one day, the next not legal. Might be worth paying more road tax and just hoping as there is NOT a lot in it between the weights 10%. It is not overweight in a safety aspect just the paperwork.

 

[Deleted member 967]

DVLA don't always have the correct figures on the V5 even though they have been provided with them. My Hymer is 3400kg as it left the factory (weigh ticket). It has a MGVW of 4600kg. It took quite a while and eventually a visit to the local office (now closed), to get them to put the correct weight on the V5. This also reduced the road tax to £165 per year as a PHGV.

They messed the first V5 up by putting - Make: Mercedes. Model: Renault Scenic. Body Type: Pickup, instead of the correct information. This was despite them being supplied with full makers description including MGVW figures, photocopy of the sales brochure, weight ticket and photographs of the vehicle as it was at the time of import.

If you read the V5 it tells you to check all the details are correct and if not to return it to them for correction. If you pay peanut what can you expect.

 

[Deleted member 967]

On some coachbuilt motor caravans you can have up to 3 plates with different weights on them or with some weights left blank.

Makers Plate showing the weights for the vehicle as it was produced. ALKO plate for the maximum the chassis extension can be loaded too.

The Motor Caravan Manufactures plate which is the one that counts, stating what the finished vehicle now weighs un-laden with it body fitted and factory fitted extras, Its maximum loaded capacity together with maximum weight limits for each axel. This last plate will be on the body not the chassis or cab.

 

[Wooie1958]

On some coachbuilt motor caravans you can have up to 3 plates with different weights on them or with some weights left blank.

Makers Plate showing the weights for the vehicle as it was produced. ALKO plate for the maximum the chassis extension can be loaded too.

The Motor Caravan Manufactures plate which is the one that counts, stating what the finished vehicle now weighs un-laden with it body fitted and factory fitted extras, Its maximum loaded capacity together with maximum weight limits for each axel. This last plate will be on the body not the chassis or cab.

I now have 4 on mine.

The first one from Peugeot showing 3,500kg with it`s respective axle weights. On the slam panel.

The second one from ALKO showing 3,850kg with it`s respective axle weights. On the slam panel.

The third one from Explorer showing 3,850kg and a Serial Number. On the body by the habitation door

The forth one from SV Tech Showing 4,100kg with it`s respective axle weights. On the drivers side wheel arch ( no room on the slam panel ).

 

[delicagirl]

Says here it's in front of seat, under carpet.

Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club UK™ :: View topic - L300 with JB500 body

Thank you Mark - I have looked on this forum several times and never found the thread you have linked me to !!!!!! thank you thank you !!! that's going to be really useful for me - there are still switches in my van whose function I dont know - so I have other owners to ask now !!!!

I will get the cab floor covering up when I next have some spare time and see if there is anything info under it.

There is a HUGE amount of technical info on this thread ... I am going to print it all out... many many thanks

 

[Pugs]

You will get a renewal form from the DVLA about 90 days before your licence is due for renewal. If you wish to only drive up to 3500kg (B) then fill in the form or go online and renew your licence. The C1 entitlement will be removed.

If you wish to keep C1/D1 then you will have to go online to DVLA and request a D2/D4 pack at Order DVLA forms - GOV.UK. You will need to book a private medical and the doctor fills in the D4 form. If you wish you can book an appointment at an optician for the eyesight part of the D4 form, if so do it before your doctors medical. Send your completed license renewal notice together with D2 and D4 make sure they are fully completed to DVLA about a month before your licence expires.

In my opinion it is best to go to your own doctor, but you can book a cheaper one with a mobile HGV doctor. The DVLA may request information only your doctor has on record so there could be delays if you go elsewhere.

There is nothing lost if you don't get the licence back by the renewal date,
You can drive while your licence is being renewed if you meet all the following conditions:
##you have the support of your doctor to continue driving
##you had a valid licence
##you only drive under the conditions of the previous licence
##your application is less than a year old
##your last licence wasn’t revoked or refused for medical reasons
##you’re not currently disqualified
##you weren’t disqualified as a high risk offender on or after 1 June 2013

Read the guidance ‘Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?’ for more information. available online on the page quoted above for the forms.

I am about to go through the process again at 73.

I missed my medical on my 45th birthday. What happens if i want to renew now (48 now) ? Have I lost my C Cat?

 

[maingate]

70 years old and motorhomes over 3500kgs

Some of you have got this or have rene legswed their Licence - what do you have to do? I already have C1 on my licence but I'm 70 next year

I seem to be in the same position as yourself. 70 in April 2017 and doubtful about passing the medical. The added problem we have is the dogs. One of them is on his last legs and will not be around next year, which leaves us with the other 4. Three of them are small and one elderly Whippet. It might be a struggle to go below 3.5 Tonne and retain a payload.

I intend to get away as much as possible this year as it will probably be the end of using a big Motorhome. Unfortunately my early plans have been scuppered by being called up for Jury Duty on 29th March (the day after Easter Monday). :mad1: Time to start another plan.

 

[jennyp19]

Has anyone used this company for medical - looks interesting "HGV medicals from £55. Amazing! And they give £5 to charity too"

 

[Dougal911]

Ex Traffic and New Motorhome User

I have just retired as a cop and was a Traffic Cop.

For my last year, I worked in the call centre dealing with queries and crimes over the phone.

I had a call from a 69 year old who was trying to buy at van over 3500kgs, and the dealer said he couldn't do it until he had made sure his licence allowed him over the age of 70.

Shows you what traffic cops know about caravans/ motorhomes, as I had no idea the C1 disappeared off your licence at 70.

It was the dealer who enlightened me, which will now keep me in good stead in 19 years time, god willing!

 

[alca]

Medical

Has anyone used this company for medical - looks interesting "HGV medicals from £55. Amazing! And they give £5 to charity too"

Hi, Yes I used this service last year and had my medical in Basingstoke at the Bus Offices in the centre of town.
It was very straightforward and they also did the eye test.
However it did take the DVLA a few months to issue the licence, (not unusual I believe).
My own doctor wanted to charge £150 for the same thing.
I was happy with the service provided so it worked well for me.

 

[jennyp19]

Thanks Allca. With our doctors you never see the same one twice so using that service will be as good an option as any.

 

[listerdiesel]

I used one in Northampton, but got my eye test done by my regular optician.

Peter

 

[Kontiki]

The charge at my doctors was £97, I wrote the cheque & offered it to the receptionist but she said I might as well give it straight to the doctor. After him filling in the forms (took about 40 minutes) also he gave me a check over I gave him the cheque but he said it was too much for a medical for a motorhome so said just give me about half so I wrote a cheque for £50. If you use one of these companies to do a medical they still have to contact your own doctor for some medical information, this can further delay your application. Read my thread http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/wild-camping-motorhome-chat/51013-over-70-renewal-c1-joke.html I put on earlier today, the last thing you want is anything that will delay it further than the current 10 weeks wait.

Heard from a friend who did the treadmill test, also somebody who as they like me have problems walking they put your heart under stress with an injection to see if you have heart problems.

We sold our Rapido in October one of the reasons was the weight issue, but we seemed to have had problems almost every trip so decided we needed a change. We are looking for a van that if need be we can down plate & still have a reasonable payload, I would always choose to go with a PHGV van if I can drive it.

The 3500kg limit seems to be a Europe wide thing, really though the whole issue of motorhomes should be looked at differently. Most people seem to accept that many motorhomes on the road are over weight, what is needed is a sensible weight limit. If it was set at 4000 kg for a normal car license to be able to drive a motorhome, good safe well built motorhomes could be made.

 

[listerdiesel]

If it is any consolation, I started my renewal process in September 2014, and still haven't got my licence.

Not due to DVLA who have generally been pretty good, but due to the medical finding my heart murmur and then the process to get a heart valve replaced, so I ran out of time and currently won't have my Group 2 licences at my 70th birthday this month.

I managed 7 seconds on the pre-op ECG Stress test, but I was similarly all-in at the end of it!

DVLA have been in touch with me via the Driver Medical Group and have advised me on what was the best way forward in the circumstances, and to give them credit, all letters have been answered pretty promptly with full answers to my questions.

I won't need my C and C1 groups now until the summer.

Peter