How to find a Weighbridge?
Having finally got definitive information from Continental on the correct inflation for the tyres fitted to my AS I now need to find a weigh bridge in S Bucks. There are none listed on the Internet but I believe it is sometimes possible to find a commercial one, perhaps at a scrap dealers? Any ideas?
( the next problem will be to get Peugeot to recalibrate the tyre low pressure warning but that will be a new post in the distant future!)
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Just look around you. There will be lots once you look. Non-local-authority-licenced ones will often weigh a non-own vehicle as long as you tell them you do not need a "ticket".
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HG. Veolia waste disposal site at Gerrards Cross perhaps has closest weighbridge to you. Tel. 01753 883704
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Our local council yard where the gritting lorries go out from has a one axle weighbridge. I go up there, park an axle on it, note the weight on the display, do the other axle and drive off. Never been challenged. Can't see an office there but I'm sure if you don't need a ticket they aren't going to worry.
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Thanks for the suggestions especially the one in Gerrards X. There are no sites listed on the Bucks CC site and no results from Google, hence the question.
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I was at the local council tip in High Wycombe today (the aptly named "High Heavens"). They always used to have a weighbridge but the signs disappeared and nothing on the Councils website. As I drove in I saw - a weighbride - no signs, nothing. So I spoke to one of the staff who has been there for ever and he confirmed that, yes, it was a fully operational weighbridge. £12 for the ticket.
Curiously, right next door there is a commercial operation and what did it have - yes, a weighbridge. I happened to park the car on it and noticed the read-out which seemed about right. A guy wandered out and confirmed that it was a commercial unit but he couldn't offer me the weighing ticket as it wasn't for the public. Seemed good enough to me but £12 is fine for the public one.
A long tale but it seems that there are hidden weighbridges all over the place! Curious.
Anyway, apart from a wanting to know that I haven't exceeded the maximum weight this is really all about tyre pressures, Continental, and Peugeot pressure warning settings. A different story which I would be happy to relate if anybody is the slightest bit interested.
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Yes please. Have an issue with our Ducto based MH, over new year the tyre pressure light came on for front N/S. We used the Michelin pressure of 65psi whereas the Fiat pressure is 80psi. Took it into Fiat who said it was a low tyre presssure and once pumped up the light went off. I explained the Michelin guidance but they would not change the TPMS so just wondering if Peugot have same issues?
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OK. Bear in mind this relates to an AS Broadway which is a Peugeot Boxer coachbuilt conversion but there are probably lessons learned for other makes.
The recommended tyre pressures on the inside of the cab door are for the Peugeot, not for the motorhome. Ignore.
The Continental Vanco tyres are marked 69 psi max. This is for the Americam market and not relevant to the UK. Ignore.
Check the recommended pressures for the fitted tyres with the manufacturer. The tyre pressure increases with the axle load so you can guess the front and back max. weight or go to a weighbridge.
You may then find that the recommended tyre pressure is lower than the van low tyre pressure warning - because the van calibration is for the Peugeot Boxer, NOT for the motorhome.
So you can either increase the tyre pressure above the low pressure warning level (4.5 - 5 bar) and have a firm ride and no pressure warning, or, just live with the pressure warning, or, go to a Peugeot garage and get them to recalibrate the warning level - at your own cost!
I haven't yet decided what to do but I now know a lot more about tyre pressures than the manufacturers main workshop appear to do.
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Never for a second have I thought we would ever be overweight, but having booked a long journey down to Croatia and being told how hot they are abroad concerning weight, I thought I would have it checked.
The local grain store does provide certificates at a charge of £10.25.
I filled the diesel tank and my wife was in the van and I found that plus my weight, we still had around 200 kgs to spare. Then someone told me that the unladen weight takes into account the driver and 3/4 of a tank of fuel..any comments welcome.
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I was looking up the weight inclusion question yesterday and found that the "Mass in Service" weight includes 75Kg for the driver and a 90% full tank of fuel.
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Motorhome manufacturers should quote the Mass in Running Order and explain what is included in this figure. In the past, everyone used the same method of calculating the MIRO but that no longer applies.
At best a weighbridge ticket from a grain store [I use one] will be within 5% providing the scales are calibrated every 6 months and you use the scales correctly. I think nearly all public weighbridges will be within 5%. I believe the DVSA scales used in roadside checks are within 0.5%. Reich told me the pressure plate they sell to the public for weighing motorhomes and caravans have a 3% tolerance if used correctly and recalibrated every two years.
Anyone concerned about their motorhome weight should have a look at SV Tech's website. Its advice is free.
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Our local council was a total waste of time the list they had was so far out of date it was a joke. Went to the area tip and the guy gave us the weights on a bit of paper for free but would have had to charge if we needed a certificate. The web was no use. This was 2016.
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For peace of mind it is probably worth weighing a new motorhome once, fully laden. I intend to fill with fuel and 100 litres of water and full gas tank plus the two adults. If we are a bit overweight I will empty out some water as we tend to avoid travelling with a full water tank. We also try and avoid a full waste tank because smells build up.
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Further update on tyre pressures following my annual service last week. The very experienced technician servicing the van said .... The tyre pressures on the vehicle are correct and you should inflate the rear to 80 psi. This prevents tyre distortion if the vehicle is stored for long periods. The service manager said ... I wouldn't drive around with the tyres at that pressure. It would shake you to bits! Either way, the vehicle warning set point can't be changed so you either drive around with a constant warning light or live with a firm ride.
Couldn't make it up could you?
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Weights and tyre pressures for MHs really are a minefield and answers vary according to who you ask.
The tyre pressure decal fitted by the manufacturer I would expect to be appropriate for running at full weight. Now, in the case of my Fiat Ducato it left the factory plated at 3650kg. It was then fitted with an Alko chassis and replated at 3700kg. The Alko handbook quotes slightly lower tyre pressures than the Fiat decal. Swift then completed the vehicle and plated it at 3500kg but do not give any tyre pressure information. My point is that even running at the plated weight of 3500kg I am still running 150kg below its design weight so the tyre pressures should be able to be reduced.0 -
Pop your post code into the attached link
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Recently wanted to find a weighbridge and a Google search to me to the Cornwall Council website which listed all in the county so would have expected other councils to provide the same.
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For information.
whilst this CT thread is about finding and using a weighbridge to assist with setting appropriate tyre pressures, understanding weighbridge results with regard to payload and axle loadings is equally important.
i post this for information to the many MH buyers taking delivery of their pride and joy this spring
take a look at this sorry tale from MMM forum with the OP trying to understand how an 'off the shelf' Autotrail 632 (already ordered) might work payload wise.
its obvious from this thread that this van is not fit for purpose at 3500kg nor (for most users) at 3650kg and shows the importance of knowing and understanding the weight of the model you are buying, even down to the specific van if margins are tight (or non existant as in this case.
prospective owners, please dont get yourself backed into a corner with heart ruling over head when a van like this appears to be just what you want yet will be illegal as soon as anyone gets in it....
existing owners, find a weighbridge (as in this post) check your tyre pressures by all means, but look very closely at axle weights as it is a virtual certainty that the rear axle will be overloaded before the van reaches its maximum allowed weight.
some will feel they have payload left when checked against the MTPLM yet may already be over the rear axle limit.
as i said, i post this purely for information as many will be taking delivery of their new vans soon and felt the above story might help increase awareness.
good luck to all but, please, weigh your van, preferably as part of condition of sale to avoid heartache later.
ill wager there are many a longish van (7.3m +) out there, with long overhangs that are almost certainly overweight on the rear axle, including some vans owned by CT members, for sure.
please dont live in blissfull ignorance of your van's weight, in these days of manufacturers conveniently ommitting much from the MIRO (water etc) and more of us (not me or OH BTW) weighing in at over the 'nominal' 75kg for the driver allowance, its even easier to be seduced by 'larger' payloads when all thats happened is that responsibility for certain loads has moved from the MIRO back to the user payload....
good luck with any new purchases.....
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Bolero Boy,
Nice to see you back, where have you been......??
You have missed an awful lot of bickering about rebranding and of course the price of sites, all of which is very boring.........
but I for one enjoy your technical input like above....
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....HD, me too....
i didnt realise anything had changed but i can see Daves point...re capitals possibly....
i havent been banned and reinstated or anything nasty like that so my user name 'should' still be as before....dont know.
i have been 'away' (litterally) for around 10 weeks but this hasnt stopped me reading the forum.
i stopped posting sometime in January following one too many 'nice' posts...
im not specifically planning to reuse CT, i generally frequent a couple of other forums which have dedicated technical section or are more technically biased than CT is.
ill keep my comments on the rebranding etc to myself....
i just posted the MMM thread as i felt this was the time of year where folk might get carried away with the latest upholstery colour and forget all about the fundamentals, especially with more folk having to go for 3.5t vans, yet many of these might have families to transport.
light vans and multiple passengers dont mix well, espacially when each has their own requirement for 'essential' stuff.
Tintent, thanks for the nice comment
happy vaning all.
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