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Quote: Originally posted by wilf54 on 07/10/2013

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Thanks Chris, I tried VOSA and they are only interested in vehicles with an engine or trailers over 3,500kg (ie truck trailers).

I'm sure it must be possible I just don't know how!

Unfortunately my wife doesn't have b+e. Both sets of parents do but that isn't always handy for holidays ;-)

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/Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 07/10/2013/

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sually you contact the manufacturer who will replate it, But from what i have read they will increase but not decrease the payload.

Its possible that the caravan may weigh more than the unladen plated weight anyway.

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If the caravan does weigh more than the unladen weight then it does not matter legally because that rule for B licence towing was revoked for all B licence holders on 19/01/2013 - that is fact

Reducing the caravan MTPLM by contacting the manufacturer will be much easier than trying to get a vehicle manufacturer to reduce the GVW

Quote: Originally posted by wilf54 on 07/10/2013

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Thanks Grampian91,

I will contact the manufacturer and see what they say.

I take in board the potential that the caravan is already above the unladen weight. I belive the tolerance at construction is something like +/- 5%. I can't remwber whether the payload is 200kg or 250kg, either way we don't need anyhing like that (yes it would be nice in an ideal world, but happy just to carry gas, spare wheel and pots and pans in the caravan)

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Quote: Originally posted by wilf54 on 07/10/2013

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We are hoping to upgrade our caravan due to our growing family. As I have a new style (post 97) license I believe I am limited to 3,500kg for the combined MAM of the car and caravan.

We have found a caravan we really like, but when I add the MTPLM to the gross (max) weight of the car we are 10kg over 3,500kg. We don't NEED to load the caravan to the max, indeed we would be happy to reduce the max payload by 10/11kg.

Has anyone been able to get a new plate made with reduced weight? If so how have you done this?

I have seen plenty of people reporting that they have had the MTPLM increased, but not seen any reductions. I could understand there would be a problem with a big reduction as it would be too easy to overload, but surely 10kg is neither here not there.

I could swap to a lighter, less able tow car, but for obvious reasons I am trying to avoid this. The current car is a good match for the caravan, it is just the license restriction which is getting in the way...

Thanks!

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Quote:

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If the caravan does weigh more than the unladen weight then it does not matter legally because that rule for B licence towing was revoked for all B licence holders on 19/01/2013 - that is fact

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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 07/10/2013

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My manual says +/- 5% But i read a letter in one of the mags that a brand new caravan was only 60kg below its gross laden weight whilst unladen.

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My advice would be to take the test, I think it cost £50 to replate a caravan anyway, Surely it cant be that hard  look at my chart below it's really easy to run away with weights, in my eyes its better to be safe than sorry.

I'd take it, sooner or later you'll take it anyway as caravans & cars are getting heavier. As you can see from my spreadsheet the weight creeps up i've already got over 200 kgs and thats without clothes   good job i'm a nudist eh

bessie