Upgrading 3.5t to 3.9t?

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Dreckly

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Can anyone tell me is it a very complicated/expensive job to upgrade a 3.5 to 3.9t lorry? I know it was an option when my lorry was built but with travelling only one horse never thought of it. Now I have a new monster of a horse and am going off to the weighbridge to check ourselves out but just musing if this can be done after build.

Many thanks
 
It will change the driving licence requirement from B to LGV C1 which is fine if you have a pre 1997 licence or have passed a LGV test

Many 3.5 vans are actually built as 3.9s or higher but plated at 3.5 to keep them within the B licence category so to change that is a paper exercise and a visit to a VOSA test station for a VOSA plate to be fitted/issued - no physical changes are needed in this type of case

If the vehicle was never designed as more than 3.5 then certain changes to it will need to be made but that depends on what components are already there

If its a Ford Transit then try this site for info - http://fordtransit.org/forum/index.php?sid=707df1e8dafadb1f51ca8e250ba80c7f
 
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Thanks Rog. Licence is not an issue - I am old enough!

I have a Boss box build on a Renault Master Chassis 61 plate. How will I know if it is built on the right chassis size already?
 
Dreckly said:
Thanks Rog. Licence is not an issue - I am old enough!

I have a Boss box build on a Renault Master Chassis 61 plate. How will I know if it is built on the right chassis size already?
Click to expand...
If nothing on the V5 or on a manufacturers design plate then contact Renault UK Tel 08000 723372
 
Do think long & hard about doing this, as tho it could be a good thing for you, it really can affect resale as it narrows the market right down due to licencing to drivers and the need for testing/plating etc.
If you do have to uprate springs etc, then its not a fun job to re-classify the vehicle at a later date.

Hope the weigh bridge goes well, otherwise is it worth looking to uprate to a 5.5/6 or even 7.5t box?
 
I got my vauxhall movano I think it is, uprated when I bought it. Dead straightforward and didn't cost that much in context. I'm also an oldie so the licence thing was fine. I was more bothered about getting extra payload than resale value. Had it for 5 years and been brilliant. Doesn't need any extra work or upkeep. Reckon it would be easy to sell, might be to a smaller market but would still hold its value as it's a great box in good nick and low mileage.

I'd go for it if you need the extra weight. Loads of 3.5t are prob overweight if they are travelling two horses.
 
The manufacture of my horsebox told me its straightforward enough to do and would cost a few hundred. It would also involved upgrading the suspension bushes and fitting a speed limiter to 56mph.
 
I have an uprated Renault Master, didn't take much to do and is actually cheaper in terms of tax for some reason.....I'm another who is more concerned about payload than resale!
 
It would be just as easy to down plate it back to 3.5 as it would to upgrade it to 3.9 if all it involves is a paper excerise so I don't see what all the fuss is about
 
IMPORTANT

I have just spoken to an EXPERT on TEL 01584 819 532 from http://www.3countieshorseboxes.co.uk/3.5_ton_horsebox_specification and he stated that after contacting VOSA and RENAULT technical dept that the only way these can be uprated to 3.9 is if they are registered as an ambulance or a PCV minibus


You could try uprating it and registering it as a horse ambulance but if not being used for that purpose then any insurance is likely to be void


As that link is to a company that specialises in this then I am certain they are giving the correct info
 
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