Double-articulates in the UK?

[donkmeister]

A few years ago a haulier got into the news by trying to run B-Doubles in the UK and getting into hot water with the law. He was exploiting a rule that was intended to allow recovery agents to tow artics off the motorways with wrecker lorries, in order to have lorries carrying high-volume low-density cargoes within the usual 44-tonne limit.

This last week I've been all over the country and given the time of year have seen various circus/fairground-related rigs driving around. Many of these have included double-articulated outfits. I've seen the following two configurations:
- Tractor unit with fifth wheel + kingpin trailer + towball-drawn caravan
- Generator/Ballast truck + drawbar trailer + towball-drawn caravan

Are either of these outfits legal?

[gareth_r]

I have no idea what the law actually says, but I believe that there are a number of exemptions for a "showman's vehicle", and this is one of them.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Specialist vehicles for carrying funfair and circus equipment have exemption from certain rules and different standards apply to them, same way with the operators license and tacho requirements for showmen are not needed when they are operating the vehicles solely for the purpose of being a travelling showman.
There are loads of cracking old trucks operated from the yards in glasgow, nice to see proper machinery still being used.

[gareth_r]

Years ago they seemed to use a lot of ex-military Scammell or AEC recovery vehicles and gun tractors, but I suppose it's more modern (boring ) stuff now.

(I love watching videos of walking beam 6x6 Scammells being driven off-road.)

Edited by gareth_r on Thursday 10th May 01:17

[milkround]

Regulation 7 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that the overall length of a vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the maximum length specified below :-

Motor vehicles

-wheeled motor vehicles other than buses - 12 metres,
-a bus with two axles - 13.5 metres, a bus with more than 2 axles - 15 metres (from 1/4/2003)
-tracked motor vehicles - 9.2 metres,
Trailers (see Note 1 below)

-drawbar trailer with at least 4 wheels drawn by goods vehicle over 3500kg gross - 12 metres
-agricultural trailer with at least 4 wheels - 12 metres
-semi-trailer (except a car transporter or a semi-trailer which is normally used on international journeys any part of which takes place outside the United Kingdom) - 12.2 metres (see Note 4 below)
-composite trailer drawn by a goods vehicle over 3500kg g.v.w. or agricultural motor vehicle - 14.04 metres
-agricultural trailed appliance manufactured on or after 1st December 1985 - 15 metres including drawbar,
-any other trailer - 7 metres
Combinations

-motor vehicle + 1 drawbar trailer 2 - 18.75 metres (see Note 3 below)
-showman's motor vehicle + 1 drawbar trailer where the trailer is living accommodation - 22 metres
-motor vehicle + 2 trailers - 25.9 metres (motor vehicle 9.2 metres max, only one trailer may exceed 7 metres),
-motor vehicle + 3 trailers - 25.9 metres (motor vehicle 9.2 metres max, no trailer may exceed 7 metres),
-articulated bus and a bus drawing a trailer - 18.75 metres (from 1/4/2003)
-articulated vehicle + semi-trailer (see Note 2 below) - 15.5 metres, (see Note 4 below)
-articulated vehicle + semi-trailer which is a low-loader manufactured on or after 1/4/91 - 18 metres.