Understated tare in Viscount Grand Tourer
Submitted: Friday, Oct 27, 2006 at 21:36
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greebocatau
Has anybody had this problem. Our Tare is way understated so much so that to tow the van we have been advised it is illegal.
It is 270kgs heavier than stated on compliance plate.
We want to bring this to the attention of unsuspecting buyers as three people from near here were killed in a van accident and the coroner reported that is was because of the van being overloaded.
To take ours on the road(its 5 weeks old) we would have to remove 2 gas bottles and something else as its ATM is 1580 and it weighs 1590 without any of our stuff in it.
Has anybody else come across this problem.
Reply By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Oct 27, 2006 at 21:58
Friday, Oct 27, 2006 at 21:58
I think I would be taking this up with Viscount at a great rate of knots...
AnswerID:
201343
Follow Up By: greebocatau - Friday, Oct 27, 2006 at 22:30
Friday, Oct 27, 2006 at 22:30
Viscount have gone into recievership. The agent said he would honor any warranty,
Our solicitor is acting on our behalf as we want a refund. What a baptism into caravanning!!
I look at it every day and just shake my head. We are sooooooooooo disapointed.
FollowupID:
460634
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Oct 27, 2006 at 22:58
Friday, Oct 27, 2006 at 22:58
WOW... Baptism of fire... Hope it all turns out OK for you. Have you tried the caravanners
forum they may be of greater assistance.
Best of luck.
Blue
FollowupID:
460639
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew W (SA) - Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 00:44
Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 00:44
Receivers usually will want to get money for the creditors, and selling the business would be one way.
With you on their backs, they really ought to be doing something about this.
Further, the person your purchased the van from has to warrant it's fitness for purpose, and the warranty is really not the issue - you were sold something that is unfit for purpose, and regardless of who manufactured it, or how long you've had it, they need to find a solution.
Cheers
Andrew.
FollowupID:
460649
Reply By: Shaker - Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 00:06
Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 00:06
Yes, I had the same problem with a Tru Blu camper trailer, it exceeded it's maximum axle loading before it left the factory.
Tare was shown as 450kg & ATM was shown as 750kg, actual tare was 910kg.
AnswerID:
201372
Reply By: LastAussieWorker - Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 07:59
Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 07:59
Sitution normal. not saying it is right, but from what you see and hear this is common practice. You may spend a lot of money trying to get a refund and get nowhere. The problem is the lawyer who will rip you off.
AnswerID:
201385
Reply By: Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 - Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 09:31
Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 09:31
I put every Teardrop Camper I build on the scales and that's my tare weight. I wonder how they all sleep and what their public liability Insurance would have to say If it courses an accident.
And I thought the old bull%#$ days had gone.
You should have no problem getting your money back .
All the best for your next purchase and don't let it put you off and
Camping its the best fun you can have.
cheers
Reiner
AnswerID:
201393
Reply By: DIO - Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 10:14
Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 10:14
What a disappointing intro to caravanning. Perhaps the message to ALL contemplating a new van is to request a weigh note from the seller as a condition of the sale. No weigh note - NO SALE. At the very least, make your first 'trip' with the new van to the nearest weigh bridge (before placing ANYTHING into it) and get it weighed yourself. That way you will know the EXACT weight (unladen) of your van regardless of what appears on the compliance plate. If you have problems after that, take it up with the manufacturer - but you keep hold of YOUR weigh note, you might need to produce it to Consumer Affairs or Motor Reg.
DIO
AnswerID:
201398
Reply By: FZJ 80 - Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 21:00
Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 at 21:00
Greebocatau,
Another thing to concider should no refund occur and you end up retaining the van,i have read on a caravan
forum of the Tare and ATM can under certain circumstances be increased. I think the one that i read about was in Victoria (I think!). This is done by a approved engineer and in this case it was increased by quite a lot,something like 300kg. The engineer takes into concideration the rating of the axle(s)
wheels,tyres,brakes,tow coupling,chassis construction and more.
If it was me i would concider ringing your state dept of transport and ask if the can advise a list of engineers that may be able to perform this for you. Naturally if the axle or any other components are rated at or near the atm, some modifications will be required or maybe no increase will be possible. I would investigate this asap if it was me,you may fine it more viable than paying a lawyer a lot of money for possibly no result.
We bought a 98 Golf Starliner ATV 17ft and it's tare is 1220kg with ATM of 1520kg.
At the time didn't even think of weighing it,i hope we aren't in the same boat as the tare sounds very light to me! Have not weighed it yet,will load it to what we expect to take and have it weighed and hope for the best.
From what i understand,the innacurate Tare-Atm is very common.
Good Luck
Greg
AnswerID:
201489