Motorhome weights - VOSA advice

On another forum, there is advice from VOSA on what motorhomers should do regarding van weights.

The explanation was given to VOSA that "...The common advice given is to take the motorhome to a public weighbridge, weigh the vehicle in ‘full touring trim’ [probably the heaviest it will ever be] and then weigh one of the axles. Submitting the weight of the one axle from the gross, gives the weight of the second axle. The motorhomer then takes action if the figures show an overload - either by ditching excess baggage or uprating the suspension or licence if possible..."

VOSA were asked "what steps motorhomers should take to comply [on weight] and your attitude to compliance."

The Technical Officer's response was,

"Our advice would be the same as you have received in that the vehicle should be weighed with a full tank of fuel full tank of water and all that you would normally carry but we would recommend that a tolerance is used to allow for the items you may pick up on route the different foods you may carry etc.

If stopped by any enforcement agency consideration would be taken especially if you have a recent weigh bridge ticket that shows you have done everything to comply. We are aware of the variations between weigh bridges but we will not tolerate people that have checked the weight but continued even though the weight was clearly over the maximum permitted weight for that vehicle."

The poster says he did not mention water tanks specifically to VOSA so if you have a 20l cut off in your tanks - modern Hymers do as do some other makes - it may be OK to allow for, and not exceed, 20l of water instead of full tanks.

Of course, rules in the rest of Europe will be different.