Air ride suspension

hate to tell you this alan , but since their driving licence modification the french police have been instructed to get tough on motorhome [ and caravan ] overloading

last summer they were stopping and weighing at least 50% of the motorhomes travelling on the west coast and rhone valley routes

a gendarme friend of mine tells me that because the french basically only have 3.5 tonne licences they buy 3.5 tonne vehicles , so the gendarmerie were told to close their eyes to an overload of up to 5% ; now they have restored the over 3.5 licence to older drivers in motorhomes that instruction appears to have been cancelled

they are getting tougher in france , the mortality on the roads is still too high and they are having another purge ...I am recently in receipt of a speeding ticket ....33mph in a 30mph zone ...€135
 
don't know how we got on to overloading ....as we all know fitting suspension aids doesn't increase the weight marked on the plate!

I looked carefully at this , unfortunately my A class hymer has a slight nose down attitude , not significant , but I certainly would not increase it ; I don't wish to increase the weight limit so looked for a different solution that would give me better stability and cushioning without the height increase

so I bought the preferred n.american system , Timbren ; these are hollow rubber springs which replace the bump stops , and are sized according to the weight and springs of the vehicle , when fitted they just touch so that they act immediately the suspension is compressed but there is no increase in height; a canadian friend brought me the kit [ canadian manufacture , FPR001 fits fiat 230/240/244 chassis , so presumably citroen/peugot also ] at a cost of £150 with a lifetime guarantee ; don't know what other kits are available , I understand the european importer is in cambridge

really must get around to fitting them before going off for the winter !
 
Vwalan you may fool some of the Police some of the time but you won't fool all the Police all of the time, but seriuosly I'm just making the point that if you can manage with 3.5t it might be a good idea to stick with it.
I'm sure some vanners still appear to be under the illusion that Airide and some other assisters permit a greater payload.
I've also seen where the fitting of assisters inboard of the existing spring results in a changed fulcrum point and therefore a longer lever arm result..... a bent axle tube.
 
there used to be a ball system sold here that woked in a similar fashion .havent seen it for a whie but i think firestone made it . cheers alan.
 
byronic . do i try to fool the police .come on with my set up its pretty obvious i,m not 3,500kg and i have more carrying capacity than 3,500kg to start with. i understand where you are coming from though. and talk with vosa regularly .i know they stop lots down here and they run competions between themselves as to how many they will get over loaded . like you i know people that think doing suspension and axle up
grades allow more pay load but forget to alter the paper work. its paper work that gives the up grade in the end. looking underladen is hopeless on a weighbridghe . its whats on the dial that counts. as for driving around i have no probs but then have spent a while driving full artics so think a bit different to a car driver. also having hightop campers for years again lk for dfferent places and it becomes automatic as i drive around i make mental notes of good places to go stay . and go to if asked to move or trouble happens.the worse is trying to drive late and find a place in thedark. dont do it stop early . you know it makes sense. cheers alan.
 
Another system I recall replaced the existing shock absorber with a heavier duty job contained within a coil spring, similar to a Mcpherson strut, I think you could adjust the preload with a spanner seemed like a good idea.
 
vwalan said:
byronic . do i try to fool the police .come on with my set up its pretty obvious i,m not 3,500kg and i have more carrying capacity than 3,500kg to start with. i understand where you are coming from though. and talk with vosa regularly .i know they stop lots down here and they run competions between themselves as to how many they will get over loaded . like you i know people that think doing suspension and axle up
grades allow more pay load but forget to alter the paper work. its paper work that gives the up grade in the end. looking underladen is hopeless on a weighbridghe . its whats on the dial that counts. as for driving around i have no probs but then have spent a while driving full artics so think a bit different to a car driver. also having hightop campers for years again lk for dfferent places and it becomes automatic as i drive around i make mental notes of good places to go stay . and go to if asked to move or trouble happens.the worse is trying to drive late and find a place in thedark. dont do it stop early . you know it makes sense. cheers alan.
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Come on Alan this looks like a lot of flowery prose to say what you can say in one word, are you as far as weights/loading etc completely legit or do you rely on you're knowledge of the ambiguities of the law, and/or the potential ignorance of the Police?
 
***** .yes i,m familier with the rules .i voluntary drop the gvw of the trailer to 3,500kg . as a living van under 3,500kg it does not need an mot. by the way as a trailer under 1,020kg unladen weight it also didnt need an mot. the unit is used for drawing a trailer in the exempt group 13 14or 15. and forms part of an articulated vehicle is also exempt plating and testing.
to be articulated it must have at least 20percent of the loaded trailer weight super imposed on the towing vehicle (most 5ers arent artics.)
i work to strict guidelines as issued by vosa ,dvla etc . i also am a transport manager and have cpc . unfortunately as from yesrurday dont have a hgv or psv licence . but will get it back after my winter travels . good job mine can be driven on c1+e but then i voluntary dropped the train to allow this a few years ago. picking the right weight unladen unit is vital.
 
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i,m sure it will happen. i,m lucky .i can still drop my gvw to 3,500kg . then move the trailer axles forward to create a normal caravan 5er then drive it on b+e . wont alter the rules if they change but registering the trailer doesnt bother me. there are lots of changes out there waiting to happen . may have to mot it all soon there is a white paper going on at the moment. vosa keep me informed of changes. i may later change to a small camper . i did manage before so i can do it again. just having fun at the moment, like the truck though. a big 4x4 was on the cards but due to my health i decided it wasnt a wise move. seems i made the right decision . have to wait and see. will go before a full medical board when i get back . had to do it last time but hoped i wouldnt have to this time . bad mistake . i think it will be ok though for the next 5 yrs . who knows .might fail the board . have lots plans in my head . cheers alan.
 
Alan I don't have any connection with the transport industry (I know it shows) as a result I'm ignorant of the legislation and its implications but all these trailer weight, axle weight permutations, do you reckon they need to be so complex?
 
yes i do. if we catch up this winter i can spend a bit of time sat in the sun showing you the legislations.if you get into the transport industry you have to know how where if . there are rules that make something wrong but change a tyre its ok. etc etc . i dont make laws or rules,i just have made it part of my working life to understand and obey them. if you dont understand them and get it wrong .the courts punish you. if authority gets it wrong and you dont know, you get punished . authority never gets punished. we must always study the laws and rules then we can avoid being punished. ;)
 
*****, what you could be implying is more complexity ie standardisation does not necessarily equate with simplicity and when concerning the EU it usually means more beauracracy.
When I converted my present 6.6tonne van from HGV commercial to a Motorhome the DVLA insisted that it was now to be classified as a LGV Light Goods Vehicle,it took months to convince them otherwise. So even a simple proceedure such as this can be cocked up.
 
i use david lowes transport managers and operators handbook. not quite croners . but very usefull. along with freight transport yearly handbook on transport law. plus regular up dates from vosa and road haulage association. i do try to keep updated . regular visits to the local dvla office to pick up new booklets etc it never ends . i also speak quite often to vosa and dvla on the phone .even the ministry of transport in great minster house marsham street london.
you may think i go on but they get a regular ear bashing . he hee .
spent 2 hours yesterday getting my licence to go away .swansea was in turmoil.
all ok now will bring a few bits to show you in the warm weather cheers alan.
 
road haulage cabbotage was provided for under the treaty of rome in 1957. uk was not covered as it could not b a full working partner in the eu. nothing is new. we helped set up the treaty of rome or at least our fathers /granfathers did .they have alot to answer for . they got lots wrong .but it suited them at our cost. what happens today always trails back to whats agreed years ago. then made to look like a new thing.
 
as a matter of interest for those wishing to upgrade weights reimo used to offer brake shoe and wheel cylinder up grades that came with a TUV. certificate to upgrade in germany. never seen the kit but i dare say you could use it here and dvla would accept it. cheers alan.
 
Alan, I think recent posts would suggest to the non involved that transport industry legistlation is a minefield. I think I'll stick to the expertise needed in my own profession.
Like 99% of the public I know just enough to tax, insure, license my vehicle.
 
it can be . i try to help when i can. someone asks a question ,doesnt know where to go/look . i will always try to be honest and truth full. everything is open for the public to see . govt .com etc they do try hard to be open to your requests . it does take time . i still cant my head round continental clothes sizes . can just about cope with shoe sizes ,ha ha . we all have a weakness . i seem to have spent a life time asking awkward questions to who ever thinks they are in charge . not being awkward really just want to know. shut up sit down was not the answer i was looking for or wanted .i like little quest of adventure into unknown. then you find the ones in charge very often know nothing more than us. but make it up as they go along . shut up sit down i,m in charge i must be right. oh well t, time mmmm cheers alan.
 
So Airide can give you 200kg extra payload, well thats my lesson learned for the day. You've listed a lot of the disadvantages when entering HGV territory, it's all down to personal choice if that 600kg extra payload is worth the trade off.
Is your rear axle load only increased by 180kg ? Unless I've misread, then it seems like a lot of advantages to forego just for that extra margin.
 
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1000kilo

You must have over 1000kilo load capacity..... think of all the beer....;)
 
That'll be a site as you drive away with the cab full of booze and the cops watching!!
 
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