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Subject Topic: max trailer length including a frame 7m?
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Persontrigano575
30/3/2016 at 1:26am
 Location: Lancashire
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Hi

I have a sprite major 6td caravan of overall length of 7.48m. According to this government page it can't be towed with a standard car and needs a vehicle over 3500kg. However else where towing guides state it doesn't include the draw bar and coupling.

If the government page is right then a lot of us are over this length as many 6 berths and some 4 berths are over 7m ranging upto about 7.9m overall length.

Any ideas anyone?

http://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/car-towing-weight-and-width-limits

-------------
Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


Persondiesel steve
30/3/2016 at 4:58am
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my adria adora isonzo is 8.2 metres long and legal in uk. i tow with a hyundai i800 people carrier all totally legal. near our home in fife there is a gliding air field and a lot of gliders are towed with cars in very long thin trailers

Post last edited on 30/03/2016 05:02:23


Personpaul.jolley
30/3/2016 at 7:40am
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Very strange, I have never seen the 7m limit include the draw bar - I notice the page you linked to was updated on the 14th March and I wonder if they made a mistake?


PersonRob and Tina
30/3/2016 at 8:43am
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I hope it's a typo! It always excluded the draw bar in the past, if the draw bar is suddenly included I'm sure that caravan manufacturers would find it hard to sell many caravans, our new 4 berth is over the 7 metre length if the draw bar is included.

Rob


PersonOpensauce
30/3/2016 at 8:43am
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When those new simplified .gov web pages were introduced a couple of yrs ago they contained several towing law related errors most of which have now been corrected but that one remains.

The law is still that caravans with body length including gas locker of over 7mtres need to be towed with vehicle of over 3.5t gvw not 7mtres overall length including A frame as incorrectly stated on .gov website.

HTH.


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Persontrigano575
30/3/2016 at 9:13am
 Location: Lancashire
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Wow thank you. How do I verify the law and prove the government website page is wrong ?

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Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


PersonOpensauce
30/3/2016 at 9:30am
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It's an odd situation really. I don't think the previous set of .gov webpages that explain correctly in much more detail are still available. I cannot find them but google will lead you to other websites that explain current law correctly.

This has been discussed in several previous threads, contact has been made & other mistakes acknowledged & corrected, no doubt in time this one will be as well. Anybody with authority to stop you on the road will be aware of correct law so it is not anything to concern caravanners.


Persontrigano575
30/3/2016 at 10:12am
 Location: Lancashire
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Thanks opensauce. Elsewhere there are people adamant the law has always been there about the 7m including the a frame but it makes no sense as why aren't people being pulled over. Many 6 berth caravans are over the 7m mark and a good deal of 4 berths. The motorways are littered with such outfits. I know you can't believe all you read on the Internet and I've found a few guides that state it doesn't include the draw bar and coupling including one which the caravan club endorses yet curiously the caravan club guide matches this government page.

I will have a look to see if I can read previous threads as well. I just wish I could clarify the law myself.

-------------
Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


Personlisterdiesel
30/3/2016 at 10:30am
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When we built our 6-wheel drawbar turntable trailer in 2011, we built it to be within the 7M body length, excluding the towbar which is 1.8m by itself.

Peter


Persontrigano575
30/3/2016 at 11:06am
 Location: Lancashire
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What is confusing me is apparently the .gov page was only updated 2 weeks ago adding in this inaccuracy which seems bonkers?

Other bodies advise the ruling does not involve the draw bar and coupling but they are having likely to have changed their info in the last 2 weeks like the govt site has. But surely if the law had changed people would know. I have someone else hot on their research telling me it was always thus so everyone has been getting it wrong for some time and interpreting the law wrongly but I cannot think that everyone has been wrong and why would British manufacturers knock out vans that can't be towed legally in the UK if they are marketed as family and assume you can tow with a family car or 4 by 4.

If anyone knows how I can completely clarify this law I would be grateful. It makes no sense that it is right on the .gov page because otherwise folk would be getting pulled over all the time and they're not.

But at the same time I don't want to find myself in an accident and loss adjusters / insurance tell me my insurance is invalid because the van was 7.48m long in total.

I do trust applesauce explaining this has been clarified before but I am still understandable nervous as I can't find concrete evidence to dispute the .gov page. Previous threads I've searched don't shed any more light.

Thanks everyone



-------------
Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


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PersonJTQU
30/3/2016 at 11:41am
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Quote: Originally posted by trigano575 on 30/3/2016


I do trust applesauce explaining this has been clarified before but I am still understandable nervous as I can't find concrete evidence to dispute the .gov page. Previous threads I've searched don't shed any more light.

Thanks everyone




One idea that might precipitate a far more prompt resolution is to email your van builder asking for clarification why they seem to be building vans unable to be used by 99.9 % of their buyers?

They have a massive incentive to ensure they are selling vans "fit for purpose" and may well simply quote you the instrument that allows vans over 7 m LOA.

I suspect if many of us lean on our van maker and dealer then things will move forward faster than an individual notifying the Gov department will achieve.


Persontrigano575
30/3/2016 at 12:33pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Ok going to email swift group.

Someone has just contacted dvla and they have confirmed the last 7m rule includes a frame so we are all shafted if we have a caravan of over 7m shipping which includes a lot of caravans

So what now?

-------------
Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


PersonJTQU
30/3/2016 at 12:46pm
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Quote: Originally posted by trigano575 on 30/3/2016
Ok going to email swift group.

Someone has just contacted dvla and they have confirmed the last 7m rule includes a frame so we are all shafted if we have a caravan of over 7m shipping which includes a lot of caravans

So what now?


I hope that person at the DLVA is not on the ball, as not only are a lot of us in trouble so are the whole of the UK builders, if those purchasing demand their money back from their dealers, quoting "not fit for purpose". The industry I suspect would fail overnight from such claims.


PersonRay Clayton
30/3/2016 at 12:55pm
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thats 75% of vans off the road overnight then
Mines 7.2 now and looking at a van of 7.96 both overall length's inc A frame.

This may be intresting then

-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







Persontrigano575
30/3/2016 at 1:47pm
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Apparently a number of them debated it and got the police advisory people involved to answer.

But I think it is worth me and others contacting them ourselves because a lot of us are in a knot on one person's say so.

Not fit for purpose is about our only hope I think.

-------------
Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD


PersonRay Clayton
30/3/2016 at 2:30pm
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well i got a transit to tow with as well.
not need a tacho as private use

-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4








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