|
 Topic: At what speed do you tow in France?
|
  |
18/1/2018 at 2:29pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/1/2010 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 4530
| Site Reviews Total: | 13 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Check the gross train weight of car. This is the max allowed weight of car & caravan together, ie not the actual weighbridge weight of combination but max it could be. If it’s over 3.5t then your motorway limit towing is 90kph same as trucks.
|
18/1/2018 at 3:12pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/1/2010 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 4530
| Site Reviews Total: | 13 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I’m under that but cruising along with the trucks at 90k does me. Plenty of cars are under 3.5t gtw. It’s nothing to do with weight of caravan. French law takes only max allowed gtw of car. If you have small car towing large caravan you may be ok for 130k but large car with small caravan is 90k. Thats the French for you. There don’t seem much enforcement of the limit though so tow at whatever speed you are comfortable with.
|
18/1/2018 at 5:20pm
Location: S.Wales
Outfit: Bailey Pageant Bordeaux
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/8/2010 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 314
| Site Reviews Total: | 16 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
3 years ago we towed out Bailey Pageant Bordeaux (1300ish) with an isuzu D max, well over 3500 but I towed at the same speeds I do at home; stick it at 62mph on cruise control. 2 years ago we towed the same van but with a VW amarock, it was only the 2l auto so used to junt the gears at every hll if it was in auto, so although I used to try to keep it around 60-62mph I never towed on cruise control. last year we had a Rav 4 with the same caravan and again I tow at 62 on motorways.
Assuming traffic conditions, weather and hills are all safe, ie I dont go flying down a 2 mile stretch of 1 in 6 mountain at 62mph :D That's not to say the dutch with their little citroens pulling bigger caravans than mine still fly past me doing 80mph+ but ime the dutch, when they get behind a wheelm are all bonkers
I've not been pulled over by police, that's not to say that what i was doing was legal, I dont think French plod much care unless you're driving like an arse, as well as pick up trucks being few and far between in France
Post last edited on 18/01/2018 18:01:38
-------------
Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.
|
18/1/2018 at 7:22pm
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 29/8/2012 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1698
| Site Reviews Total: | 6 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
We tow our van at 110-120 weather and traffic dependent. Never been stopped and never get a 2nd look from the police. See many outfits overtaking me too, mostly Dutch with their vans swaying around behind them
|
18/1/2018 at 9:35pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: Fiat Ducato 3.0 Autotrail Mohican
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 19/5/2015 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 789
| Site Reviews Total: | 33 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 11 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 6 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 57 |
|
Between 90 and 100 on dual carriageways and speed limits off motorways. Why tow any faster than you would in UK?
|
20/1/2018 at 11:08am
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 29/8/2012 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1698
| Site Reviews Total: | 6 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Grandad Kenny on 18/1/2018
Between 90 and 100 on dual carriageways and speed limits off motorways. Why tow any faster than you would in UK?
France is a totally different environment. We go faster when it’s appropriate on toll roads. Traffic much lighter and easier to keep your distance with the odd exception.
|
25/1/2018 at 1:24pm
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Coachman Amara 570 6 + Shogun SG4
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/1/2015 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 846
| Site Reviews Total: | 11 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 4 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 2 |
|
my cars GTW is way above 3500kg.
we holiday every year in france and i pretty much tow at the same speed i do in the UK which is just under 60mph so just over the 55mph limit.
i know, and have seen, french guys towing trailers at well over 90mph (not whilst towing myself). i was overtaken by an oldschool peugeot 205 towing a small trailer when driving our company Nissan navara, i thought i would speed up to see how fast he was towing. at 90 i was just able to keep up as he weaved through the motorway traffic.
anyaway, for me 60 seems safe, driving faster wont get you to your destination much quicker but it will burn fuel and the risk of acidents is higer. even if my outfit was less than 3500kg i would likly tow at just under 60.
-------------
First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
|
29/1/2018 at 11:32am
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Smart but casual.
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/1/2003 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1134
Tent Reviews: 2
| Site Reviews Total: | 23 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Set cruise at 100kph
-------------
TomnGill
|
30/1/2018 at 9:48pm
Location: Central Scotland
Outfit: Coachman 630 Extra
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/3/2016 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 200
| Site Reviews Total: | 2 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 7 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 14 |
|
If i set my cruise at 60 on car my Tom Tom reads 57, LR discovery. It was even worse on my last car a 2016 A6. 4mph difference. I set my CC at 62-3 to compensate
GPS more accurate than a car speedo.
-------------
Happy Days
Carnac twice the years before
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks july16
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks June 17
Strathclyde march 18, Anstruther Week April, Blairgowrie, May 18
Chateau de Lez-Eaux Saint Aubin Des Preaux 2 weeks 2018
Loree du bois Les Mathes 3 weeks jul19
Belhaven Bay 1 week july 2020
|
05/2/2018 at 10:39am
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 21/4/2011 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 7966
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 93 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 8 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 50 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 49 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 52 |
|
I don't have a hard and fast rule ...
Yes, I use cruise control frequently, and not just on motorways ...
I usually tow at between 60 and 70 on motorways ...
The speed of towing will depend on many things ... and how the unit 'feels' ...
Dependencies include: Weather (rain/wind/temperature etc), tyre pressure changes (heat can make a huge difference ... both the ambient and the tyre's friction heat), loading of caravan and car ... there are probable minor variations (eg amount of food/drink being carried, how much water in the toilet system), and, of course, the volume of traffic on the road.
When I towed an FC, it was anything up to 81 mph on motorways ... but it was so much easier to tow!
Oh, and, yes, George ... I usually compensate by bumping up the CC by 3-4 mph if close to the legal limits.
|
23/2/2018 at 3:29pm
Location: glos
Outfit: elddis typhoon
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 30/5/2010 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 511
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 2 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
we tow with a nissan xtrail at 65 on the cruise in france 60 at home
|
|
