Unladen Weights

Finns Mum

Finns Mum

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A question for those with lorries or generally in the know :)

Is the unladen weight always taken during the plating? My friends who have lorries say its part of the brake test and listed with the axel weights but I'm looking to buy a 7.5t lorry at the moment and some sellers say they don't know the unladen weight (!!) and when I ask if its on the plating they say its not, so is that true or are they trying to hide it :rolleyes3:
 
Clarew22 said:
A question for those with lorries or generally in the know :)

Is the unladen weight always taken during the plating? My friends who have lorries say its part of the brake test and listed with the axel weights but I'm looking to buy a 7.5t lorry at the moment and some sellers say they don't know the unladen weight (!!) and when I ask if its on the plating they say its not, so is that true or are they trying to hide it :rolleyes3:
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There is no requirement for the unladen weight to be done when plating - at least I have never heard of such

For a true unladen weight use a weighbridge and get an official ticket
 
To get the correct unladen weight you will certainly need a weighbridge ticket.

It's certainly not official but my plating documents alway show the weight of the front and rear axle, however, I only ever see this as a guide.
 
I agree, if you look on the braking test sheet it will show the weights of the front and rear axle which will give you a rough guide. A 7.5 ton lorry that is not loaded with oak cabinets in the living (e.g. Oakley) and is not a heavy wooden body would normally come in between 5 tons and 5.5 tons.
 
Ok so stupid question does the front and rear axel weights add up to the approx unladen weight, and that has to be done as part of the plating? I'm finding people are not exactly keen to take their lorries to the weight bridge, I have begun think its an unreasonable question!
 
Its a rough guide, that's all, and obviously depends on how much fuel you have at the time; I always make sure the lorry has half a tank. I have a wooden box with living and it weighed 5.3t at the last plating;
 
Diddleydoo said:
It's certainly not official but my plating documents alway show the weight of the front and rear axle, however, I only ever see this as a guide.
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But having had mine done 3 times now there was a massive variation with each test when nothing has changed so I wouldn't trust this.

If they don't want to take it to a weighbridge I would wonder why. I got a weighbridge certificate when I was buying mine and would share it if I was selling.
 
If you are worried that after loading everything you might be close to the GVW then you are legally allowed to go to the nearest weighbridge to weigh it and if it is over then you are legally allowed to go back to where you loaded it and reduce the weight

The only time this becomes illegal is if it is deemed as dangerous
 
Thanks everyone that's really helpful, I am coming across a lot of 7.5t on the market with unladen weights over 6t so good to hear some of you do have lorries that have unladen weights under that as that's what we are looking for. Who would have thought this would be such hard work lol
 
criso said:
But having had mine done 3 times now there was a massive variation with each test when nothing has changed so I wouldn't trust this.
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Mine have all been similar, but there have been changes to the lorry between each test. I've only ever thought of it as a guide to how much weight I have available. For a totally accurate figure it would have to be a weighbridge
 
ROG said:
If you are worried that after loading everything you might be close to the GVW then you are legally allowed to go to the nearest weighbridge to weigh it and if it is over then you are legally allowed to go back to where you loaded it and reduce the weight

The only time this becomes illegal is if it is deemed as dangerous
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Thank you, I didn't know that.
 
ROG said:
If you are worried that after loading everything you might be close to the GVW then you are legally allowed to go to the nearest weighbridge to weigh it and if it is over then you are legally allowed to go back to where you loaded it and reduce the weight

The only time this becomes illegal is if it is deemed as dangerous
Click to expand...

I didn't realise that either thanks
 
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