Help please down rating from 4.6ton

[difflock]

Explain the difference(s) then.

Legal and or practical

Down-plating against down-rating.

 

I suspect a question of semantics.

[Johny Walker]

Explain the difference(s) then.

Legal and or practical

Down-plating against down-rating.

 

I suspect a question of semantics.

 

you asked for yr truck to be down plated not down rated theres the diffearance

[Peter]

Down plating - change the plate, no mechanical changes.

 

Down rating - mechanically alter the vehicle to change its weight carrying ability, and then change the plate.

 

As to the reasons why you would do either, thats a bit more complicated!

[gensetsteve]

This will sound like a mad question but which is worst in the eyes of the law.

 

1. a 4.6 tonne down plated to 3.5 tonne but still weigh at road side 4.6 tonne

 

or

 

2. a 4.6 tonne weighing 4.6 tonne but no operators licence and no down plate.

[chopper brown]

So if I didn't want a tacho or a o license I could get a plate change from a 4.6ton to a 3.5ton and just make sure I wasn't overloaded?

 

Jim

[Peter]

This will sound like a mad question but which is worst in the eyes of the law.

 

1. a 4.6 tonne down plated to 3.5 tonne but still weigh at road side 4.6 tonne

 

or

 

2. a 4.6 tonne weighing 4.6 tonne but no operators licence and no down plate.

 

Equally bad, the first is a premeditated attempt to circumvent licensing laws, the second could be an honest mistake but if you get caught operating without an O licence it will be difficult to get an application approved later.

[Peter]

So if I didn't want a tacho or a o license I could get a plate change from a 4.6ton to a 3.5ton and just make sure I wasn't overloaded?

 

Jim

 

Yes, or just buy a 3.5 tonner which will be a better tool for the job.

[gensetsteve]

Not sure if this is right but someone who has owned alot of ivecos told me that the 3.5 tonne and 5 tonne have same chassis and running gear and it was just a paper work excercise. If this is so the 3.5 should be more durable and safer when loaded to 3.5 tonne gross.

[difflock]

BUT, why would one make mechanical changes to the vehicle if one is willing to state that one is going to operate within the new weight limit.

And risk a conviction if caught running over the plated weight.

Unless in some way to save a few kg in self weight as some fractional payback.

I can see absolutly no reason to down rate.

Or rather the suggestion that one can down rate but not down plate?

But my understanding, per a very cordial phone call a few years ago to the gentleman who "took" the overweight proscutions here in Northern Ireland)

The plate is the weight.

Its ALL about the plate.

Which is easily checked back against the DVLA registeration docs.

By downrating as I understand it, from contributions above, one would merely be making the vehile needlessly less safe?

And yes our 7500kg Iveco is a down rated/down plated 11,000kg truck.

IN that the engine, transmission and chassis are exactly the same as the 11000kg varient.

But the 7500kg was factory fitted with smaller/lighter axles and wheels, this to allow a measly 3050kg of tipper payload.

Wheras a purpose designed from the drawing board tipper 7500kg, (without a needlessly heavier chassis good for 11,000kg,) could have nearer 4000kg payload.

gibber

mutter

an

twitch

Edited September 21, 2013 by difflock

[Johny Walker]

BUT, why would one make mechanical changes to the vehicle if one is willing to state that one is going to operate within the new weight limit.

And risk a conviction if caught running over the plated weight.

Unless in some way to save a few kg in self weight as some fractional payback.

I can see absolutly no reason to down rate.

Or rather the suggestion that one can down rate but not down plate?

But my understanding, per a very cordial phone call a few years ago to the gentleman who "took" the overweight proscutions here in Northern Ireland)

The plate is the weight.

Its ALL about the plate.

Which is easily checked back against the DVLA registeration docs

 

simple,

my currant daily was a 6.5t tipper the l/a that operrated it had it down plated to 6t to increase its towing capasity to 2,250t plant trailer & equipment ,leaving a payload of 2.5t ,