Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by emmitdb on 11/8/2011

---

Greetings Surfer,

Im afraid we will have to disagree on this one.

I must point out to you that both VOSA and the Police will 'weigh' a caravan without disconnecting it from the towing unit. There is a reason for this and it isn't H&S.

 

---

Quote: Originally posted by emmitdb on 11/8/2011

---

Greetings,
I got the information from the fact that I was at the 'pointy end' of law enforcement for thirty years.
What you've got to understand is that the caravan is in fact a vehicle in it's own right and when it is attached to a car (for instance) although it has it's own weight limits some of that is superimposed on the towing vehicle.
That part of the load, so superimposed can't be in two places, (Caravan and car) so it's on the car.

That's why, for instance the maximum load on the axles of a vehicle added together comes to more than the load allowed for the whole vehicle. So long as you don't go over the load on any axle then your outfit is lawful. Its the same with a motor vehicle towing a caravan.

---

Quote: Originally posted by emmitdb on 11/8/2011

---

The noseweight of the caravan is imparted onto the rear axle and could, assuming a full load of passengers and significant load in the boot (especially one with a long 'overhang') create circumstances where the rear axle load is over the cars limit.

---