Hi all just a quick question has anybody ever been pulled over with the police for towing a caravan which is to heavy, or seen anybody being pulled over with there caravan
No but I have often seen police road checks where they are liasing with a number of other HMG agencies and checking everything. I am sure if they pulled over a caravan which was over weight they would nick it.
They often attend our local agricultural market and impound non-compying trailers & vehicles.
VOSA have electronic weigh bridges built in to the tarmac of many Motorways and A roads. They can measure the weight of each axle and read the reg plate and take a picture (you often see them before a bridge, you will see lines in the tarmac in a box pattern)
They are currently used to catch overweight HGVs
It's only current software limitations that stop them automatically weighing your caravan and then working out if it is too heavy for your car, from it's reg plate.
Hi Gillian i read in the ccc mag last yr that on the M5 last yr, the police not only pulled caravans over but had vosa with them, they found a lot of towcars without the usual towing mirrors, found 2 cars with bad tyres and other caravans not even fit 4 the rd.
It was also on the tv and the cops said they wouyld pos be doing it again this yr.
Not shure if the 2 caravan clubs were with them but sure 1 was, and they were there to advice all persons not jest there members
Hi, not been pulled for weight, but was pulled up just before new-year on our first outing, because I used the old square number plate of our folding camper in the back window of the van & it had slipped down, they had been following me for a couple of miles so apart from that all must of looked ok, that reminds me still got to get new number plate made
While we are naming places there is a weigh bgridge on the A5 at Wall Island on the outskirts of Lichfield in Staffs. I wouldnt be suprised if most vans are overweight.
------------- A barman is just a pharmacist
with a limited inventory
Quote: Originally posted by Crankyhorse on 06/3/2011
VOSA have electronic weigh bridges built in to the tarmac of many Motorways and A roads. They can measure the weight of each axle and read the reg plate and take a picture (you often see them before a bridge, you will see lines in the tarmac in a box pattern)
They are currently used to catch overweight HGVs
It's only current software limitations that stop them automatically weighing your caravan and then working out if it is too heavy for your car, from it's reg plate.
Despite having searched the internet about this, I can find no reference to these " electronic weigh bridges built in to the tarmac ".
I am most interested in this phenomena. Please tell me more!
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 07/3/2011
Quote: Originally posted by Crankyhorse on 06/3/2011
VOSA have electronic weigh bridges built in to the tarmac of many Motorways and A roads. They can measure the weight of each axle and read the reg plate and take a picture (you often see them before a bridge, you will see lines in the tarmac in a box pattern)
They are currently used to catch overweight HGVs
It's only current software limitations that stop them automatically weighing your caravan and then working out if it is too heavy for your car, from it's reg plate.
Despite having searched the internet about this, I can find no reference to these " electronic weigh bridges built in to the tarmac ".
I am most interested in this phenomena. Please tell me more!
They are the ones in the lay-bys run by VOSA. I have seen them even if you haven't. Mostly used for foregn lorry check ups on Motorways
Just in case, I carry the following information tucked under the sun visor. Just lets the Police Officer know that I have checked everything and not just thrown the outfit together. Also if they ask any questions, just to see if I know what I am doing, I have the answer. Now if Mr Plod were to ask you what your MTPLM was, or the weight ratio van to car, would you know? If you can't answer that it may suggest that you could be overweight. Anyway, feel free to pinch the format and put your own personal details in. It also helps having the insurance detail to hand just in case
Car
KIA Sportage SX
Kerb Weight + 15Kg for tow bar
1857kg
Max Payload weight
418kg
Max Permissible Towball weight
75kg
Actual Tow Ball weight
65/70kg
Gross weight
2260kg
Max Towing Weight with brakes
1800kg
Tyre pressure with Van
36psi
average luggage weight - around
250kg
tyre size (Hankook Optimo K406)
235/60R16 100H
Insurance - Liverpool Victoria Insurance Co Ltd; County Gates, Bournemouth, BH1 2NF
Policy No:-
Insurance period
To 6th August 2011
Green Flag Motoring Assistance
Policy No
To 19th Feb 2012: Phone 0800 400 600.
Tyron Support Recovery Contract
Order No:
Caravan
Elddis Odyssey 540 single axle
Vin nos
MTPLM
1570kg
MIRO
1377kg
Max Payload
193kg
EITHER Actual Laden weight (awning in Van)
1534.81
Ratio of Van to Car kerbweight (awning in Van)
82.65%
OR Actual Laden weight (awning in Car)
1539.61
Ratio of Van to Car kerbweight (awning in Car)
82.91%
Tyre pressure
62/3psi
Tyre size (Maxmiler) CX185 R14C 102/100R
Wheel Rim - 5.5j x 14
Insurance -Lifesure Group Ltd, 3 Fenice Court Phoenix Park, Eaton Socon, St neots PE19 8EW
Policy No:
Insurance period
to 07 Aug 2011
Caravan Key No
Wheel Lock Key No
Hitch Lock Key No
Winter wheels key No
Just a note - I travel out with the inside stuff packed in the van and all the ourside gear in the car. Coming home its the other way round. Hence the red and blue either or options on caravan weight.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
I saw an operation a few years ago, can't rememeber exactly where it was, might have been Strensham.
The Police were doing good business, with several caravans neatly parked without cars attached to them. The owners, unable to reduce payload sufficiently, had been sent away to get bigger cars (buy, borrow, steal?...)
These must have been Gross Train Weight offences. The couple of cars I saw leaving their caravans were stuffed with passengers, roof boxes, bikes, you know the sort of thing. Essentially, the caravans were too heavy for the cars.
what they are after more than weight is the stolen market. the police have their work to do and they work with VOSA and share each others powers. the stolen market is booming esp with units over 10yrs as they almost all have no trackers and no traceable VIN and as such are trading hands a lot. I have seen over ten last year alone that I have been to, being sold "for a friend who has just divorced and needs the cash" is one I hear alot. I offered full price on one and a deposit to secure and collect the months end and it was turned down two days later he had reduced the price ????? questions me thinks.
the weight issue is a majour thing and its the mid day runners they look at as % shows if they are travelling at rush hour they have failed to plan the journey and as such will have failed in other areas. going too fast is another attention puller.
as cwdc56768 has said get all your details in print and put in the folder along with ownership papers a picture of it prev attached to your car or at home also helps in the ownership front.
its going to get worst this season I am informed by Essex Police and so others will also be doing so.
I thought I was a responsible caravanner and well within the weight but to my horror I was 250kg over weight.
The conclusion I came to after emptying the van, weighing empty and then putting the essentials back in and again weighing is that the payload is insufficient and have had all subsequent caravand upgraded wherever possible.
In my favor at the time was the fact that even with the overweight the caravan was still only 80% of the Galaxy. The Police could not understand why I was overweight as the centre of the van was clear of equipment. So they let me go saying I should get the weights checked.
My message is check your weight on a weighbridge, you are probably overweight.
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Topic: pulled over
