Delica - the next challenge - help please me re weight issues

[delicagirl]

just as a comparison my 2.8 tonne transit panel van is on 195 14s , tyres are bog standard cheap ones, sidewalls say max 900kg at 65 psi

if your running somewhere in the 2.5 to 3 tonne range your rear tyres at 44psi are overloaded, if theyre rated at 800kg you need to be running near max pressure. even then the rear could be overloaded because of the uneven load distribution between front and rear. be worth putting heavy stuff as far forward as possible


basically tyres blow out because the sidewalls are flexing too much, increasing the pressure reduces the flexing, driving style and speed also has an effect. heavier rated tyres have stiffer sidewalls . get the sidewalls too stiff and the ride gets harder cos the tyre doesnt flex over bumps and grip is reduced cos the tyre doesnt mould onto the road so well.

sounds like you need to talk to a decent commercial tyre fitter

i just recalled a commercial firm i talked to in Shepton last year - they were quite helpful - i assume their tyre fitter will need to know each axle weight so i guess my first port of call is the weigh bridge again.

Forgive my naiveity in this... but wouldn't it be more practical to take a full van to be weighed, so that the tyre fitter knows what weight the tyres will be carrying when i am fully loaded ?

 

[Martlet]

Thank You All

Thank You Collette, for you have frequently started threads that have been both educational and entertaining.

Thank You All, those that have posted sound advice, for it not only helps the OP but also many of the other readers.
Your spirit of helpfulness is what makes You and this forum so great.

Regards,
Martlet.

 

[shaunr68]

Thank You Collette, for you have frequently started threads that have been both educational and entertaining.

Thank You All, those that have posted sound advice, for it not only helps the OP but also many of the other readers.
Your spirit of helpfulness is what makes You and this forum so great.

Regards,
Martlet.

Well said. I have just read through the entire thread and have nothing helpful at all to add, other than wishing Delicagirl good luck in resolving this matter, and to apologise for my rather smutty and puerile observation on the following, which made me spit coffee down my t-shirt :lol-053:

If your front tyres are from Japan they will have jis on the wall

The following might be seen as irresponsible, and I'm not suggesting you take this course of action, but here's what I'd do. You can't possibly be prosecuted for running over the GVW if there *is no* GVW either on the log book or plated on the vehicle itself. I would err on the side of caution, treat it as a 2.8 ton gross weight and change the tyres accordingly, and ensure I kept within this assumed limit. As long as the vehicle is not obviously overloaded, handles and brakes normally then all's well and nobody is any wiser.

 

[wildebus]

i just recalled a commercial firm i talked to in Shepton last year - they were quite helpful - i assume their tyre fitter will need to know each axle weight so i guess my first port of call is the weigh bridge again.

Forgive my naiveity in this... but wouldn't it be more practical to take a full van to be weighed, so that the tyre fitter knows what weight the tyres will be carrying when i am fully loaded ?

I would suggest it is useful to know unloaded as well as loaded, so you know what payload you have added/ have available. Information is power
I would think most weighbridges will be ok with you making a return trip to cover both bases.
Different bridges vary, but my local one belongs to a commercial haulage company, but have always let me get my vans weighed at no charge as long as I don't request a formal ticket and just a handwritten slip of paper.

Maybe going over old or previously discussed ground, but something to bear in mind about tyres is commercial tyres get inflated at a much higher pressure then car or SUV/4WD tyres, so if you were thinking about chunky 4WD tyres, then that could well be doable and available at high rated loads such as 107, but the maximum pressure will probably be just 44PSI. A commercial tyre will have a pressure of around 65PSI or so. Which is most appropriate may depend on the type of trip you are intending
My own vehicle has the pressure info on the door pillar as typical and has pressures for both types of tyres. I am currently running AT (All Terrain) Tyres to help traction on my 2WD Camper in fields and tracks.

 

[Byronic]

The following might be seen as irresponsible, and I'm not suggesting you take this course of action, but here's what I'd do. You can't possibly be prosecuted for running over the GVW if there *is no* GVW either on the log book or plated on the vehicle itself. I would err on the side of caution, treat it as a 2.8 ton gross weight and change the tyres accordingly, and ensure I kept within this assumed limit. As long as the vehicle is not obviously overloaded, handles and brakes normally then all's well and nobody is any wiser.

As regards to the V5. I seem to recall that certain modifications must be notified to the DVLA and are the responsibility of the Registered Keeper. Pleading ignorance is not necessarily a viable defence, and blaming anything including the missing plate on the bloke you bought the vehicle from may not suffice either.

 

[delicagirl]

As regards to the V5. I seem to recall that certain modifications must be notified to the DVLA and are the responsibility of the Registered Keeper. Pleading ignorance is not necessarily a viable defence, and blaming anything including the missing plate on the bloke you bought the vehicle from may not suffice either.

I haven't finished looking yet ... i may just go down to the Taunton Japanese restaurant and get a waiter to translate every flaming japanese label in the van !!!!! Desperate times... neeed desperate measures ...

 

[Byronic]

Please tell me what MAM stands for.....

the purpose of all this research is not to pull the wool over anyone's eyes, but to get my van as safe as i can - the blow out i had 2 weeks ago was quite scary and i don't want to do that again if i can avoid it. It's also in my mind that i may go for a very long jaunt next year/2018 and i need to have the van legal and to be able to carry as much as poss without endangering the van or me.

If i have to buy 5 new tyres then that's what i have to do - but until i can establish the van's weight - that's pointless - as we all recognise.

Monday i will phone the weigh bridge and see if i can get the axles separately weighed - then go and talk to the local tyre specialist and come back here with more information. Once again guys thank you - enjoy your saturday night

Not you pulling the wool, I'm sure you'd never do such a thing! But some off the posts are suggesting you just take the risk and bung bigger tyres on. Even disregarding whether you actually need them or not. I wonder if they'd do so themselves. The chances are you are 2500kg and until you know and can prove better you'll have to do things bearing that in mind. Take as much out of the van as you reasonably can in the meantime to ensure you're under 2500kg, then at least the vehicle complies even if your paperwork doesn't.

 

[delicagirl]

Not you pulling the wool, I'm sure you'd never do such a thing! But some off the posts are suggesting you just take the risk and bung bigger tyres on. Even disregarding whether you actually need them or not. I wonder if they'd do so themselves. The chances are you are 2500kg and until you know and can prove better you'll have to do things bearing that in mind. Take as much out of the van as you reasonably can in the meantime to ensure you're under 2500kg, then at least the vehicle complies even if your paperwork doesn't.

Watch me !!! i do have some free time next week... i'll just mosey on down to taunton with a small lump of the folding stuff to hand, smile at the restaurant manager and ask if he can spare one of his young men for a few minutes..... .... the more data i have the better.

as i have said a few times here, this is not about "compliance" its about safety and i really need to know all relevant weights before making any decision as to what to do next.

I won't be beaten .... i guess we all know that !

 

[delicagirl]

As regards to the V5. I seem to recall that certain modifications must be notified to the DVLA and are the responsibility of the Registered Keeper. Pleading ignorance is not necessarily a viable defence, and blaming anything including the missing plate on the bloke you bought the vehicle from may not suffice either.

Do you know which mods ?

 

[vwalan]

Do you know which mods ?

could be a body change . or up plating
or down plating .
changing brake operations . hydraulic to air etc .
even changing the type of suspension .
engine sizes .
i,m sure contacting mitsubishi they will be able to tell you every thing the standard version of your vehicle should be .
we are lucky in uk we can change tyre sizes etc . in many eu countries that in itself means a log book change .
the problem i see is really you have a vehicle thats great for weekends away . and a holiday two weeks a year . but for long terming we need high payloads . even a 3.5 ton is hardly good enough . think you have a great vehicle but carrying lots of gear just cant happen .
i used to run vw t2,s but long terming was over weight all the time . i decided 16 yrs ago had to change . best move i ever made .
did buy a mazda bongo . ideal for weekends etc ,my partner could use it as her car . but later she left i decided sell it another insurance tax mot . better to spend less on diesel in my truck. you may find you really will have to rethink your life style .

 

[delicagirl]

could be a body change . or up plating
or down plating .
changing brake operations . hydraulic to air etc .
even changing the type of suspension .
engine sizes .
i,m sure contacting mitsubishi they will be able to tell you every thing the standard version of your vehicle should be .
we are lucky in uk we can change tyre sizes etc . in many eu countries that in itself means a log book change .
the problem i see is really you have a vehicle thats great for weekends away . and a holiday two weeks a year . but for long terming we need high payloads . even a 3.5 ton is hardly good enough . think you have a great vehicle but carrying lots of gear just cant happen .
i used to run vw t2,s but long terming was over weight all the time . i decided 16 yrs ago had to change . best move i ever made .
did buy a mazda bongo . ideal for weekends etc ,my partner could use it as her car . but later she left i decided sell it another insurance tax mot . better to spend less on diesel in my truck. you may find you really will have to rethink your life style .

i was away for 2 months last summer and 3.5 months this summer alan ... i only stayed at campsites about once a month for a treat - and apart from the tyre shredding and needing a new slave cylinder in the clutch (which can happen to any older vehicle) the van behaved impeccably. If i have to travel with less stuff i will (I actually only used 1/3rd of the clothes i took with me this summer) - if i have to rearrange where i store stuff, i will, - if i have to get the suspension raised and new tyres put on there - i will. But until i find out the axle weights and talk to a commercial tyre guy - its speculative as to what my van is capable of carrying..

As a solo woman traveller i don't plan to go to the really wild places you go to - that would be foolish - but if i meet up with others and join a small group of travellers now and again i will do that - for safety' sake.

i'm going to the overland weekend event at Stratford race-course and will learn a lot more there for sure.

Mitsubishi cannot find my details as yet either !! But they are on the case and i will call them again next week.

 

[shaunr68]

As regards to the V5. I seem to recall that certain modifications must be notified to the DVLA and are the responsibility of the Registered Keeper. Pleading ignorance is not necessarily a viable defence, and blaming anything including the missing plate on the bloke you bought the vehicle from may not suffice either.

I understand what you're saying, you're right of course however if the vehicle was imported from Japan in 2014 in its present form, then surely the DVLA *have* been notified. No modifications have been undertaken since.

It's another matter entirely of course if a VIN plate was added on import and has since, by way of some shenanigans, been removed. But do we know the vehicle ever had one?

 

[Byronic]

Do you know which mods ?

As he said

 

[delicagirl]

I understand what you're saying, you're right of course however if the vehicle was imported from Japan in 2014 in its present form, then surely the DVLA *have* been notified. No modifications have been undertaken since.

It's another matter entirely of course if a VIN plate was added on import and has since, by way of some schenanigans, been removed. But do we know the vehicle ever had one?

i subsequently found out that the dealer i bought it from, a couple of months after he imported it, was WELL capable of schenanigans, !!

RE Vin plate - I have no way of knowing... other than asking a japanese translator abut all the labels/ plates in the van.... see my earlier posts

 

[Byronic]

I understand what you're saying, you're right of course however if the vehicle was imported from Japan in 2014 in its present form, then surely the DVLA *have* been notified. No modifications have been undertaken since.

It's another matter entirely of course if a VIN plate was added on import and has since, by way of some shenanigans, been removed. But do we know the vehicle ever had one?

Recorded as MPV could not the body have been changed here perhaps not recorded. Should it not be a motorcaravan. Sherlock is needed.

 

[vwalan]

tyres do puncture . by the time we have stopped they can be shredded . it happens .
most tyre fitters dont know alot about vehicles . thats a bit like asking an mot tester . they both may not know anything about mechanics or really vehicles .
but really it would be good for you to find the limits of your vehicle .
mind its also nice to be able to carry extras . i know at the moment i can return from spain with enough beer wine so i dont buy any in uk . that more than covers extra diesel i might use having a bigger vehicle . i can also take food from uk thats more expensive in eu.
it can be a win ,win situation .
if i go back to being under 3.5 ton its actually more costly than being what i am now .
but lets hope you get it sorted soon .

 

[delicagirl]

Recorded as MPV could not the body have been changed here perhaps not recorded. Should it not be a motorcaravan. Sherlock is needed.

Pleeeeeease Send Dominic Cumberbatch round ANY time - the kettle'll be on lol !!!

I have seen other vans pretty identical to mine on sale in this country, imported by the same sharky dealer, so i doubt he would have done anything like changing the body/hab etc.......

in fact i KNOW he didn't even empty the cassette - and there is only one way i can possibly know that - work it out - UGHH !!!

 

[shaunr68]

i subsequently found out that the dealer i bought it from, a couple of months after he imported it, was WELL capable of schenanigans, !!

RE Vin plate - I have no way of knowing... other than asking a japanese translator abut all the labels/ plates in the van.... see my earlier posts

Recorded as MPV could not the body have been changed here perhaps not recorded. Should it not be a motorcaravan. Sherlock is needed.

Thanks both, I understand what you're saying now. I had assumed the vehicle was a motor caravan from new, a factory conversion, and imported as such, therefore the DVLA would have been satisfied with classification and so on as part of the import process. Sorry if that took us off at a tangent.

Cheers
Shaun

 

[delicagirl]

tyres do puncture . by the time we have stopped they can be shredded . it happens .
most tyre fitters dont know alot about vehicles . thats a bit like asking an mot tester . they both may not know anything about mechanics or really vehicles .
but really it would be good for you to find the limits of your vehicle .
mind its also nice to be able to carry extras . i know at the moment i can return from spain with enough beer wine so i dont buy any in uk . that more than covers extra diesel i might use having a bigger vehicle . i can also take food from uk thats more expensive in eu.
it can be a win ,win situation .
if i go back to being under 3.5 ton its actually more costly than being what i am now .
but lets hope you get it sorted soon .

Thank you - i will get it sorted - somehow !! we each use our vans in different ways, like we do our houses, and whilst you need capacity for beers etc i need space for organic porridge/soya milk and books !!

 

[delicagirl]

Thanks both, I understand what you're saying now. I had assumed the vehicle was a motor caravan from new, a factory conversion, and imported as such, therefore the DVLA would have been satisfied with classification and so on as part of the import process. Sorry if that took us off at a tangent.

Cheers
Shaun

no worries Shaun - i am off at tangents most of my life !!!!