Maximum caravan width...

[Tony_5084548]

I understand that according to the Road Vehicles (Construction and

Use) Regulations 1986, a trailer or caravan being towed by a vehicle weighting less than 3500kgs must be less or equal to 2.3 metres in width.

However, over on the contentant, caravan manufactures regularly produce models of approximatley 2.4 metres. Can these 'vans be legelly towed in the UK?

Regards Tony.

 

[Lutz]

There are 2 ways caravans over 2.3 metres can be towed legally in the UK:

1. As you say, by a vehicle with a permissible (not necessarily actual) gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or more.

2. By a foreign registered vehicle temporarily imported into the UK.

 

[Tony_5084548]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm unsure whether any EU laws supercede our own Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986!

Any ideas?

 

[Lutz]

There are no EU laws that cover vehicle construction and use, only EU directives and the individual countries have a right to make local exceptions. In the case of trailer width, the UK government decided against adopting the 2.55m max specified in the EU directive.

 

[Tony_5084548]

There are no EU laws that cover vehicle construction and use, only EU directives and the individual countries have a right to make local exceptions. In the case of trailer width, the UK government decided against adopting the 2.55m max specified in the EU directive.

Thanks once again.

Been in contact with VOSA today, whom confirm that the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 are still current.

Thus no trailer or caravan wider than 2.3m maybe towed by a vehicle weighting less than 3500kgs.

This makes a number of German 'vans owned and used in the UK as illegal!!

Thanks again for your help.

Tony