Disco with trayback..road legal?

hi all,

Am starting plan to modifications to the discovery i have just bought.

Looking at pics of 90's and range traybacks they look great but am wondering about the massive distance most of them have between the wheel and the underside of the tray (or what would considered the wheel arch) are these legal as long as the tyres dont stick out past the tray from a birds eye view?

I imagine on a wet road they cause chaos.

thanks in advance

Yes you have to keep the wheels within the body work......altho they can stick out sideways a little and still pass a MOT but the Traffic Police don't like it. Bit of a grey area that.

Usual caveat about informing insurance company and DVLA apply. Also if you are modding the chassis in any way then you will need an SVA/IVA test. If you Google for "Draft IVA manual" you will find a number of links to the PDF.

Also you will need to think about rear light spacing and location of the number plate.

having read through the draft IVA manual it seems that a trayback or a bobtail wouldn't require 90 percent of the tests in it seeing as its mostly the same vehicle but falls foul due to the rear overhang on chassis being cut off. I have heard that the local DVLA can inspect a vehicle and call for an IVA test if they think it is warranted depending on how far you have gone.

Anyone heard any truth to this??

look here...

HIBAK 4x4 - Built for the rough

I'm fabricating something similar myself...

seems like there is no issue

Hi,

My understanding is that an SVA/Q-plate is required if you RADICALLY alter your chassis, or fit a new chassis that is not to the same specification as the original. Three questions.

1. Does hacking a few inches off the end of a chassis count as a radical alteration? Something I once read suggested that cutting off wasn't radical, but welding bits on was radical. ???

2. So what do they mean by SPECIFICATION? "2 axle, rigid body" ? Or can they get really pedantic, and ask the colour code of the paint on the chassis?

3. Does "same spec as original" mean the same as "original spec"? If you have modded your old chassis, can you make a new one with same mods?

A tray-back has to be high, to accomadate wheel/spring movement. One answer is to make a step-side, ie a box that fits between the wheels, with cycle guards over the tyres, then a step (optional) between rear of cab and guards, so you can access front end of box.

I believe there is some regulation about cover behind the rear wheel, as in a mud flap. Doh! I printed it off only last week, but wife insisted I tidied it away. Whatever, cycle guards should fit the bill. Strange, no mention of mudguards in my "Which Kit" version of the SVA.

602

nesponge said:

look here...

HIBAK 4x4 - Built for the rough

I'm fabricating something similar myself...

seems like there is no issue

Click to expand...

That kitcar does have an arch (sort of) at the back of the tyre but i imagine a decent mudflap would do the same job. My trayback will have removeable mudflaps for the road.

Think i will bite the bullet and call the dvla in the morning and try to get the answer in writing. At the end of the day all i have done is remove the rear overhang and not altered the suspension mountings in any way and if i understand correctly the body mods dont count because its a separate body and chassis and dosn't form part of the chassis strength