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Quote: Originally posted by chatterdog on 10/8/2009

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In all honesty the amount of people towing that do not know their towing speed limits and how to load their outfit correctly and its limits, nose weight etc or lane restrictions is amazing, and this year will be worse than ever with the amount of 'new' caravanners and campers that think it is a cheap alternative due to the economic downturn.

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Quote: Originally posted by suzzie on 10/8/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by chatterdog on 10/8/2009

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In all honesty the amount of people towing that do not know their towing speed limits and how to load their outfit correctly and its limits, nose weight etc or lane restrictions is amazing, and this year will be worse than ever with the amount of 'new' caravanners and campers that think it is a cheap alternative due to the economic downturn.

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Then they shouldn't have passed their driving test in the first place as all the information one needs about driving, speed limits and the various combinations is in the High Code.

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I always remember reading the slogan on mom and dads caravan club book years ago, "Safe drive, safe arrive" And thats what we try and stick to,

Far to many idiots out though.

Quote: Originally posted by whiterosesom on 10/8/2009Hi Bernie and Jennifer. Let me into your secret as to how you knew they had a tent (or is this the secret) (<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px">Outfit: Sunncamp Shadow 800</SPAN>

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) If it is are we all supposed to have a degree in all the different tents and caravans that have been produced before we can say what we are thinking on this site ???

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I have been caravanning for the past 45 years but everytime I get behind the wheel and start to tow my caravan I am very conscious of the fact that towing is a whole different ball-game to driving solo. Over the years we all learn to take our corners just a little wider than when driving solo, we learn about where to load the heavy stuff in the van, what nose-weight to stay with, what percentage caravan to car weight is recommended, what it feels like to get into a snake and how to deal with it, and that it can be dodgy to overtake going downhill. Some of us even learn how to reverse the caravan onto a pitch without assistance. (I still haven't mastered that)

But hundreds of people who have a driving licence but have never towed a caravan in their lives are able to buy a caravan, hitch up and take to the roads and I would guess that the vast majority of us were once in that category. Would it be too much to ask that all those who want to start towing a caravan should first undergo some basic training and be required to pass a towing capability test? The Caravan clubs already offer this facility why not make it compulsory before venturing out on the highways/motorways? I too have seen many many caravan towers driving far in excess of the maximum speed limits and spoken to many who talk openly about how fast they can get from A to B with a caravan behind them. If you are new to caravanning you should not assume that it will be just the same as driving solo albeit a little slower because of the extra weight.

It is 125Kph in France on autoroutes, 90KPH on ordinary roads except where lower limits are set.Speed limits drop by 10kph in wet conditions.

Germany is 80KPH unless your outfit has been tested and a 100kph sticker issued. ( On autobahns, 80km elsewhere if no restrictions). Not sure about other countries but info is in the CC European touring guides, may be available on the CC or CCC websites too.

We tow at 65-70 on French autoroutes where traffic and road conditions allow, 60 is fine here ( it does sneak up if we don't watch it) our outfit is very stable and we have a lot of experience.

 I always ease off on downhill stretches of motorway and watch out when white vans and coaches pass

.It used to be much worse when coaches could use the third lane and zoomed past at 70mph!!!

Its better to take it easy -better late then dead!!

Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 10/8/2009

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It is 125Kph in France on autoroutes, 90KPH on ordinary roads except where lower limits are set.Speed limits drop by 10kph in wet conditions.

Germany is 80KPH unless your outfit has been tested and a 100kph sticker issued. ( On autobahns, 80km elsewhere if no restrictions). Not sure about other countries but info is in the CC European touring guides, may be available on the CC or CCC websites too.

We tow at 65-70 on French autoroutes where traffic and road conditions allow, 60 is fine here ( it does sneak up if we don't watch it) our outfit is very stable and we have a lot of experience.

 I always ease off on downhill stretches of motorway and watch out when white vans and coaches pass

.It used to be much worse when coaches could use the third lane and zoomed past at 70mph!!!

Its better to take it easy -better late then dead!!

 

Post last edited on 10/08/2009 14:39:32

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I think you will find the speed limit for caravans is now 110kph on autoroutes if the combination weighs over 3.5tonnes which is 68mph. Your unit almost certainly is over this limit.

"We have a lot of experience. " - but not quite enough perhaps!

I was just thinking the same, it is 130 kph if you are under 3500 kgs but definitely a lower limit for those over that figure.

Ali

http://english.controleradar.org/france-speed-limits.php

Ali

Its a b*****, our unit combined weight is 3.6tonnes.

Mind you we did go over an Austrian road pass with a max trailer limit of 750kg. Would have argued the point about laden/unladen weight in very bad German if stopped (our unladen weight is 740kg), though I do know it is laden weight. Actually had no problem at all getting up it, and it was a very long way round otherwise.

What car are you using Freeatlast?

Ali

Hyundai Tucson.

Hey thanks Ali, just looked it up on the website, and it is only 2210kg. Thought it was 2600kg. Van is 1000kg laden. Woohoo! Added to that the van is under 2m high, so they don't charge for it on the autoroutes.

Mind you, rarely go above 60mph anyway.