david.jamieson@dft.gsi.gov.uk replied with the following:-
'Your constituent may be interested to hear that there is no harmonised European legislation regarding the maximum dimensions for light trailers, including caravans. Member states are therefore able to apply National rules to ensure traffic safety within their own territory.
In the UK, requirements for the construction and use of trailers, including caravans, are given in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended (C&U) and The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended (RVLR). Your constituent is correct that a trailer being towed by a vehicle having a maximum permissible mass of 3,500kg is limited to a width of 2.3m and a maximum length of 7m excluding the length of the drawbar. For towing vehicles above 3,500kg the limits for the trailer are, width 2.55m and length 12, provided that the overall length of the combination of both vehicles does not exceed 18.75m or 18m if the towing vehicle was manufactured before 1 June 1998.
This long established UK legislation regarding maximum trailer width is based on safety concerns relating to the relative width of towing vehicle and trailer. Vehicles above 3,500kg limit would be expected to be noticeably wider than lighter vehicles and would not present the same safety issues. Indeed, in order to drive a vehicle with a maximum permissible mass of over 3,500kg, a motorist would be required to hold an appropriate driver's licence for larger vehicles.
At present the Department has no plans to introduce any amendment to the existing legislation regarding the dimensions of trailers.
Well i guess its pretty simple stated like this
All those peeps with any model greater than a 540 had best act accordingly.
I also read his reply to indicate that pulling a caravan > 2.3m wide would require you to hold a hgv licence!
No HGV licence is required. You must however have had your licence prior to 1998 which allows you to drive a vehicle upto 7500kg including trailer or have taken a further test after 1998 to get the necessary sections added to your licence.
