Little know towing regulation.

[w3526602]

Hi,

Well, I've never seen any other reference to it.

While clearing my loft, I came across a cutting I'd taken from a glossy Campervan magazine a few years ago (more than 3, less than 10). The article was about towing with a campervan.

The reason I had saved it was athe paragraph that said ...

... Do bear in mind, however, that a large rear overhang on your motorhome will reduce the towing limit (towbar and overhang combined must in anycase measure no more than 60% of the wheelbase) ...

I assume that by "overhang", they refer to the distance behind the centre of the rear wheels. I suspect that this will not affect many Land Rover based cambers, unless somebody has done a "coach built" onto a SWB. Or possibly dropped a "pod" onto their tub, and still want a towball, so have extended the towbar.

Ah ... just noticed, a note in the margin which said the article will be produced and distributed as a Data Sheet, by the C&CC.

602

[RMS]

I think that might be just a recommendation, or even an observation rather than a regulation, like the often quoted c&cc 85% "rule", but I could be proved wrong

Some of the motorhomes we saw at a local event had absolutely stupid overhangs - I don't know how they cope here in the UK



I suppose the nearest LR example might be a Marshall ambulance?



Cheers,
Robin.

[w3526602]

Hi,

The words in the arlicle do say ... "must in no case" ... My memory tells me that I have also seen 1.2 metres mentioned, but I can't find anything to support that.

In the same paragraph as above, it goes on to mention the, quote, 85% guidline. My understanding is that the 85% refers only to caravans towed by novices, because they handle differently to most other trailers.

I'm quite happy to have somebody squelch what I posted, but if it IS law, then perhaps it needs better publicity.

602

[w3526602]

Hi again,

Reading further into the article, I found ....

...Unlike with a car ... being based on a light commercial vehicle ... doesn't need a Type Approved towbar.

Does a Land Rover count as a Light Commercial?

602

[w3526602]

Sorry, back again,

I "done a Google" for VEHICLE OVERHANG, found the following.

602

Overhang
Maximum permitted overhang of the body beyond the wheelbase for cars and heavy motor cars is equal to either 60 per cent of the wheelbase or the maximum distance the rear of the vehicle may swing out when pulling away from a stationary position on a 12.5 metre radius is 0.8 metres or l metre for lift axles in an unladen condition.
In the case of a two-axled vehicle, or a three-axled vehicle with only one non-steering axle, the overhang is measured from the centre line of the rear axle.
In the case of a three-axled or four-axled vehicle with two non-steering axles, overhang is measured from a point 110 millimetres to the rear of a point midway between the centres of the two rearmost axles. The wheelbase is measured from the centre of the front axle to the point from which overhang is measured.

Case law has indicated that a demountable body or container which can be lifted on and off a vehicle is not a load but part of the vehicle and has to be included when calculating the vehicle's overhang.

Works trucks and certain specialised local authority vehicles are exempt as are tipper vehicles if the overhang does not exceed 1.15 metres. The overhang for a motor tractor must not exceed 1.83 metres.

[RMS]

But does it say it is quoting 'law', 'regulation', 'recommendation' or doesn't it say anything about where the figures have come from?

It does mention 'case law' for one instance which indicates it might have to be proven in court, just like the long debated towing limit for unplated S2 vehicles (no, please don't go there on this forum! ).

Ok, if it is from the VOSA site, or a .gov site and is quoting regulations and/or points of law then all well and good, but if it's just a random site of quotes, I would prefer confirmation from an 'official' source such as VOSA or Construction & Use.

Best to put a link to the google result so we can make our own minds up

Anyway, I can't see it affecting any of our LR classic campers, can you?

Cheers,
Robin.

[RMS]

Just out of interest, I found THIS PAGE on the DOT site which gives overhang measurements.

However it also says at the bottom of the page:
"Statement
This information sheet provides our view of the current situation but should not be taken as
definitive legal advice as this is a matter for the courts."

Cheers,
Robin.

[bigdave]

The only way to be 100% on this is to trawl through construction and use regulations http://www.fta.co.uk/export/sites/fta/_ ... _Mod17.pdf