Tachographs in Europe

[takeabreak]

We would like to tour Europe but my husband says he has read that all commercial vehicles (we have a Ford Ranger 4x4 tow vehicle which is registered for commercial use) have to have a tachograph fitted when towing a caravan in Europe. Does anyone know anything about this? Looking on various websites all we can find is info on minibuses needing tachographs.

 

[GrahamF.]

Sandra, full details on all currnet EU driving regs can be found at your local Traffic Commissioners Office. These come under VOSA (Vehicle & Operators Services Agency) web for this is www.vosa.gov.uk

Happy Touring

Graham F.

 

[Lutz]

Unless I'm mistaken, tachographs are only required in the EU for commercial vehicles with a GVW of over 3.5 tonnes.

 

[Icemaker]

Sandra, not too sure what you mean by the ranger is registered for commerciall use. my transit vans where all classed as commerciall vehicles by the manufacturers but they where taxed as plg or private light goods. a transit will carry a considerable amount more weight than a ford ranger and as far as i can remember you only need a tachograph if you exceed a certain weight, the smallest vehicles i know of that have a tacho fitted are 7.5 ton lorrys. having said this i did hear once of a motorcaravanner who had one of the larger type motor homes that was plated at 35 hundred weight and in order to tow his caravan with the motorhome he had to have a tacho fitted as the combined weight was over the limit. Is the ford ranger not a similar size to a shogun ? if it is many many people tow abroad each year and have no problems.

 

[GrahamF.]

Sandra, having done a bit more research since my last posting... I'm now a bit confused!. VOSA don't seem to make it clear. Lutz is also correct on clasification on GVW 3.5 tonnes, but once the vehicle is towing a goods trailer it then comes into scope of tacho regs. As the caravan is not a goods trailer I can't see that the tacho regs will apply. I will be very interested to see if someone can post the definative answer.

Graham F

 

[takeabreak]

Thanks for your help in looking into this, Graham. As we suspected, it seems to be a grey area where this is concerned. As you say, maybe someone can come up with a definitive answer.

 

[takeabreak]

Sandra, not too sure what you mean by the ranger is registered for commerciall use. my transit vans where all classed as commerciall vehicles by the manufacturers but they where taxed as plg or private light goods. a transit will carry a considerable amount more weight than a ford ranger and as far as i can remember you only need a tachograph if you exceed a certain weight, the smallest vehicles i know of that have a tacho fitted are 7.5 ton lorrys. having said this i did hear once of a motorcaravanner who had one of the larger type motor homes that was plated at 35 hundred weight and in order to tow his caravan with the motorhome he had to have a tacho fitted as the combined weight was over the limit. Is the ford ranger not a similar size to a shogun ? if it is many many people tow abroad each year and have no problems.

Thanks also Lutz and Icemaker for your help. Our GVW is 2.5 tonnes and our vehicle is as you say taxed as plg.

 

[takeabreak]

Thanks everyone for your help in this.

 

[Moth_5041363]

try phonine the deparment of transport, I know you used to be able to drive without a card, just as long as you were not carrying bissness cargo.

 

[the other tom]

Hi Sandra.

If the vehicle is not being offered for hire or reward (to make a profit)a tacho is not required Got to your local library and look at the croners guide to transport management it will give you all the info you need .or ask any transport manager of any transport company . Tom