What is meant by ‘vehicle weight’ and ‘axle weight’ when setting up a vehicle profile?
Certain roads have a vehicle weight restriction to protect weaker parts of the roads, such as bridges or lightly-built sections, or to prevent damage to structures along the road. Weight restrictions appear as a total vehicle weight limit or an axle load limit.
The vehicle weight (GVW, Gross Vehicle Weight) is the weight of your vehicle together with the weight of the caravan or trailer in the condition that you will drive it on the road. The weight includes the passengers, luggage, trailer load, fluids, and all other items carried in your vehicle. Make sure you do not exceed the vehicle, caravan or trailer manufacturer’s maximum permissible weight (GVWR, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) , or the weight permitted for your vehicle type or driving licence type by regional or national laws.
Axle weight (GAW, Gross Axle Weight) is the weight one single axle carries when the vehicle is loaded. This weight must never exceed the maximum permissible weight for that axle (GAWR, Gross Axle Weight Rating) . A vehicle or trailer with multiple axles can generally carry a heavier load because the weight of the load is spread over the multiple axles. Axle weight is calculated from the weight of the vehicle or trailer and the load being carried, together with the number of load-bearing axles. Make sure you do not exceed the permitted axle load or damage to the vehicle or trailer, or damage to the road you are driving on, can occur. Contact your vehicle or trailer manufacturer for the axle weight limits and axle load calculations.
What are the maximum weight limits for the vehicle type and why is there a limit?
In European Union countries, a driver with a Class B (car) licence can drive vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of not more than 3500 kg (7700 lbs). Initial versions of the TomTom Camper & Caravan feature were therefore limited to vehicles with a maximum vehicle weight of 3500 kg (3.5 t).
Since the TomTom Camper & Caravan feature was released, some customers have requested a version for their heavier motorhomes. We have listened to our customers and have raised the limit to 5 t (5000kg) to cater for these heavier vehicles. The new weight limit is available in a software update via MyDrive Connect.
We have limited the vehicle weight to 5 t (5000kg) because the TomTom Camper & Caravan feature is intended for recreational use only (for vehicles such as campers, motorhomes, caravans, horse trailers/trailer tents, small personal or rental vans). With the increased weight limit the TomTom Camper & Caravan feature now covers the most common recreational vehicles. For larger recreational vehicles and all commercial vehicles, TomTom Telematics has dedicated navigation devices and systems.
Why does my navigation device send me down a road I’m not allowed on?
TomTom takes great care to plan the correct route for your vehicle type using the information available on the map in your navigation device. Additionally, routing information is based on the latest data we have. Roads are changing all the time and it is important that you keep your TomTom device’s map up-to-date so you always have the very latest route data available.
We currently support height, width and weight restrictions on major and interconnecting roads in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and on major roads in Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia, and we will continue to add more.
However, when you are driving your vehicle you must always pay attention to all traffic signs, especially those relating to your vehicle’s dimensions and weight. We cannot guarantee you will not encounter such restrictions on your route and ignoring them can be dangerous to you.