MRANDMRSWILLSON Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Can anyone help please? We are on the verge of buying our first motorhome and have been looking at models below 3,500kg. However we have just seen one that we really like that is listed as being 3,850kg. Are there any benefits to keeping below 3,500kg? Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Depends on your age........as once past 70 you'll need a regular medical to keep your ability to drive a vehicle over 3500kg. PS welcome to the forum ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 It actually depends on a lot more than just your age! First a question, do either you or your better half have category C1 on your driving licence as this is what you will need to drive ANY vehicle over 3,500 kg. Then there are lots and lots of pro's and con's to above or below 3,500 kg. Start with the simple thing, do either of you have category C1? Keith. PS And welcome to the forum :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 MRANDMRSWILLSON - 2013-11-19 9:24 PM Can anyone help please? We are on the verge of buying our first motorhome and have been looking at models below 3,500kg. However we have just seen one that we really like that is listed as being 3,850kg. Are there any benefits to keeping below 3,500kg? Jay Three points, How old are you ? when did you pass your test ? Do you travel in Europe on Toll Roads Very Much ? or do you plan to ? If you passed your test before 1997, then your license will allow you to drive a vehicle over 3500 kg, BUT only until your 70th Birthday, then you lose the right. To keep it you have to have a medical with your GP and send the form with your 're-application'. Most of the European motorhomes are 'Plated' at 3500 kg (this can limit the payload severly on some models) The reason they do this, is that a lot of laws 'Kick in ' above 3500kg, Higher Toll charges for a start, 'GO boxes instead of cheaper 'vignettes'. Lower speed limits.(in the UK too !). Depends how much you like the van ? and at a 'push' you could have it 'Downplated' to 3500kg, but again you will be losing 'Payload' to do it. These people do it : http://www.svtech.co.uk/ My van is an Autotrail, which is also over 3500 kg. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Depending on when you passed your driving test you may hold a licence to drive vehicles up to 7500 kgs max weight, on reaching 70 you have to have a medical and satisfy the DVLA of your health condition to maintain this licence for a further three years , then another medical and so on, vans CAN be down plated to 3500 kilos [ paper exercise ] so you dont have to worry about the medical hassle, but you will lose PAYLOAD if you down plate IE the weight of stuff you can carry in the van ,Choices . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Road tax is Cheaper on PHGV vans , over 3500 kgs a small consideration I know but there it is . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 ...you might find this thread, on the same question, of interest: http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/over-3500kg-issues/28691/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyg3nwl Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Hi, it depends on your age, date you passed driving test, driving licence conditions. Look up DVLA for further information. Also bear in mind parking restrictions in a lot of carparks, there is frequently a weight restriction, and of course the size of vehicle. The bigger and heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it will use, and you will be tempted to take everything you DONT really need, because you can fit it in. Weigh everything you would take, and see how it all adds up. Check the max load , it may be 3500 overall, but make sure you dont exceed individual axle weights. Bikes on the rear might push rear axle limits close to limit Get a weighbridge certificate with the van, dont trust dealers quoted figures Enjoy it once you have found your ideal van. Just be aware of weights and regulations. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero boy Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 What van are you looking at? There maybe members on here who can give advice as to the good or bad points, possibly even with any payload issues. Sometimes, vans are uprated to 3850 to add to what would be a small payload at 3500, so these are really 3500 vans. As such, they may be down-plated back to 3500 if you encounter any health/licensing issues past 70 years of age. Many 'heavy' vans these days are build on a proper heavy chassis, at say 4250 pr even more for larger vans. These vans cannot be down-plated back to 3500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRANDMRSWILLSON Posted November 20, 2013 Author Share Posted November 20, 2013 Hey everyone, thanks for that, can't wait to be involved with this great community. We're old enough to drive over 3,500 but young enough to hopeful have at least upgraded once before we hit the 70 mark! Guess I'll have lots more questions for you all. Thanks for your welcome. Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 what make and model van.......hard to help without the data. and if you want to travel abroad over 3500 can be expensive and restrictive..but all depends on how you travel and what you want to do...But I see no reason why a couple cant find a decent well constructed van with reasonable payload within 3500. A lot of UK vans are old technology and heavy, you need to be very careful and not get carried away in the shopping frenzy..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Biggest downer for us going over 3500kg are the restrictions abroad, toll costs don't worry us as we rarely use toll roads. In France many of the small towns and villages ban vehicles over 3500kg. Speed limit are reduced in many countries, in France Autoroutes/Dual Carriageways/Single Carriageways 110/100/80kmh, in Germany you are limited to 80kmh (50mph) on Autobahns. There are many new vans designed in the last few years under 3500kg with reasonable payloads, Hymer Exsis range and Carthago C Tourer range both have Low Profile and A Class vans under 3500kg with good payloads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero boy Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Lenny, are you going for an up-plated Exsis. Thought you would be OK at 3500kg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Hi Chris, no way that was my point above too many restrictions above 3500 abroad, reckon we should be able to run with full tanks and have about 70kg spare. If I have any problem 'er indoors will have to loose some weight she has put on a bit lately up to 45kg now. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero boy Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Cheers, i thought that was the case, just misread your opening line. We're not suffering from weight issues either. Can make a difference in marginal cases, i suppose. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 If you post ALL details of the van and where it is that you've seen it you should receive comments from those who have owned one and may advise you to keep away from it, many makes have had problems which the dealer would be careful not explain. Just about every make and type has been tried and tested by genuine owners who are here to advise so be cautious and not swayed by the glitter ! If you choose to keep the higher weight after 70 an annual medical is required at a cost. (when I applied, not taken up) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Just keep an eye on the height as well, toll booths have no idea if you are over 3500K, but over 3 metres high and you can be classed as an HGV! Some parks and fuel stations have height limits as well. (Guess who has a 3.1 metre MH?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archiesgrandad Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Just a thought really, but as more of us reach that dreaded 70 years, and many of us will decide that the medicals and hassle are not worth it any more, I have been required to take a Brookes Test the last twice at a cost of £600 each time, and we opt for under 3.5 tons. At the same time newcomers to the pastime will be affected by the licence restrictions and the demand for vans over 3.5 tons will decline. This may well have a bad effect on secondhand values for the heavier vans in the not so distant future. If manufacturers are not coming to terms with this, then they should be, and we need to search out those vans that come in under the limit and still have a decent payload. AGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Archiesgrandad - 2013-11-22 8:11 AM Just a thought really, but as more of us reach that dreaded 70 years, and many of us will decide that the medicals and hassle are not worth it any more, I have been required to take a Brookes Test the last twice at a cost of £600 each time, and we opt for under 3.5 tons. At the same time newcomers to the pastime will be affected by the licence restrictions and the demand for vans over 3.5 tons will decline. This may well have a bad effect on secondhand values for the heavier vans in the not so distant future. If manufacturers are not coming to terms with this, then they should be, and we need to search out those vans that come in under the limit and still have a decent payload. AGD From 1 January 1997 passing the UK 'car' driving-test entitled a person to drive a vehicle limited to 3500kg overall weight. If we assume the driving test is passed on average around age-20, the people passing the test in 1997 will now be around 36 years old. Motorcaravanning tends not to be a pastime of the young but, 15 or so years from now, the 1997 'test passers' will be aged around 50 and quite possibly in the market for a motorhome. Unless there's a relaxation in driving-licence rules (and that's unlikely to happen), from 2030-onwards it will become increasingly difficult to sell motomes over 3500kg. But, between now and then, there's no reason to expect the trend of recent years for people to hanker after larger (and, consequently, heavier) motorhomes to reduce. A big vehicle should be expected to be a heavy vehicle and, whatever clever weight-saving constructional techniques are employed, bulk and weight naturally go together. I wouldn't worry too much about it - http://tinyurl.com/3gektn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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