Length Restrictions?

[blardo]

Reading the article on the new Airstream 684 in July's magazine, under "Lockers" it states that trailers and caravans can not exceed 7 metres on UK roads unless the vehicle towing them has a gross weight of 3.5.tonnes+. Is this correct? In the june issue of cc mag it says 18 metres is the maximum permitted overall length of a car and caravan outfit on UK roads so I'm confused. Looking at the buying pages, most 4 berth + caravans on the market have a shipping legth of over 7 metres so I'm really confused. Any ideas?

 

[Lutz]

It's not the shipping length that counts for the purpose of the law but the overall body length, i.e. shipping length minus drawbar length.

 

[rayc]

Brad, data from PC:

Maximum sizes for towing:

Towing vehicle under 3500kg GVW

Length (excluding the coupling and drawbar)

7.0 metres

Maximum width

2.3 metres

Towing vehicle over 3500kg GVW

Length (excluding the coupling and drawbar)

12 metres if at least 4 wheels

Maximum width

2.55 metres

Length of towing vehicle & trailer combined

18 metres

Maximum overhang of load from rear of trailer

3.05 metres

 

[blardo]

Thanks for that...easy when you know how!