http://www.weg.co.za go!Drive& CampSeptember^2019 |^101
Y
ou’ve just kitted out
your new vehicle
with R200 000 worth
of accessories, and
you’re ready to visit that remote
campsite with your trusty off-road
caravan, already looking forward
to the nearby 4x4 trail that’s been
marked out in the area.
Everything is packed and
you hit the long road. You join
the impromptu convoy on the
N3 heading to the KwaZulu-
Natal coast. At first, it’s a mere
inconvenience when a traffic
official waves you down as you
pass a weighbridge. But then
you get told that you’re 300 kg
overweight and need to start
unpacking before you can carry
on. Oh, and you’ve also been
handed a fine. And let’s not forget
that you need to organise for
someone pick up your goods as
well. So, what now?
Setting the tone
We happened upon this topic
when we discovered how
perilously close our very own
long-term Isuzu D-Max was to
the legal limit on the tow test
performed for the May 2019
issue. With a full tank and driver,
the bakkie tipped the scales
at 2 840 kg. With the GVM of
3 100 kg, this means it only had
260 kg of packing weight left; and
that’s not even considering the
possible 100 kg nose weight of a
caravan, or your spouse and kids.
Some South Africans have
a lackadaisical approach to the
law and the authorities appear
to be this way inclined as well.
Except, of course, when it’s time
to fill municipal coffers at certain
times of the year. Which could
explain why the interpretation
differs depending on who stops
you – and where. There can be no
arguing with the law written in
black on white, however.
Of course, there are serious
implications, especially where
insurers are concerned. If your
vehicle gets written off, the
assessor could get difficult
when it comes time to pay out,
regardless of whether it was your
fault or not.What the legal eagle says
“The National Road Traffic
Act, 1996 and Regulations
has two provisions that deal
with altered, reconstructed or
modified vehicles. Reg 31 states
that if a vehicle is altered or
reconstructed and the licence
disc no longer describes the
vehicle, the licence becomes
null and void and the vehicle
needs to be homologated and
go for a roadworthy inspection
again. Most of these vehicles
are not so drastically changed
that they would require re-
homologation. Vehicles that need
to be re-homologated are goodsNICETOHAVESTheaccessories
addedtoourlong-termeraregreat,
buttheyaddplentyofweight.vehicles or panel vans that are
changed into motorhomes,” says
legislator Alta Swanepoel.
Alta’s description places into
perfect context the case of
someone who has purchased a
Volkswagen Transporter Panel
Van or Crafter and turned it into
something that has more seats
and so on. For example, if you
added seats under the canopy of
a Land Rover Defender or ToyotaLand Cruiser 79, then your seating
arrangement will no longer
correspond to the number on
your license disc.
You’re much safer going
the route of purchasing an
already altered vehicle from an
established “manufacturer” of