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Sure it must be a rare thing at any site, I didnt know the law had changed.

What about weight?

Correct Mr RC. OP when you are looking at a Hobby and considering the 7m length issue, ask the seller what the length is excluding the coupling device and draw bar. If the van has a protective box mounted on the front, supported by the draw bar for the purposes of storing gas, for example, then that box is also excluded from the computation of the overall length.

Phil

Sorry Phil,

That is incorrect, the gas box is included in the length...

Quote: Originally posted by Nick J on 08/5/2010

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If the towing vehicle has a permissible gross weight in excess of 3.5 tonnes the maximum width and length of the trailer are 2.55 metres and 12 metres respectively. If, however, the gross weight of the towing vehicle is 3.5 tonnes or less, then the maximum permissible width and length are 2.3 metres and 7 metres respectively. In both cases, the overall length of the towing vehicle and trailer must not exceed either 18m or 18.75m depending on the type of towing vehicle.

The definition in C&U of the overall length of a trailer makes it clear that the coupling device and draw-bar are not included in the length dimension. In the case of a caravan, 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.

These requirements also apply to visiting vehicles. Under Regulation 4(4) Item 2 of C&U, we permit a vehicle to be brought into Great Britian by a person resident abroad, provided that the vehicle complies in every respect with the requirements relating to motor vehicles or trailers contained in:

 

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   As it is the max width dimension that has increased but not the max length dimension, does the 7m still include the additional box? Do, in fact, any new caravans still have a seperate gas bottle box?    Purely an academic question, as personally I don't envisage ever owning anything larger than the van I have now.

     Pete.

I've just returned from the Cashel Forest Holidays site next to Loch Lomond and I've never seen so many Hobby vans in one place before. Every other van seemed to be a Hobby, often groups of four or five of identical vans in a row. Why? Seasonal pitches. All the vans appeared to be privately owned (not rentals) but were left shuttered during the week, only coming to life on Friday evening and the weekend. As many of these big vans are in prime, loch-side pitches, that did tend to adversely affect the atmosphere on the site, too. It was a bit like a ghost town during the week.