Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

GerL

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Subject:

Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 23.06.2019 · #1

Hi all, looked at a Ford Transit Sunlight and was very keen to buy. However I noticed in the crvt cert that it's 3850kg. Wondering does anyone have any experience with this type of van and would it be possible to get her down graded to 3500kg so I could drive her on a B licence. Thanks

sprinter

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Subject:

Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 23.06.2019 · #2

Quote by GerL

If 3850 is on the paperwork I would suspect it has been plated up, that is a pretty exact rounded figure.

You will have to post the year, exact model/berths, whats the plated weight and was the 3850 the actual weight on the day of the test or the paperwork reference weight.
you can get vans downgraded if the actual or plated weight is less than 3500kgs.

manufacturers will some times plate up a van in order to theoretically give you some payload when they build too close to the 3500 kgs or to claim 5, 6 or 7 Berth

Davy

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Re: Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 23.06.2019 · #3

As Sprinter says, you should be able to get the van downplated. However the issue will be wether you can comply with it at 3500 kg. I have recently replated my van from 3500 kg to 3850 kg simply because with the kit I carried, plus water etc we were always running at 3650 kg and some care was taken as to what was in the van. This by the way was with only 2 people on board.

The only way you can figure this one out is to have it weighed as near empty to see what scope for payload you might have at 3500 kg. Assuming that you are not nearing the age of 70 when licence renewal becomes a little more of an issue, it might be worth pursuing the upgrade to your licence to permit more scope to be legal.

If you are in N. Ireland the lower tax will go some way towards covering the cost of licence testing after a few years.

I must say that manufacturers are increasingly putting vans out at 3500 kg in the knowledge that people will have to overload them to make them usable, hence the tyre manufacturers stating that rear tyres need to run at 80 psi to cope. In other words, they can see the problem and are covering their asses, but I reckon one of these days it will all end in tears when the insurance companies cotton on to overloaded (illegal) vans attempting to make claims. Prosecutions are also a possibility, but many, if not most, motorhomers simply ignore the legalities.

Davy

GerL

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Re: Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 23.06.2019 · #4

It's an 08 with 6berths. A Ford dethleffs sunlight. UShaped lounge.
Didn't see any paperwork yet as it was first look at it but I just spotted the CRVT disc and it said 3850kg. The seller said he didn't have a C licence and was just driving it on a B licence. I'm sure he was genuine with this response but I'd be concerned that it's not actually legal.
I understand about taking everything out(gas,water diesel) to get it down to 3500kg. I suppose my concern was that this motorhome seemed bigger then other 6 berths that i have looked at and that even when empty it might still not get down to 3500kg. Thanks

Davy

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Re: Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 23.06.2019 · #5

I had a quick google and they (depending on model) seem to be either 3500 kg or 3850. The important thing is you have the information on licence requirements for the plated weight to allow you to make an informed choice.
There is a ton of advice on buying vans on the site if you do a few searches , and of course feel free to ask anything you like for further help.

Davy

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Re: Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 23.06.2019 · #6

Driving a vehicle plated at 3850kg on a B license is an open and shut prosecution if you're stopped even if it was only loaded up to 3500kg at the time you're stopped. The only checking that needs done is the paperwork, the laden weight on the day is irrelevant.

essjay

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Re: Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #7

Actual weight doesn't matter, if the plate/disk says 3850 and you are on a B license then you are illegal and possibly not insured.

I bought a van last year that was 3500kgs on the log book but after a CVRT test it magically changed to 3850. I had a nightmare getting it rectified and had to postpone a holiday.

I would say to steer clear of buying a 3850 with the plan of downplating as you'll be illegal driving it home, to the weigh bridge, to the CVRT center to get it retested (what I had to do) etc.

<BM>

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Re: Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #8

Quote by essjay

Actually weight doesn't matter, if the plate/disk says 3850 and you are on a B license then you are illegal and possibly not insured.

I bought a van last year that was 3500kgs on the log book but after a CVRT test it magically changed to 3850. I had a nightmare getting it rectified and had to postpone a holiday.

I would say to steer clear of buying a 3850 with the plan of downplating as you'll be illegal driving it home, to the weigh bridge, to the CVRT center to get it retested (what I had to do) etc.

I might have phrased that badly, my point was that the Gardai don't need to take you to a weighbridge to get evidence to prosecute, a quick look at the paperwork is all the evidence they need, even if you're rolling along at less than 3500kgs at the time, it's the plated weight that counts.

I think we're in agreement.

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Re: Ford Transit Sunlight. Driving on B licence

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #9

You haven't mentioned what weight is on the plate (usually under the bonnet). It's the weight on the VIN plate which matters, that's the legal weight, the weight which should not be exceeded.
Regarding the license, I would think driving a vehicle with a plated of 3,500kg weighing in excess of that figure is the lessor offence as it's operating the vehicle in excess of it's plated weight, for which there are graduated penalties depending on the excess. Driving a vehicle which is plated in excess of 3,500kg on a car license is an altogether different matter as you are not licensed to drive the vehicle and thus no insurance etc.

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