My 'van is less than 6 mnths old and following other posts about increasing the standard ATMs issued by the manufacturer, I contacted my one and they happily issued me a new VIN plate increasing the ATM by 450kg.
The rules seem to vary from State to State - as my van is registered in WA, Im only interested in responses who know the rules for WA please.
Do I need to have the 'van put over the Dept of Transport pits for inspection and approval of this change for the rego details to be changed???
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
My thoughts are that you would need to go to the Vehicle Inspectors as I believe the various weights are recorded against the License. eg when I get a trailer licensed the cost varies depending on the weight recorded on the VIN plate. If you decide to take it over the pits, I know that they would want documentation by the manufacturer to prove the axle is designed to carry the ATM. The chaps at Kelmscott are helpful or maybe just phone the Dept.
Glen
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Glen
A diesel Nissan Pathfinder towing a Coromal Element 542.
Thanks Glen. The Dealer who sold me the van reckons it has to go over the pits - which is a bloody pain as I live in Yanchep which makes it an almost 2 hour drive.
Im going to go into my local Dept of Transport Licensing Centre. Trying to make sense of their complicated webpage is difficult but maybe I wont have to pit it.
All I have from the van manufacturer is short emails confirming they will increase the ATM and by how much did I want it increased lol. I told them and they just posted out a new tin plate with the correct chassis number and the amended weight details. Apparently in some States, its ok to just swap this over for the old one without having it changed by the Dept of Transport.
Will try to phone or visit them in next couple of days and post the response I get for the benefit of other Westies
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
haha Marj......yep, it will be interesting to see the out of State replies
Looking your avatar you need to get an upgrade on the body to carry the weight of the head. [only joking]
Your first post your only wanted WA, This is what Qld require.
I had a weight upgrade on our van. I went to an authorised engineer, He required a plan of the chassis to determine the weight that it could be increased by.
I was lucky as I did not need to have any structural changes to do the upgrade.
After a large fee, he issued me with a certificate and an upgrade compliance plate which is attached beside the original compliance plate.
Then off to Qld Transport to have the rego endorsed for the upgrade. No. fee at Qld Transport.
From a New South Welsh man, but this is a generic reply for all states, ring your local motor registry and see what they require of you. They may be able to give you a list of local authorised inspection stations (or other name for non NSW states) who can do the inspection for you.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
when we bought our van it was uprated . the sales girl rang g and s the chasie builder and got another 300 kgs over the phone they sent up a new compliance plate had it fitted and then had to take the van to the rego office . warning but do not take of the old compliance plat it has to stay on the van . thats how we roll in old
OK.....went and spoke to my local mechanic who is also a registered inspector for the WA DOT.
The procedure in WA is: 1) van needs to go over weighbridge (he said to get van as light as possible by removing all loose stuff) 2) he then inspects it - primarily its the brakes and if ok issues the paper work which he posts to DOT 3) if all meets requirements, he then takes off old VIN plate and puts on new one. DOT then changes details in their rego system
Cost: Im using Tamala Park weighbridge so no charge. DOT charges about $88 for the huge task of changing the VIN details in their system - great profit for a 5 min job. Mechanic charges about $65.
You can also get it done at a DOT inspection centre, but there are none NOR and be prepared to write off most of the day - some charges as using one of their Agents (in this case my local mechanic)
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
when we bought our van it was uprated . the sales girl rang g and s the chasie builder and got another 300 kgs over the phone they sent up a new compliance plate had it fitted and then had to take the van to the rego office . warning but do not take of the old compliance plat it has to stay on the van . thats how we roll in old
dibs
You sure that the new compliance plate came from G & S ?
They may checked with G & S that the chassis was good for a higher ATM, but compliance plates are issued by the caravan manufacturer.
I visit an DOT once a week and am working thru getting my GTM and ATM increased. There are several items they check 1) what is the tyre max carrying load and speed rating. (I need to replace the tyres!) 2) Braking capacity of the elec brakes. 3) design and load capacity of the caravan undercarriage.
Also advised that if passed, they leave the old VIN plate in place and then add the new one near it.
So was wondering what your experience has been with your upgrade.
Thanks
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Glen
A diesel Nissan Pathfinder towing a Coromal Element 542.
Hi Glen. I live at Yanchep and all the DOT pits are SOR, so I went to my local mechanic who is a DOT agent. Other than getting the van weighed down at Tamala Park (and I stripped all the moveable stuff, including the gas bottles and making sure the shackles had the rating stamped on them (which they didn't so used the smaller - lol - ones that came with my tow vehicle) and the tow chain, that's all he asked.
I know he had to check the brakes, but that's all he told me.
It was interesting that despite completely emptying out my can, it gained 300kg in tare weight from when it was registered (and supposedly went over the Maddington DOT pits and got weighed) to when I got it weighed.
However, for driving purposes, Insurance purposes and being weighed by the Transport authority in various States, they are only interested of course in the ATM.
My van is now at 3000kg, and yes, the old plate stays on and they pop riveted the new one on above it (weird - each State is completely different)
Hope you get to the end of this particular road soon and successfully:)
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
