I wondered if anyone could give me some advice. i passedmy test post 1/97 and I'm looking at changing my caravan. My towcar has a MPW of 2160kg and the carvan we like has a MTPLM of 1350kg which puts me 10kg over the legal 3500kg (how annoying!). The Ranger GT60 I would like comes with a spare wheel which is shown in the brochure as 19kg. If I asked Bailey to take the carier off the caravan and supply the wheel loose (so that I could put it in theboot of the car instead), I would techinically be 9kg under the legal weight - do you think they would be able to re-plate the caravans MTPLM.
Any advice/comment would be appreciated. Has anyone else ever heard of a caravan being re-plated under the stadard weight?
Bailey replated our last van (Series 5 Ranger) in an upward direction, so I cannot see any reason why they could not replate downwards. Check with your dealer or the Bailey customer helpline.
If Bailey are happy to reduce the MTPLM of your van then all that will have happened is that the carrying capacity of your 'van will have been reduced.
If you are not loaded up to the max and will not be overweight when carrying the spare wheel et al then you are OK to have the spare wheel and carrier in the same place. All you have lost is 10 or 19kgs of capacity.
Regards
------------- How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!
Another otion is to go for a trailer test which will erradicate the problem in the future. Might be a bit pricey thogh as I have not checked on the cost of the test etc.
Thanks for your replies. I have spoken to Bailey today and they can't reduce the MTPLM of the caravan, only increase it. I have booked myself onto a training course in May with a view of doing the test by the end of May. To be honest I am fed up of having to buy a caravan or towcar to suit my driving licnese and not our lifestyle! so am pleased I'm being forced to do the test (even thou it's going cost me about £600 in total)
I feel sorry for you in that you are having to go through such a process purely because a manufacturer will not give you a piece of metal that reduces your carrying capacity.
It isn't as if they have to do anything for that to happen(other than produce a plate.
The only difference would be that you would have had a caravan that was over engineered.
That can't be in any way construed as a problem.
------------- How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!
No, Bailey would not give a reason other than they can only uprate plates. To be honest, i found the lady quite unhelpfull. I'm sure if I managed to speak to the correct person they would be able to do it. From what I have read elswere, the standard charge for a new plate is £50 which I was quite happy to pay.
I have got used to the idea of doing the test now and it will be better for future "larger" purchases!
My partner did the B+E test recently, cost us £365 inc one day tuition to ensure he was up to test standard and the instructor and his trailer on the day. It can be done using your own trailer if you are confident you can pass, the requirements are on the direct.gov.uk site, then it's just the test cost. The most difficult part is probably having to drive to test standard for most people. He passed it first time thankfully.
I have done 3nr. 4hr lessons now and have my test this Thursday. You're right, the most difficult thing is driving with out the bad habbits you generally pick up. The silly thing is that I could use a saloon car and be legal, yet the 4x4 we have is a much safer towing car?!. My instructor told me they may be changing the law in 2013 upto 4500kg after you complete a statatory 4hr towing course (no test involved) which should mean you could tow more or less any outfit/car combination. What bugs me is that they are really looking at your driving and not so much at your towing capability.
Anyway, hopefully I'll pass this week and will get chance to use our new van at last!
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Topic: Changing the MTPLM on a caravan
