Reducing the weight of a van?

[Devilfish]

Hi folks,

I can't remember the correct terms but my mate has a van that can take 4.2 tons I think, and he wants it lowered to 3.5 tons (I think) so that it's easier to get it MOT'd and TAX'd as now he needs to take it to a special VOSA test centre or something like that. He doesn't carry anywhere near the max rated weight or even 3.5 tons. If it means taking a leaf off the rear axle then I don't think he'll bother but if it's just a paperwork exerise then he'll do it.

Any advice would be great!

Cheers

[the_riddler]

if you are uprateing-
then yes maybe, new springs bigger tyres Etc.

but down-rating the Gross Vehicle Wieght, "should" be simply
paper-work,

tell him to speak to local Hgv Vosa, they will know-for certain..

[stonedagain]

We used to downgrade trucks years ago, we used to fit smaller tyres (7.50/16 instead of the 8.25/16) then take them to the local testing station. Afterwards, we re-fitted the larger tyres. On some trucks, we also had to remove the 'helper' spring.

[dafdiagnos]

as above, with down rating the gvw you will usually have to remove helper leaf in suspension, sometimes down rate tyres & wheels, & on hgvs you would end up changing hubs to reduce no. of wheel nuts etc