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replating (again)


t5topcat

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Hi Guys

I know this has been covered extensively but I cant find info on this particular model. 07 Rapido 987f. Plated at 3500. Is this one ok to replate to 3800 or ecven 3850 ? I'm looking at one soon and would like to know beforehand if poss.

Cheers in advance

TC

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Well,I suppose first off,you could try contacting(emailing) Rapido with the van details..personally I'd be aiming for a "Head Office" of sorts (maybe on the Continent?)rather than just some UK "dealer"...

 

It'd probably help if you had such things as the VIN and the details from the current weight plate...

(..and if do you end up asking the question of the likes of SVTech,then I believe you'll probably need tyre details as well).

 

If it turns out that "up-plating" is possible,if you're buying via a dealer,I'd be getting them to sort it out and pay any costs...

 

 

 

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I know this has been asked before but what do SVTech actually do for their 300 quid?.. :-S

 

.. they don't do any "physical" work to the vehicle,they don't inspect the vehicle to ensure any "upgrades" have actually taken place(air suspensions,tyres..) and they don't square things wih DVLA.... :-S

 

So what do they actually do,that warrants the 300quid fee?...

 

..and why is it that it's only them that seems to be doing it?...are there other firms doing the same..?

(..because if there are,we never hear of them.. ) :-S

 

Edit: I've just recalled that I participated in a discussion on another forum not so long back,where a chap was looking to "down-plate" his MH,using SvTech...and they were going to charge him £120!..

Now,if all they are doing is paperwork ,be that "registering" or "submitting",the vehcile details somewhere(..where and to whom,I don't know?),then why is it cheaper,if the figure goes down?

I must be missing something,somwhere.... 8-)

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t5topcat - 2013-02-12 12:43 PM

 

Hi Guys

I know this has been covered extensively but I cant find info on this particular model. 07 Rapido 987f. Plated at 3500. Is this one ok to replate to 3800 or ecven 3850 ? I'm looking at one soon and would like to know beforehand if poss.

Cheers in advance

TC

 

I believe a Rapido 987F was built on a Fiat Ducato 35L chassis that is normally limited to 3500kg maximum overall weight (The give-away will be the diameter of the road-wheels - if they are 15" diameter (tyre size 215/70 R15C) the chassis will be a 35L)

 

Tracker has given a link to another forum thread that describes 'up-plating' his own Auto-Trail motorhome that is also built on a 35L chassis. I'll repeat the link here:

 

https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Weights-MAM-with-PLG-or-PHGV-via-SvTech/30237/

 

You should be in the same position as Tracker if you chose to up-plate a Rapido 987F via SVTech. A paper exercise to up-plate to 3700kg, an up-plate to 3850kg (no axle-maxima changes) involving air-assistance added to the rear axle, or, if an increase to 3850kg plus an increase to the rear-axle maximum were wanted, addition of air-assistance plus increasing the tyre width.

 

 

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pepe63 - 2013-02-12 1:48 PM

 

I know this has been asked before but what do SVTech actually do for their 300 quid?.. :-S

 

.. they don't do any "physical" work to the vehicle,they don't inspect the vehicle to ensure any "upgrades" have actually taken place(air suspensions,tyres..) and they don't square things wih DVLA.... :-S

 

So what do they actually do,that warrants the 300quid fee?...

 

..and why is it that it's only them that seems to be doing it?...are there other firms doing the same..?

(..because if there are,we never hear of them.. ) :-S

 

Edit: I've just recalled that I participated in a discussion on another forum not so long back,where a chap was looking to "down-plate" his MH,using SvTech...and they were going to charge him £120!..

Now,if all they are doing is paperwork ,be that "registering" or "submitting",the vehcile details somewhere(..where and to whom,I don't know?),then why is it cheaper,if the figure goes down?

I must be missing something,somwhere.... 8-)

 

There's a story about a chap who took his car to a bodywork specialist to have a dent repaired. The panel-beater looked at the dent, selected an appropriate hammer, hit the dented panel from the back and the dent magical disappeared. "That will be £30", said the panel-beater, "£1 for my time, £1 for use of my hammer, and £28 for me knowing where and how hard to hit the panel."

 

As is explained on their website

 

http://www.svtech.co.uk/faq3.html

 

the relevant UK authorities (DVLA,VOSA) accept the expertise of SVTech regarding 'up-plating'.

 

It may well be the case that 'down-plating' can easily be done by a motorhome owner without involving SVTech, but 'up-plating' is trickier, particularly if it involves mechanical alterations. Why should SVTech charge less for 'down-plating' than for 'up-plating'? Perhaps because motorcaravanners could carry out a down-plating exercise themselves if they were prepared to put a bit of research, time and effort into the process, whereas up-plating a motorhome without the knowledge and (most importantly) the credibility SVTech can provide is likely to prove much more challenging. The more difficult a task, the more expensive it tends to be to have someone do it for you.

 

SVTech is a specialist company and dealing with motorhomes is just a small part of their work. Why does no other UK company apparently provide this type of service? Presumably because nobody else wants to compete with SVTech in such a specialised field.

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If you telephone http://www.rapidomotorhomes.com/html/contact_us.html They should be able to tell you.

 

We have a Rapido 7090 which is a 3500 / 3850 kg model plated at present at 3500kg

 

To upgrade, Rapido France can issue a new plate that shows 3850kg, From memory the cost was about £200, but you had all the paperwork that the DVLA required.

 

In Conclusion, we found this company very helpful. Purchased our present Rapido from as a result of service and advice they gave about our first Rapido which was purchased privately.

 

(Occasionally need a bit of a push to get them going, :D but that may because they are always busy, generally have a goodish range or new and pre loved Rapidos as well)

 

Rgds

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