Took horsebox to the weighbridge today

[brighteyes]

and found it to be lighter (5.74T) than its VOSA tested weight. The weighbridge is one used for a stone and sand merchant and I would have thought it to be accurate because (I'd guess) regular Trading Standards calibration is mandatory, if selling weighed stuff to the public.

At 6095Kgs recorded when tested in December, the lorry today had pretty much what it had in then. No horses, but the usual clutter you leave in. I am pretty sure that we left the back empty this time, instead of piling it high with payload for the brake test. and it scraped through with a 'warning' insufficient load on rear axle. Hence why I'm sure we didn't put anything in it on that occasion.

So which figure do I use? 350Kgs is a nice amount to have in hand, but if I don't actually have it there for emergencies... I am going to carry my bits of paper about with me but don't expect VOSA to take any notice of them. And it pretty much makes a nonsense out of checking your vehicle is below its max GVW (and its individual axles, likewise)

 

[Wigglypigs]

Not sure what to say except that thats fab it was so light? We took my friends bigger than usualt 7.5T lorry to get weighed with 2 horses on board. No water in tanks, onlt 1/4 tank of fuel and not much 'stuff' on board. Friend is a 'lorry' person having converted boxes for years and her partner is an HGV/LGV driver trainer...... We weighed 8.4T!!!
Needless to say lorry was stripped bare and sold to a family that competed 12.2 ponies lol

 

[qwertyuiop]

If that weighbridge that you have just been to is classed as a "public weighbridge", then it will be properly calibrated. Do you mean that the higher figure came from a VOSA rolling road when it was tested? Although regularly calibrated, I don't think they are as accurate as a weighbridge (my mechanic told me to use the figure as a guide and if I wanted to be sure go to a public weighbridge).

 

[brighteyes]

That answer suits me very well

and is in line with the other readings I have had (can you tell I'm a bit anal about my GVW)

I have used two different 'public' weighbridges and had similarly surprising 'below what I expected' tickets - even though I have paid close as possible attention to the extras as we built it.

Phew!

I'm off to begin worrying over how heavy my horses are now...

 

[qwertyuiop]

If VOSA prosecuted you and you could produce a recent ticket from a public weighbridge, any judge would side with you for acting reasonably (empty weight X, horses weighing Y, tack and occupants weighing Z) and X+Y+Z being inside your plated limit. Unless every horsebox owner had their own weighbridge, how would we know that accurately?

VOSA will not process lorries carrying livestock, so you cannot weigh yourself full laden with them.

VOSA around here seem to be focussing on a certain manufacturer of boxes around here that have been found to be overweight (around 8T) when empty!

 

[brighteyes]

I have a wad of tickets to show I have been keeping an eye on matters and really, it's because we have moved on from our little ponies - only to 14.2 and 15.2 but still. And I'm having the box upgraded shortly, so need to know where I stand atm.

I thought VOSA pulled you up and weighed you there and then, no matter what! How can they get you for being overweight otherwise?

 

[*hic*]

I asked VOSA if I could use their weighbridge to check the weight of my lorry and was told I couldn't use it because it wouldn't be accurate as it wasn't calibrated. Each time I have used the rolling road (and my old girl often used to have to visit twice to get her ticket) the weights were different.

You need to use a public weighbridge as that figure is accurate. Good news that it was in your favour though