It is illegal - a towing instructor told me that he knows a guy who has a Hobby - he has had it years and never been pulled. I wonder that the Police would do? Court, fine???
It is true though - those few inches make the inside look huge. I think we should get Euro on this one. What's a few inches? No rude jokes please!! :)
Quote: Originally posted by Sean P on 10/3/2006
It is illegal - a towing instructor told me that he knows a guy who has a Hobby - he has had it years and never been pulled. I wonder that the Police would do? Court, fine???
I don't think it's as much a "police pull" matter (although you are breaking the law) but an insurance one; If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident I would imagine the insurance company after gladly accepting the premium would overlook the unlawful act and pay out ... I think not
One person posted that the UK needs to get in line with other eec laws, but you'd want to avoid some of them- like Swedens.
People who are buying Airstreams are faced with the same thing, and are pulling them with Landcruisers and the like. They run about 92" wide, and weigh usually over 3000lbs. This poses a legal issue, but all of the ones I sell are over 25 years old, so they get some kind of "grandfather" exemption- or so I'm told. We also have a higher tongue weight- about 400lbs.
The US caravans are usually fitted with electric brakes, rather than surge brakes. You can actually use the electric brakes to stop the whole rig entirely without using the tow vehicle brakes! I've used both, and I prefer the electrics- they're really strong, you adjust them for your own preferences. I hope one day you can have the option of using them in the UK.
Has anyone else used them and what are your opinions?
If it is against the law to tow a 2.5m van with a normal car i/e 4x4 which weight wise is perfectly capable of doing so.
How come the French come over here and tow them with the likes of mondeos?
The answer according to the police is it is not worth stopping them as by the time it goes to court they have returned home and do not HAVE to return here to face the charges.
I have seen English registered cars in France towing wide vans as it is legal, then when they reurn home they put the van in storage in france problem solved.
>How come the French come over here and tow them with the likes of mondeos?<
I think that they are allowed to do that because it is legal under EU legislation in France. It really is time the law in the UK was harmonised.
I spent a week at the end of August at the Resipole Farm site on Loch Sunart. There were a number of Hobbies there being towed by UK registered 4x4s such as the Landrover Defender, which strictly speaking is illegal.
I suspect that lots of folks actually get away with towing wide Hobbys illegally in the UK.
>How come the French come over here and tow them with the likes of mondeos?<
I think that they are allowed to do that because it is legal under EU legislation in France. It really is time the law in the UK was harmonised.
I spent a week at the end of August at the Resipole Farm site on Loch Sunart. There were a number of Hobbies there being towed by UK registered 4x4s such as the Landrover Defender, which strictly speaking is illegal.
I suspect that lots of folks actually get away with towing wide Hobbys illegally in the UK.
Post last edited on 08/11/2006 23:50:44
I agree with the law being changed, but we should do the same as the franch when someone is breaking the laws on the road and make them pay an on the spot fine. At the moment alot of them are getting away with all sorts of traffic offences, because they can't be traced.
OR.... if travelling to mainland Europe, ANY vehicle with more than 9 seats whether used for private or commercial purposes eg 12 seat Land Rovers. Ggggrrrhh!
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Topic: hobbys illegal to tow
