Friends – and anyone else:
Has anyone raised a T5.1 in Queensland and put AT tyres on (all legally)?
I have a T5.1, MY12, LWB 4motion with locking diff and 132kW engine. I had it converted to a camper when new. We are very pleased with it except for its ground clearance. (After driving T3 for 30 years I was most disappointed with the clearance issue.) I’ve already made an engine bash plate and am working on one for the fuel tank.
I’m looking for people with Queensland experience in raising the vehicle and interactions with authorities and would appreciate hearing from them.
I also want to put AT tyres on the vehicle as I have found gravel roads have chewed up tyres in the past – the latest being a set of Goodyear 215/60 R17Cs.
The Trakka ORP vehicle has the Seikel lift kit (which gives +30mm). Alternate wheels and tyres give further lift and I assume there is probably a speedometer recalibration involved as well.) VW Germany issue a NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the lift kit, thus indicating it is not a “problem” modification.
I have spoken to Trakka and their vehicles meet the ADRs. This means they must be acceptable in Queensland. Queensland actually modifies the ADRs in places for their own reasons. It is hard to work out how to get through the ADR/Queensland issues, at least without a risk of failure.
I have looked at it and think I would do a local emulation of the Seikel lift kit using King Springs and Bilstein shocks and get 30mm (but would be pleased to go a bit higher).
I am writing this after speaking with an experienced fellow who does vehicle compliancing, an engineer with a lot of lowering/lifting experience (though not on VWs) and an excellent wheel/tyre technician. The problem is that none has experience with these issues on a Transporter, though plenty with 4x4 vehicles. I have also read a lot on this and the UK forums.
That the 4Motion is NOT a 4x4 but a “soft-roader” makes a difference in Queensland. Queensland Transport allow a 50mm lift. This can be EITHER via suspension OR by tyres/wheels but NOT by a combination of both.
The compliancing fellow commented that the case of the T5 is arguable and reasonable. It is a commercial van, it has 4motion, a locking diff, is promoted by VW as an off road vehicle, and there are commercial VW-accepted mods similar to those I am wanting. On top of this, the stock VW has a rather low clearance, unsuited to off-road situations.
The tyre fellow would not fit new wheels and appropriate AT tyres to my van because this would increase the rolling diameter too much. He WOULD put them together, balance them and sell them to me if I pushed but he would not install them because that makes him responsible for taking the vehicle out of compliance (making it un-roadworthy.) Personally, I do not want to drive an un-roadworthy vehicle, conservative non-risk-taker that I am.
There IS a form (Form F1854 CFD) issued by Queensland Department of Transport. A quote for this:
Whilst the form says simply that is should be submitted by email, I have read elsewhere that there is an (unspecified) charge to do so. There is also the question of who”the person modifying the vehicle”.
I am very interested to hear whether anyone else has faced this issue in Queensland, and “won”, so to speak, or has experienced/knowledge of these things.
Thanks for bearing with the epistle folks.
Has anyone raised a T5.1 in Queensland and put AT tyres on (all legally)?
I have a T5.1, MY12, LWB 4motion with locking diff and 132kW engine. I had it converted to a camper when new. We are very pleased with it except for its ground clearance. (After driving T3 for 30 years I was most disappointed with the clearance issue.) I’ve already made an engine bash plate and am working on one for the fuel tank.
I’m looking for people with Queensland experience in raising the vehicle and interactions with authorities and would appreciate hearing from them.
I also want to put AT tyres on the vehicle as I have found gravel roads have chewed up tyres in the past – the latest being a set of Goodyear 215/60 R17Cs.
The Trakka ORP vehicle has the Seikel lift kit (which gives +30mm). Alternate wheels and tyres give further lift and I assume there is probably a speedometer recalibration involved as well.) VW Germany issue a NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the lift kit, thus indicating it is not a “problem” modification.
I have spoken to Trakka and their vehicles meet the ADRs. This means they must be acceptable in Queensland. Queensland actually modifies the ADRs in places for their own reasons. It is hard to work out how to get through the ADR/Queensland issues, at least without a risk of failure.
I have looked at it and think I would do a local emulation of the Seikel lift kit using King Springs and Bilstein shocks and get 30mm (but would be pleased to go a bit higher).
I am writing this after speaking with an experienced fellow who does vehicle compliancing, an engineer with a lot of lowering/lifting experience (though not on VWs) and an excellent wheel/tyre technician. The problem is that none has experience with these issues on a Transporter, though plenty with 4x4 vehicles. I have also read a lot on this and the UK forums.
That the 4Motion is NOT a 4x4 but a “soft-roader” makes a difference in Queensland. Queensland Transport allow a 50mm lift. This can be EITHER via suspension OR by tyres/wheels but NOT by a combination of both.
The compliancing fellow commented that the case of the T5 is arguable and reasonable. It is a commercial van, it has 4motion, a locking diff, is promoted by VW as an off road vehicle, and there are commercial VW-accepted mods similar to those I am wanting. On top of this, the stock VW has a rather low clearance, unsuited to off-road situations.
The tyre fellow would not fit new wheels and appropriate AT tyres to my van because this would increase the rolling diameter too much. He WOULD put them together, balance them and sell them to me if I pushed but he would not install them because that makes him responsible for taking the vehicle out of compliance (making it un-roadworthy.) Personally, I do not want to drive an un-roadworthy vehicle, conservative non-risk-taker that I am.
There IS a form (Form F1854 CFD) issued by Queensland Department of Transport. A quote for this:
This form is to be used when applying for approval to modify a light vehicle (a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) or Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) not exceeding 4.5 tonnes) in a way not provided for in an approved code of practice.
For modifications to heavy vehicles (vehicles with a GVM or ATM over 4.5t) please contact the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (Welcome to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website | National Heavy Vehicle Regulator).
This application is to be completed by the person modifying the vehicle.
Modifying a vehicle, using or permitting a modified vehicle to be used without approval from the Director-General, Department of Transport and Main Roads is a breach of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act
.For modifications to heavy vehicles (vehicles with a GVM or ATM over 4.5t) please contact the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (Welcome to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website | National Heavy Vehicle Regulator).
This application is to be completed by the person modifying the vehicle.
Modifying a vehicle, using or permitting a modified vehicle to be used without approval from the Director-General, Department of Transport and Main Roads is a breach of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act
Whilst the form says simply that is should be submitted by email, I have read elsewhere that there is an (unspecified) charge to do so. There is also the question of who”the person modifying the vehicle”.
I am very interested to hear whether anyone else has faced this issue in Queensland, and “won”, so to speak, or has experienced/knowledge of these things.
Thanks for bearing with the epistle folks.
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