Help please down rating from 4.6ton

[chopper brown]

Hi all I'm just a bit confused on this down rating business.

 

I'm interested in buying a 4.6ton tipper but am unsure of how complicated it is to down rate and if I even need to bother?

 

I have my C and C+E licence but didn't really want to have to get a operator licence and a tacho. Also I have a few people that work for me that don't have the licence and it would be useful if they could drive it.

 

Do I actually need a tacho and O license if I only operate within 20 miles of my base?

 

Sorry if this is a over done topic but I find it all a bit confusing and know there are some knowledgeable people on here.

 

Cheer Jim

[Peter]

Don't bother, by the time you down rate it you'll have no payload.

 

You will still need a no licence even you decide not to use the tacho.

[chopper brown]

That's interesting. Is it because of the original weight of the vehicle or because 3.5t generally don't hold that much by the time all your gear and body is on?

 

So I could drive it without using the tacho but how much will a o licience be?

 

Cheers for your quick reply Pete.

[Peter]

Even proper 3.5 tonne trucks only end up with around 1 tonne payload by the time youve put a arb body on, a 4.6 tonner is going to weigh more before you start, so if you down plate it the payload will be tiny.

 

O licence will cost around £1k in fees.

[chopper brown]

Cheers for that Pete didn't realise it would cost as much as that.

 

I'm just wondering if there would be much difference with the payload on 3.5ton truck to a 4.6ton that has been down rated.

 

I understand what you're saying but I have plenty of tip sites near me so it's not a massive problem but the truck I'm eyeing up is a bit of a one off and rarely comes up as a 3.5ton if at all.

 

Cheers Jim

[Paul Jenks]

We downrated our 7.5t to 7.0t so we could tow a bigger chipper. A specialist garage has to change the leaf springs, or at least remove a part of them and actually make the vehicle capable of carrying less. It then has to go for a special MOT to make sure this has been done properly. As was said above, a 4+ tonne vehicle, when down rated is likely to have a 750kg payload. Live with it or flog it and get another vehicle.

[Johny Walker]

Cheers for that Pete didn't realise it would cost as much as that.

 

I'm just wondering if there would be much difference with the payload on 3.5ton truck to a 4.6ton that has been down rated.

 

I understand what you're saying but I have plenty of tip sites near me so it's not a massive problem but the truck I'm eyeing up is a bit of a one off and rarely comes up as a 3.5ton if at all.

 

Cheers Jim

 

if yr thinking of a 4.6t runnoing an o,/l id g for a 5 or 6t truck ,then you still get a good towing weight

[difflock]

I suspect that is bollocks (in the nicest possible way)

Cos when we bought a 5.2 tonne Iveco, I asked for it to be plated at 4750kg (in order to tow 3500kg, under the 8250 GTW limit pertaining to older drivers)

It was delivered still plated at 5200kg.

I made a phone call and the supplier simply supplied another 4750kg plate, which we swopped over ourselves.

Simples.

My understanding was if you choose to downplate, no problem, but you are sticking your neck in a tighter noose in respect of a likely future overloading comviction.

[Peter]

There is a difference between downplating and downrating, you can plate the truck at any weight you want within the law and its design/actual weight.

[Johny Walker]

I suspect that is bollocks (in the nicest possible way)

Cos when we bought a 5.2 tonne Iveco, I asked for it to be plated at 4750kg (in order to tow 3500kg, under the 8250 GTW limit pertaining to older drivers)

It was delivered still plated at 5200kg.

I made a phone call and the supplier simply supplied another 4750kg plate, which we swopped over ourselves.

Simples.

My understanding was if you choose to downplate, no problem, but you are sticking your neck in a tighter noose in respect of a likely future overloading comviction.

 

 

thers a big differance between down plating & down rating ,1, is a plate change 1, is a mechanical change ,