The Caravan Owners Club

[jackie]

to all our hobby members and administrators do you think it's about time that we all get together and try to change this dreaded law about the 8' wide issue,maybe the hobby dealers themselves can support us aswell as the makers of the LMC's,etc.Is there any chance that someone out there can put together a letter or petition,seen as we have 643 members,our voices may now be heard?we would do it ourselves,only we haven't a clue where to start and how to make it sound professional,please can anyone help,even those of you with 540 or below we still need your support,thanks for your time in reading this,hope to hear from someone soon,all your comments and feedback would be much appreciated,bye for now Buz and Jackie

[harrycee]

Hiya Buzz and Jackie,
Nice to hear from you again.
I have spoken to a few "activists" who regularly lobby MPs, with a view to how to go about getting our voices heard. It was very disappointing information I'm afraid, evidently we would need at least twenty thousand "petitioners" to make any real impact, and then it would have to be aimed at one particular MP rather than spreading the letters around and losing impact. Our numbers would not even create a ripple on the water I'm afraid, and it would probably be a soul destroying and frustrating exercise.
We need an MP with a Hobby. Lol

[Doc]

As Harry indicates, any change in the law concerning increasing the width 'limit ' from 2.3m, for towing with 'ordinary' tow vehicles, is a vain hope. Not least because the UK 'van industry would be against it for obvious reasons.

It ain't goin' to happen!

There are some Iveco, Merc, and Ford vans which have a GVW of 3.5 tonnes or above. I've seen, abroad, modified such Merc Vitos or Sprinters, which are fitted out with rear seats and windows and a plastic-lined rear section behind the rear seats up to the rear doors, for storage.

I don't think that these are Merc 'conversions' but are done by approved converters. A couple I've seen were Dutch, but most were French.

You end up with a BIG version of a VW Touran type of vehicle, but which has a GVW suitable for legally towing Hobbys of 2.5m width.

There is a 'Grey Area' in towing such wide 'vans, in the UK, with a towcar registered elsewhere. I suspect it is this, that allows many Eire-reg. 'ordinary' towcars to tow 2.5m wide Tabberts and Hobbys with 'immunity'!

I have been given to understand that there's a 'Gentleman's-agreement' whereby if the outfit is legally towed in the country in which the car is registered it may be 'temporarily' towed in another country where different limits/regulations apply.

This certainly applies to the foglights; but be aware that if you tow in UK with a UK-reg car then the OFF-side (RHS) foglight should be active.

Hobby is the one Continental manufacturer where this is not done for 'vans to be towed normally in the UK. So we have to do it, to be legal!!
Ambergate don't do it, or J.G Trading AFAIK.

Take care out there, and tow legally, or it could cost you a GREAT deal.