Sketchy towing

[MissChief]

monthou said:

MissChief said:

I got overtaken several times on my 900 mile round trip on Friday by 4x4's towing trailers. I was doing 70ish and it happened twice at least.

Were they using tow ropes?

No, proper trailers, but the limit with a trailer is supposed to be 50mph. They were doing at least 30MPH over that.

[Chester draws]

MissChief said:

monthou said:

MissChief said:

I got overtaken several times on my 900 mile round trip on Friday by 4x4's towing trailers. I was doing 70ish and it happened twice at least.

Were they using tow ropes?

No, proper trailers, but the limit with a trailer is supposed to be 50mph. They were doing at least 30MPH over that.

That does sound really bad!!

So you were already 10mph above the speed limit yourself, and these 4x4's with trailers were doing over 80mph on a single carriageway road?

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

Trackdayer said:

Witnessed this a couple of days ago. Around 60mph. Tow rope not even taut the whole time.

I'd agree with sketchy, and probably even go as far as dangerous. If they were towing it into a place of safety such as a layby then it is not so bad, but if they were trying to get it back to the garage then that's a bit naughty.

[Evoluzione]

Hope the van had a tacho fitted, they could get him on that if not.
It must have been fun setting off from a standstill with fwd and that amount of weight!

[monthou]

MissChief said:

monthou said:

MissChief said:

I got overtaken several times on my 900 mile round trip on Friday by 4x4's towing trailers. I was doing 70ish and it happened twice at least.

Were they using tow ropes?

No, proper trailers, but the limit with a trailer is supposed to be 50mph. They were doing at least 30MPH over that.

Illegal but not inherently dangerous. In France - where the same laws of physics mostly apply - I can do 130kph (80mph) on the autoroute towing a trailer. As long as the train weight comes in at <3.5 tonnes.
Why didn't you use the motorway?

[dhutch]

MissChief said:

No, proper trailers, but the limit with a trailer is supposed to be 50mph. They were doing at least 30MPH over that.

Towing limit on the UK motorways and dual carriageway is 60 MPH.

Edited by dhutch on Sunday 11th July 12:15

[rscott]

monthou said:

MissChief said:

monthou said:

MissChief said:

I got overtaken several times on my 900 mile round trip on Friday by 4x4's towing trailers. I was doing 70ish and it happened twice at least.

Were they using tow ropes?

No, proper trailers, but the limit with a trailer is supposed to be 50mph. They were doing at least 30MPH over that.

Illegal but not inherently dangerous. In France - where the same laws of physics mostly apply - I can do 130kph (80mph) on the autoroute towing a trailer. As long as the train weight comes in at <3.5 tonnes.
Why didn't you use the motorway?

Motorways don't go everywhere... Plenty of dual carriageway A roads.

[monthou]

rscott said:

monthou said:

MissChief said:

monthou said:

MissChief said:

I got overtaken several times on my 900 mile round trip on Friday by 4x4's towing trailers. I was doing 70ish and it happened twice at least.

Were they using tow ropes?

No, proper trailers, but the limit with a trailer is supposed to be 50mph. They were doing at least 30MPH over that.

Illegal but not inherently dangerous. In France - where the same laws of physics mostly apply - I can do 130kph (80mph) on the autoroute towing a trailer. As long as the train weight comes in at <3.5 tonnes.
Why didn't you use the motorway?

Motorways don't go everywhere... Plenty of dual carriageway A roads.

If it was a dual carriageway A road why would trailers be restricted to 50?
Unless she was - the horror - 20mph over the limit.

[gazza285]

roddo said:

gazza285 said:

Towing capacity will be for a tow bar. Tow limits do not apply, as the bus has brakes independent of the towing vehicle.

The speed might be ill advised, but not illegal.

A trailer also has independent brakes but that doesn't make it right to pull/tow over manufacturers limits.

Explain how a trailer has brakes independent of the towing vehicle. Every braked trailer I have seen has the brake mechanism fixed to the towing vehicle via the hitch.

Trailers have a separate braking system, but it is not independent.

[Evoluzione]

dhutch said:

MissChief said:

No, proper trailers, but the limit with a trailer is supposed to be 50mph. They were doing at least 30MPH over that.

Towing limit on the UK motorway is 60 MPH.

I don't believe anyone mentioned motorways.

[monthou]

Evoluzione said:

dhutch said:

MissChief said:

No, proper trailers, but the limit with a trailer is supposed to be 50mph. They were doing at least 30MPH over that.

Towing limit on the UK motorway is 60 MPH.

I don't believe anyone mentioned motorways.

Same on dual carriageways though.
Either she' s mistaken about the limit and recounting being passed at 70mph on a motorway / dual carriageway by a couple of trailers - something I've seen plenty of times.
Or she's correct about the limit and recounting being overtaken twice by trailers on single carriageways while herself being at least 10mph over the limit. Something I can't remember ever seeing.
I suppose either is possible, but I know where I'd put my money.

[dhutch]

Evoluzione said:

I don't believe anyone mentioned motorways.

No, but they did mention a 900 Mike round trip which in this country tends to maintain mean motorways, and as said the limit is the same for a dual carriageway.

[dhutch]

monthou said:

Same on dual carriageways though.
Either she' s mistaken about the limit and recounting being passed at 70mph on a motorway / dual carriageway by a couple of trailers - something I've seen plenty of times.
Or she's correct about the limit and recounting being overtaken twice by trailers on single carriageways while herself being at least 10mph over the limit. Something I can't remember ever seeing.
I suppose either is possible, but I know where I'd put my money.

Maybe both!

Certainly trailers at 70 on the Motorway or a DC isn't uncommon, and another 10mph over the limit with a small trailer and large tow vehicle no unheard of. Ditto vehicles speeding without a trailer.

Is there anyone on here can honestly say they have never done 20mph over a speed limit? I doubt it. Probably not many who haven't done 30mph over.


Daniel

[monthou]

dhutch said:

monthou said:

Same on dual carriageways though.
Either she' s mistaken about the limit and recounting being passed at 70mph on a motorway / dual carriageway by a couple of trailers - something I've seen plenty of times.
Or she's correct about the limit and recounting being overtaken twice by trailers on single carriageways while herself being at least 10mph over the limit. Something I can't remember ever seeing.
I suppose either is possible, but I know where I'd put my money.

Maybe both!

Certainly trailers at 70 on the Motorway or a DC isn't uncommon, and another 10mph over the limit with a small trailer and large tow vehicle no unheard of. Ditto vehicles speeding without a trailer.

Is there anyone on here can honestly say they have never done 20mph over a speed limit? I doubt it. Probably not many who haven't done 30mph over.


Daniel

Not sure what you're trying to say.
A trailer being pulled at 80 on the motorway is unexceptional and no cause for alarm. It's illegal here but would be fine in France (and I'd guess elsewhere in Europe).
A trailer doing 80 overtaking someone doing 70 on a single carriageway sounds nuts.

[Cat]

gazza285 said:

Explain how a trailer has brakes independent of the towing vehicle. Every braked trailer I have seen has the brake mechanism fixed to the towing vehicle via the hitch.

Trailers have a separate braking system, but it is not independent.

In this case, if the engine of the towed vehicle is not running, it will likely have no brakes after the first few applications.

Cat

[Oceanrower]

Cat said:

gazza285 said:

Explain how a trailer has brakes independent of the towing vehicle. Every braked trailer I have seen has the brake mechanism fixed to the towing vehicle via the hitch.

Trailers have a separate braking system, but it is not independent.

In this case, if the engine of the towed vehicle is not running, it will likely have no brakes after the first few applications.

Cat

If those are air brakes, I’d have thought exactly the opposite…

[Cat]

Oceanrower said:

Cat said:

gazza285 said:

Explain how a trailer has brakes independent of the towing vehicle. Every braked trailer I have seen has the brake mechanism fixed to the towing vehicle via the hitch.

Trailers have a separate braking system, but it is not independent.

In this case, if the engine of the towed vehicle is not running, it will likely have no brakes after the first few applications.

Cat

If those are air brakes, I’d have thought exactly the opposite…

Depends if you're talking about the service brake or the park brake. The park brake will be applied if there is insufficient air pressure but it is is possible to prevent this by winding the brakes back. The service brake on the other hand will not work if there isn't enough air pressure.

Cat

[gazza285]

These have air over hydraulic I believe, so you would hope the engine is running.

[snowandrocks]

60 mph is quite impressive for that combination especially with the fairly weedy engine that's likely fitted to the van - I've spent quite a bit of time driving a 3.0 Ducato and I'm not even sure that would be up to it.

[final_edition]

When being towed, it is a good idea not to leave your keys on the car floor. This usually comes to light, when trying to straighten up after turning left at lights, just after you set off..