It's only goods vehicles that are plated, a passenger car (Class M1) doesn't need a VCA plate. Most Jap imports are over 10 years old when imported as that means all they need is an MoT to register them but if they are less than 10 years old they need an IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) test. If weights are not specified by the manufacturer, then they need to ascertain what the weights are.

From the relevant part of the IVA inspection manual:

_Axle weight Calculations
9 a. Obtain the “kerbside weight” of each axle using the provided equipment
The “kerbside weight” is the weight of the vehicle as presented, with no driver or passengers, a full fuel tank, an adequate supply of the necessary oils, water, fluids etc and no load other than tools and equipment normally carried.
Note: For Unmodified Mass Produced vehicles where Design Weight requirements have been declared full fuel tanks are not required. For these vehicles the missing fuel volume should be ascertained and added to the presented weight.
1 Litre petrol = 0.74kg
1 Litre diesel = 0.84kg

b. Using the “kerbside weight” and the appropriate passenger / luggage weight, calculate (see Annex 2)
the maximum permitted weight of each axle
the maximum gross vehicle weight.
The passenger / luggage weight to be used in the calculation is 68kg in each seat (including the driver’s seat) designated for use while the vehicle is travelling on the road, plus 7kg x the number of designated seats, the weight being distributed evenly in the luggage areas.
For motor-caravans additional loads must be calculated:
10kg x the number of designated seats
10kg per metre in length
loads representing 90% full fresh water and gas tanks
For wheelchair accessible vehicles the person and wheelchair weight is assumed to be 100kg
Note: ambulances must be presented with a stretcher of the type to be carried under normal operating conditions.

1. A vehicle which is capable of towing must have a technically permissible towing mass which conforms with the information below
   Where a vehicle is capable of towing a trailer fitted with a service braking system, the technically permissible maximum towable mass of the vehicle must not exceed either of:
   the technically permissible mass of the towing vehicle, (OR, for off- road vehicles 1.5 times that mass (See note 3)
   3500Kg

Where a vehicle is only capable of towing a trailer which is not fitted with a service braking system, then the technically permissible towable mass of the vehicle must not exceed either of;
half of the mass of the towing vehicle in running order,
750kg__

So, in the case of an Elgrand or similar that was imported when under 10 years old, the weights would be calculated and entered on the IVA certificate, so it follows that for one that was too old to need to be put through an IVA test, same figures could be used. Fortunately, everything I've put through the IVA test have been European manufactured, but intended for the Russian market (don't ask....) so the test has been reasonably straightforward, addition of a rear fog light if one wasn't fitted on the right as standard, speedo showing MPH or MPH and KPH and headlights that dip the correct way.

Lpgc wrote:

I have a Nissan Elgrand Jap import... Lots of confusion over whether or not it's even legal to tow anything with the import(?) but I towed my caravan to Cornwall with it...

Under the bonnet or on a door jamb you should have a plate or sticker. It will have 4 figures on it, these being (in order) front axle max weight, rear axle max weight, gross vehicle weight and gross train weight. The last one minus the third one will give the maximum trailer weight it is cerified to tow. If the plate doesn't exist, find out the vehicle weight and go on the recommended 80% of that as a max trailer weight.

I've towed all sorts behind mine, each just under a 1,000 miles a time and can confirm what David says. The slightest slack in any suspension or steering joints and inbalance in the brakes will really make themselves felt when towing. The same goes for tyre pressures and wheel balance.

This was last week,

Only a lightweight one, 1,200 kgs for the car and a further 800kgs for the trailer so only a couple of tonnes all in. Could cruise at 70 mph on the flat no problem (although took a bit longer than normal to get up there). None of this 60 mph limit when towing on the continent like there is here.

Like you, my licence allows me to drive up to 7.5 tonnes, or 8,250 tonnes if towing a trailer but I've only ever done it once. I hired a 7,500 tonne Ford Cargo with a 20 foot long box with tail-lift on the back. Went into the office, showed them my licence, gave them the money, they handed me the keys and left me to it. I remember thinking at the first road junction, who the hell thought 7.5 tonnes was a good cutoff point? I'd driven things like Transit Luon box vans and they drove like a bigger, slower, car, but the Ford Cargo was a completely different thing entirely. It took me at least 200 miles to start to feel even remotely confident. Admittedly, I've since driven a 6 tonne plated car transporter with a loaded 3.5 tonne trailer which I'm not actually licenced to drive......

Local place quoted Dina £450 to get BE so she can drive the P38 with a big trailer. Apparently they do a roaring trade in the children of caravan owners so the kids can drive the outfit if they need to any time.

Sounds like you need to do the test to get BE on your licence. Dina wants to do it too so she can stand in for me on our longer runs, maybe we can find somewhere that will do a block discount......

In saying that, a 750 kgs trailer behind a P38 has as much affect as a couple of passengers in the back, you don't even notice it's there! They are a bugger to reverse though, give me a full sized 6m job any day.

Definitely no. Nothing to do with the combined weight, you're only allowed to tow a trailer of up to 750 kgs, so that is too heavy.

I tried Millers 75W 90 fully synthetic and the diff was noisier than before so I bunged in some cheapo 75W 90 (Comma I think) and it was much quieter.

It isn't visible though......

I registered my alternative username on there, sent a couple of posts which had to be approved then didn't use it for a long time. When I next tried to use it, posts didn't need to be approved so it obviously works on post count and time, leave it long enough and they don't need approval.

You're right, it doesn't seem to exist but on LRCat the oil pump gears aren't listed either, just a complete front cover. The oil pressure relief valve is removable and has an O ring which has a tendancy to leak, so people have removed it to replace the O ring. You are quite correct in how it works, it's simply a spring loaded plunger that lifts off a seat and allows oil to dribble back to the sump if the pressure is too high. If the O ring is leaking, it also allows oil to dribble down the side of the block, usually dripping off the oil filter. Too much oil pressure can do just as much damage as too little. A trick on old Ford engines when the pump started to wear bringing the light on at idle, was to fill with thicker oil and put a washer behind the spring (then flog it quick....) so it took much more pressure to lift it off the seat.

Seems like Marty is the ONLY person who can post. His two and one from a new member from the early hours of yesterday morning are the only new posts.

I pleaded ignorance and posted in the Community Help section last night explaining that my posts are being held until they've been checked and wondered if it was a software glitch. That also popped up a message saying it would be visible once it had been checked by a moderator. It still hasn't appeared, neither has a post I sent about 7pm last night and looking at the forum, neither has anything else since yesterday evening. Maybe we are being to hard on poor old RRTH and it's a software reset and everyone now needs posts to be held and checked so he's sitting there with hundreds of message to check.

Tried it before, didn't even get an acknowledgement. I don't think they care as long as the advertisers keep paying (although you'd think that by now anyone not running an ad blocker deserves to be bombarded with crap).

Bugger, been sussed. Despite using a different user name, my posts are now being held too.

I think if it is anyone that is also on here, it's better to PM them rather than post on the forum. There was a thread a couple of weeks ago from a guy who had some roof rack mounts made and asked if people would be interested and quoted rough prices. He got a lifetime ban for advertsing without asking first. I only know about it as we were having an email exchange as he ordered a Direnza alloy radiator and had it sent to me so I could forward it on to him. Apparently he was on his second username anyway having been banned for no apparent reason in the past. So it isn't just us Brits, RRTH hates everyone.

I tried posting and mine appeared immediately although as Gilbertd was banned for life I use a different username on there now. Maybe my idea of adding, "Also sometimes known as Gilbertd" to my signature isn't such a good idea.

However, now posts have been on there linking to threads here, our silly little, purile forum, as RRTH described it in an email to me, he might be realising that it hasn't gone away and is a threat to his empire.

Seems it's a day for easy ones.

Wonky window

and the reason why. Nothing broken other than the head sheared off a rivet. As the other two rivets had been replaced with M6 bolts and nylock nuts, no idea why that one hadn't

Although I needed to drill the hole out slightly, had I known the problem I could have done it at one of the Autoroute services. I had plenty of time, I was two hours early for the ferry home. It might have made the drive back a bit more comfortable, although having just been out in it now, the AC is struggling with an outside temperature of 31 degrees so I suspect it's a bit low on refrigerant. What's the betting I can't get it booked in until after the heatwave has finished?

Huh? That was only for new members, the first 10 or so posts had to be checked and approved. If they do it for everyone that will kill it completely.