Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Neil Gornall on December 21, 2010, 06:17:21 pm

Title: Van weight has me confused.
Post by: Neil Gornall on December 21, 2010, 06:17:21 pm
I need to give a customer the total weight of my van. (they are worried about the block paved areas)
The water is easy, I can guess the other equipment but the van itself has me confused.
I just looked up on the web and below is what I found, can someone explain it please as I dont understand.

Gross Train Weight : 3500
Gross Vehicle Weight : 3000
Gross Vehicle Weight : 1450

Its a Transit 300SWB,  with a 650lt tank in the back.
Title: Re: Van weight has me confused.
Post by: Spruce on December 21, 2010, 06:55:00 pm
Hi

If you look at this thread, I put a diagram on it that will explain what you want to know.

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=113480.0

From what I understand, driveway paving companies build and price a driveway to the owners specifications. This is especially so when it comes to concrete driveways.
Eg. if they are concreting a driveway for you for cars only, they lay a 4" thick concrete slab. If you park a transit van on it, then they lay a 6" slab of concrete. Anything bigger is  thicker still and usually reinforced with wire mesh. So your customer is probably right to show concern, especially if they chose the cheaper option.

Your van will weigh 3 tonnes fully laden, so I would stay away from parking on customer's drives if at all possible IMO. My van is slightly lighter than yours, and the only time I would put it on a driveway, especially concrete is if it was almost empty.
If you keep an eye open, you sometimes come across a drive that has two sunken tracks at the enterance- either due to being poorly layed or had a too heavy vehicle driven on and off it, especially when the underground is wet after heavy rainfall.

Spruce

Title: Re: Van weight has me confused.
Post by: Rob_Mac on December 21, 2010, 07:04:02 pm
Train weight is van fully loaded plus 500 for towing
Vehicle weight is van fully loaded
The bottom looks like the actual unladen weight

So you have 1550 for load, minus you, fuel, equipment & water but that seems high. I had one of them - good van!!!

The alternative is to park on the road and get enough hose to reach from the kerb.

Remember your trip hazard signage.

Rob ;D
Title: Re: Van weight has me confused.
Post by: Neil Gornall on December 21, 2010, 07:17:53 pm
Thanks guys,

Very helpful replies.

The job is for a very large office block and i will be parking in their carparks.  I am sure there will not be problem but the customer is local government so I think they just want lots of paperwork.  :)
Title: Re: Van weight has me confused.
Post by: Rob_Mac on December 21, 2010, 07:48:58 pm
I do a lot of pressure washing on slab work Neil.

If you are concerned about a particular area (if and when you start the work) carry a small camera and document any problem areas (that might come back to bite you) and give the info to the relevant person before you drive on the area.

Good luck

Rob ;D
Title: Re: Van weight has me confused.
Post by: formb on December 21, 2010, 07:50:56 pm
Take it to a weigh bridge.
Title: Re: Van weight has me confused.
Post by: mikecam on December 21, 2010, 08:13:13 pm
Thanks guys,

Very helpful replies.

The job is for a very large office block and i will be parking in their carparks.  I am sure there will not be problem but the customer is local government so I think they just want lots of paperwork.  :)

So what weight do you reckon your van is?
Title: Re: Van weight has me confused.
Post by: Spruce on December 21, 2010, 08:49:43 pm
Hi

It has a payload of around 1390kgs. It is the 300 which will carry approx 200kgs more than the T280. Total weight of van 3000kgs (3 tonne) fully laden.

A large office block should have paving that will support a vehicles weight much heavier than yours. Some deliveries could be done in a 7.5t which is twice the weight of yours.

Personally, I wouldn't be too concerned about driving onto that. But I would also take M-Clean's advise and proceed with caution. The person responsible for the building should have a copy of the drawing that will confirm what the carpark was designed to take.

Spruce