Maureen Lister Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 1. I know the VIN number - (on the window screen) but a VIN plate cannot be found by anyone including Merc dealer at the MOT and service today. Could anyone advise me where I can check the information usually marked on the plate - specifically axle weights? We have an IH J1000M 2010 2 Where can we find out the payload for this van and how this weight should be distributed The Sprinter handbook is of no help I ask these questions in the context of recent MMM articles about weight limits Aug 2014 and the quote from the ACVIS officer on p 211/213 Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 odd.... normally on most vehicles on plate under the bonnet on sill...know nothing about merc's I'm afraid..does the V5 not have weight info. how old is the van, maybe approach the original supplying dealer......a few on here have merc's, that may be able to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 hi Maureen and welcome to the forum, On most Mercs the VIN plate is on the side of the drivers seat base visible with the drivers door open, so my only thought is that it may have been carpeted over. Is your seat base carpeted or painted metal? Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawki Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Hi Maureen The vin plate on my Merc is very easy to find. If I open my drivers side door the vin plate is right in front of me below the drivers seat Your Merc may or may not be the same Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dicksob Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Hi Maureen, on the J500m that we owned the plate was on the door frame, as you opened the drivers door its to your left, very visible. If in doubt phone ih direct, they will have a record of every van built. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dicksob Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Maureen, sorry should have added, on ours the front axle max was 1650, the rear max was 2250. We upgraded the chassis from gross weight of 3500 to 3850, total train weight was 5500. Ours was on a 2010 plate too. Tyres were continental vanco four season, 121/119N/118R, size 235/65R16,load index 115/113. Guess your vehicle reg doc will tell you your max weight and visiting a weigh bridge will give your actual enabling you to calculate your real payload? If I can give any further info please let me know. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Lister Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 Thanks to everyone for this information. As you can guess we have already looked for the VIN plate in all the suggested places. I think it is probably been carpeted over and since the carpet is stuck down I am reluctant to try to remove it to find out. The vehicle has been weighed at the weigh- bridge but we need to info on the VIN plate to work out the axle loads I think. Plan _ I will try phoning IH direct to see if they can help Again many thanks. Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 from the replies its pretty clear where it is, can always stick down again with some PVA adhesive.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Lister Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 Thanks for your help It may have been carpeted over There is no sign of the VIN plate at all- I will contact the dealer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Lister Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 Phoned IH and very helpful lady in the office - Carol is trying to find the info Unfortunately there is no computer data base for 2010 so she will have to look through paper files. Meanwhile can anyone tell me is the weight on the registration doc the Max Authorised Mass or the Max Tech Permissable Laden Mass? MTPLM) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Maureen Lister - 2014-09-25 5:44 PM Meanwhile can anyone tell me is the weight on the registration doc the Max Authorised Mass or the Max Tech Permissable Laden Mass? MTPLM) Hi Maureen your MAM is your vehicle max, your MTPM is the max when a trailer is added. The reg. doc should show the MAM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Lister Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 Thanks thats a very clear and helpful explanation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Lister Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 Hi Bob, could I come back to you please, about the upgrade you undertook. We have been in contact with Merc and they have given us the same front (1650) and back axle (2250) weights as your vehicle. Our gross revenue weight is 3500 Kg on the V5C reg cert. Our weigh bridge axle weights front 1460 back 2160 total 3600 Thats without me and the dog on board !! Now I am confused if the axle weight allowance adds up to 3900KG do we actually need to do anything? Eg get a new weight on the V5.? I am sorry to bother you but am finding this whole thing very difficult to understand. Could you share how you went about upgrading, costs and how long it took please? Thank you very much Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Yes you do need to do something, the max weight for you vehicle is apparently 3500kg anything over that and if stopped you could be asked to remove items to get under 3500kg and possibly get fined. An upgrade in max would seem to be best route forward as you are within axle loads, BTW was that fully laden as you would normaly set off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Maureen, The best suggestion would be to contact SV Tech Link who are specialists in vehicle replating. Do bear in mind that replating to over 3,500 kg will involve a change of class to PHGV and this has implications on driving licence class and possible speed restrictions although it does incur a lower VED (road tax) than the PLGV class you are currently paying. Keith. Edit to add (as Colin has said)... Do NOT continue using your MH in its current overloaded condition as not only it is illegal and you risk being fined but also it will invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dicksob Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Hi Maureen, as you say it's all a bit confusing, but luckily solving it is quite straightforward and not too expensive! When your van was new, the first owner would have had a choice of ordering it on a 3500 or 3850 plated chassis, choice would have been driven by licence requirements or available payload after accessories were added. Unfortunately some people just ignore payload or the dealer doesn't mention it, I would have to say that Ian from IH and I always calculated what would be my expected payload and therefore I have always upgraded just to be safe!! To upgrade now, as others have said, is a "paper" exercise best done through a company called SV Tech. They will take you through a series of questions about your van, will advise you on weight options and ultimately will provide you with a certificate to send to DVLA to update your V5 and a new replacement weight plate to "stick" on your van. Cost is about £200/£300 if I remember correctly. You need to be quite clear on what payload you need, did your 3600 weight include full water, gas or fuel tanks? Loaded for holidays? Bikes on back etc? I would have thought that 3850 would be ok for you. Anything else please ask. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 flicka - 2014-09-25 10:15 PM Maureen Lister - 2014-09-25 5:44 PM Meanwhile can anyone tell me is the weight on the registration doc the Max Authorised Mass or the Max Tech Permissable Laden Mass? MTPLM) Hi Maureen your MAM is your vehicle max, your MTPM is the max when a trailer is added. The reg. doc should show the MAM. I hesitate to say this, but flicka’s advice is only partially correct. Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) and Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM) are interchangeable terms. MAM was used historically: nowadays MTPLM is used instead. The combined weight of a vehicle and a trailer is referred to as the ’train weight’ and the maximum authorised train-weight for a vehicle is normally referred to as the vehicle’s “Gross Train Weight”. This link may help when the elusive VIN-plate is finally tracked down http://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/how-to-calculate-your-motorhome’s-safe-weight-limits-4104/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Lister Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Thank you. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Lister Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Thanks Bill No word from IH so will chase them next week. I think we are finally getting sorted. Your input has been greatly appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Lister Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Thanks Bill No word from IH so will chase them next week. I think we are finally getting sorted. Your input has been greatly appreciated. This has certainly been a learning exercise for me and we have just decided to upgrade so we are without concerns about the breaking the law and even more importantly driving safely. Unless I had read the article in MMM I wouldn't have been aware of these issues other than the obvious need to pack the van with a minimum of stuff and to make sure it was loaded properly. Great to talk to you. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dicksob Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Maureen, no problem, I'm sure you will get everything sorted out ok. If you have any queries re your van and how it works, phone IH and ask for "Jacko", he does all the after sales and servicing of the vans. He is a lovely bloke and probably actually built your van, as this was what he was doing in 2010. Also there is an owners club, if you like that kind of thing, has its own website if you google them. Happy travels. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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