Bedford MJ Weight

[LoggyDriver]

I thought Bedford owners might be interested in the weight of a Bedford MJ with a TC Electronic Repair Workshop fitted.

 

Mine is a low roof version box, but is fitted out with two heavy air conditioning units, benches, cable drum etc and is in a "in service" condition. The weight will obviously be less with all the equipment stripped out.

 

I took the truck to a weighbridge today and weighed it.

 

Front Axle Weight = 3,300Kgs

 

Rear Axle Weight = 4,600Kgs

 

Total Gross Weight = 7,900Kgs.

[Degsy]

For licensing purposes it is the plated GVW that counts but of course you could strip it down ,make the necessary mods and re-plate it at 7.5t GVW, I am sure you will be aware of this.

[Stormin]

For licensing purposes it is the plated GVW that counts but of course you could strip it down ,make the necessary mods and re-plate it at 7.5t GVW, I am sure you will be aware of this.

 

He may struggle to replate it at 7.5 tonnes as DVLA / VOSA usually insisit on at least two tonnes of usuable cargo capacity left to prove you're not going to overload it at every opportunity.

 

May be different if it's re-registered as a motorcaravan if converted to living accommodation though.

[Degsy]

He may struggle to replate it at 7.5 tonnes as DVLA / VOSA usually insisit on at least two tonnes of usuable cargo capacity left to prove you're not going to overload it at every opportunity.

 

May be different if it's re-registered as a motorcaravan if converted to living accommodation though.

 

I should have remembered that:blush: Thanks for correcting me Stormin

[N.O.S.]

Is the box fitted to a flatbed? If so the box weight is cargo weight :-) . If not, then :-(

[LoggyDriver]

Degsy;

 

Yes I am aware of all the different takes. I put the post up for owners who have a box but were unaware of the weight. The Gross Vehicle Plated Weight for this truck is 9,650Kgs. So it's about 1,700Kgs lighter than the maximum weight allowed. I'm not bothered about downrating the truck as I have a Class One HGV so it makes no odds to me. As Stormin mentioned I don't think you would be able to downrate a MJ with a box body on the back as the box weighs 3 tonnes on it's own. The only option you have would be to re register it as a "Motor Caravan" after fitting the box body out as a camper, but as I understand it, you still need an HGV Licence for any vehicle over 7.5tonnes regardless of whether it's a goods vehicle or not. I stand to be corrected on this though.:cool2:

 

 

 

N.O.S.

 

Yes mate, the box is fitted to a Flat Platform. The Bedford MJ is a Flat Platform truck in all cases and all equipment fitted of various types is fitted to this apart from a few specialist chassis such as Tanker etc. The Cargo version is classified as a Cargo, not a Flat Platform, however all that is needed to turn a Flat Platform to a Cargo is the edition of tailgate, dropsides, troop seats and tilt. My truck was a Ptarmigan Comms Centre when I bought it, all that was done was the removal of the Ptarmigan System and the fitment of the box. I'm sure you are aware of this though:-)

 

The box is actually a Transportable Container - Shop Equipment Electronic Repair Radar body. I'm not sure this would be considered Cargo/Freight/Goods. Although the TC is held on with a mounting system, it would be considered a PERMANENT fitment because you require specialist workshop equipment to remove it, namely a crane which MUST be used with a spreader bar or the fitment of special legs that jack the box off the body.

[stal108]

Hi all

When you put the truck on the bridge did you only weigh the front and rear axles? added the weights to get the gross?

A close friend has just weighed his and it just 7.1ton with a box body and this one is over 6ft tall inside used to be a ground control unit for unmaned aircraft. Its fully kitted out bed shower wc wardrobe and his mt500 armstrong.

There should be no problem to register it as a motorcaravan 7.5ton.

I have a american rv 9.6 ton a friend who also has one went to do his test in one and was refused as it is not a goods carrier. So as far as i am aware no hgv is needed for a motorcaravan. I could be wrong but there are lots of people who dont have a hgv who drive one.

[LoggyDriver]

Hi all

When you put the truck on the bridge did you only weigh the front and rear axles? added the weights to get the gross?

A close friend has just weighed his and it just 7.1ton with a box body and this one is over 6ft tall inside used to be a ground control unit for unmaned aircraft. Its fully kitted out bed shower wc wardrobe and his mt500 armstrong.

There should be no problem to register it as a motorcaravan 7.5ton.

I have a american rv 9.6 ton a friend who also has one went to do his test in one and was refused as it is not a goods carrier. So as far as i am aware no hgv is needed for a motorcaravan. I could be wrong but there are lots of people who dont have a hgv who drive one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Weighbridge I used was a single axle type that weighs each axle individually and then gives you the gross weight. The same VOSA use. The Gross Weight given would be the same whether you weighed it on a table top weighbridge or the individual axle type I used, but the type I used gives you the added benefit of knowing how much weight is on each axle.

 

The box I have is a Radar Repair workshop and as mentioned is still in "in service" condition. It still contains 2 very big airconditioning units, all the steel work benches, cable drum and aux batteries along with the NBC system, CES etc. I reckon there must be nearly a ton of equipment fitted to the box.

 

 

Which test are you talking about? If you are talking about the MOT then no it's not tested as an HGV but as a Class 4 MOT, regardless of the vehicles weight. But regarding driving licences I think you will find you still require a Cat C entitlement to drive an RV over 7.5 tonnes. Have a look at this link which explains you need to have the correct licence for the type of RV being driven.

 

 

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_10037875

[stal108]

The Motorhome thing is right if its over 7-5 ist a lgv you need.

 

But i am unsure of the axle weights add up to the gross?

If you look on a truck plate the axle weights are far over its gross weight. my foden is 9t9t10t10t that would make it 38t gross but its just under 33t

 

If you weigh one axle is it taking any weight of the other

I am probabley well wrong but i thought there was a of working it out from the axle weights.

[Degsy]

The Motorhome thing is right if its over 7-5 ist a lgv you need.

 

But i am unsure of the axle weights add up to the gross?

If you look on a truck plate the axle weights are far over its gross weight. my foden is 9t9t10t10t that would make it 38t gross but its just under 33t

 

If you weigh one axle is it taking any weight of the other

I am probabley well wrong but i thought there was a of working it out from the axle weights.

 

The manufacturer's plate and the Ministry plate are 2 completely different things. The manufacturer's plate shows the maximum capacity not the legal capacity which is shown on the Ministry plate.

The gross axle weights shown on the Ministry plate will not necessarily add up to the GVW as the axles can have a safety margin, this means that under certain circumstances you could be prosecuted for exceeding the GVW without exceeding individual axle weights.

[LoggyDriver]

To add to what Degsy said.

 

The axle loading for a Bedford MJ is as follows;

 

Axle loading

Laden Unladen

Front axle 4060 kg (8951 Ib) 2660 kg (5864 Ib)

Rear axle 6101 kg (13451 Ib) 2001 kg (4411 Ib)

 

Gross vehicle laden plated

weight 9650 kg (21274 Ib)

 

Gross train weight 14730 kg (32474 Ib)

 

If you add up the front and rear laden weight it adds up to 10,161Kgs - this is over the GVW.

 

If you look at the unladen rear axle weight of 2001Kgs, there is over half a ton more weight on the front. However as my box overhangs on the rear slightly the weight shift then moves towards the back and mine weighs in at 4,600Kgs on the rear and 3,300Kgs on the front laden. If I had the same weight in say a UBRE (Unit Bulk Refueling Equipment) set up then the front would have more weight and the rear less than mine because it doesn't have the overhang.

 

So you can load the truck within it's axle weight limits but still be overweight on the Gross.

[onthecorner]

Maybe I'm being a bit thick now, but why are they called 4 tonners then, because they can carry 4 tons in the back?

[LoggyDriver]

Maybe I'm being a bit thick now, but why are they called 4 tonners then, because they can carry 4 tons in the back?

 

 

 

 

That's correct mate. They are designed for a 4 tonne payload or to carry 6 Unit Load Containers or pallets as well as box bodys and the like.

[onthecorner]

Thanks :-)

[Stone]

Thanks for this, saves us weighing veh+box to find out how much the box weighs

 

Ours is a half-length box (CB101 transportable signals container 1 ton) so with 5100kg unladen weight we should be at just over 6t with the box. Plenty of capacity for our extras :cool2:

 

Stone

[protruck]

If You have a problem Nick or are not sure of axle loadings.

Portable weight Pads are Available if you no what i mean.

 

 

Clive

...................................

protruckservices.com

[LoggyDriver]

Thanks for this, saves us weighing veh+box to find out how much the box weighs

 

Ours is a half-length box (CB101 transportable signals container 1 ton) so with 5100kg unladen weight we should be at just over 6t with the box. Plenty of capacity for our extras :cool2:

 

Stone

 

 

 

 

Don't forget all your generators and extras Nick.