No Weights On My VIN Plate

As the title says: no weights on my VIN plate. (300TDi)

Handbook says GVW = 2720kg, trailer = 3500kg.

Now I'm sure I've seen those figures on here along with MAM = 5900kg. (Yes, I know what MAM is )

Can't see 5900kg anywhere on the vehicle or in the paperwork so where has it come from?

More importantly, am I likely to spend time arguing the toss with a stroppy Gendarme if I'm pulling a heavy-looking trailer across France and there's no figures on the plate?

You cannot tow at 3500kg AND the Disco at Maximum weight.

Peter

Since 2720 + 3500 > 5900, that would appear to be the case, and having seen an RRC lose a 4T trailer on the M6, when that was legal on overrun brakes, I wouldn't want to try.

But where can I find that figure? As I said, the VIN plate has no weights on it (and there's no ministry plate either).

Have you checked for a 2nd Vin plate?

My Series has 2, one presumably added by the MOD as it has the military ID number along with the normal (matching) VIN number but no weights

A 300 tdi only weighs 1950kg iirc.


forget that I just saw GROSS vehicle weight :doh:

was wondering about this as mine has no weights either just keep forgetting about it so cheers for bringing this up

The only plate I've found so far that quotes a weight is on the towing hitch. That, fortunately given how many other corners have been cut on this car , is plated at 3500kg.

I've checked bulkheads, door jambs, chassis legs.

Anywhere else it could be hiding?

I'm quite happy keeping the train weight under 5900kg. What I am worried about know-nothing officialdom.

Found this on another forum (Legal Towing Weight Advice Please - Disco 300 TDI)

Re: vehicle related andf Disco I TDi 300 - I've just checked the VIN plate in the engine bay of my wife's TDi and it clearly shows the right numbers - GVW of 2720 and underneath GTW of 6220kg giving a max braked trailer weight of 3500kg.

Now I'm getting exceptionally confused

GTW must be over 5900kg with coupled brakes else you'd have to start taking bits off the Disco to put a 4000kg trailer on it. Could be 5900kg with overrun brakes if that's all the Disco's brakes are rated for but this guy claims to have seen GTW=6220 (i.e. 2720+3500) on the VIN plate of a TDi.


Does anyone have a contact address at Solihull I can use? The deeper I dig the murkier things get so I'm thinking a headed letter is what I need.

KeepDigging said:

having seen an RRC lose a 4T trailer on the M6, when that was legal on overrun brakes, I wouldn't want to try.

Click to expand...

I don't think it was ever legal with overrun brakes, the system is called 'coupled brakes' and is either hydralically coupled to the towing vehicle's brakes or they have power brakes with air.





Peter

Many thank Mr Lister Diesel sir.

That looks just like what's in the handbook and makes no mention of 5900kg so given that others have seen 6220kg on a VIN plate I shall just wave the handbook at any officious Gendarme who believes me to be being naughty. The trailer won't be that heavy anyway but I prefer to have official-looking stuff to show officious people (and having had to explain a few regs to PCs in this country I'm really not looking forward to a face-off in France).

Why couldn't they just stamp the weights on the plate when they stamped the VIN on it? It's not like it saved them any money :doh:

listerdiesel said:

I don't think it was ever legal with overrun brakes, the system is called 'coupled brakes' and is either hydralically coupled to the towing vehicle's brakes or they have power brakes with air.

Click to expand...

I used to pull that trailer with that RRC before the boss wrote it off.

But it always behaved for me

If your Disco is a Japanese reimport there will be no info on the VIN plate other than the serial no. My 1996 Disco 300Tdi was a jap import and the VIN plate was almost blank.
Doesn't cause a problem with MOT etc. Stick to the LR handbook as far as weights are concerned. And just be careful if towing near max.

janderson41 said:

If your Disco is a Japanese reimport there will be no info on the VIN plate other than the serial no. My 1996 Disco 300Tdi was a jap import and the VIN plate was almost blank.
Doesn't cause a problem with MOT etc. Stick to the LR handbook as far as weights are concerned. And just be careful if towing near max.

Click to expand...

The same as a UK spec disco then.
My VIN plate has no indication of weights either.