Motorhome weights - VOSA advice

Aspenshaw
Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
500 Comments
edited March 2017 in Motorhomes #1

On another forum, there is advice from VOSA on what motorhomers should do regarding van weights.

The explanation was given to VOSA that "...The common advice given is to take the motorhome to a public weighbridge, weigh the vehicle in ‘full touring trim’ [probably the heaviest it will ever be] and then weigh one of the axles. Submitting the weight of the one axle from the gross, gives the weight of the second axle. The motorhomer then takes action if the figures show an overload - either by ditching excess baggage or uprating the suspension or licence if possible..."

VOSA were asked "what steps motorhomers should take to comply [on weight] and your attitude to compliance."

The Technical Officer's response was,

"Our advice would be the same as you have received in that the vehicle should be weighed with a full tank of fuel full tank of water and all that you would normally carry but we would recommend that a tolerance is used to allow for the items you may pick up on route the different foods you may carry etc.

If stopped by any enforcement agency consideration would be taken especially if you have a recent weigh bridge ticket that shows you have done everything to comply. We are aware of the variations between weigh bridges but we will not tolerate people that have checked the weight but continued even though the weight was clearly over the maximum permitted weight for that vehicle."

The poster says he did not mention water tanks specifically to VOSA so if you have a 20l cut off in your tanks - modern Hymers do as do some other makes - it may be OK to allow for, and not exceed, 20l of water instead of full tanks.

 

Of course, rules in the rest of Europe will be different.

Comments

  • Mr Sambambles
    Mr Sambambles Forum Participant Posts: 194
    edited March 2017 #2

    Very interesting and worth knowing. I am interested to know how many motorhomes are stopped to be weighed? I do not know of anyone ever  but I'm sure people have. 

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
    500 Comments
    edited April 2017 #3

     

    The only figure I've seen on motorhomes being overweight is 80% back in 2009. VOSA targeted checks on vehicles, including motorhomes, in 2014-5 resulted in 26.6% compared with actual 2013-14 random check rate of 12.5%; these figures cover all vehicles and all 'sins'. 

    I see motorhomes being pulled over occasionally in one of the six regular pull over points within 30 miles of my home. Some are emptying water tanks but the reason for pulling them over may not have been weight related. All six of these points have periodic purges on 'leisure vehicles'.

     

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
    100 Comments
    edited April 2017 #4

    I weigh mine at a VOSA weighbridge on the dock but there is no ability to get a ticket with the weights on, I just put them in my calendar. Never seen any VOSA staff there either. Never been overweight yet, but once was close to it, and I set off with full tank of water & fuel and plenty of food etc. for the 2 month trip so think that is my heaviest. Regards, Roy

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #5

    Common sense advice yet to date only 15 views & 3 now 4 replies.

  • Qashqai66
    Qashqai66 Forum Participant Posts: 551
    edited November 2017 #6

    Thank you so much for all this information on weights.  It has been a great help in my research before placing the order for our motorhome.

    I have been rigorous about weight in 40 years of caravanning and will continue with vigilance once we have the motorhome.

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