Information about my Franklin

[fran81]

Hi fellas
I bought a 12 foot Franklin regent couple of months ago. After spending a bit of time I have it ready to register it, but here in VicRoads, they don’t have the information about my caravan, like: the year, tare and GVM. The vin number is V8703. Any help or suggestions where to get the information will be highly appreciate it.
Thanks

[shesgotthelook]

I gather you don't have an old registration number? VicRoads often don't have records if vehicle hasn't been registered for a while. It shouldn't matter, take it over a weighbridge to get your Tare, they don't always require GVM but if the push for it, just add approx 150 kilos to allow for water, luggage, food etc. Before making an appointment, make sure all your lights work including clearance lights & licence plate light, have 2 chains white reflectors on front & a receipt for proof of purchase. I also suggest picking up the trailer registration forms & filling out as much as possible beforehand. If your van is under 750 kgs, you don't have to take it in, over 750kgs must be inspected. It's relatively painless to register a van in Vic & I have done it many times.

Do you know what year your van is? If not, I'm sure somebody on here can help you.

www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/new-registration/register-a-trailer-or-caravan

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/4777/franklin-chassis-number-register

Regards, SGTL

[grandad]

SGTL, 150kg over tare sounds a tad light to me. I was thinking more in the 200kg+ range. Once that ATM is printed on Frans reg papers it becomes absolute and must not be exceeded.
A full gas bottle and water tank would use up most of that 150KG

[Roehm3108]

Grandad, you worried about how much grog to take. Water is only 1kg/litre - you drinkin' that heavy ale are ya???. Most vans generally have 60-80 litre water tanks. What SGTL suggested is a generally accepted rule of thumb.

[Warrenk]

Have to agree with Grandad on this one.  The rule of thumb for single axle caravans is usually 300kg of load.  Had our Riviera loaded up with a full water tank, gas bottle, spare tyre, battery and charging equipment for lighting and gear (clothes and food) that you take with you for a long weekend and took it to one of Qld Transport weigh days.    I had over 250kgs of load.  Full gas bottle (18kg), spare tyre (15kg ?),battery(35kg)and a full water tank(60kgs).  Add to this food, clothes, pots and pans, appliances, linen, bedding, awning/annex(poles, ropes etc), outside chairs/table and anything else that you take with you soon adds up.

Warren

[shesgotthelook]

Happy to edit, it was only a guesstimate. I was initially going to write 300kg but it sounded like too much. I have only ever had to provide a GVM (over the phone) once.

[Franklin1]

G'day fran81,

A Franklin chassis number of V8703 is the 8,703rd chassis built in 1974 (that's what the 'V' relates to), which means it was built pretty close to the end of that year.

I've always worked on the "general rule" that single axle vans are given 300kgs payload, and tandem axle vans are given 400kgs. However, in NSW that can vary depending on the length of the van. I've had a 1976 14ft aluminium poptop van that was given 280kgs, and my current 10ft 8ins bondwood van has been given 252kgs on top of the 748kgs tare (GVM = 1000kgs).

Agree with Warrenk, it doesn't take much to end up overweight when "everything including the kitchen sink" is loaded into the van.

cheers,

Al.

[fran81]

Thank you all for the very helpful information. I am sorry for my late reply, but I have a newborn at home getting my attention. I booked my caravan for registration and when I gave the chasis number V8703, they said that number belongs to another caravan!!! And it isn’t a Franklin!!!
So makes me wonder if my caravan chasis number is VX03?? And if it’s so, what year is it?
I’ll try to post a picture
Thanks

[twocutekelpies]

fran81 it's very common for a chassis number to not be original because they were so short, hence the introduction of Vin numbers. I'd say your chassis number is correct but the owner of the other V8703 (probably an early 80s Viscount) got to the transport dept first with theirs. The Dept of Transport should be able to issue you with a new number to use that is original to your van and will probably need to be stamped onto your drawbar, sometimes they'll allow a chassis number that's already been used but in the event the other one gets stolen, yours will be flagged as well so go for the new number.