Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 18/8/2009

---

No it is a widely held belief that you can only tow these oversized caravans with a commercial vehicle over 3501 kg.  Apparently that is not the case, just that it must be a vehicle weighing more than 3501 kg.

Khanny please don't be quite so aggressive, we are just having a quiet debate here huh?!

Ali

---

I guess you put it across better than me.    I was under the impression that it was the gross train weight, i.e. the vehicle weighed in at for example 3000kg but was capable of a load of 3501kg or more excluding towing capacity which may be higher.  I think my vehicle is about 2500 kg but that is not on the V5 hence the grey area.

A wide Hobby or similar caravan would probably weigh maximum about 2000 kg making it quite safe to tow with a decent size 4 x 4 and I am not on about legalities here.  Why can't it be may legal to tow an 8' wide caravan in the UK as foreigners manage okay.

Quote: Originally posted by Khanny on 18/8/2009

---

aggressive your the one telling me im speaking tosh   and i dont no of any 4x4 that weighs over 3500kg

---

Khanny you are confusing me with Jaysere I think you will find, I am not telling you you are speaking tosh!

All I have done is state the law and that is that to tow a vehicle wider than 2 foot 3 you require a tow vehicle that weighs 3501 kg or more.

Ali

Yes it has to be towed with a vehicle over 3501 kg but not necessarily a commercial one.  You are quite right, I think maybe one of the mahousive Land Rovers may be over 3500 kg but other than that the normal towing 4 X 4s aren't.

Ali

Does this help?

Ali

As per my comment earlier they claim the insurers are fine with it but I still cannot comprehend an insurer insuring an illegal combination Khanny, so I am as baffled as you especially as I work in financial service lol.

They may pay out if somebody is injured but I honestly can't see them honouring a claim on the van or vehicle.  It will take a test case in court I guess?

Ali

Surfer they keep asking for the laws to change to match Europe but it doesn't seem to be happening.  Maybe because we are a congested country with many country lanes, ie no decent autobahns criss crossing the country.  Lets face it, even the M5 terminates in Exeter, ludicrous!

Ali

I'd not like your job, just steer clear of oversized Hobby caravans is all I can suggest lol.

Ali

Ah but the foreigners can tow them quite legally.  Whenever you go to another country it is the rules of your country that count.  So on the continent it is legal to tow this size of van with a car or 4 X 4 so providing they meet their own legislation, they can come here quite legally.

Ali

Sadly Khanny there are loads of accidents every day and I understand your frustrations but that is for the powers that be to deal with and until they clamp down on it, we are powerless.

Ali

Sorry I ve only just stopped for my break.

I wasnt saying anyone was talking tosh the main reason being I havent got a clue on the law of this.but im intrigued on how the law is inplied in this country..

I firmly belive that when in rome do as the romans so how can our laws be widly ignored by foreign drivers just because its not the law in there country.

is it because the police havent got the time to issue court proceedings knowing full well they wont attend as they'll be at home in there country?

getting back on to the posting of this thread what i was asking is when does a vehicle become a commercial vehicle? am i correct in saying as soon as it hits the mgw of 3500kg or am i a mile away?

i drive a 3500kg traffic thats been converted into a family minibus (due to not having a tv in the early days of marrage) 6 kids 1 in a wheel chair so is this classed as a commercial vehicle?

im unlikly ever going to tow any thing as wide as the hobby but who knows what tomorow brings.

It doesn't have to be a commercial vehicle to tow the oversize hobbies, it just has to have an MGW of 3501 kg or above which would tend to be one of the commercial vehicles and deffo not one of the mainstream 4 X 4s.

As for your Traffic, what does your registration document say?  If it is 3500 kg you cannot tow a Hobby with it as it is not 3501 kg or greater.

Ali