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dave.e

Re: Got pulled over by cops on friday
« Reply #20 on: May 22, 2011, 07:38:58 pm »

he is right the cops spend far to much of there time doing the motorist instead of some real police work.


IN which case, I hope no-one ever hits you because they are overweight and their brakes aren't up to the extra work.

Vin



if they do the police are the last ones i will be calling trust me

Paul Coleman

Re: Got pulled over by cops on friday
« Reply #21 on: May 22, 2011, 07:42:49 pm »
I reckon that at least 500kg payload over and above the weight of the water is  best - though it can depend on what equipment you carry.  This is for single operator.  I would rather err on the side of caution.  If you add up the bits and pieces above the water weight you will see that even then I'm not allowing loads either.
Weight of driver.  Let's say 100kg as I'm a porkie.
Weight of diesel.  Up to 90kg when fuel tank is full (90 litre tank).
Weight of tank and (optional) filters.  Varies a lot but I doubt mine is less than 100kg.
Hosereel(s) and hose.  Not sure but maybe 30kg.
Poles.  Not a great deal now I mostly use carbon but all the bits and pieces maybe 10kg (I carry an ali pole as a backup).
Backpack (with water) say 25kg.
Ladder on top for occasional use and stepladder inside for leaning over gates.  Not sure but maybe 15kg.

That lot comes to 370kg.
I have an 800 litre tank.  If it were full I would be fairly close to the maximum because my van payload is 1200kg (GVW minus vehicle weight) and a full tank of water would get me to around 1170kg.
However, although I have a 800 litre tank, 700 is the most I usually put in it or even 650.
There have been odd occasions when I have needed a full tank of water a long way from home (big job on a very long day).  However, I have plenty of warning when such jobs are becoming due so I run down the diesel in the previous couple of weeks and unload any other equipment that I know I won't need.
So I reckon to be reasonably comfortable, only carry a weight of water that is below payload-500kg.  Failing that, make damned sure that you unload anything unnecessary and run the diesel down if possible.
I don't think it's good practice anyway to constantly load a van up close to its maximum.

Londoner

Re: Got pulled over by cops on friday
« Reply #22 on: May 22, 2011, 09:36:25 pm »
They ambush taxis in London and stick an exhaust gas analyser up your exhaust pipe. There is no way if your stuck in traffic for the previous half hour that you are going to pass that one. Then its a hefty fine and a "stop notice" which means that you have to take it to an official testing station and get a docket saying that its legal before you can start work again.

Fine + £110 testing fee + 2 days loss of work. Plus the fine goes on your record and 3 points on your licence

Another one of the 99 reasons  why I am a window cleaner and not a taxi driver anymore.

When they start testing the exhaust of window cleaning vans (and they will believe me) then we will all be in trouble

Jimmy Jon

  • Posts: 440
Re: Got pulled over by cops on friday
« Reply #23 on: May 22, 2011, 09:57:45 pm »
Vince, I drove through Bristol parkway train station car park one day last week and there were at least 30+ taxis just parked up in the ranks and not many commuters about I thought to myself how can these guys earn a living? They must be sat there for hours just to get a £10 fare??, Made me realise what a good job I had  :)

Nick Wareham

  • Posts: 244
Re: Got pulled over by cops on friday
« Reply #24 on: May 23, 2011, 01:28:02 am »
Yes you can get a hefty fine if they catch you.  They should probably be out getting robbers and murderers, but van drivers are much easier to catch!  however if one of my family was killed ina car accident because an overloaded van couldnt stop in time then I'd probly think it was a good use of the cops time.

Dont forget the weight must also be evenly distributed between the front and back axles.  Neither axle must bear over half the weight or your in trouble.

Londoner

Re: Got pulled over by cops on friday
« Reply #25 on: May 23, 2011, 07:29:52 am »
Vince, I drove through Bristol parkway train station car park one day last week and there were at least 30+ taxis just parked up in the ranks and not many commuters about I thought to myself how can these guys earn a living? They must be sat there for hours just to get a £10 fare??, Made me realise what a good job I had  :)

Yes, although I am a London taxi driver I am very familiar with the taxis at Bristol Parkway because my son is in Bristol and I use the station fairly regularly.
They are lucky if they get a £10 fare during the day. £10 will take you practically up to the downs where my son lives in Halls.

Many of the jobs during the day will just go local in the town. People coming out of the station often use a taxi just to find  the address they want rather than for actual transport because they can't be bothered to look at a map. Or don't have one.

This is now being eroded I would imagine by sat navs in mobile phones. So the cake gets even smaller and the waits get longer.