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We just decided to spend our holidays in England in 2013 or 2014. But we don't know if we are allowed to tow a caravan with a width of 2,50 meters and a length of more than 8 meters including the towing bar. Last year in France we met people from England who told us that homologation of such big caravans is not possible in uk. Perhaps someone can give us some further informations. Thank you in advance.

Greetings from Höxter/Germany

Thomas

2/2/12

PC MAG

THE MAXIMUM WIDTH for trailers was raised nearly two years ago, from 2.3 to 2.55 metres, in line with a European ruling, but breakdown companies have been slow to catch up. The small print in most policies states the maximum dimensions of the vehicle or trailer they will recover.

believe the towcar must be heavy enough to tow it.

see

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_192285

Tentz says - "If your car/caravan combination is legal in Germany then under EU law you are legal to drive it in any other EU country, so whatever you have you will be ok to drive it in the UK."

This is one of many legal myths that have become accepted as the law for a number of reasons.  The main  generator of legal myths nowadays is the internet. Many a folk have posted the same comments as Tentz on any number of message boards and their proliferation adds greater weight to their veracity each time the same information is regurgitated. However, the complexity of the various pieces of legislation can make it difficult for the untrained eye to spot the nuances in the law so I can understand how this mistake has been made.

Starting with Regulation 7 of the Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations (C&U) 1986, as amended. This prohibits vehicles (including visiting vehicles from overseas) with a maximum weight not exceeding 3500kg from towing trailers  (caravans) with an overall length greater than 7 metres or a width of 2.55 metres.  the overall length of the towing vehicle and trailer must not exceed either 18m (or 18.75m depending on the type of towing vehicle). However, European "type approval" requirements on trailer construction permit a maximum length of 12 metres to be approved. This is where the problems starts to arise in terms of misinterpretation of the law. The EU Directive (96/53/EC and 97/27/EC ) says that Member states can approve longer trailers it does not say that they are approved.

The next piece of misinterpretation arises out of the operation of Regulation 4(4) Item 2 of the Construction and Use Regs. These allow vehicles to be brought into GB by a person resident abroad, provided that the vehicle complies in every respect with the requirements relating to motor vehicles or trailers contained in  the EU Convention on Road Traffic  or the International Convention relative to Motor Traffic. These provide visiting vehicles with an exemption from the construction, equipment and maintenance of vehicle requirements specified in Part II of Construction and Use Regs but not from the requirements for Regulations 7, 8, and 10, which relate to length, width and height respectively. So, folk have made an inadvertent leap to believing that one exemption provides an exemption from all Construction and Use requirements.  

“Harmonisation”  often gets mentioned when it comes to EU laws. This involves unifying laws across the EU. Whilst there has been quite extensive harmonisation of laws if we look at the relevant Directive for this issue, 96/53/EC, Annex I, this states the maximum authorised dimensions for certain road vehicles driving around the EU. However Annex I only harmonises laws relating to large passenger carrying vehicles, large goods vehicles and trailers with a weight of over 3500 kg only. Again, there has been an inadvertent leap to a belief that one exemption covers all. This exemption does not cover light vehicles (under 3500Kg).

Following on from misinterpretation of the complex laws around this issue, I think that folk overlook Article 3(2) of the Directive which permits Member States to restrict vehicles, not covered by Annex I, from coming into their country unless they  conform with their own national laws.  As the UK is permitted to refuse to admit vehicles into the UK if the dimensions exceed limits fixed by its own domestic legislation that is why the Construction and Use Regs make no distinction between cars owns by Brits and those owned by EU nationals. Thus all cars under 3500Kg, no matter where they are registered,  can only tow caravans up to 2.55m wide and 7m long. (the coupling device and draw-bar are not included in the length dimension. Where a protective box is mounted on to the front, which is supported on the draw-bar for the purpose of storage gas tanks, for example, this box is included in the overall length.)

That is where we are today. However, the DFT is considering whether the reasons behind the limitation on trailer length in our national laws are still valid and whether they provide a sufficient justification (on grounds of safety) to retain different requirements to the rules contained within European Directives 96/53/EC and 97/27/EC. The report was published in November 2011 and is entitled “ Investigation of the impact of increasing the maximum permitted length of trailers towed by vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 3500kg or less.” Available from the Government for £30 for those interested.

So, the world is limited to what it can tow in this country, in terms of width, length, and overall length if the tow vehicle is under 3500Kg (gross weight).

So, corbie, welcome. I note that your van has an overall length of 8 m. Maybe worth just checking its spec to see what the length is without the the coupling device and draw-bar unless your van has a protective box mounted on to the front, which is supported on the draw-bar.

It's no defence in this country to say "well someone on a message board said it was Ok!"

Hope your van fits our requirements and that you are able to come over and enjoy our beutiful country. Get the Ferry to Hull and drive through East Yorkshire and into North Yorkshire and across to the Lakes and back again.

Phil

Nothing to do with how we interpret the law, it is as I have said. The fact that no one gets prosecuted, or so we think as not all cases are reported, adds to the legal myth that it is lawful to do what the law describes as a criminal act.

Think of the logic here, well lack of logic. You say that there is one law for the English, but a different law for the German visiting here who can do what is a criminal offence for an Englishman. The legal system does not function in that manner.

 "A German caravanner would of course be insured so I can see no problem really."

Depends on your point of view of the law. I take the view that as it is a criminal offence then breaking the law is a problem really.

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by bobsbabes on 17/5/2012

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am a bit confused now as it says 7m max length but our unit is 7.93m long ?

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Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 17/5/2012

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......you could always tell Mr Plod you are from Germany.....

 

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Lmao.....just remember the phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner" - any plod who's likely to stop you is not old enough to remember it.

Del

"What did he say, George?"

"Dunno, something about beefburgers"

"Let him go, Delboy is in the next car with a Hobby. I'm looking forward to this explanation!"