Towing with a pick up truck who does it?

[ProfJohnL]

Just for clarification, and it might be important on this topic. The Governments web site and portal offer a lot of information BUT nd its a big BUT, it is not the defining law, and there have been several glaring inaccuracies on a number of pages concerning towing, weights and limits.

The web pages have been written by civil servants and how they interpret the underlying law, and certain fine points have be in at least two places they used the word weight instead of limit which changed the entire function of the criteria.

You have search hard to find the relevant act of parliaments or approved regulations to find the detail which is important but is often missed in web pages.

 

[alan rivis]

That could be a challenging project for some one to sort out the facts
The thing that set me off looking was a report from the driver of a medium sized van ie not car based who supposedly received three tickets for speeding
and that type of van seems to be grouped along with dual purpose vehicles

 

[JezzerB]

Speed limits

A limit of 30 miles per hour or 48 kilometres per hour usually applies to all traffic on all roads with street lighting

www.gov.uk

 

[JezzerB]

WE also asked our dealer-a commercial vehicle specialist-he did explain - under 2040kg unladen and speed limits are as per cars- he was very clear our Navara is limited to the speeds a car would be limited to.

 

[alan rivis]

the gov uk site does seem to contradict itself in two different areas the critical thing that seems to apply is unladen weight of kg2040 I am now going to go and check the plate on mine it as maybe the auto box and other bits puts it over that weight hence the N1 category of registration

 

[alan rivis]

just looked up the VW Amarok it starts at kg 2218

 

[alan rivis]

Pickup speed limits: Are you unknowingly breaking the law? • Professional Pickup

Pickup trucks over 2,040kg must follow lower speed limits than cars. Learn how weight impacts rules and avoid fines with our guide.

pickupand4x4.co.uk

just a bit of old info on it but perhaps still relevant

 

[otherclive]

Pickup speed limits: Are you unknowingly breaking the law? • Professional Pickup

Pickup trucks over 2,040kg must follow lower speed limits than cars. Learn how weight impacts rules and avoid fines with our guide.

pickupand4x4.co.uk

just a bit of old info on it but perhaps still relevant

The query reminds me of my first car, a minivan. That was limited to 40 mph max on all bar motorways. Yet the Countryman variant was as per private cars.

 

[alan rivis]

After using an oldish Issuzu for some years which weighs under 2 tonne when I came to replace it I looked at Ford and asked the salesman about speed limits and was told that the limits in the link below do apply and that most modern pickups exceed 2040 kg and he was aware of some one local who had fallen foul of the law

What’s the speed limit for a pick-up truck?

Reader who's considering buying a pick-up asks if the legal speed limits for it are the same as those for cars or vans

www.whatcar.com

 

[otherclive]

After using an oldish Issuzu for some years which weighs under 2 tonne when I came to replace it I looked at Ford and asked the salesman about speed limits and was told that the limits in the link below do apply and that most modern pickups exceed 2040 kg and he was aware of some one local who had fallen foul of the law

What’s the speed limit for a pick-up truck?

Reader who's considering buying a pick-up asks if the legal speed limits for it are the same as those for cars or vans

www.whatcar.com

Yes they do vary. Different models in the Ford range have different weights and speed limits. Jesser B tows with a fairly new Navarra so he will probably fill in the details.

 

[panther1]

only the basic Navara Visia double cab is under 2040kg kerb weight, the Tekna spec is 2135kg so definitely comes under the lower speed limits
I favour the Ranger myself & have had it in writing from Elddis towing with it will not affect the warranty

 

[JezzerB]

We were specifically told by our dealer that we weren't restricted and we could travel at 70. In theory then this is correct for motorways but not dual carriage or a roads which is 50not 60. There is a movement to clarify the law but most police ignore it and no one has ever challenged it in course so they don't bother! Our kerbweight is listed at 2115kg not under the 'limit' which isn't enforced. We always travel at 70mph on dual carriage and motorways , 60 on main A roads so in theory are speeding ,Wonder how many police know this and would stop you. Well if conditions allow etc. The article clearly states the d t aren't 'interested' and would review the law if it were challenged . Bit mad . I shall continue to drive at 60 if safe on A roads and dual carriageways and if stopped plead ignorance or do that challenge! I don't want to annoy fellow road users.
Erwin Hymer have rewritten their warranty so that half cabs are ok, can't remember the wording but along the lines of under3500 with care for road surfaces etc!

 

[junglejim]

Well well, you learn something new every day. We're with you Jezzer in same boat by the looks of it!

 

[JezzerB]

I know definitely not getting hung up on it and am consciously ignoring the silly 50mph lark-conscientious objector-gulp.I know a heck of a lot of truck owners Hilux, Navara Mitsubishi L200 -none of them have been fined and none of them are even aware of this am sure!

 

[otherclive]

I know definitely not getting hung up on it and am consciously ignoring the silly 50mph lark-conscientious objector-gulp.I know a heck of a lot of truck owners Hilux, Navara Mitsubishi L200 -none of them have been fined and none of them are even aware of this am sure!

From the number that fly past me I think that the majority don’t know or disregard. However my first car was a minivan strictly it was limited to 40 mph as it had no side windows despite being registered as a private vehicle. Similar anomalies abound re emmisions. A Defender hard top nit allowed in London’s LEZ bounded by M25 but same car in estate mode can enter, or is it could enter. Lost track.

 

[panther1]

I have always gone along with your school of thought but the chances of being "stopped" by a Police officer & being ABLE to plead ignorance is very slim!
Reading posts on various pickup face book groups more & more people are getting fined due to ANPR speed cameras, they read your reg number & the computer decides NO!

We were specifically told by our dealer that we weren't restricted and we could travel at 70. In theory then this is correct for motorways but not dual carriage or a roads which is 50not 60. There is a movement to clarify the law but most police ignore it and no one has ever challenged it in course so they don't bother! Our kerbweight is listed at 2115kg not under the 'limit' which isn't enforced. We always travel at 70mph on dual carriage and motorways , 60 on main A roads so in theory are speeding ,Wonder how many police know this and would stop you. Well if conditions allow etc. The article clearly states the d t aren't 'interested' and would review the law if it were challenged . Bit mad . I shall continue to drive at 60 if safe on A roads and dual carriageways and if stopped plead ignorance or do that challenge! I don't want to annoy fellow road users.
Erwin Hymer have rewritten their warranty so that half cabs are ok, can't remember the wording but along the lines of under3500 with care for road surfaces etc!

 

[otherclive]

I have always gone along with your school of thought but the chances of being "stopped" by a Police officer & being ABLE to plead ignorance is very slim!
Reading posts on various pickup face book groups more & more people are getting fined due to ANPR speed cameras, they read your reg number & the computer decides NO!

I guess the answer is to buy the pickup that you really like and drive it within the speed limits 😱😱 until such time that HMG change the law, which does seem to me to be illogical given the advances in pick up design over recent years.

Although given the time it took to increase HGV speed limits you may need lots of patience.

 

[alan rivis]

The only other thing to consider is how an insurance company would react in case of an accident

 

[panther1]

The only other thing to consider is how an insurance company would react in case of an accident

With regard to what?

 

[otherclive]

The only other thing to consider is how an insurance company would react in case of an accident

If it were an accident at the speeds being discussed it’s likely that the police would be involved, particularly if there were injuries.

 

[alan rivis]

With regard to what?

The speed of the vehicle if it was travelling at 60 mph ie 20% over the 50mph supposed limit of a pickup weighing over2040 kg

 

[ProfJohnL]

Until this thread, I was unaware of this quirk in the speed limits for this type of vehicle, mainly because I've never driven one in the UK.

I have found this, which seems to cover the subject. But do bear in mind it is not a definitive legal explanation it is a commercial companies interpretation of the situation/

Van Speed Limits UK [Guide] | Big Van World

Speed limits in the UK aren't universally applied - they vary depending on the vehicle you're driving. Most vans must follow the speed limits for goods vehicles based on their weight.

www.bigvanworld.co.uk

.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Speed limits

A limit of 30 miles per hour or 48 kilometres per hour usually applies to all traffic on all roads with street lighting

www.gov.uk

Whilst I am sure its intentions are to be accurate, historically this web site has contained significant errors in the way it has explained the law on Cat B licensees. One of its earlier iterations said that CAT B holder could drive an outfit that weighed less than 3500kg. When the legislation said a combined MAM of 3500kg.

It seem to be written by people who do not necessarily fully understand the detail of various pieces of legislation and some nuances (such as missing critical words from the legislation) might make its contents misleading.

For that reason where such a nuance as a "car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles" is concerned it is best to seek the underlying official documents to confirm the lawful arrangements.

 

[panther1]

The speed of the vehicle if it was travelling at 60 mph ie 20% over the 50mph supposed limit of a pickup weighing over2040 kg

as far as the insurance is concerned it would be no different to any other type of vehicle found to be speeding at the event of an accident,
I would say a large percentage of collisions are due to excessive speed but insurance companies are not allowed have a clause to say they will not pay out if you are speeding or excessive speed caused the collision

 

[JezzerB]

I have always gone along with your school of thought but the chances of being "stopped" by a Police officer & being ABLE to plead ignorance is very slim!
Reading posts on various pickup face book groups more & more people are getting fined due to ANPR speed cameras, they read your reg number & the computer decides NO!

Have driven through umpteen speed cameras of all types and varieties and not had a ticket for safety i set the cruise or limited at 60 or 70 past them so indicated speed will be more than GPS speed but I am sure I am therefore over. The cameras seem to think we are a car.