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Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 10:48 am
by T1 Terry
BruceS wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2022 8:18 am
And under the 4.5 tonne? No annual checks etc.

Does anyone know how hard it is to get the Gross Vehicle weight dropped to 4.499?
There is a vehicle that comes in the EXACT same configuration (EXACT) that is sold in either under 4.5 or 6.2 gross.
Surely it wouldn't be too hard for it to be replated?
Anyone know?
Jon? Bernie?
There was a light truck based motorhome the the mob now known as Avida marketed that had those options. It was the tyres that made the difference between under 4.5 tonne and the higher weight class. The tyres didn't last very long on the over weight "4.49 tonne" rated unit, but once the tyres were upgraded to the "correct" rating, it becomes a light truck, the rego is no longer legit and so is the insurance and licence requirement, so in the case of an accident you discover you were driving unregistered, un insured for both TPI (the one that is part of the rego), 3rd party of full comprehensive insurance and possibly unlicensed if you only had a car license ...... the "Mermaids" in NSW kept an eye out for any of these things travelling through, checked the tyres and then the rego, then brought the local police in on the act .....
There were a lot of reports about the poor old pensioner that had sold his big rig at a loss, bought one of these "car licence" motor homes at a huge cost, upgraded the tyres at the tyre stores advice, "it was even there on the tyre placard in the door frame, why didn't they put the better tyres on to start with?" now discovering that not only was he looking at big fines, the motor home wasactually too heavy to go back to car tyres ...... then the whole can of worms about the motorhome leaving the factory with out any of the accessories, empty tanks and maybe squeezing into the car weight class by around 5kg .... so even putting a driver in it made it over weight .....
At around this point, the whole messy business was uncovered as to why the dealership fitted all the accessories, including solar, extra batteries, the washing machine, added water tanks, grey and black water tanks if it had a toilet that required a black water tank .... but the actual cassette for the vacuum or cassette type toilet because the vehicle would be over weight as it left the factory otherwise .....
The fact that none of this has been sorted yet says a lot about the industry, those governing it and the power of lobbyists .....
T1 Terry
Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:09 am
by BruceS
OK, gotcha! What would be wrong with towing a trailer (small one) for some of the heavier things? Genny etc?
I handed my MC license back in and now ??? lol.
Wished I kept it going.
You'd reckon you could just go back in & reactivate it wouldn't you. I mean THEY never took it off me!
Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:27 am
by jon_d
OK, gotcha! What would be wrong with towing a trailer (small one) for some of the heavier things? Genny etc?
Don't exceed the GCM of the tow vehicle and the trailer ratings.
My bus is 9000kg GVM, and 12000 GCM. Actual is about 7600 kg. Probably less since I took out 265kgs of lead
Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:38 am
by BernieQ2
Mine.
IMG20220104103342.jpg
Very.
Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:41 am
by T1 Terry
BruceS wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:09 am
OK, gotcha! What would be wrong with towing a trailer (small one) for some of the heavier things? Genny etc?
I handed my MC license back in and now ??? lol.
Wished I kept it going.
You'd reckon you could just go back in & reactivate it wouldn't you. I mean THEY never took it off me!
I reckon a drive with a licence tester would get you a HC licence without much trouble, but the M/C is different matter .... I believe that require a proof of regular M/C driving to actually keep it current.
As far as the trailer, what do you reckon you could take out of the original build to put in the trailer? From memory, the floor is 3 layers of 7 ply concrete form work board and that gives a good indication of their mentality when it came to weight saving builds back in those days.
T1 Terry
Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:50 am
by T1 Terry
BernieQ2 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:38 am
Mine.
IMG20220104103342.jpg
Very.
The "dry weight" when it left the factory and 845kg allowable soon disappears when you add fuel, oil, water, battery, solar, then you need to put in gas bottles, spare wheel, cooking stuff, food, a mattress and bed clothes .... air con? diesel heater? Bullbar? Towbar, added ball weright from the trailer?
Not much left for a driver and clothes, add a navigator and all the stuff they can seem to pack into any space and you have no hope
T1 Terry
Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:54 am
by BernieQ2
We have a weighbridge just up the road from me... will take it over the bridge when I get a chance.
Bernie.
I also have a HR licence

Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 12:30 pm
by T1 Terry
BernieQ2 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:54 am
We have a weighbridge just up the road from me... will take it over the bridge when I get a chance.
Bernie.
I also have a HR licence
But what weight class is the Winnie registered under ... car or light truck?
T1 Terry
Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 12:53 pm
by BruceS
OK, more info as I know I'm not going to do anything stoopid at my age!!!
Can anyone see this ad?
https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listi ... attachment
Specs of the NPS300 here.
https://www.trucksales.com.au/editorial ... 300-48855/
Re: End of our travellling
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 5:41 pm
by BernieQ2
T1 Terry wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2022 12:30 pm
BernieQ2 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:54 am
We have a weighbridge just up the road from me... will take it over the bridge when I get a chance.
Bernie.
I also have a HR licence
But what weight class is the Winnie registered under ... car or light truck?
T1 Terry
Car licence.