Clarifying an issue with lift and Tire size

[Bryn23]

I spoke to QLD Transport, The guy in Technical, confirmed it, So I'm going to get the lift for now and then look at bigger tires.

As for exemptions, I can complete a F1854 form to try and get both, but you need good reasons and even then as he said, it's a long shot.

Even thought the 225/65R17 tires (34mm overall diameter increase and 17mm height increase) and 30mm Seikel lift only give you a lift of approx 47mm combined.

It's worth trying, as i can't technically see how having both under 50mm is any different to just the one at the same height.

[Sunny43.5]

I understand your logic and yes the legal issue if the mod was contributing to a serious accident is definitely not worth taking a chance for .

[Guest001]

I spoke to QLD Transport, The guy in Technical, confirmed it, So I'm going to get the lift for now and then look at bigger tires.

As for exemptions, I can complete a F1854 form to try and get both, but you need good reasons and even then as he said, it's a long shot.

Even thought the 225/65R17 tires (34mm overall diameter increase and 17mm height increase) and 30mm Seikel lift only give you a lift of approx 47mm combined.

It's worth trying, as i can't technically see how having both under 50mm is any different to just the one at the same height.

Which bit about one or the other but NOT BOTH do you not understand.

Obviously the technical people have a better understanding of vehicle dynamics than the average driver.

Always someone trying to circumvent the rules, often to their detriment.

[Bryn23]

Which bit about one or the other but NOT BOTH do you not understand.

Obviously the technical people have a better understanding of vehicle dynamics than the average driver.

Always someone trying to circumvent the rules, often to their detriment.

I not trying to circumvent the rules...

I asked if it was possible to be both and he confirmed it was one or the other as per the paperwork, but said i would have to fill out form F1854 for it to be accessed for both, and yes the Technical guys go over it to see if it safe.

and if it is approved, said it could be a long shot, then it is legal...

there are heaps of exemptions out there with QLD transport, it depends on the modifications needed.

Plus i have good reasons, why I'm doing this, pm'ed

[Big Bug]

I must admit I glossed over the bit about the ESC.
If you take a look at the Seikel website Premium Partner - Seikel they are a Premium Partner of Volkswagen. One would hope that VW wouldn't be endorsing Seikel if the products they made for their vehicles were unsafe.

With regard to larger tyres Seikel say that their lift kits are mandatory for larger tyres, and those larger tyres go up to 245/70R17 which are 84mm increase in diameter over standard. So a 72mm lift overall. According to this.......
---- Part certificate from TÜV
We have the appropriate part certificates to ensure that the combination of tyres and wheel rims can be entered in the vehicle documents without any difficulties.
89,25 € (incl. tax)
75,00 € (ex. tax) -------

Now I realise that all this is academic as it's not Australia but it is interesting to note that there are hundreds of T5's driving around Germany without any problems and approved by the TUV, a tough regulator from what I understand and condoned by VW.

Now if you look at the specs of the Trakkadu ORP they fit the 30mm suspension lift and the 235/65R17 tyres. Now if that is legal in NSW's what happens when that van crosses the border into Qld??? They obviously have to change their tyres back to 235/55R17's....... As an aside I fitted a smoke alarm to my van because it is compulsory in NSW's, as far as I know not in Qld.

All food for thought.
Bruce CQ

[Guest001]

I must admit I glossed over the bit about the ESC.
If you take a look at the Seikel website Premium Partner - Seikel they are a Premium Partner of Volkswagen. One would hope that VW wouldn't be endorsing Seikel if the products they made for their vehicles were unsafe.

With regard to larger tyres Seikel say that their lift kits are mandatory for larger tyres, and those larger tyres go up to 245/70R17 which are 84mm increase in diameter over standard. So a 72mm lift overall. According to this.......
---- Part certificate from TÜV
We have the appropriate part certificates to ensure that the combination of tyres and wheel rims can be entered in the vehicle documents without any difficulties.
89,25 € (incl. tax)
75,00 € (ex. tax) -------

Now I realise that all this is academic as it's not Australia but it is interesting to note that there are hundreds of T5's driving around Germany without any problems and approved by the TUV, a tough regulator from what I understand and condoned by VW.

Now if you look at the specs of the Trakkadu ORP they fit the 30mm suspension lift and the 235/65R17 tyres. Now if that is legal in NSW's what happens when that van crosses the border into Qld??? They obviously have to change their tyres back to 235/55R17's....... As an aside I fitted a smoke alarm to my van because it is compulsory in NSW's, as far as I know not in Qld.

All food for thought.
Bruce CQ

A vehicle that is certified in one state is legal to use in the others whilst passing through as in a round the country trip. Eg you must have breakaway battery monitor in the cab if NSW registered but nowhere else. However you can drive through NSW in a QLD reg vehicle without problems.
If however you move interstate to live you only have so long to register and get recertified in that state and thats when the fun starts in a modified vehicle. What VW authorises in Europe is vastly different to what the rules are in Australia. Those tyre increases would be illegal Aus wide for starters.

Either observe the rules as they stand or choose another suitable vehicle would be the logical and safest way of doing it.

[Sunny43.5]

I like your response Big Bug the bit about each state having different rules is a bloody joke in my opinion , if we speed in any other state than our own we get points etc off our local license so why should their be different regs for each state . It should be uniform across the whole of Australia . Reminds me of twenty years ago when I was in the thick of the aftermarket sunroof business on the Gold coast , we fitted a dozen or more sunroofs into those dreadful Niki FSM cars for a rental company in Byron Bay . When the company went to get them registered NSW RTA refused to supply rego until I was able to show that I fitted the roofs to the manufacturers specifications from Holland . I got a letter from the Australian Distributors to show that I was approved and all was good with the RTA , meanwhile Qld transport could not give two hoots about sunroofs at the time as there were no guidelines in Qld regulations . I was on good relations with our local Qld Transport head inspector and I had a chat about sunroofs to him one day , his response was classic . He told me there were none unlike NSW and proposed that I write a set of guidelines and skew them towards our brand so it would make life hard for our opposition , I burst out laughing which he smiled at as well . In the end I didnt bother and as far as I know it is still the same to this very day NO written rules . ADR regs are Australia wide and apply to all states but modifications are handled by each state individually .

[Bryn23]

Yeah Big Bug, i thought i was all good until the ESC was brought up, never even thought about it, as it being a commercial van.

Like you said, its all academic, the national rules that were implemented in 2012 were suppose to align all the states, still hasn't happened.

You had to use form F1854, just to legally get a 30mm lift with ESC before they relaxed the current rules to self assess up to 50mm.

I also noticed that Frontline also do a 35mm Bilstien lift kit with 235/60R17 tires and it can be registered new in QLD, so Trakka aren't the only one, but as i believe as they are both ordered specially In by VWA and they are the secondary manufacturer's due to their camper modifications they are able to legally change tire sizes, if its done before first rego, although I'm not 100% on that.

All of it legal, just paperwork to make it legal.

If it is deemed legal in your state and you have a mod plate or you have paperwork to show the mod is certified, then you are free to drive in any state in Australia without removing mods.

Hopefully we will finally get a nationalised code that every state can agree on, not just cherry pick what they want at the moment and enforce.

[Big Bug]

Hopefully we will finally get a nationalised code that every state can agree on, not just cherry pick what they want at the moment and enforce.

Don't hold your breath on that one. I think the National Road Rules were introduced at the end of 1999. My Brother-in-Law who used to work for Qld Transport told me that discussions first started in 1951............ a quick internet search shows that the President of the NRMA wrote about it in their yearbook of 1933.

Hillybilly, I totally understand that what is allowed in Germany is not applicable here. I just find it fascinating that it is obviously regarded as perfectly safe to drive the T5 with those larger tyres and lift AND at unlimited speeds along an autobahn.

But you are right I shouldn't have bought the T5. I should have spent the money refurbishing my T3 syncro or buying a Trakkadu ORP for $137,000+.

Bruce CQ