Having managed fleets of vans and trailers, and as a result had a number of ‘meetings’ with what was VOSA this video is superb. The number of people out there who either don’t know or don’t care is astounding. And you didn’t even touch on trailers… 😱
I think a lot don’t know, unfortunately. As for the companies fitting incorrect rated wheels and tyres, a disgrace. Hope you have dash cams/camera systems on the fleets you manage, I have personally had clients hugely benefit from them, proving liability in claims 👍
Great video.....sadly most who don't watch it to the end are beyond such critical advice evidenced by the majority of Vanlife videos on UA-cam....thanks for focusing on what's truly important for ALL road users
I had no clue about most of this - thank you. I bought mine ready converted but looking back it wasn’t the best conversion and the dealer didn’t mention anything about weight.
@@StaycationLifestyle One of my friends used to deal in fruit and veg, so that was a couple of trips into London every week to pick up stock in his 7.5 ton truck. When his vehicle was fully loaded it looked practically empty. He was caught out a few times being pulled over by police and then escorted to the weigh bridge. It's surprising how heavy fruit and veg can be. Yet another friend was a roadie for a band and the problem they had was that their kit took up a lot of space, but wasn't particularly heavy. Nevertheless, if your licence restricts you to 7.5 tons, that's not the fully loaded capacity but the registered maximum kerb weight of the vehicle. So if you get a vehicle that's registered to have a maximum kerb weight of 10 tons, you can't drive it on a conventional licence, even if it's empty (so weighs less than the 7.5 tons you're allowed). His solution was to get a vehicle, that is normally plated to have a maximum kerb weight of 10 tons but then applied to have it reclassed to have a maximum of 7.5 ton. He had to take it for an inspection by the DOT, to ensure it was capable of carrying the 7.5 tons (which it obviously passed with flying colours) but once the change was made, he was now permitted to drive it with his normal licence. Obviously now that vehicle is restricted to a maximum weight of 7.5 tons (no matter who drives it) but that still allows a couple of tons of load. And it has lots of space, which is what he needed.
Brilliant, well-presented info! It amazes me that people don't understand that whatever speed WE are travelling at, then all the objects in the car at travelling at the same speed! If you slam the brakes on and drop suddenly from say 50 to zero - safe because of your seat-belt - guess what happens to the dog/kettle/cat or stuffed moose head that was in the back seat unrestrained BEHIND YOUR HEAD and also travelling at 50mph?!
As a retired Traffic officer I dealt with this sort of issue a lot. I always recommended for campers and all commercial vehicle owners to load their vehicle with ALL normal items ,tools etc they carry every day including a FULL tank of fuel, take it to a public weigh bridge, preferably, pre arranged and get a weight then deduct that from its Gross that gives you a carrying capacity. there is a defence in law if stopped if you are en-route to a weigh bridge as long as its not on the other side of the country !!!!
@@HeidiGelling Why WOULD they tell you though. Informing you properly as is their job to do so (this applies in all aspects of life) would mean people don't break these rules/laws/regulations and the money pit that is traffic offenses dries up.
@@HeidiGellingit is your responsibility as the driver to make sure you are carrying a safe load, government does tell you, it's in the highway code, and there is loads of info on the .gov website.
@@dodo19923these laws are there not because of milking people, as ticket income is not a large chunk compared to millions and billions of budget, but to ensure road safety. They tell you BECAUSE WITH LOW RATED ALLOYS AND LOW RATED TIRES YOU CAN BLOW A TIRE, DAMAGE A WHEEL AND YOU CAN POTENTIALLY CAN K*LL PEOPLE CAUSING AN ACCID3NT. a van can easily flip a car, or run into pedestrians. Law enforcement are FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, not some "secret government plan". Dont be a conteo believer... its not that deep. Not everything a gov. Does is there for some illuminati shit.
Great video, experienced this myself when i bought my T4 with Audi tyres and rims on, three out of 4 tyres split open like kebabs, had the fright of my life when i went to the tyre fitters, the day before i had been travelling on the motorway. at the time i didn't realise about vans and extra load tyres.
I had been debating buying new tires and luckily learned that the ones I bought the van with from the previous owner were not load rated. Feeling a bit safer now, but still need to replace the spare, which is original (1994 Eurovan) 😮
Great that you make people aware that as they are driving a commercial vehicle they can be stopped by VOSA. If you think MOT testers are bad the VOSA people will be your worst nightmare, they apply the rules correctly and rigidly, whether you are in a van or an articulated truck if you have a defect action will be taken, had a prohibition order put on for a cracked mirror and we didn't move until the mirror was replaced...no argument.
@@Ambercormack-k5t yeah unfortunately you should, it was in a 10 tonne Volvo lorry and we got stopped near Dundee. Cracked nearside mirror which apparently meant that vision was seriously affected on the nearside and we wouldn't be able to accurately return to lane after passing another vehicle. Dangerous defect....prohibition order.
GREAT advice all the way through your extremely helpful vdo ! ! ! Perhaps a good idea also to mention that the very best Accident Investigators don't work for Scotland Yard or the FBI, but they DO work for the big Insurance Companies. - And it is their job to find legal reasons to NOT PAY OUT to the insureds after an accident. So failure to comply with any of the items mentioned in this VDO could be very expensive indeed, because the Insurance money will NEVER arrive !
Great Vid, some good advice there, another one to remember if you van is only registered to have 3 Seat's which is normal for a van unless you change this and have it tested you can only carry 3 passengers in the front of your van.
I believe you can carry more people in the back even with the bulk head removed without changing the logbook, but insurance must know about it. And the law states that the driver have the responsibility to ensure that in an event of an accident, the seats are safe and wont come out.
Having weighed many vehicles over the years on weighbridges, axle weighers , in a previous incarnation, I watch these videos of people self building their vans, I think how much does that all weigh? Cookers, microwaves, cladding, beds, sideboards, etc etc. Put on top of that yourselves, your fuel, water supplies, the rear axles must be creaking. Thanks for highlighting this.
I have just watched this video. I have a Ford Transit, and I decided to try and do some courier work and I had all proper insurances. The first thing before I even started was, to go to a local weigh bridge fully stocked up ie full fuel ratchet straps and blankets. Myself plus extra 3 X 10 litre cans of emergency fuel. I then knew my unladen weight for a 2.8 tonne van, and I found the carrying I could carry was 700kg max to stay under the 2800kg limit. Now subscribed. Looking at getting a motorhome, and I will stock everything up then go on a weigh bridge with myself for safety, then I will know how much extra weight I can carry safely.
I have done courier type jobs in the past, all the firms I worked for treated staff badly, sending van's out filled from floor to ceiling, clearly over loaded. One driver got caught, he got points and a fine plus the firm had to pay 5k. They still risked sending van's out overloaded though.
Great video. We tow a caravan so are really aware of weights and loading. Have watched quite a few van conversion videos with horror. Don't think weight considerations are ever mentioned when building the beds and cupboards.
So to recap on van weight. Make sure all the fluids under the bonnet are full, fuel tank and Adblue are full and water tanks etc. Do a pretend trip as in your your packed and ready to go, everyone is in the van including pets, food & everything, then take a trip to the Weigh Bridge. Get front axle weight and then rear and then total weight. Don't forget being under your total weight still might mean a axle could be over weight. Great video btw.
I had two tyres replaced and I picked the wrong ones. The tyre fitter arrived and wouldn't fit them because they where the wrong rating. Thankfully they swapped them for the corrected rated at no extra cost. I learned something that day.
@@StaycationLifestyleI once went to a tyre place for my car and they fitted tyres with a lower speed rating than the manufacturer specs. When I pointed out their error they replied “aww yeah mate it’s not a problem” uh yes it is. You’ve just made my car unroadworthy. Needless to say, I didn’t go back there again.
I recall years ago selecting some tyres for my car and the guy told me. Sorry these are only rated up to 80mph so they're not the right ones for your vehicle. I pointed out that the speed limit is 70 so it shouldn't be a problem. But it turned out that the price difference was pretty negligible so I took the higher rated tyres. A couple of weeks later I was pulled over by the police as I was clocked at 147mph. Fortunately they must have been in a good mood because, after thoroughly checking the vehicle (including the specs on the tyres), I got away with a warning.
Excellent common sense video. Highlighting the importance of knowing the max weight of your camper. Definitely a good idea to take to a Weightbridge or scales to get the correct weight. Then there’s no guessing. I’ve seen wheels fail before due to poor quality and overloading. A OE quality wheel is expensive because it’s made durable and to a approved standard. Don’t take the risk.
There are Crash Test videos of the dummy with their legs on the dashboard in front of the airbag. The results are impressively bad. Major leg trauma and possible death due to internal bleeding.
The point was the law side of things, which both the weight and wheels are included. Insurance is another matter. A subject that could be a whole video in itself
So many things to be aware of with these conversions , i work at a VWC dealer and see so many conversions, some amazing ones and some horrendous ones too , seen some dangerous stuff !
I was forever having heated arguments with my employer about me refusing to take overweight 7.5 tonners, sprinter vans out.Other drivers even though they knew what they were doing were allowed threw the gate. In the end they gave up arguing with me because they never won. When i left the job i spoke with one of them and i said im suprised i was never sacked, she said they couldnt do that because i was always right.
Just bought a T32. First van. Lots to think about here, thanks! I would add, don't sit cross-legged in the front seat either. The airbag will break both femurs if you're lucky and your pelvis if you're not 😖
Hi, some very good points just from safety sense. But wait there is more! Modifications and alterations many nullify your new vehicle warranty and your insurance, just because the roof rack or tow bar manufacturer or suspension wizards tell you its the best thing since sliced bread. Don’t believe them! The vehicle retailer who issued you your warranty, the insurance company who covered you for specific things are the ones who have the last word ( barring the expensive legal system )! Don’t ever try explaining to the police officer after the crash what you didn’t know. I have seen people spend tens of thousands of dollars on four wheel drive vehicles who wrote off hundred thousand dollars on off road accidents! Caravans and camper van people get caught out more times than you can imagine. Be careful out there, there be danger on those corners! Cheers mate, Harera
Generally, when you do any mod just let your insurer know. Even racking in vans is a mod don't forget your wheels as well. It doesn't normally up the cost if you have decent insurer.
Things people forget. Most peoples driving licence 3.5tons. Weight limit also on some car parks. Sign on outside of van showing where gas bottles are. Also that you are carrying gas. Stealth vans don't. Watch out Car Parks means CARS. They can move you on. Also depends on van. Side lights need to be on all night on lay byes. Look it up not all lay byes. Cheers from old George great video by the way. Ps forgot to mention. On some vans, vehicles you are not allowed to change a wheel by yourself side of road. If you get a puncture.
Hi, good video telling so much everyone should know. I was involved in a serious accident which resulted in me having broken bones, all from the load shifting. Take scrap to the local dealer to get your van weighed for free.
When you go to get weighed, make sure you do each axle separately, as well as total vehicle mass. It’s very easy in some vans to be overweight on one axle even though the total mass is ok.
Hi great video! one thing i'm thinking about is when many people convert a commercial van into a motorhome is an exciting project indeed! When it comes to the safety of removing the cargo cover between the driver's compartment and the cargo area, there are some important factors to consider that few consider Structural integrity. The load protection can contribute to the vehicle's structure and crashworthiness. Removing it may affect the stability and safety of the vehicle in the event of a collision. Passenger safety. The cargo cover protects passengers from cargo or objects that may move in the event of sudden braking or an accident. Without it, loose objects in the cargo area can become dangerous projectiles. Rules and regulations. Check the local rules and regulations for vehicle conversion. In many countries there are specific requirements for converting a van to a motorhome, and compliance with these is essential for the vehicle to be legal and safe to use. There is always a risk that homemade fittings release parts more easily when braking. translation via Google into English.
Yeah single plate weigh bridge weighs the whole vehicle. You really need to be aware of axle weights. Vosa weigh each axle. I'm an ex HGV driver and have fallen foul of overloaded individual axles.
Another thing to point out here is that gov website will only list weighbridge that are certified calibrated weighbridge, using scrapyard I would be very cautious of the legitimacy of the tare weight 😂 and also would want to see proof of last calibration to be sure that it will actually give a true reading of the actual real weight. Scrapyard is not a great idea as usually these weighbridge are only used to calculate weight of scrap metals they will be purchasing so more incentive for them to use a dodgy tare weight to start with to make any purchase for them cheaper 🤔 just some food for thought for you 😊
As a truck drive of many years the situations I seen are normally things everywhere, bloody everywhere, and often dead people in or flung out of vehicles.
I remember them days when I used out my feet up on the dashboard whilst my dad was driving. Was much younger back then but since I started to drive (over 10 years now) I’d realised the dangers of certain things I’d done, like not seatbelt in the backseat, or sleeping flat in the back whilst someone’s driving etc and how they could have ended very wrong with just one single move/accident. I’d never thought much about that till now again after seeing this video. It is a massive point a lot of kids need to know early on.
Mot stations that have an ATL test lane will also have the facility to weigh the vehicle. They weigh each axle during the brake test to calculate percentage of efficiency.
@@pauldavies7251 A lot won’t get near the gross capacity, so no issue as you say. However if you take a California unladen weight as an example (circa 2525kg) it gives you an idea of the weight of a full conversion. Before adding people, food drink, belongings for a holiday, bikes etc. That’s not including any extra weight for the bigger heavier wheels people could add. The weight can get close to capacity, especially if it’s a T28.
@@pauldavies7251just not true, a couple of 100kg humans, 50kg diesel, 50kg of water, and you are down to 400kg for your interior, bit of luggage and you've gone over.
It’s also important if people have done a conversation to get the converted van weighed (even without thinking of as you quite rightly say the extras) The vehicle reg doc should be changed with DVLA for insurance and they want that information. If you are taking a ferry they may ask you the eight of the vehicle for crossing. On some Spanish ferries you drive over scales, if it’s over a certain weight you pay extra or they may turn you back. I’ve seen people fitting oak kitchens
Many years ago, I owned a company building camper conversiins on VW LT30 & LT35 vehicles. Our conversions were modular, enabling a refit from 2 to 3 berth on the LT30 and up to 4 berths on the LT35. We worked on the basis of the fittings and tanks/gas etc., being no more than 50% of the permitted load capacity. We designed and planned around manufacturer's AXLE loads, rather than GVW. By doing this, we kept well within the law. Home-converted campers are generally, in my opinion, not compliant with current legislation; my adive would be; take your van to a professional every time. I know it's more expensive, but how can you put a price on life? If you must do it yourself; make sure that you buy appropriate materials. Cabinets are best made with aluminum sheet over a strong frame. This keeps the weight down and provides a strong unit which can be bolted to the floor and interior side frames. My curtent method is simple, I use my car, and carry a large pop-up tent. All my ancilliary equipment is carried in 2 storage boxes and it all lives in the boot. You'd be amazed at how much can be safely carried as you travel, and you're usually able to set up almost anywhere. So no restrictions
Great video, but would also add, if anyone is changing the tyre size, it needs to be the same circumference as the original fitted tyre as the odometer is calibrated for that size.
I once!! went on a camping trip with friends. After an incident with an improperly secured carving knife that narrowly missed all of us after a sudden stop, we pulled over and repacked the entire thing properly. Initially packed by the owner of the camper with assurances it had been done properly. None of us ever did go with them again. So, yes, pay attention when packing the cutlery and where it's been put... flying knives are no joke.
Heh, the usual excuse for non rated alloys is "But I'm not carrying any heavy loads" But as the supercar clan will tell you "You have to get tyres rated for 250+mph even though the speed limit is 70mph" As you say this is a commercial vehicle and will be inspected to that standard, like I see, when the HGVs getting pulled over.
Also check registration and which limits it puts on your conversion. My Berlingo Van is registered as a 'Class 2 van' here in Norway. This means I can't remove or seriously modify the bulkhead behind the front seats. It would suck to have the plates taken on your first outing for such a mistake. So check it. Vehicles(Vans, Passenger cars) that are permanently converted to a camper van usually requires an updated registration, too. At least it does here. Setting it up with an Amdro conversion that can be installed or removed in just a few minutes without altering the car, does not. Weighing the van. Here in Norway, just about every 'Trafikkstasjon'(Public Roads Department building where they handle licenses and registrations) that has an inspection hall also have weighing equipment outside, free to use. Truckers use them all the time. Campers not so much... Some of their roadside inspection sites also have weights you can use. This may be a good idea for anyone on a long trip who may have gone a bit overboard with souvenirs... Also, the inspectors sometimes single out smaller 'factory built' camper vans in the early summer for weight checks. Because the smaller campers are a bl**dy fraud. They're built on the base of a 'small commercial vehicle' with a max weight of 3.5Tons because a Class B drivers license has that weight limit. And there's hardly any capacity left after you fill the tanks. Some have as little as 150Kg for food and luggage if there's 2 adults in the van. So when a Swedish or German(Both are know to like Norwegian Nature, but not our food prices) mini camper van with a full family and 200Kg of canned food + 2weeks worth of clothes comes swerving along... it's for the good of every other driver that these are pulled over.
also i had alloy wheels lowered on my t4 .hitting various potholes on my daily travels wrecked the wheels one had crack in it so went back to standard wheels comfier ride too .still on road today my trusty t4 2.5tdi.340000 miles 1999 model .
You also need to mention those that convert panel vans into campers need to inform DVLA / insurance about number of seats inc driver has changed. For Reference my 2022 T6.1 Kombi 150 T30 Startline with options is 2113kg - So my add load would be 887kg
Van needs to be rated yes because the carry loads . That’s not necessarily what you carry in a camper , also the tyre pressure is also because of heavy loads carried in vans used as vans . Also if it’s registered as a camper it’s no longer a commercial van . Make sure all mods are registered with your insurance
Great to explain the importance of wheel and tyre load rating but didn’t explain how to discover a wheel’s load rating… it’s usually stamped on the inside 100/101/102 etc. Also tyre load rating can have 2 numbers such as 103/101 where 103 is when the tyre is on a hub with a single wheel and 101 is for a double. Good rule of thumb is 100= 800kg and each number either side is an increment/decrement of 25kg.
Have worked in the fleet tyre management industry for 35 years. Seen so many times, especially when vans are converted to campers and to spruce them up they fit after market wheels with car tyres, not light commercial tyres. Comical when you get asked what is the recommended tyre pressure and you reply there isn’t a recommended pressure as they shouldn’t be on there.
If you buy after market wheels you also need to tell your insurance company, car or van. it is classed as a modification, if you don't it could invalidate your insurance.
regarding the wheels. I'd say 80% of camper vans break the law. I'm sick of commenting on cockwombles on "camper forums" where they put bmw wheels on with wobble bolts etc and when you point out its illegal, the numpties on there come out with the "ive been driving my van for years and nothing went wrong...etc etc" and they are driving with ultra low profile car tyres on bmw style wheels that the need to put plates and wobble bolts on to fit. No wonder FB market is full of camper vanners selling wheels where one or more is cracked and needs repairing. As for the feet on the dashboard.........seen it too many times and they all know not to do it but they do. They deserve everything that happens
Just be aware that, if you turn up at a DVSA weighbridge and your van is overloaded, you won't be allowed to leave the facility until the weight has been reduced below the vehicle's GVW.
People cannot be detained! therefore you could leave but not the vehicle! which after all doe's not belong to you! as you are the registered keeper / not the registered owner.
Our old 1972 T2 Devon camper had 1" square seat frames where the seat backs could be moved around for forward or rear facing with a table between them for passengers to sit at with no seat belts = no strength in an accident and no seatbelts meandt the forward facing passengers would hit the rear facing ones and both would flatten the seat frames before hitting the bulkhead ...And with the engine cover being the storage at head height at the rear everything would be headed forward at the same time ! ... And to think , everyone took the rotor arm govenor off and fitted a solid arm for more speed ?....
How many times do the wheels get checked after an accident, not many but the best thing to do is to just stick with what you have got. On the other side you could buy a van that has had its wheels changed and if you are not up to date with these things then you are never going to know so in the event of an accident then who is to blame if the wheels do ever get checked?!?..
Ignorance isn’t a very useful defence in court. And yes, these things are often checked in the event of an accident. Dependent on severity, the vehicle can be compounded and not released until a thorough forensic investigation has been carried out. It’s not worth risking. There was a post earlier this week or last week where someone’s tyre had blown
As I have a factory built California T5 with factory wheels etc I skipped to the end and found something relevant - my wife occasionally put her feet on the dash - never again. Thank you.
You missed the most important thing re the weighbridge . Weigh twice . Both times fully loaded as you mentioned First one whole van Second one just one axle either front or rear. Deduct that weight off the total weight and you then have both axle loadings. You can be within your MIRO but still have a over loaded axle. What about a video showing this being done.
T26 vans are usually low spec, cheap and attractive for conversion. For Front wheel drive vans lower than T30 should not be used for conversion. For AWD T32 should be used. It is kind of that simple because the basic transporter vans are heavy. They are heavier than the corresponding Ducato/Boxer/Relay vans which are the size larger and come with a 3.3 or 3.5 tonne Gross weight as standard.
Thank you for this incredibly important and useful information. I never would have thought of this. You're saving people a lot of potential heartache. Thanks!!
We decided against the Roof tent box as these are so heavy up on two rails , and they must be overloaded when 2 or people sleep in. Good points with the campers, you must also check they have been converted properly, and in the event of a roll over would they be protective.
I'm a complete bore about this stuff, but I wouldn't worry about the weight of a roof tent when you are in it, as that's a relatively static load, and when the vehicle is parked. The roof rack load rating is more to do with the impact on handling, and the dynamic load if you hit bumps at speed etc. I guess there may be some dynamic load if you get gymnastic up there, but remember, it's acoustically transparent...
You do however need to be sure that they sit within the load limit for a roof rack for your car/van, including bedding if you plan to leave that in the box.
@@garethchurton212 I always think that when people take out a factory bulkhead, it's a massive part of the structure, as is the roof, at the very least you'd think there would be some sort of frame welded in to replace.
I run a Dispatch Combi 9 seater. I’m on groups where they replace the wheels with ones from Peugeot 308’s!!!!! When I try and point this out I get laughed at. Muppets everywhere.
Why would I do that in a pub, when I could just publish a video for people to refer too, to fill in any potential knowledge gaps they had. Oh yes, the video has actually helped people. I would rather enjoy the pub for socialising 🤷🏻♂️
These vehicles don't do half the work of a working van which is towing a trailer with a 1.5 T Digger the load is much higher on the towing working van ,the camper is not even near the load Exerted on the working van wheels, Anyone Have evidence that the wheels have Failed i don't thjnk so , We see vans than are fully loaded and no problems , I know that the plate is showing what it can carry, But explain why a van pulled in by the Dvsa is 2 Tonne overweight but the wheels and Tyres have not failed with the Heavy load ,There is Always a Wide Safety factor for the Specification you are on about, But it's on the Vin plate and that is the problem that you can fall foul of the Law 👍 Excellent Advice And the Average mileage for a camper us probably 8k over 3 year's a working van towing would have covered 250k no problem towing 2T every Day 😂
There are loads of pictures on the Facebook groups of shredded tyres because they weren’t rated correctly. I actually showed a few in a recent video. Most of the work vans won’t have 20 inch alloy wheels with shallow tyres. The vans that are fully loaded for work are more than likely sat on the correct commercial tyres
I have my van packed to the rafters going on holidays, with a dog in the smallest rear seat and also a roof box. I noticed a police traffic car shadowing me for some distance in Taunton this year and then eventually driving off. The vehicle itself is completely legal and I was travelling at exactly 30 mph in a 30 zone. So what was it? Either he thought that the vehicle might be overweight or that it was packed as you advise against. It was nowhere near overweight including all the camping gear. I have the secret weapon of ratchet straps which are attached to the floor anchors and then wrapped round anything of weight above floor level Pillows and soft furnishings are not going to kill me and so these are excluded. The same goes for cars which are loaded to go on holiday, not just vans.
I looked at this with intrest to see if my VW Transporter was legal but no mention of it very disopointed, I have a VW T2 posible the the most popular one.
I’m sorry 🥲 I love the older stuff, but it seems most watching my channel don’t. I made a video on a 23 window Samba over a year ago and hardly anyone was interested in it. Maybe one day I will win the lottery, buy one and start a separate channel 😁
great video, so in germany the law is taken seriously and when i came to the UK and seen people having 4 different tyres on the for corners of the car i was suprised because H&S is quite high when it comes to other things...
The fact that this video even needs to be made shows how stupid people are. Always makes me wonder when I see vans full of stuff loose in the van, what they do with it when they travel. I have nothing out when we set off and everything has to have a place. Simple common sense but not so common it seems.
I couldn't fit my frame in here, but mk7 transit, wide steel wheels (rare to find or just make) remapped 2.2 tdci, completely gutted and remade to a personal home, I wonder if I should change springs etc as it's still overall weight is 1.6 tons out of 2.8 and it's a beautiful camper and a track van...
Oh for goodness sake leave the wheels alone, you are not 3 years old, original wheels are safer, bend but still get you home, alloys often break on impact, then you are stuck. Cheap alloys can age harden, become brittle and shatter.....and kill you.
Great vid, thanks, curious would a towbox with bike rack be considered an addition to the gross weight or is it tow weight. A tow box doesn't have wheels so it seems its should be treated as gross weight?
Hi Loved the video, found it very interesting an informative. Could you enlighten me on the legalities of a RNR bed please...it's a minefield out there? Thanks Helen
Our T28 camper has a gross weight of 2800kg and a gross towing weight of 5200kg, so the extra 2400kg can be towed. Load things into a trailer not the van?
Well, if I change no components, I pay my taxes and insurance and I have a driverslicence, here (in The Netherlands) my van could never be illigal. But who knows, it might be diffetent in the USA.
Are you saying that in the Netherlands you could put wheels on a vehicle which are not capable of carrying the weight of the vehicle, therefore dangerous?
@@StaycationLifestyle That is not what I said: I said my car is never illegal if I change no components. Or if I don’t overload it, r tow a to heavy lorry. Stay within the law and my original car is never is never illegal. Don’t fuzz with your vehicle and your van is legal, change things and yeah, then you make it unsafe and illegal.
Crash Tested beds can FAIL crash tests - ua-cam.com/video/NvVtZ6MPo4w/v-deo.html
Having managed fleets of vans and trailers, and as a result had a number of ‘meetings’ with what was VOSA this video is superb. The number of people out there who either don’t know or don’t care is astounding. And you didn’t even touch on trailers… 😱
I think a lot don’t know, unfortunately. As for the companies fitting incorrect rated wheels and tyres, a disgrace. Hope you have dash cams/camera systems on the fleets you manage, I have personally had clients hugely benefit from them, proving liability in claims 👍
Just come across this and I’m impressed with the tech info as so many people dismiss the obvious when converting a van
This is so helpful (and so important). So few people talk about it in any detail. Thank you xx
Very pleased you found it helpful
Great video.....sadly most who don't watch it to the end are beyond such critical advice evidenced by the majority of Vanlife videos on UA-cam....thanks for focusing on what's truly important for ALL road users
Thank you. I saw someone’s advice on a forum today to help secure items whilst travelling. The advise was to use a non slip mat 🫣
I had no clue about most of this - thank you. I bought mine ready converted but looking back it wasn’t the best conversion and the dealer didn’t mention anything about weight.
Glad I helped. The weight is often overlooked. A lot of the common equipment we take out with us can soon add up
@@StaycationLifestyle One of my friends used to deal in fruit and veg, so that was a couple of trips into London every week to pick up stock in his 7.5 ton truck. When his vehicle was fully loaded it looked practically empty. He was caught out a few times being pulled over by police and then escorted to the weigh bridge. It's surprising how heavy fruit and veg can be.
Yet another friend was a roadie for a band and the problem they had was that their kit took up a lot of space, but wasn't particularly heavy. Nevertheless, if your licence restricts you to 7.5 tons, that's not the fully loaded capacity but the registered maximum kerb weight of the vehicle. So if you get a vehicle that's registered to have a maximum kerb weight of 10 tons, you can't drive it on a conventional licence, even if it's empty (so weighs less than the 7.5 tons you're allowed). His solution was to get a vehicle, that is normally plated to have a maximum kerb weight of 10 tons but then applied to have it reclassed to have a maximum of 7.5 ton. He had to take it for an inspection by the DOT, to ensure it was capable of carrying the 7.5 tons (which it obviously passed with flying colours) but once the change was made, he was now permitted to drive it with his normal licence. Obviously now that vehicle is restricted to a maximum weight of 7.5 tons (no matter who drives it) but that still allows a couple of tons of load. And it has lots of space, which is what he needed.
Brilliant, well-presented info! It amazes me that people don't understand that whatever speed WE are travelling at, then all the objects in the car at travelling at the same speed! If you slam the brakes on and drop suddenly from say 50 to zero - safe because of your seat-belt - guess what happens to the dog/kettle/cat or stuffed moose head that was in the back seat unrestrained BEHIND YOUR HEAD and also travelling at 50mph?!
Thank you. Yes it’s crazy. People just don’t think 🤷🏻♂️
As a retired Traffic officer I dealt with this sort of issue a lot. I always recommended for campers and all commercial vehicle owners to load their vehicle with ALL normal items ,tools etc they carry every day including a FULL tank of fuel, take it to a public weigh bridge, preferably, pre arranged and get a weight then deduct that from its Gross that gives you a carrying capacity. there is a defence in law if stopped if you are en-route to a weigh bridge as long as its not on the other side of the country !!!!
Excellent advice. I have in fact done this with each van that I have owned, soon after purchase.
Most large farms have weigh-bridges and scrapyards so easy to do your self 👍🏻
@@HeidiGelling Why WOULD they tell you though. Informing you properly as is their job to do so (this applies in all aspects of life) would mean people don't break these rules/laws/regulations and the money pit that is traffic offenses dries up.
@@HeidiGellingit is your responsibility as the driver to make sure you are carrying a safe load, government does tell you, it's in the highway code, and there is loads of info on the .gov website.
@@dodo19923these laws are there not because of milking people, as ticket income is not a large chunk compared to millions and billions of budget, but to ensure road safety. They tell you BECAUSE WITH LOW RATED ALLOYS AND LOW RATED TIRES YOU CAN BLOW A TIRE, DAMAGE A WHEEL AND YOU CAN POTENTIALLY CAN K*LL PEOPLE CAUSING AN ACCID3NT. a van can easily flip a car, or run into pedestrians. Law enforcement are FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, not some "secret government plan". Dont be a conteo believer... its not that deep. Not everything a gov. Does is there for some illuminati shit.
Great video, experienced this myself when i bought my T4 with Audi tyres and rims on, three out of 4 tyres split open like kebabs, had the fright of my life when i went to the tyre fitters, the day before i had been travelling on the motorway. at the time i didn't realise about vans and extra load tyres.
I had been debating buying new tires and luckily learned that the ones I bought the van with from the previous owner were not load rated. Feeling a bit safer now, but still need to replace the spare, which is original (1994 Eurovan) 😮
Great that you make people aware that as they are driving a commercial vehicle they can be stopped by VOSA. If you think MOT testers are bad the VOSA people will be your worst nightmare, they apply the rules correctly and rigidly, whether you are in a van or an articulated truck if you have a defect action will be taken, had a prohibition order put on for a cracked mirror and we didn't move until the mirror was replaced...no argument.
Rightly so in many regards (VOSA being strict). Vehicles must be safe, I can see the mirror issue from both sides 😉 but does seem harsh.
Don’t believe you
@@Ambercormack-k5t yeah unfortunately you should, it was in a 10 tonne Volvo lorry and we got stopped near Dundee. Cracked nearside mirror which apparently meant that vision was seriously affected on the nearside and we wouldn't be able to accurately return to lane after passing another vehicle. Dangerous defect....prohibition order.
Quite surprised that the wheel and tyre load rating isn't something that is checked on an MOT
Well advised, same goes for caravans and packing them with allsorts and placing the weight at the rear etc and high up, very dangerous 👍
GREAT advice all the way through your extremely helpful vdo ! ! ! Perhaps a good idea also to mention that the very best Accident Investigators don't work for Scotland Yard or the FBI, but they DO work for the big Insurance Companies. - And it is their job to find legal reasons to NOT PAY OUT to the insureds after an accident.
So failure to comply with any of the items mentioned in this VDO could be very expensive indeed, because the Insurance money will NEVER arrive !
Great Vid, some good advice there, another one to remember if you van is only registered to have 3 Seat's which is normal for a van unless you change this and have it tested you can only carry 3 passengers in the front of your van.
Another good point. There are many other videos I can and am doing on this subject. Watch this space 😀
I believe you can carry more people in the back even with the bulk head removed without changing the logbook, but insurance must know about it. And the law states that the driver have the responsibility to ensure that in an event of an accident, the seats are safe and wont come out.
Having weighed many vehicles over the years on weighbridges, axle weighers , in a previous incarnation, I watch these videos of people self building their vans, I think how much does that all weigh? Cookers, microwaves, cladding, beds, sideboards, etc etc. Put on top of that yourselves, your fuel, water supplies, the rear axles must be creaking. Thanks for highlighting this.
That’s right. Those items certainly add up. Definitely worth spending a tenner (ish) to fully load up and go and have it checked
I have just watched this video. I have a Ford Transit, and I decided to try and do some courier work and I had all proper insurances. The first thing before I even started was, to go to a local weigh bridge fully stocked up ie full fuel ratchet straps and blankets. Myself plus extra 3 X 10 litre cans of emergency fuel. I then knew my unladen weight for a 2.8 tonne van, and I found the carrying I could carry was 700kg max to stay under the 2800kg limit. Now subscribed. Looking at getting a motorhome, and I will stock everything up then go on a weigh bridge with myself for safety, then I will know how much extra weight I can carry safely.
I have done courier type jobs in the past, all the firms I worked for treated staff badly, sending van's out filled from floor to ceiling, clearly over loaded. One driver got caught, he got points and a fine plus the firm had to pay 5k. They still risked sending van's out overloaded though.
Great video. We tow a caravan so are really aware of weights and loading. Have watched quite a few van conversion videos with horror. Don't think weight considerations are ever mentioned when building the beds and cupboards.
So to recap on van weight. Make sure all the fluids under the bonnet are full, fuel tank and Adblue are full and water tanks etc. Do a pretend trip as in your your packed and ready to go, everyone is in the van including pets, food & everything, then take a trip to the Weigh Bridge. Get front axle weight and then rear and then total weight. Don't forget being under your total weight still might mean a axle could be over weight. Great video btw.
Also have a friend follow you, so if you are overweight, you can offload passengers or other items to him, so you're legal to drive home again.
@KenFullman Or her following you, but yes, a funny reply 😁
Those handcuffs look really good on you.
🤣
That's a personal thing and nothing to do with his video. He just forgot to take them off.
I had two tyres replaced and I picked the wrong ones. The tyre fitter arrived and wouldn't fit them because they where the wrong rating. Thankfully they swapped them for the corrected rated at no extra cost.
I learned something that day.
That’s a good tyre fitter. It’s crazy how many incorrectly rated tyres are fitted
@@StaycationLifestyleI once went to a tyre place for my car and they fitted tyres with a lower speed rating than the manufacturer specs. When I pointed out their error they replied “aww yeah mate it’s not a problem” uh yes it is. You’ve just made my car unroadworthy.
Needless to say, I didn’t go back there again.
I recall years ago selecting some tyres for my car and the guy told me. Sorry these are only rated up to 80mph so they're not the right ones for your vehicle. I pointed out that the speed limit is 70 so it shouldn't be a problem. But it turned out that the price difference was pretty negligible so I took the higher rated tyres. A couple of weeks later I was pulled over by the police as I was clocked at 147mph. Fortunately they must have been in a good mood because, after thoroughly checking the vehicle (including the specs on the tyres), I got away with a warning.
YES, Lots of stuff, for no reason, simplicity missing from most of them. SAFETY compromise . .Thanks for focusing on what's truly important for most .
Excellent common sense video. Highlighting the importance of knowing the max weight of your camper. Definitely a good idea to take to a Weightbridge or scales to get the correct weight. Then there’s no guessing. I’ve seen wheels fail before due to poor quality and overloading. A OE quality wheel is expensive because it’s made durable and to a approved standard. Don’t take the risk.
There are Crash Test videos of the dummy with their legs on the dashboard in front of the airbag. The results are impressively bad. Major leg trauma and possible death due to internal bleeding.
the most important point you missed is your insurance is invalid if overweight or on wrong wheels!
The point was the law side of things, which both the weight and wheels are included. Insurance is another matter. A subject that could be a whole video in itself
So many things to be aware of with these conversions , i work at a VWC dealer and see so many conversions, some amazing ones and some horrendous ones too , seen some dangerous stuff !
I was forever having heated arguments with my employer about me refusing to take overweight 7.5 tonners, sprinter vans out.Other drivers even though they knew what they were doing were allowed threw the gate. In the end they gave up arguing with me because they never won. When i left the job i spoke with one of them and i said im suprised i was never sacked, she said they couldnt do that because i was always right.
Just bought a T32. First van. Lots to think about here, thanks!
I would add, don't sit cross-legged in the front seat either. The airbag will break both femurs if you're lucky and your pelvis if you're not 😖
Hi, some very good points just from safety sense. But wait there is more! Modifications and alterations many nullify your new vehicle warranty and your insurance, just because the roof rack or tow bar manufacturer or suspension wizards tell you its the best thing since sliced bread. Don’t believe them! The vehicle retailer who issued you your warranty, the insurance company who covered you for specific things are the ones who have the last word ( barring the expensive legal system )! Don’t ever try explaining to the police officer after the crash what you didn’t know. I have seen people spend tens of thousands of dollars on four wheel drive vehicles who wrote off hundred thousand dollars on off road accidents! Caravans and camper van people get caught out more times than you can imagine. Be careful out there, there be danger on those corners! Cheers mate, Harera
Generally, when you do any mod just let your insurer know. Even racking in vans is a mod don't forget your wheels as well. It doesn't normally up the cost if you have decent insurer.
Things people forget. Most peoples driving licence 3.5tons. Weight limit also on some car parks. Sign on outside of van showing where gas bottles are. Also that you are carrying gas. Stealth vans don't. Watch out Car Parks means CARS. They can move you on. Also depends on van. Side lights need to be on all night on lay byes. Look it up not all lay byes. Cheers from old George great video by the way. Ps forgot to mention. On some vans, vehicles you are not allowed to change a wheel by yourself side of road. If you get a puncture.
Hi, good video telling so much everyone should know. I was involved in a serious accident which resulted in me having broken bones, all from the load shifting. Take scrap to the local dealer to get your van weighed for free.
When you go to get weighed, make sure you do each axle separately, as well as total vehicle mass. It’s very easy in some vans to be overweight on one axle even though the total mass is ok.
Hi great video! one thing i'm thinking about is when many people convert a commercial van into a motorhome is an exciting project indeed! When it comes to the safety of removing the cargo cover between the driver's compartment and the cargo area, there are some important factors to consider that few consider
Structural integrity. The load protection can contribute to the vehicle's structure and crashworthiness. Removing it may affect the stability and safety of the vehicle in the event of a collision.
Passenger safety. The cargo cover protects passengers from cargo or objects that may move in the event of sudden braking or an accident. Without it, loose objects in the cargo area can become dangerous projectiles.
Rules and regulations. Check the local rules and regulations for vehicle conversion. In many countries there are specific requirements for converting a van to a motorhome, and compliance with these is essential for the vehicle to be legal and safe to use.
There is always a risk that homemade fittings release parts more easily when braking. translation via Google into English.
Scrap yards are generally alot cheaper than weigh stations when it comes to weighing vehicles!
Very good tip. I would hope they are listed to be used by the public 👍
Yeah single plate weigh bridge weighs the whole vehicle. You really need to be aware of axle weights. Vosa weigh each axle. I'm an ex HGV driver and have fallen foul of overloaded individual axles.
Another thing to point out here is that gov website will only list weighbridge that are certified calibrated weighbridge, using scrapyard I would be very cautious of the legitimacy of the tare weight 😂 and also would want to see proof of last calibration to be sure that it will actually give a true reading of the actual real weight. Scrapyard is not a great idea as usually these weighbridge are only used to calculate weight of scrap metals they will be purchasing so more incentive for them to use a dodgy tare weight to start with to make any purchase for them cheaper 🤔 just some food for thought for you 😊
Also some large builders merchants where they sell loose sand , ballast etc.
As a truck drive of many years the situations I seen are normally things everywhere, bloody everywhere, and often dead people in or flung out of vehicles.
Horrible to see and it’s not difficult to prevent it. Just a little thought required
I remember them days when I used out my feet up on the dashboard whilst my dad was driving. Was much younger back then but since I started to drive (over 10 years now) I’d realised the dangers of certain things I’d done, like not seatbelt in the backseat, or sleeping flat in the back whilst someone’s driving etc and how they could have ended very wrong with just one single move/accident. I’d never thought much about that till now again after seeing this video. It is a massive point a lot of kids need to know early on.
Ha ha, yes there is a lot we did when we were younger, completely unaware of the possible consequences.
Very good informative video.
Factual advice and well narrated.
Thank you very much
Mot stations that have an ATL test lane will also have the facility to weigh the vehicle. They weigh each axle during the brake test to calculate percentage of efficiency.
Good point. I wonder if they would be happy to weigh 🤷🏻♂️
@@pauldavies7251 A lot won’t get near the gross capacity, so no issue as you say. However if you take a California unladen weight as an example (circa 2525kg) it gives you an idea of the weight of a full conversion. Before adding people, food drink, belongings for a holiday, bikes etc. That’s not including any extra weight for the bigger heavier wheels people could add. The weight can get close to capacity, especially if it’s a T28.
@@pauldavies7251just not true, a couple of 100kg humans, 50kg diesel, 50kg of water, and you are down to 400kg for your interior, bit of luggage and you've gone over.
It’s also important if people have done a conversation to get the converted van weighed (even without thinking of as you quite rightly say the extras) The vehicle reg doc should be changed with DVLA for insurance and they want that information. If you are taking a ferry they may ask you the eight of the vehicle for crossing. On some Spanish ferries you drive over scales, if it’s over a certain weight you pay extra or they may turn you back. I’ve seen people fitting oak kitchens
Many years ago, I owned a company building camper conversiins on VW LT30 & LT35 vehicles. Our conversions were modular, enabling a refit from 2 to 3 berth on the LT30 and up to 4 berths on the LT35. We worked on the basis of the fittings and tanks/gas etc., being no more than 50% of the permitted load capacity. We designed and planned around manufacturer's AXLE loads, rather than GVW. By doing this, we kept well within the law. Home-converted campers are generally, in my opinion, not compliant with current legislation; my adive would be; take your van to a professional every time. I know it's more expensive, but how can you put a price on life?
If you must do it yourself; make sure that you buy appropriate materials. Cabinets are best made with aluminum sheet over a strong frame. This keeps the weight down and provides a strong unit which can be bolted to the floor and interior side frames.
My curtent method is simple, I use my car, and carry a large pop-up tent. All my ancilliary equipment is carried in 2 storage boxes and it all lives in the boot. You'd be amazed at how much can be safely carried as you travel, and you're usually able to set up almost anywhere. So no restrictions
Great video, but would also add, if anyone is changing the tyre size, it needs to be the same circumference as the original fitted tyre as the odometer is calibrated for that size.
I once!! went on a camping trip with friends. After an incident with an improperly secured carving knife that narrowly missed all of us after a sudden stop, we pulled over and repacked the entire thing properly. Initially packed by the owner of the camper with assurances it had been done properly. None of us ever did go with them again. So, yes, pay attention when packing the cutlery and where it's been put... flying knives are no joke.
Heh, the usual excuse for non rated alloys is "But I'm not carrying any heavy loads"
But as the supercar clan will tell you "You have to get tyres rated for 250+mph even though the speed limit is 70mph" As you say this is a commercial vehicle and will be inspected to that standard, like I see, when the HGVs getting pulled over.
Absolutely. Saw a van a few months back with shredded tyres, hugely underrated, yet the owner denied that had a factor 🤦🏼♂️
Also check registration and which limits it puts on your conversion.
My Berlingo Van is registered as a 'Class 2 van' here in Norway. This means I can't remove or seriously modify the bulkhead behind the front seats. It would suck to have the plates taken on your first outing for such a mistake. So check it.
Vehicles(Vans, Passenger cars) that are permanently converted to a camper van usually requires an updated registration, too. At least it does here.
Setting it up with an Amdro conversion that can be installed or removed in just a few minutes without altering the car, does not.
Weighing the van.
Here in Norway, just about every 'Trafikkstasjon'(Public Roads Department building where they handle licenses and registrations) that has an inspection hall also have weighing equipment outside, free to use. Truckers use them all the time. Campers not so much...
Some of their roadside inspection sites also have weights you can use.
This may be a good idea for anyone on a long trip who may have gone a bit overboard with souvenirs...
Also, the inspectors sometimes single out smaller 'factory built' camper vans in the early summer for weight checks. Because the smaller campers are a bl**dy fraud. They're built on the base of a 'small commercial vehicle' with a max weight of 3.5Tons because a Class B drivers license has that weight limit. And there's hardly any capacity left after you fill the tanks. Some have as little as 150Kg for food and luggage if there's 2 adults in the van. So when a Swedish or German(Both are know to like Norwegian Nature, but not our food prices) mini camper van with a full family and 200Kg of canned food + 2weeks worth of clothes comes swerving along... it's for the good of every other driver that these are pulled over.
Excellent video. first thing i did after I converted my Vivaro was take it to a weigh bridge fully loaded. Luckily it was under.
Yup , see loads using bf goodrich all terrain tyres that in most cases not load rated enough
It’s not good. There are loads of unrated wheels also
@@StaycationLifestyle we have cross climate algis bloody ace all year
There are a few good all season tyres and even manufacturers have started to fit them on new vehicles
OMG Great video, you cover all my gripes I see all so often !
Thank you 😄 So many people just brush these off and not care
also i had alloy wheels lowered on my t4 .hitting various potholes on my daily travels wrecked the wheels one had crack in it so went back to standard wheels comfier ride too .still on road today my trusty t4 2.5tdi.340000 miles 1999 model .
You also need to mention those that convert panel vans into campers need to inform DVLA / insurance about number of seats inc driver has changed. For Reference my 2022 T6.1 Kombi 150 T30 Startline with options is 2113kg - So my add load would be 887kg
Van needs to be rated yes because the carry loads . That’s not necessarily what you carry in a camper , also the tyre pressure is also because of heavy loads carried in vans used as vans . Also if it’s registered as a camper it’s no longer a commercial van . Make sure all mods are registered with your insurance
@@lweleven3423 My video this weekend actually shows tyres that have shredded as not load rated on campervans.
Very true regarding insurance 👍🏼
Great to explain the importance of wheel and tyre load rating but didn’t explain how to discover a wheel’s load rating… it’s usually stamped on the inside 100/101/102 etc. Also tyre load rating can have 2 numbers such as 103/101 where 103 is when the tyre is on a hub with a single wheel and 101 is for a double. Good rule of thumb is 100= 800kg and each number either side is an increment/decrement of 25kg.
It amazes me how you can cut the roof and it's structure out put a pop up roof in and it's legal
Have worked in the fleet tyre management industry for 35 years. Seen so many times, especially when vans are converted to campers and to spruce them up they fit after market wheels with car tyres, not light commercial tyres. Comical when you get asked what is the recommended tyre pressure and you reply there isn’t a recommended pressure as they shouldn’t be on there.
Fantastic video and sage words.
Thank you
If you buy after market wheels you also need to tell your insurance company, car or van. it is classed as a modification, if you don't it could invalidate your insurance.
Absolutely right 👍🏼
But not if you fit wheels that available from the vehicle manufacturer as an upgrade when it was new.
Best I've seen is knives on a magnet on the wall behind the driver, that could make a minor bump exciting!
Yes that’s scary. Not a chance I want to risk that
Excellent information and advice.
regarding the wheels. I'd say 80% of camper vans break the law. I'm sick of commenting on cockwombles on "camper forums" where they put bmw wheels on with wobble bolts etc and when you point out its illegal, the numpties on there come out with the "ive been driving my van for years and nothing went wrong...etc etc" and they are driving with ultra low profile car tyres on bmw style wheels that the need to put plates and wobble bolts on to fit. No wonder FB market is full of camper vanners selling wheels where one or more is cracked and needs repairing.
As for the feet on the dashboard.........seen it too many times and they all know not to do it but they do. They deserve everything that happens
It’s crazy. Even more concerning when it’s the converters themselves who are doing it.
One day the industry will be properly regulated, I hope
Just be aware that, if you turn up at a DVSA weighbridge and your van is overloaded, you won't be allowed to leave the facility until the weight has been reduced below the vehicle's GVW.
I didn’t know that. Very helpful, thank you 👍
This was my worry
@@andywoolley2636 As mentioned below, best use a scrap[yard weight bridge, as they won't care if you're over GVW.
Load of rubbish.
People cannot be detained! therefore you could leave but not the vehicle! which after all doe's not belong to you! as you are the registered keeper / not the registered owner.
Our old 1972 T2 Devon camper had 1" square seat frames where the seat backs could be moved around for forward or rear facing with a table between them for passengers to sit at with no seat belts = no strength in an accident and no seatbelts meandt the forward facing passengers would hit the rear facing ones and both would flatten the seat frames before hitting the bulkhead ...And with the engine cover being the storage at head height at the rear everything would be headed forward at the same time ! ...
And to think , everyone took the rotor arm govenor off and fitted a solid arm for more speed ?....
On Holliday in Germany I passed a stone quarry. Asked of I could weigh my camper, of course.
Cost me nothing but now I know what the thing weights.
That was a good idea and even better you didn’t get charged 👍🏼
Even smiling is ILLEGAL in the miserable UK
Smiling won’t cause an accident 🤣 I know what you mean though
Really good advice,
Thank You
Nice video touched on some good points l didn’t know thanks 👍🏽
Eye opener
How many times do the wheels get checked after an accident, not many but the best thing to do is to just stick with what you have got.
On the other side you could buy a van that has had its wheels changed and if you are not up to date with these things then you are never going to know so in the event of an accident then who is to blame if the wheels do ever get checked?!?..
Ignorance isn’t a very useful defence in court.
And yes, these things are often checked in the event of an accident. Dependent on severity, the vehicle can be compounded and not released until a thorough forensic investigation has been carried out.
It’s not worth risking. There was a post earlier this week or last week where someone’s tyre had blown
As I have a factory built California T5 with factory wheels etc I skipped to the end and found something relevant - my wife occasionally put her feet on the dash - never again. Thank you.
Don’t miss the part about overloading and packing poorly. Flying missiles aren’t good.
Nice choice of camper
@@StaycationLifestyle thank you. As an ex van driver I am aware.
I actually fell asleep watching your video . A lot of good information .
I’m not sure that’s a good thing you falling asleep 🤣
That’s why I always get my wheels from the dealer good deals with Tires by with the van keep the steel wheels for snow tires
You missed the most important thing re the weighbridge . Weigh twice . Both times fully loaded as you mentioned First one whole van Second one just one axle either front or rear. Deduct that weight off the total weight and you then have both axle loadings. You can be within your MIRO but still have a over loaded axle. What about a video showing this being done.
Good point. Yes i have planned to do a video on this very subject. Hopefully coming soon
T26 vans are usually low spec, cheap and attractive for conversion. For Front wheel drive vans lower than T30 should not be used for conversion. For AWD T32 should be used. It is kind of that simple because the basic transporter vans are heavy. They are heavier than the corresponding Ducato/Boxer/Relay vans which are the size larger and come with a 3.3 or 3.5 tonne Gross weight as standard.
Yea they are quite heavy and people will be surprised what their loaded van will actually weigh
@@pauldavies7251 I’d be surprised if full conversion is so light, would have thought 200kg would still be light
The thing is you could buy a veichle that hasnt got the correct wheels and tyres on and who is going to know unless you know about these things.
That’s exactly one of the reasons I spoke about it. Just trying to help 👍🏼
Thank you for this incredibly important and useful information. I never would have thought of this. You're saving people a lot of potential heartache. Thanks!!
We decided against the Roof tent box as these are so heavy up on two rails , and they must be overloaded when 2 or people sleep in. Good points with the campers, you must also check they have been converted properly, and in the event of a roll over would they be protective.
I'm a complete bore about this stuff, but I wouldn't worry about the weight of a roof tent when you are in it, as that's a relatively static load, and when the vehicle is parked. The roof rack load rating is more to do with the impact on handling, and the dynamic load if you hit bumps at speed etc. I guess there may be some dynamic load if you get gymnastic up there, but remember, it's acoustically transparent...
You do however need to be sure that they sit within the load limit for a roof rack for your car/van, including bedding if you plan to leave that in the box.
Errr… it won’t matter if 2 people are sleeping in the tent box.. the vehicle is presumably parked and they were in it as passengers anyway.
It amazes me how you can cut the roof and all its supporting structure out put a pop up roof in and it's legal
@@garethchurton212 I always think that when people take out a factory bulkhead, it's a massive part of the structure, as is the roof, at the very least you'd think there would be some sort of frame welded in to replace.
Excellent presentation.
You can also go to your local scrapyard
Good suggestion
Great advice.
Thank you
I am a new follower of your channel Greetings from Sweden
Thank you and welcome 😀
I run a Dispatch Combi 9 seater. I’m on groups where they replace the wheels with ones from Peugeot 308’s!!!!! When I try and point this out I get laughed at. Muppets everywhere.
I'm assuming this applies to all vehicles including minivan type campers.
@@lisaf7909 Yes that’s correct
You'd be great fun at a pub. Telling everyone what they're doing wrong.
Why would I do that in a pub, when I could just publish a video for people to refer too, to fill in any potential knowledge gaps they had. Oh yes, the video has actually helped people.
I would rather enjoy the pub for socialising 🤷🏻♂️
These vehicles don't do half the work of a working van which is towing a trailer with a 1.5 T Digger the load is much higher on the towing working van ,the camper is not even near the load Exerted on the working van wheels, Anyone Have evidence that the wheels have Failed i don't thjnk so , We see vans than are fully loaded and no problems , I know that the plate is showing what it can carry, But explain why a van pulled in by the Dvsa is 2 Tonne overweight but the wheels and Tyres have not failed with the Heavy load ,There is Always a Wide Safety factor for the Specification you are on about, But it's on the Vin plate and that is the problem that you can fall foul of the Law 👍 Excellent Advice And the Average mileage for a camper us probably 8k over 3 year's a working van towing would have covered 250k no problem towing 2T every Day 😂
There are loads of pictures on the Facebook groups of shredded tyres because they weren’t rated correctly. I actually showed a few in a recent video.
Most of the work vans won’t have 20 inch alloy wheels with shallow tyres.
The vans that are fully loaded for work are more than likely sat on the correct commercial tyres
Very useful thanks
Glad you think so 👍🏼
easy option get the highest rated
If my blankets end up on my feet , ill know i was in a crash, but i will realize at that exact moment i forgot to put the handbrake on
🤣 Made me laugh. Not something you want to forget
I have my van packed to the rafters going on holidays, with a dog in the smallest rear seat and also a roof box. I noticed a police traffic car shadowing me for some distance in Taunton this year and then eventually driving off. The vehicle itself is completely legal and I was travelling at exactly 30 mph in a 30 zone. So what was it? Either he thought that the vehicle might be overweight or that it was packed as you advise against. It was nowhere near overweight including all the camping gear. I have the secret weapon of ratchet straps which are attached to the floor anchors and then wrapped round anything of weight above floor level Pillows and soft furnishings are not going to kill me and so these are excluded. The same goes for cars which are loaded to go on holiday, not just vans.
I looked at this with intrest to see if my VW Transporter was legal but no mention of it very disopointed, I have a VW T2 posible the the most popular one.
I’m sorry 🥲 I love the older stuff, but it seems most watching my channel don’t.
I made a video on a 23 window Samba over a year ago and hardly anyone was interested in it.
Maybe one day I will win the lottery, buy one and start a separate channel 😁
Response to a submission about unrestrained dog on someones lap from the police was its restrained by the passenger 🙄
Yes I can see that, doesn’t seem right though does it
great video, so in germany the law is taken seriously and when i came to the UK and seen people having 4 different tyres on the for corners of the car i was suprised because H&S is quite high when it comes to other things...
The fact that this video even needs to be made shows how stupid people are. Always makes me wonder when I see vans full of stuff loose in the van, what they do with it when they travel. I have nothing out when we set off and everything has to have a place. Simple common sense but not so common it seems.
Yes it is a concern. For those that didn’t know, I hope they take note and for those who know and chose to ignore, I hope they don’t regret it
You don't need to have insulation and cabinets,
I couldn't fit my frame in here, but mk7 transit, wide steel wheels (rare to find or just make) remapped 2.2 tdci, completely gutted and remade to a personal home, I wonder if I should change springs etc as it's still overall weight is 1.6 tons out of 2.8 and it's a beautiful camper and a track van...
Great tips 👌
Bedfordshire don’t list any . 😬
Oh for goodness sake leave the wheels alone, you are not 3 years old, original wheels are safer, bend but still get you home, alloys often break on impact, then you are stuck. Cheap alloys can age harden, become brittle and shatter.....and kill you.
Very true and with original wheels, you will have the correct commercial tyre
What would you do if you've got the wheel that could take a higher load
Useful video thanks
Great vid, thanks, curious would a towbox with bike rack be considered an addition to the gross weight or is it tow weight. A tow box doesn't have wheels so it seems its should be treated as gross weight?
Hi
Loved the video, found it very interesting an informative. Could you enlighten me on the legalities of a RNR bed please...it's a minefield out there?
Thanks Helen
Our T28 camper has a gross weight of 2800kg and a gross towing weight of 5200kg, so the extra 2400kg can be towed. Load things into a trailer not the van?
They are becoming more common, especially the teardrop/pod trailers
Well, if I change no components, I pay my taxes and insurance and I have a driverslicence, here (in The Netherlands) my van could never be illigal. But who knows, it might be diffetent in the USA.
Are you saying that in the Netherlands you could put wheels on a vehicle which are not capable of carrying the weight of the vehicle, therefore dangerous?
@@StaycationLifestyle That is not what I said: I said my car is never illegal if I change no components. Or if I don’t overload it, r tow a to heavy lorry. Stay within the law and my original car is never is never illegal. Don’t fuzz with your vehicle and your van is legal, change things and yeah, then you make it unsafe and illegal.
Are older T2 say early 1970s subject to this as they were campers not commercial. Do they have the same weight details plate I should look out for?
Is it an accident that those handcuffs are in the bedroom ?? 😁
🤣