Towing

iolanthe07

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

If that were the case then how can you leave a pub in England under the English drink drive limit and then be over when you cross into Scotland?

Edit: On the continent LGV's can carry a greater weight over the fifth wheel. That offence was one of VOSA's (that's what they were at the time) favourite offence for foreign truck drives. So are you saying they were wrong and the drivers had a statutory defence?

I'm only repeating what I read in Motorhome magazines from the days when I used to own one. It is something to do with vehicle use regulations, quite separate from the crime of drinking and driving. I remember that you could buy copies of the regulations in various languages. Motorhome drivers were always complaining that they got pulled over by foreign police for towing a car on an A frame.

Paradigm

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Edit: On the continent LGV's can carry a greater weight over the fifth wheel.

Weight limits are per axle & are not relevant to the 5th wheel...as such.

iolanthe07

Here you go, fom Camping & Caravan Club:

The situation is even less clear in mainland Europe where Club members towing with A-frames have been stopped by local police. You can fall back on European legislation that entitles you to drive in another EU country on the basis that as a visitor with an outfit legal in your home country it will be accepted there – and hope you don’t fall into the arms of a difficult police officer. Many A-frame suppliers provide letters in different European languages that spell out the legality of such A-frame outfits, but you may have to be prepared to argue the point with the local traffic police. In several cases heard of in Spain, police officers have insisted on the decoupling of the A-frame and separate travelling, so be prepared for your partner or travelling companion to drive the car if requested."

Can of worms............comes to mind...........

Silver-Surfer_2

iolanthe07 wrote: »

I'm only repeating what I read in Motorhome magazines from the days when I used to own one. It is something to do with vehicle use regulations, quite separate from the crime of drinking and driving. I remember that you could buy copies of the regulations in various languages. Motorhome drivers were always complaining that they got pulled over by foreign police for towing a car on an A frame.

Read the edit.

Paradigm wrote: »

Weight limits are per axle & are not relevant to the 5th wheel...as such.

Ok, to make you happier as you're being pedantic. The weight that can be carried on axle 2 or 2 and three combined are lower in the UK than Europe. As you know both of which are under the fifth wheel coupling.

Silver-Surfer_2

iolanthe07 wrote: »

Here you go, fom Camping & Caravan Club:

The situation is even less clear in mainland Europe where Club members towing with A-frames have been stopped by local police. You can fall back on European legislation that entitles you to drive in another EU country on the basis that as a visitor with an outfit legal in your home country it will be accepted there – and hope you don’t fall into the arms of a difficult police officer. Many A-frame suppliers provide letters in different European languages that spell out the legality of such A-frame outfits, but you may have to be prepared to argue the point with the local traffic police. In several cases heard of in Spain, police officers have insisted on the decoupling of the A-frame and separate travelling, so be prepared for your partner or travelling companion to drive the car if requested."

Can of worms............comes to mind...........

A link to the legislation would be better than what Reginald from the caravan club said.

powerful_Rogue

The current information sheet on this subject states: “We believe the A-frame and car become a single unit and as such are classified in legislation as a trailer.”and “We believe the use of A-frames to tow cars behind other vehicles is legal (in the UK) provided the braking and lighting requirements are met”. However on the Continent most countries still see it as a recovery tool and the DfT believes the Vienna Convention 1968 on Road Traffic cannot be used as a defence in disputes because the A-frame would not have been forseen at the time of the Convention.

Therefore the Club strongly advises you abide by the local laws for each country you travel through. In practice this means putting the car on a trailer.

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/technicalhelp/towing/towing-with-a-motorhome/

Car_54

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

If that were the case then how can you leave a pub in England under the English drink drive limit and then be over when you cross into Scotland?

Apart from anything else, England and Scotland are not separate EU countries. Yet.

Silver-Surfer_2

[quote=[Deleted User];70218178]Apart from anything else, England and Scotland are not separate EU countries. Yet.[/QUOTE]

And does that matter?

s_b

just burn the lot and book a hotel

powerful_Rogue

Isnt it similar to us not requiring by law motorists to carry high-viz vests, first aid kits and fire extinguishers in our vehicles, so the same should apply when in France?

Can't see that argument going down well when pulled over by the French police.