Boss & Driver:
wildfire:
the only recovery trucks that are exempt are the speclift type not the beaver tails
Rusty Nail:
Wildfire is correct. Spec lifts and underlifts are exempt because of the constantly varying axle/braking weights
So whats this all about then
ebay.co.uk/itm/LEYLAND-DAF-4 … 2c6736d4f3
someone told me they have to have a current MOT on them to get them exempt first
is this true?
that old daf isnt mot exempt either…proberbly rotten cab and failing brakes which is why he claims mot exemption
Just be carefull if the vehicle has a ‘cherrished plate’ because despite the vehicle being exempt from MOT, it’s still required to remove a cherrished number!!!
Been there, done that!!!
Ross.
I saw B&D earlier today, he was pushing his luck with the weight again 
Boss & Driver:
right have a look at this
someone selling an MOT exemption form
If he can sell a readily available Government form for £5.50, then good luck to him. 
hmmm, yes, & ■■■■■■’s with specs on always break their backs either snapping or putting a nice arch in their main chassis rails.
And ■■■■■■ bevertails - they’re all illegal if carrying a car larger than a Metro! Usually its an extended bed on a standard chassis so all the weight is on the rear axle which means the weight is exceeded when loaded. Even if some clever sods moved the axle to extend the wheelbase which gives better weight distribution between axles it will certainly be illegal because an average ■■■■■■ with a bevertail bed, ramps, tools, winch, etc weighs approx 2200kgs . The GVW is 3500kgs therefore it can only carry approx 1300kg . Not many cars are anywhere near that light, as an example an Astra 1.4 is 1341kg without fuel etc.
I used to run a ■■■■■■ beavertail and crapped myself one day when I pulled into a layby for a coffee while carrying an Omega V6 Elite Estate and saw our VOSA friends were already parked there “chatting” to an artic driver…
cieranc:
.
This is about some chancer trying to sell an un-roadworthy truck to some un-suspecting chimp by declaring it test exempt.
It isn’t test exempt.
Quite right. How has he got away with (presumably) using it to collect & haul scappers?
I’m glad things are changing. In the mid 90’s I did a lot of miles for a local garage co. who were just finding their way into the recovery/relay business. They have since become very successful. Most of those miles were done in recovery taxed slide backs. (with & without specs) Some right old sheds they were. Tacho exempt too. Expected (& got) Preston - Fraserburgh/Soton/others - Preston in 1 hit.
Of course soon after I left they got a rake of new vehicles 
B&D I have sent feedback to .Gov to alert them to that missing “where to send it” information.
triple-tango:
hmmm, yes, & ■■■■■■’s with specs on always break their backs either snapping or putting a nice arch in their main chassis rails.
I would say all DIY ■■■■■■ spec lifts do. If built properly they don’t, but then it’s not a 5 min job to build one properly.
Ours has a full length subframe (runs right under the cab) to take the weight. No chassis problems.
triple-tango:
And ■■■■■■ bevertails - they’re all illegal if carrying a car larger than a Metro! Usually its an extended bed on a standard chassis so all the weight is on the rear axle which means the weight is exceeded when loaded. Even if some clever sods moved the axle to extend the wheelbase which gives better weight distribution between axles it will certainly be illegal because an average ■■■■■■ with a bevertail bed, ramps, tools, winch, etc weighs approx 2200kgs . The GVW is 3500kgs therefore it can only carry approx 1300kg
Agreed. We built a beavertail for doing distance work, purely for fuel economy reasons.
Throughout the build, we were very consious of the weight. The bed itself is actually the tilt deck off a Brenderupp car trailer, this is essentially 2 pressed steel ramps. 2 people can easily lift it on and off. With the bed, winch, ramps, spare wheel, box of straps, full tank of diesel and a driver, it weighs off at 2150kgs. So 1350kgs payload. Not very much.
Makes me laugh when we see Transit beavertails with full steel decks. They must weigh 3 ton empty. Usually see them with a Volvo/Freelander/BMW or similar on the back 
Driveroneuk:
I’m glad things are changing. In the mid 90’s I did a lot of miles for a local garage co. who were just finding their way into the recovery/relay business. They have since become very successful. Most of those miles were done in recovery taxed slide backs. (with & without specs) Some right old sheds they were. Tacho exempt too. Expected (& got) Preston - Fraserburgh/Soton/others - Preston in 1 hit.
Quite right, things in the recovery industry are changing, for the better.
The end of the test exemption will mean some of the tinpot operators will have to run a proper fleet or pack in.
The ERRI are pushing for an ‘R’ licence, an O licence for the recovery industry. Again, this will weed out some of the cowboy operators.
Recovery have had the benefit of some pretty good breaks, no test, no tacho, no O licence. These breaks have helped some operators establish their buisness’ an allowed them to grow. But these exemptions have to end, there’s too many people taking the mick.
cieranc:
triple-tango:
hmmm, yes, & ■■■■■■’s with specs on always break their backs either snapping or putting a nice arch in their main chassis rails.
I would say all DIY ■■■■■■ spec lifts do. If built properly they don’t, but then it’s not a 5 min job to build one properly.
Ours has a full length subframe (runs right under the cab) to take the weight. No chassis problems.
triple-tango:
And ■■■■■■ bevertails - they’re all illegal if carrying a car larger than a Metro! Usually its an extended bed on a standard chassis so all the weight is on the rear axle which means the weight is exceeded when loaded. Even if some clever sods moved the axle to extend the wheelbase which gives better weight distribution between axles it will certainly be illegal because an average ■■■■■■ with a bevertail bed, ramps, tools, winch, etc weighs approx 2200kgs . The GVW is 3500kgs therefore it can only carry approx 1300kg
Agreed. We built a beavertail for doing distance work, purely for fuel economy reasons.
Throughout the build, we were very consious of the weight. The bed itself is actually the tilt deck off a Brenderupp car trailer, this is essentially 2 pressed steel ramps. 2 people can easily lift it on and off. With the bed, winch, ramps, spare wheel, box of straps, full tank of diesel and a driver, it weighs off at 2150kgs. So 1350kgs payload. Not very much.
Makes me laugh when we see Transit beavertails with full steel decks. They must weigh 3 ton empty. Usually see them with a Volvo/Freelander/BMW or similar on the back
when I worked for Ontime, Ange and a bloke from Kidlington had a pair of Fiat Ducato single car carriers, there were lightweight bodies and about the biggest thing they could carry was a Vauxhall Astra, luckily they both got their LGV so got bigger lorries too