Hi folks. This subject has been well canvassed before about overweight vans. So Im not looking for lots of comments about the merits of staying within the ATMS or how to calculate it or ball weights and so forth - so I haven't posted this on the Techie site.
I just had my 6 mnth old van weighed (I stripped out everything so it was down to as sold new by the Dealer and I even took off the 2 x 9kg gas bottles.
I am allowed about 100 kg in discretionary weight - say 25 kg for the two full gas bottles and 180 kg to fill up the water tanks - Im overweight already.
I am going through the process of getting the ATM increased by a further 300 kg (a drama in WA).
When we put in clothing, food and all the other stuff in our van, we'll still be overweight.
MY QUESTION then is.....which States are right into weighing caravans and is it mainly done on the major roads and highways.
Guys - please don't lecture me on being overweight.....I reckon nearly all vans on the road are....Im trying to minimize mine, but know I will be over by maybe 100 kg
Radar said
09:42 PM Mar 3, 2015
I reckon that because you have around 10 % on your tow ball that would place you near legal back a bit officials would allow 10 % on your axles.
Not seeing your weighbridge ticket this would have to be a guess.
I hope this helps with your question.
Mostly on main roads but then again I found them on secondary roads Vic, NSW, Qld and SA they were really hiding on a back road looking for trucks.
As for caravans none I have ever seen, but good chance if you are completely loaded up with fold away boat trailer, water churns, 2 spares tyres hanging of the back, car loaded up with roof rack full.
NeilandRaine said
10:22 PM Mar 3, 2015
I do believe it happens but I have never been pulled up and weighed in any state. I don't even know anyone who has but I have met people who know someone who knows someone who got weighed. A big happy hour topic
D and D said
10:26 PM Mar 3, 2015
I haven't seen one nor do I know of anyone who's been pulled over. Heard lots of tales about someone's mate's, wife's second cousin three times removed who might have been pulled over in some location in Australia at some unspecified date by some folk in some form of uniform who proceeded to impound the van and towing vehicle because they claimed it was overweight and the driver and passenger were left stranded on the side of the road .... and so on.
Dave
Dunmowin said
10:49 PM Mar 3, 2015
Regardless of where the weighbridge police are, if you are overweight, and you have an accident, you have a problem. Take it how you want.
Bruce and Bev said
11:14 PM Mar 3, 2015
thanks guys - pretty much another urban myth. Here in WA we see 100s of larger vans towed by the small Parados and obviously overweight, but never seen any pulled over.
John - I take your point about insurance......but at the risk of sounding a bit casual, if you do have an accident, your van wont get weighed anyone as usually police don't attend motor accidents unless injury involved and then its likely your van will be so trashed, its not able to be weighed.
I suspect the vast majority of 'van users do not even consider ATMS etc, let alone get them weighed or stay within the ATM
Im not suggesting for a moment that being overweight is ok, but look at how many trucks are in crashes and are either overweight or badly loaded (allowing for the fact that there are more of the on the road than roads)....or worse still are not maintained correctly - eg the fuel tankers debacle right across the country a few months ago
Radar said
11:28 PM Mar 3, 2015
Lets not start talking about and comparing trucks, sorry not on.
Gerty Dancer said
09:11 AM Mar 4, 2015
Recently we had visitors who saw caravans being put on a weighbridge in Victoria, they warned us but we aren't overweight, so didn't note the location.
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:09 AM Mar 4, 2015
Getting caught and copping a fine is the least of your worries being overweight. They won't allow it to be moved again until it is legal.
But the bigger and more important risk is one of liability in case of an accident.
A manslaughter charge is possible.
Cheers,
Peter
elliemike said
10:53 AM Mar 4, 2015
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Recently we had visitors who saw caravans being put on a weighbridge in Victoria, they warned us but we aren't overweight, so didn't note the location.
How many of you who read this thread have actually witnessed this "First Hand"
You sometimes see Caravans, and Trailers that look dreadfully overweight or out of balance on the road. I would think the authorities seeing those types should stop and check. I have never witnessed a weigh in of caravans or motor-homes in my travels. Seen rigs stopped for obviously unsafe loads.
navynurse said
04:31 PM Mar 4, 2015
A couple of years ago, coming back from Cape York we were pulled up at a road block & they weighed every car van truck etc. police checking drink drugs & licences. Took about 2 hours to get through But we were all clear thank god.
Allan
Phil C said
05:43 PM Mar 4, 2015
Yep this is an issue for sure.
I guess I was lucky, I asked Jayco to increase my ATM and I got an extra 225KGs and a new compliance plate, so no major dramas anymore. Goes to show how they downgrade weights when they build these suckers.
I emailed our dealer and had the new plate as soon as I proved the old one was cut up (photo in email showing VIN)
Cheers
Silver Anchor said
11:10 PM Mar 4, 2015
A recent operation by Vic Roads/Vic Pol at Broadford weighbride 50km nth of melb weighed 71 caravans on a sat in Nov 2014.
58 exceeded GVM (total of towing unit and van)
17 towing veh were not rated high enough to tow the van behind them
18 vans were unregistered
41 vans exceeded there ATM
Needless to say this raised some major questions about the lack of adherence AND the lack of enforcement so I'd expect a lot more attention in the future.
This could and will be a major revenue source and govt are starting to wake up to this and we all know how much gov likes easy revenue.
These figures were from a Transport safety convention last month attended by reps of all states
Goldfinger said
09:55 AM Mar 5, 2015
That's amazing about Broadford Vic...my daughter lived there for considerable time and I used to visit...point being its not on any Highway..in fact you have to exit a busy highway and drive a number of kilometres just to reach it......its not even a real go to small Town...although a nice/pleasant hamlet..many folk live there I found because housing was reasonable and being on the main rail line they could commute to work in Melbourne by rail.....I don't even recall ever seeing a caravan in the main Street or environs on my visits...how did they snag 71 caravans on a single Saturday?....was there a Caravan convention there?..and if so where did they stay?....not doubting it happened, just a tad incredulous that it did happen there....Hoo Roo
Silver Anchor said
11:42 PM Mar 5, 2015
Whats known as the Broadford weigh bridge is on the Hume Highway, not in town
Long Weekend said
05:53 PM Mar 7, 2015
And on the many times I have driven past the weigh bridge station I have NEVER seen it open! Not even for trucks. My last pass was in the third week of January - and I was towing our van back to Canberra at the time.
Murray
HiAce98 said
01:09 AM Mar 8, 2015
I think if it looks like your front wheels of the tug are barely touching the tarmac you might get stopped, but if all looks OK there's probably not much risk of getting booked. But I wonder if your insurance company will be checking and trying to dodge a payout if you have an accident and they can show you were overweight?
Hi folks. This subject has been well canvassed before about overweight vans. So Im not looking for lots of comments about the merits of staying within the ATMS or how to calculate it or ball weights and so forth - so I haven't posted this on the Techie site.
I just had my 6 mnth old van weighed (I stripped out everything so it was down to as sold new by the Dealer and I even took off the 2 x 9kg gas bottles.
I am allowed about 100 kg in discretionary weight - say 25 kg for the two full gas bottles and 180 kg to fill up the water tanks - Im overweight already.
I am going through the process of getting the ATM increased by a further 300 kg (a drama in WA).
When we put in clothing, food and all the other stuff in our van, we'll still be overweight.
MY QUESTION then is.....which States are right into weighing caravans and is it mainly done on the major roads and highways.
Guys - please don't lecture me on being overweight.....I reckon nearly all vans on the road are....Im trying to minimize mine, but know I will be over by maybe 100 kg
I reckon that because you have around 10 % on your tow ball that would place you near legal back a bit officials would allow 10 % on your axles.
Not seeing your weighbridge ticket this would have to be a guess.
I hope this helps with your question.
Mostly on main roads but then again I found them on secondary roads Vic, NSW, Qld and SA they were really hiding on a back road looking for trucks.
As for caravans none I have ever seen, but good chance if you are completely loaded up with fold away boat trailer, water churns, 2 spares tyres hanging of the back, car loaded up with roof rack full.
Dave
Regardless of where the weighbridge police are, if you are overweight, and you have an accident, you have a problem. Take it how you want.
John - I take your point about insurance......but at the risk of sounding a bit casual, if you do have an accident, your van wont get weighed anyone as usually police don't attend motor accidents unless injury involved and then its likely your van will be so trashed, its not able to be weighed.
I suspect the vast majority of 'van users do not even consider ATMS etc, let alone get them weighed or stay within the ATM
Im not suggesting for a moment that being overweight is ok, but look at how many trucks are in crashes and are either overweight or badly loaded (allowing for the fact that there are more of the on the road than roads)....or worse still are not maintained correctly - eg the fuel tankers debacle right across the country a few months ago
Lets not start talking about and comparing trucks, sorry not on.
But the bigger and more important risk is one of liability in case of an accident.
A manslaughter charge is possible.
Cheers,
Peter
How many of you who read this thread have actually witnessed this "First Hand"
You sometimes see Caravans, and Trailers that look dreadfully overweight or out of balance on the road. I would think the authorities seeing those types should stop and check. I have never witnessed a weigh in of caravans or motor-homes in my travels. Seen rigs stopped for obviously unsafe loads.
Allan
I guess I was lucky, I asked Jayco to increase my ATM and I got an extra 225KGs and a new compliance plate, so no major dramas anymore. Goes to show how they downgrade weights when they build these suckers.
I emailed our dealer and had the new plate as soon as I proved the old one was cut up (photo in email showing VIN)
Cheers
58 exceeded GVM (total of towing unit and van)
17 towing veh were not rated high enough to tow the van behind them
18 vans were unregistered
41 vans exceeded there ATM
Needless to say this raised some major questions about the lack of adherence AND the lack of enforcement so I'd expect a lot more attention in the future.
This could and will be a major revenue source and govt are starting to wake up to this and we all know how much gov likes easy revenue.
These figures were from a Transport safety convention last month attended by reps of all states
Murray