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Yes David, until eventually we say "s** it I'll just stay in my room all day".....and then the damn light bulb explodes!!!!!!

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 06/1/2012

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Yes David, until eventually we say "s** it I'll just stay in my room all day".....and then the damn light bulb explodes!!!!!!

Phil

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Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 06/1/2012

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<SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN>Both the Police and VOSA have the power to carry out spot checks on your vehicle, inc caravan, and issue prohibitions if they are necessary. We know that the Police assist VOSA for roadside checks. Other than such checks, f</SPAN><SPAN class=style3><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">or the police to stop you they need to have a reasonable belief that you are doing something wrong. </SPAN></SPAN>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=style3><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Travelling with your nose weighted down can give them just cause to stop you. Of course you can be nose down legitimately, but if the Police are to follow up their suspicions with an investigation then they have to test the van.  So, too much nose down and you draw attention to yourself.</SPAN></SPAN>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=style3><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN>VOSA and the Police have far ranging powers to test a car and caravan. Without such powers there could be little point in actually pulling folk up. Parking the whole rig on a weighbridge gives VOSA/Police details of the overall weight of the whole unit but not whether the caravan is overloaded. So it has to be unhitched to check just the caravan. </SPAN>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN>Then there are axel tests they can perform to check that axels are not loaded in excess of the cars' spec.However, the axel can be under-loaded, but the noseweight above the cars' spec. So how do they check that noseweight?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN>If they find that the caravan and car together breach some construction and use reg they can make you unhitch and leave the van rather than permit you to continue on your way breaking the law. </SPAN>

<SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">E.G. From the Trailer and Towing Advisory Service - Upon an inspection by the Police, as part of a general survey of caravans, a driver of a Hobby was required to unhitch his caravan and to obtain a suitable (legal) towing vehicle before he could proceed with the van. He hired a 7.5 ton truck. The alternative was to leave the Caravan in the layby <o:p></o:p></SPAN>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p>So, they can require you to unhitch in order to carry out checks. </o:p>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> 

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p>You can argue with them that can't do that but to no avail. You may even argue that their noseweight guage is defective or that they use it incorrectly etc etc. That is merely a potential defence after the check has been performed. </o:p>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> 

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p>Driving with a noseweight in excess of the cars' spec may lead the Police officer undertaking the check to conclude that you are driving without due care and attention. A perfectly valid view that can be taken. In this case we are talking of something in excess of 50Kg. We don't know how far in excess as the noseweight is never checked. Lets assume that it is nearer the traditional 75Kg. That should catch the traffic cop's eye and could lead to a logical conclusion that to permit the journey to continue would be to allow that offence to be continued. Some officers may warn you and simply ask you to report to some station at a later date to show how you had remedied the problem, others may ask you to leave the van and collect it with a tow car that is spec'd for the noseweight.</o:p>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> 

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p>Anyway, why bring it on yourself? Its a bit like towing without extended mirrors. You may have the large mirrors that some 4x4 have which give you a wonderful view down each side of the car and you have never had an accident, but you stick out like a sore thumb and get pulled over.</o:p>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> 

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p>You should see the number of vans which come to Brid with the caravan's nose almost touching the ground...</o:p>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p> 

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p>Phil</o:p></SPAN>

<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal></SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> 

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Sorry Surfer01 but thats a bit like saying they can't ask you to drive it on to a weighbridge. They can take whatever steps they consider appropriate to undertake tests, especially where they believe that a crime may have been committed. You can always try and argue the point with them

How do you get the quote like that with all of the computer scriping built in? Just click on the quote button and it should come out as originally posted...unless its your system. Just interested in how it manages to do that

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 06/1/2012

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Sorry Surfer01 but thats a bit like saying they can't ask you to drive it on to a weighbridge. They can take whatever steps they consider appropriate to undertake tests, especially where they believe that a crime may have been committed. You can always try and argue the point with them

How do you get the quote like that with all of the computer scriping built in? Just click on the quote button and it should come out as originally posted...unless its your system. Just interested in how it manages to do that

Phil

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Quote: Originally posted by magsruby on 04/1/2012

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My car is more than suitable thanks.

I find I tend to get a feel for these things. I know when my outfit is correctly loaded & when it isn't. All seasoned caravanners will tell you, most outfits tow best when slightly nose heavy. maybe my gauge was out, or I was using it wrong, but when it read 50kg the whole thing felt unstable.

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Obviously it isn't.  If you can't stay within the manufacturer's figures then, not only is it dangerous, but your insurer will not pay out.

One of the most basic things you check, after being sure that the caravan is within the capabilities of the car, is that your car also has enough capacity to support the noseweight of the caravan.  50kg allowance is only suitable for a small caravan.

You do not know better than the manufacturers.  The thinking here is very dangerous, and to suggest it as advice is irresponsible.

You cannot exceed the manufacturer's limits.

As far as stabilisers are concerned, that's the last thing a beginner needs.  You have to achieve basic stability first.  If you then choose to improve the ride quality with a stabiliser, that's fine, but it's no substitute for taking all the proper steps. On this forum, we recently heard of a caravan that ended up upside down on the M6.  It did have a stabiliser fitted.  They will not save you.

Jim

"Have a look in your owner's hand book for the car and see if it states noseweight. Many do not supply this info."

That's because they are 2 different things ,noseweight refers to the caravan and tow ball weight refers to the car and the weight that the towbar is rated to support.

If a car doesn't specify a tow ball weight in it's spec then I would suggest that it probably isn't rated to tow.

Saxo1