The Caravan Owners Club

[alandoc]

hi just new to this site great info.i am loking to buy one of the hobbys larger ranges ie above 540 .I was wondering if any body else on this site tows one legily in the uk .If you do i would be gratefull if you could tell me what you tow it with.thanks
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Rolling A Joint

[alandoc]

Thanks bob/kim for the reply.Whats lady jan and what are you planing to tow it with after christmas.
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Lincoln mkt picture

[gers]

just reading your comment about towing 8 ft wide /as i drive a hgv vehicle i was stoped for a spot check by the traffic police and mot inspector , as i have hobby 650 kmfe and heard all the stories about it being legal or not/ i thought it was good chance to talk to these people in the know/ and they told me there was not a problem as long as i had extended mirrors/ so there it is from the horses mouth/ still puzzled/??? PS MY LORRY WAS OK

[alandoc]

hi gers .i would normally tow one of these larger vans but its not the police im bothered about its been in a crash .I have heard so many people talking about what would happen if you are in a crash that your car and caravan are not insured that is putting me off.
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Jailbroken

[n1cktd5]

As Bob/Kim said, you asked for it !!

This site should be renamed the 2.3 Vs 2.5m discussion zone

I tow a 540uk with a TD5 Disco, agreed it will tow more and this is my first single axle van in a few years. I would have opted for a larger van, we liked the 650KFU but a friend was in a bump with his 560 and the insurer refused the payout.

Your choice.

[alandoc]

IT seems that i will have to go with the 540 then.Is there alot out there second hand.Or will i have to go for new.
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BONG REVIEWS

[greenplum]

just reading your comment about towing 8 ft wide /as i drive a hgv vehicle i was stoped for a spot check by the traffic police and mot inspector , as i have hobby 650 kmfe and heard all the stories about it being legal or not/ i thought it was good chance to talk to these people in the know/ and they told me there was not a problem as long as i had extended mirrors/ so there it is from the horses mouth/ still puzzled/??? PS MY LORRY WAS OK

That is of course OK if they are the ones who stop you. But for every patrol driver who wouldn't bother you if speeding only a little over the limit there are ten who would, and it is the law (wrongly or not). The same would apply to the over wide issue I would imagine
The insurance aspect is the biggest consideration IMO; If it came down to a "wriggle out" clause, what do you think would happen with a payout???

[alandoc]

Thanks ken.Thats why i dont want to take a chance i know the insurance company would wriggle out of it.And leave me skint.
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GROW MEDICAL MARIJUANA

[beejay]

What a coincidence! I have just done the same as Gers and asked a VOSA examiner at a vehicle check site about overwide caravans. His reply was exactly the opposite to the one Gers received. " An immediate prohibition would be issued on the grounds that the combination did not conform to Construction & Use Regulations and, therefore, a check of the driver's documents would probably indicate that the insurance was invalid as vehicle insurance requires that the vehicle be maintained and OPERATED in a roadworthy condition.
As the saying goes "the choice is yours!"
However, I have come to the conclusion that the U.K. is now approaching a lawless situation on the roads. Every day I see dozens of drivers.... using mobile phones, red light jumping, very excessive speeds, mad mad driving antics, footpath parking, illegal number plates, illegal use of lighting (blue lights/foglamps etc). So, no doubt, some are saying, what's another 200mm between the walls of a caravan??
P.S. on another subject: anyone know what happened to the caravans stored at the CC storage site at Hemel Hempstead? They must have been in direct line of the blast.

[TCDown]

Hi there,

new on here and I am not a Hobby owner, however I have just bought a TEC which I now find out is in the same bracket as the Hobby's ie. 2.5 mtrs wide.

Apart from the minibus thats already been mentioned any tell me what vehicles can tow in the UK. I know they have to be over 3500 MAM(or GVW) but as I cant afford to have another vehicle on the road, I do need to be able to use it as everyday transport as well.

Cheers TC

[beejay]

There is a range of Japanese very small trucks that have 6000kg GVW. Nissan,Isuzu and Mitsibushi are some. There is a very limited range of vans that are OVER 3500kg. The reason is, that once 3500kg is exceeded a LGV (C) driving licence (C+E if towing over 750kg), tachograph and O licence are required. So why stop at just over 3500kg when 7500kg. is possible. So, no demand, no product.
Incidentally, TEC tell everyone, including me when I asked, there is no problem towing 2.5m vans, they have even sold them to policemen. Will TEC pay your fine, replace a stolen/damaged van if your Insurer says you are not covered when you say "but TEC said was O.K." I think not.

[Hobbynut]

Cat C and C+E licences only apply to vehicles over 7500kgs. Vehicle between 3500kgs and 7500kgs towing a large trailer require a C1E. For anyone who passed their cat B car test prior to Ist January 1997 you should find that you already have full entitlement to C1E on your current licence.
An O licence or Vehicle Operators Licence is only required if the vehicle is been used for Hire or Reward or in connection with any Trade or Business, private use requires no O licence. Although Tachograph is fitted it does not need to be used for private use, again only for Hire or reward and in connection with any trade or business

[beejay]

My point was that there is no demand COMMERCIALLY for a van over 3500kg for the reasons given and, therefore, little available. This was in reply to the query as to what was available and I was not implying that private use required all of them but a tacho is required to be FITTED. 1997 is 8 years ago and there are "new"drivers who may be considering towing and they will be affected. Also there are reasons why a pre 1997 B licence cannot tow certain heavier outfits. A C1 licence limits trailers to 750kg so most larger caravans will exceed this and require C+E with a tug in excess of 3500kg. This is a complicated subject but not the reason for my original post.

[Gareth]

Just to add a little point if you are a diabetic (type1) and you have a 3 year license, you cannot drive a vehicle over 3500kg-7500kg as you only are entitled B+E which covers you for a car and caravan but not a towing vehicle 3500kg - 7500kg. So as the law stands if you are a type1 diabetic you cannot tow a larger Hobby legally. I only know this as I am a diabetic and they changed the law a few years ago. There are a few exceptions that you could keep your entitlement but they are very long winded. Just thought I would mention this.


Gareth

[april]

Hi I own a Hobby 710 Excellence, thing most probably the largest hobby do, I tow this with a Chevy Suburban, she weighs in at 3.5 tonnes, and the van is 2 tonnes..


Hope this helps

april