What’s the point of hubodometers?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › What’s the point of hubodometers?

Geektastic

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#311237 27-Dec-2023 15:12

We just bought a Motorhome fitted with one.

I know it legally requires one but I’m struggling to work out why. The vehicle is based on a VW Crafter and it tracks its mileage perfectly accurately in the usual way, as does the servicing agent and the COF agent.

I cannot see the necessity for the hubodometer. Why is it required?

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#3175768 27-Dec-2023 15:17

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/road-user-charges/ruc-distance-recorders/

https://www.drivingtests.co.nz/resources/whats-a-hubodometer-or-hubo/

It's also a requirement in law.

Mostly an artefact of when Odo's were routinely tampered with, and Hubo's are more tightly regulated.

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Geektastic

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#3175769 27-Dec-2023 15:28

Thanks. It just seems a bit old fashioned given how many times the distance information gets recorded now. Maybe one for David Seymour to throw on his regulatory bonfire!

My Spyder had a service recently and they actually record not only mileage but hours used as well.

RunningMan

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#3175770 27-Dec-2023 15:30

Trailers don't have any other way of measuring the distance they go.

richms

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#3175775 27-Dec-2023 15:56

Is it something to do with the tag axel so its only turning when that axel is on the ground and the truck is loaded or something?

Richard rich.ms

BlakJak

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#3175776 27-Dec-2023 15:57

Not to my knowledge at all. Hubo is not put on that axle.

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k1w1k1d

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#3175778 27-Dec-2023 16:10

Hubos can't be fitted to a lifting axle.

djtOtago

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#3175782 27-Dec-2023 16:47

Geektastic: We just bought a Motorhome fitted with one.

I know it legally requires one but I’m struggling to work out why. The vehicle is based on a VW Crafter and it tracks its mileage perfectly accurately in the usual way, as does the servicing agent and the COF agent.

I cannot see the necessity for the hubodometer. Why is it required?

Because the service agent and COF agent have no idea how much you have tampered with the vehicles built in ODO. So they need a device they can trust is accurate when they read and record the distance at each service. 😊 And from memory VW Crafters were / are quite easy to fiddle with.

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scuwp

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#3175799 27-Dec-2023 17:39

More intended for commercial transport operators, just simplified entry criteria to match the definition of a 'heavy vehicle' which captures motorhomes. Hubo's are regulated, must be accurate, approved, fitted properly etc. That's not to say they aren't ever tampered with or swapped/removed to avoid paying RUC, just the penalties are steep if caught.

The MoT did consult last year on making the mechanical hubodometers obsolete and forcing everyone to move to electronic, but that went down like a lead balloon, as there is an ongoing costs, whereas a mechanical hubo is a one-off purchase. Who knows what this government may do. Technology will eventually win over.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

tweake

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#3175800 27-Dec-2023 17:42

Geektastic: Thanks. It just seems a bit old fashioned given how many times the distance information gets recorded now. Maybe one for David Seymour to throw on his regulatory bonfire!

hobo's are a certified device. there is a wide range of them including electronic ones. speedometers are not certed, they are not a single device (they take other sensors to work) and thus open to normal wear, repair and exploitation. ie you would have nonauthorized mechanics worked on a certed device.

with the amount of money a truckie pays, you want to make sure everything in the chain is compliant.

throwing it open to using more methods, especially uncertified devices, make it a lot more complicated, harder and more expensive to enforce. eg if they found your speedo wasn't accurate you could be up for a huge bill for RUC's you didn't pay for and then the fine on top of that again.

Eitsop

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#3175867 27-Dec-2023 19:23

They should just replace with electronic/GPS unit could do multi functions

assist with driver logs, so they don't exceed hours etc
monitor speed, so they don't go over speed limit
logs for diesel
tolls

Then, when a policeman pulls truck over.. they could assess immediately, hours since last stop, speed etc

Actually , I see cars going that way as well.. especially for EVs

tweake

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#3175875 27-Dec-2023 19:44

Eitsop:

They should just replace with electronic/GPS unit could do multi functions

assist with driver logs, so they don't exceed hours etc
monitor speed, so they don't go over speed limit
logs for diesel
tolls
Then, when a policeman pulls truck over.. they could assess immediately, hours since last stop, speed etc

Actually , I see cars going that way as well.. especially for EVs

thats massively problematic as mentioned above.

now your also talking car "black boxes", which some already have to varies degrees. if you have a device built into the car that the cops can look at anytime and fine you for past offences, no one will ever buy a car with one fitted. some truckies don't like the camera systems or gps tracking systems because the boss or police can see all the naughty stuff they get up to.

Eitsop

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#3175877 27-Dec-2023 19:53

tweake:

thats massively problematic as mentioned above.

now your also talking car "black boxes", which some already have to varies degrees. if you have a device built into the car that the cops can look at anytime and fine you for past offences, no one will ever buy a car with one fitted. some truckies don't like the camera systems or gps tracking systems because the boss or police can see all the naughty stuff they get up to.

So they should just tell everyone its to

monitor kms for diesel / EVs
Tolls if they come in future
monitor kms for petrol cars, and remove tax from petrol

Make it mandatory, and then once every one has.. then say it be used to monitor speed and driver logs

tweake

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#3175881 27-Dec-2023 20:17

Eitsop:

tweake:

thats massively problematic as mentioned above.

now your also talking car "black boxes", which some already have to varies degrees. if you have a device built into the car that the cops can look at anytime and fine you for past offences, no one will ever buy a car with one fitted. some truckies don't like the camera systems or gps tracking systems because the boss or police can see all the naughty stuff they get up to.

So they should just tell everyone its to

monitor kms for diesel / EVs
Tolls if they come in future
monitor kms for petrol cars, and remove tax from petrol
Make it mandatory, and then once every one has.. then say it be used to monitor speed and driver logs

ww3 will erupt over that idea. everyone is going to know from day one and whoever is in govt will get kicked out in seconds.

they like it with trucks because the drivers don't own the trucks, they are required to adhere to rules etc for their job. there is lots of advantages for fleet owners. eroad has ruc ordering etc, but afaik it does not replace the hobo.

also don't forget those electronic systems are worth more than many peoples cars are.

BlakJak

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#3175882 27-Dec-2023 20:30

GPS is always the option floated, mostly by geeks without considering the practical elements.

Hubometers are simple, robust, and are suitable for a variety of configurations, stop trying to fix what isn't broken.

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Rust

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#3175915 28-Dec-2023 08:34

Eitsop:

So they should just tell everyone its to

monitor kms for diesel / EVs
Tolls if they come in future
monitor kms for petrol cars, and remove tax from petrol
Make it mandatory, and then once every one has.. then say it be used to monitor speed and driver logs

Sure hope you don't work in government. Last thing we need it to be promoting dishonesty and less transparency from our regulators.

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