[Klean07]

My Connect is a swb but did consider a lwb for my next van but I've been told they won't fit on ramps in normal mot garages etc therefore costing more to go to specialist garage etc!
Think I'll stick to swb but would be interested to hear what everyone else uses and reasons why etc!

[p1w1]

lwb connect for me, has a bigger payload and bit extra room..never had an issue with garages

[PoleKing]

I have SWB Trafic.
Mate has a LWB Master.
Both went in the same ramp at the garage (not together  )
The arms are adjustable-can't see them making a van that won't fit ramps...

[windiewasher]

I have SWB Trafic.
Mate has a LWB Master.
Both went in the same ramp at the garage (not together  )
The arms are adjustable-can't see them making a van that won't fit ramps...

+1 I have seen all sorts of vehicles on ramps . They are fully adjustable.

[Rayleigh Window Cleaning Services]

lwb connect for me, has a bigger payload and bit extra room..never had an issue with garages

+1

[SimonMoore]

lwb traffics  no problems at any garage ive ever been to..

[Klean07]

lwb connect for me, has a bigger payload and bit extra room..never had an issue with garages

SWB can be tested at Class 4 Testing stations, LWB don't fit on the ramps, so you pay extra for the class 5 or 7 test, as it is physically bigger! Basically, avoid Vauxhall, Renault and Nissan. Otherwise, go drive them, make your choice from the rest!

This quote was taken from a van forum!

[Lee GLS]

I never had a problem with my lwb connect took it to normal garages that didn't have class 7 mot approal. You will have no problem with it.

[DaveG]

I've got a lwb Trafic and have never had a problem having it mot'd and pay the same price as my car....

[Simon Mess]

My Connect is a swb but did consider a lwb for my next van but I've been told they won't fit on ramps in normal mot garages etc therefore costing more to go to specialist garage etc!
Think I'll stick to swb but would be interested to hear what everyone else uses and reasons why etc!

Wont fit on a normal ramp?, seriously?, have you seen a lwb transit connect?, they are not THAT big!. There are absolutely heaps of 'normal' cars which are bigger than a lwb connect (such as a mondeo), they dont need to be taken to a 'specialist' garage!. As for the weight, well the heaviest connect has a 2.3 ton gvw, which, given the 900kg payload means 1.4 tons unladen Compared to some cars these days, is nothing, a series 3 landrover discovery for example, weighs about 2.5 tons unladen. I think whoever told you that was taking the p**s, or just didnt know what they were talking about!.

I have a 230lwb, had it for more than 3.5 years now (no problem getting mot!), and while it obviously depends what you want out of the van, as far as i am concerned, the lwb (as opposed to a swb) is the only choice worth considering. Longer and taller load area, bigger payload, virtually no difference in running costs, why wouldn't you?.

[Spruce]

My Connect is a swb but did consider a lwb for my next van but I've been told they won't fit on ramps in normal mot garages etc therefore costing more to go to specialist garage etc!
Think I'll stick to swb but would be interested to hear what everyone else uses and reasons why etc!

Wont fit on a normal ramp?, seriously?, have you seen a lwb transit connect?, they are not THAT big!. There are absolutely heaps of 'normal' cars which are bigger than a lwb connect (such as a mondeo), they dont need to be taken to a 'specialist' garage!. As for the weight, well the heaviest connect has a 2.3 ton gvw, which, given the 900kg payload means 1.4 tons unladen Compared to some cars these days, is nothing, a series 3 landrover discovery for example, weighs about 2.5 tons unladen. I think whoever told you that was taking the p**s, or just didnt know what they were talking about!.

I have a 230lwb, had it for more than 3.5 years now (no problem getting mot!), and while it obviously depends what you want out of the van, as far as i am concerned, the lwb (as opposed to a swb) is the only choice worth considering. Longer and taller load area, bigger payload, virtually no difference in running costs, why wouldn't you?.

Ditto.

That would mean that the Connect people carrier would also have to go to another test center.

I have a SWB Citroen Relay with no issues of not fitting on the ramps and that's bigger than a LWB Connect. The only issue with my van was that the ramps wouldn't lift the van with 650 litres of water in the tank, so I drain it before it goes in for MOT now.

[Klean07]

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091220093029AAryjZK

[Lee GLS]

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091220093029AAryjZK

He's talking rubbish

[Klean07]

The more I read it the more I agree that he's talking out of his hat!

[Spruce]

The more I read it the more I agree that he's talking out of his hat!

There are some LWB vans that can't be tested at some class 4/7 testing stations. The extra LWB Transit (Jumbo) is possibly one of them and M/Benz have a number of LWB vans that fit into the catagory from 3.5t to 7.5t (eg. Vario, 408, 508, 816 etc) with twin rear wheels.

The writer of this article was talking in general so includes vans that we wouldn't even consider as window cleaners. The Transit 330 and 350 would fit into class 7 and would cost slightly more to test if the testing station uses the VOSA differentiated MOT pricing structure.

It could be that for what ever reason the individual test station puts a limit on what they test (length of ramps is one issue), so it could be that some can't test a class 7 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 311 LWB as that just goes on for ever. However the writer talks rubbish when referring to LWB Vivaros as an issue as you guys have already concluded.

Another reason for an MOT station being unable to test some LWB vans is that they are also mostly high roof vans and the testing station may not have to roof clearance to accommodate their height, especially if they use those garage doors  that don't roll up into a coil (sectional garage doors which 'fold' into a horizontal position in the roof space when open. These are very popular as workshop garage doors.)

[Simon Mess]

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091220093029AAryjZK

It has nothing to do with whether or not it is a swb, mwb, or lwb, it is the weight that is the issue.
I used to have a swb iveco daily 3.5 ton, and for a van of that weight, yes you need to go to a garage which deals with that particular class of commercial. My brother is a mobile car valeter, he has a lwb high roof ldv maxus 3.2t, he had to take it to the same garage i used with my iveco, for the same reason. I'm not sure what the limit is (think it might be 3 tons) for taking a van to a 'normal' testing station, but i can assure you that all transit connects can!.
Even if you do have a heavier van, it isn't a big issue, you just find whatever garage near to you does it. If you live in a reasonable sized town, there is bound to be at least one.

[Spruce]

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091220093029AAryjZK

It has nothing to do with whether or not it is a swb, mwb, or lwb, it is the weight that is the issue.
I used to have a swb iveco daily 3.5 ton, and for a van of that weight, yes you need to go to a garage which deals with that particular class of commercial. My brother is a mobile car valeter, he has a lwb high roof ldv maxus 3.2t, he had to take it to the same garage i used with my iveco, for the same reason. I'm not sure what the limit is (think it might be 3 tons) for taking a van to a 'normal' testing station, but i can assure you that all transit connects can!.
Even if you do have a heavier van, it isn't a big issue, you just find whatever garage near to you does it. If you live in a reasonable sized town, there is bound to be at least one.

You are right - class 4 is up to 3 tons. Anything from 3 to 3.5 tons is class 7. It appears that most testing stations can cover both classes although there will be some that only do class 4. I don't recall any LWB vans that fit into class 4 catagory TBH.

[windiewasher]

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091220093029AAryjZK

It has nothing to do with whether or not it is a swb, mwb, or lwb, it is the weight that is the issue.
I used to have a swb iveco daily 3.5 ton, and for a van of that weight, yes you need to go to a garage which deals with that particular class of commercial. My brother is a mobile car valeter, he has a lwb high roof ldv maxus 3.2t, he had to take it to the same garage i used with my iveco, for the same reason. I'm not sure what the limit is (think it might be 3 tons) for taking a van to a 'normal' testing station, but i can assure you that all transit connects can!.
Even if you do have a heavier van, it isn't a big issue, you just find whatever garage near to you does it. If you live in a reasonable sized town, there is bound to be at least one.

You are right - class 4 is up to 3 tons. Anything from 3 to 3.5 tons is class 7. It appears that most testing stations can cover both classes although there will be some that only do class 4. I don't recall any LWB vans that fit into class 4 catagory TBH.

just to let you know the lwb dispatch is 2932kg so falls in class 4 category.

[Jonny 87]

Hiace swb.

It's perfect size for me.

[lal]

I never had a problem with my lwb connect took it to normal garages that didn't have class 7 mot approal. You will have no problem with it.

+1