Weigh bridge accuracy.

[Lutz]

I think most of us realise that the MIRO may differ between the type approval and when the caravan was manufactured however the difference may be a couple of kg an no weigh bridge will pick up that difference as it could be over or under. more than likely it will be under going by the standard of some caravans. Either way as pointed out the MIRO figure is a good starting point when loading your trailer or caravan.

I don't know how big typically the variation can be between a published MIRO and the actual weight of a caravan, but for cars differences of up to 150kg can be expected, and that is easily within weighbridge accuracy. For caravans it will probably be less, but that doesn't mean that it's necessarily negligible.
It only needs a manufacturer to add, say, a motor mover or air conditioning as a standard fitment during the course of a model run. He won't resubmit the caravan for type approval just because of such a specification change so the MIRO will remain the same even though features have been added.

 

[otherclive]

I was st

We had the Reich one for a previous caravan, but it was difficult to use on a twin axle and did not seem that accurate. Not sure if they still sell them. Never seen the DVSA using a portable weighing device, but then enver really looked. I would think that they would be more interested in HGVs due to damage to road surfaces. Unless a caravan looks dangerous I doubt if you will be stopped and weighed unless they are bored.

I was signalled to follow a Police motorcycle to a weighbridge near Ringwood. I got a full set of checks to car and caravan including tyres in both etc plus documentation too. Everything was fine. I guess that these days the reductions in budgets to Police and DVSA mean it is less likely to be stopped. But I would suspect that the DVSA check points set up on motorway services or lay-bys where caravans are checked out at peak holiday times must use portable load cell weighing systems.

 

[Buckman]

I don't know how big typically the variation can be between a published MIRO and the actual weight of a caravan, but for cars differences of up to 150kg can be expected, and that is easily within weighbridge accuracy. For caravans it will probably be less, but that doesn't mean that it's necessarily negligible.
It only needs a manufacturer to add, say, a motor mover or air conditioning as a standard fitment during the course of a model run. He won't resubmit the caravan for type approval just because of such a specification change so the MIRO will remain the same even though features have been added.

Air con, motor mover etc have never been part of the MIRO. They come out of the payload.

 

[Buckman]

I was st

I was signalled to follow a Police motorcycle to a weighbridge near Ringwood. I got a full set of checks to car and caravan including tyres in both etc plus documentation too. Everything was fine. I guess that these days the reductions in budgets to Police and DVSA mean it is less likely to be stopped. But I would suspect that the DVSA check points set up on motorway services or lay-bys where caravans are checked out at peak holiday times must use portable load cell weighing systems.

Were you weighed? Your outfit probably looked dangerous to them and they decided they did not like your good looks either . LOL! Did they tell you why they pulled you other as they have to tell you the reason?

 

[otherclive]

Air con, motor mover etc have never been part of the MIRO. They come out of the payload.

But what Lutz is saying is that if a maker adds different fitments during a model run they may not be reflected in a change to MIRO. Examples may be microwave, or solar.

 

[Lutz]

Air con, motor mover etc have never been part of the MIRO. They come out of the payload.

That is only conventionally the case because such features are normally dealer fitted, but if the manufacturer equipped the caravan as standard with them and had every intention of continuing to do so throughout the model run, he would type approve the caravan in that condition and such features would be included in the MIRO.

 

[Buckman]

That is only conventionally the case because such features are normally dealer fitted, but if the manufacturer equipped the caravan as standard with them and had every intention of continuing to do so throughout the model run, he would type approve the caravan in that condition and such features would be included in the MIRO.

Our levelling system and battery is included in the MIRO along with the waste master.

 

[otherclive]

Were you weighed? Your outfit probably looked dangerous to them and they decided they did not like your good looks either . LOL! Did they tell you why they pulled you other as they have to tell you the reason?

I think we conversed on this point in some detail when you were asking if noseweight could be measured and a police contact gave some questionable advise.
No the outfit was all within weights and was nice and level in road going trim. It was in a distant time when traffic police did spot checks fir possible infringements. That was before numbers were cut and their duties included social work roles. 🤭

PS the reason I was taken to a DVSA weighbridge was to enable DVSA to fulfill a statutory role in carrying out vehicle checks. There was no need to engage the police rider in conversation. Anyway as I arrived it was DVSA that “greeted” me not the police.

 

[Buckman]

I think we conversed on this point in some detail when you were asking if noseweight could be measured and a police contact gave some questionable advise.
No the outfit was all within weights and was nice and level in road going trim. It was in a distant time when traffic police did spot checks fir possible infringements. That was before numbers were cut and their duties included social work roles. 🤭

PS the reason I was taken to a DVSA weighbridge was to enable DVSA to fulfill a statutory role in carrying out vehicle checks. There was no need to engage the police rider in conversation. Anyway as I arrived it was DVSA that “greeted” me not the police.

Must have bene in the very distant past as never see them on motorcycles any more. Sometimes it is better to be stopped so that you can take the necessary action if there is an issue.

 

[Lutz]

Our levelling system and battery is included in the MIRO along with the waste master.

It is certainly not generally the case that a battery is included in the MIRO. As one can never be sure, one should always treat a published MIRO as a rough guide and carry out a weighbridge check.

 

[Buckman]

It is certainly not generally the case that a battery is included in the MIRO. As one can never be sure, one should always treat a published MIRO as a rough guide and carry out a weighbridge check.

The Buccaneer is the exception as it has a 95ah AGM battery fitted as standard for the E&P levelling system

 

[ProfJohnL]

I think most of us realise that the MIRO may differ between the type approval and when the caravan was manufactured however the difference may be a couple of kg an no weigh bridge will pick up that difference as it could be over or under. more than likely it will be under going by the standard of some caravans. Either way as pointed out the MIRO figure is a good starting point when loading your trailer or caravan.

I can't see why that should be a reasonable assumption at all!

We had the Reich one for a previous caravan, but it was difficult to use on a twin axle and did not seem that accurate. Not sure if they still sell them. Never seen the DVSA using a portable weighing device, but then enver really looked. I would think that they would be more interested in HGVs due to damage to road surfaces. Unless a caravan looks dangerous I doubt if you will be stopped and weighed unless they are bored.

Whilst I agree the likelihood of an 5 to 10% overweight may not be obvious, that is not an excuse to try and overload any vehicle.

With the uncertainty about what is and what isn't included in a MIRO, and teh fact the MIRO represents the model submitted for type approval, and it might not reflect any changes to materials used for the construction, or "standard" items, It only goes to prove the MIRO should not be trusted.

Whilst I don't recommend getting an empty caravan weighed, becasue the critical point is what the caravan weighs when its fully loaded, if people want to get it weighed so be it. But you won't be stopped or prosecuted for an inaccurate MIRO, but you can be prosecuted for exceeding the Caravans MAM. Not only is it illegal, but there is a greater risk to safety associated with over loading.

Just becasue some weighbridges may have a larger tolerance, The DVSA may well have approved calibrated systems that have a much closer tolerance to take measurements.

 

[Buckman]

I can't see why that should be a reasonable assumption at all!



Whilst I agree the likelihood of an 5 to 10% overweight may not be obvious, that is not an excuse to try and overload any vehicle.

With the uncertainty about what is and what isn't included in a MIRO, and teh fact the MIRO represents the model submitted for type approval, and it might not reflect any changes to materials used for the construction, or "standard" items, It only goes to prove the MIRO should not be trusted.

Whilst I don't recommend getting an empty caravan weighed, becasue the critical point is what the caravan weighs when its fully loaded, if people want to get it weighed so be it. But you won't be stopped or prosecuted for an inaccurate MIRO, but you can be prosecuted for exceeding the Caravans MAM. Not only is it illegal, but there is a greater risk to safety associated with over loading.

Just because some weighbridges may have a larger tolerance, The DVSA may well have approved calibrated systems that have a much closer tolerance to take measurements.

What don't you understand about tongue in cheek?

Who mentioned using it as an excuse to over load a trailer or caravan? I agree no point weighing an empty caravan as the weighbridge may be out by up to 5%.

 

[Raywood]

When considering prosecutions they will normally allow a 5% allowance so being exactly right is not needed. A good defence is having a weighbridge certificate and even if you are convicted it shows you have taken reasonable steps to get it right and should reduce any penalty.

Some police forces have set up checks for caravans usually on motorway services and show figures for problems that look alarming. I think they will be high though as from interviewing police on accident cases I do know they tend to go for ones that look suspect.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Buckman I have started another thread in Forum Feedback & Issues titled
Attempting to use obtuse "tongue in cheek" in jokes in comments.