What makes a vehicle commercial? Towing 7m plus
Discussion
As the title suggests I have been looking at getting a caravan. Looking into it there are loads of different types and lengths and I stumbled across a make call Hobby and their top end ones. They seem really cheap compared to the others but are massive. 8ft wide and well over 7m long.
Now this means a standard vechicle can't tow it and it would need to be a commercial one.
What does this actually mean? I have a Citroen relay van (sounding very "tarmac drive'y" and lucky heather I know ) rated up to 3500kg but I don't believe that would be legal. In Europe they tow these things behind VW Passat so it isn't the weight that it th issue but the British laws about trailer length. Would a tachometer need to be added. People keep saying a commercial vechicle over 3500kg but not an actual example.
What would be able to tow one of these things over here?
Now this means a standard vechicle can't tow it and it would need to be a commercial one.
What does this actually mean? I have a Citroen relay van (sounding very "tarmac drive'y" and lucky heather I know ) rated up to 3500kg but I don't believe that would be legal. In Europe they tow these things behind VW Passat so it isn't the weight that it th issue but the British laws about trailer length. Would a tachometer need to be added. People keep saying a commercial vechicle over 3500kg but not an actual example.
What would be able to tow one of these things over here?
You'd be better off asking in "Tents, Caravans and Motorhomes":
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&...
Law changed a while ago. Max width is 2.55m which is about 8'4".
The 7m length restriction refers to the body length of the caravan & doesn't include the 'A' frame which is the bit in front of the caravan body. The 'A' frame can be quite long on some of the German vans.
Lot of ads (incl Hobby's own) only give overall length which includes the 'A' frame.
Suggest you have a chat with some of the UK dealers for Hobby.
Note that the doors are usually on the opposite side to UK built caravans which may cause awning problems on some UK caravan sites unless you have a motor mover to put the caravan onto the pitch point first.
ETA. You'll find a lot of UK built vans which are over 7m overall length. Many are now also 8' wide.
Have a look through the spec of the Bailey range of new vans. They use the term 'shipping length' instead of 'overall length'.
https://www.baileyofbristol.co.uk/touring-caravans...
The 7m length restriction refers to the body length of the caravan & doesn't include the 'A' frame which is the bit in front of the caravan body. The 'A' frame can be quite long on some of the German vans.
Lot of ads (incl Hobby's own) only give overall length which includes the 'A' frame.
Suggest you have a chat with some of the UK dealers for Hobby.
Note that the doors are usually on the opposite side to UK built caravans which may cause awning problems on some UK caravan sites unless you have a motor mover to put the caravan onto the pitch point first.
ETA. You'll find a lot of UK built vans which are over 7m overall length. Many are now also 8' wide.
Have a look through the spec of the Bailey range of new vans. They use the term 'shipping length' instead of 'overall length'.
https://www.baileyofbristol.co.uk/touring-caravans...
Edited by paintman on Tuesday 28th April 15:35
They are cheap because the older ones are imported and didn't used to be legal on UK roads.
They are also associated with the travelling community because of their size and cheapness. Also because they normally tow behind a transit or similar.
I wouldn't buy a Hobby personally mainly because they are huge and heavy and there are better equipped/looking/quality vans on the market.
The newer ones are a bit bling inside but they are a bargain for what you get.
However they weigh the best part of 2 tonnes fully laden so you'll need something big to tow it with unless you go commercial.
As has been said, start a topic in the caravan section.
They are also associated with the travelling community because of their size and cheapness. Also because they normally tow behind a transit or similar.
I wouldn't buy a Hobby personally mainly because they are huge and heavy and there are better equipped/looking/quality vans on the market.
The newer ones are a bit bling inside but they are a bargain for what you get.
However they weigh the best part of 2 tonnes fully laden so you'll need something big to tow it with unless you go commercial.
As has been said, start a topic in the caravan section.
paintman said:
Note that the doors are usually on the opposite side to UK built caravans which may cause awning problems on some UK caravan sites unless you have a motor mover to put the caravan onto the pitch point first.
Apparently, a lot of sites don't want caravans on the pitch the wrong way round in case the van catches fire or something equally exciting. It's difficult to drag a caravan from a pitch if it's not the accepted way around. Some sites specifically don't permit continental vans, but I suspect that's because they are traditionally used by a certain demographic.s2sol said:
paintman said:
Note that the doors are usually on the opposite side to UK built caravans which may cause awning problems on some UK caravan sites unless you have a motor mover to put the caravan onto the pitch point first.
Apparently, a lot of sites don't want caravans on the pitch the wrong way round in case the van catches fire or something equally exciting. It's difficult to drag a caravan from a pitch if it's not the accepted way around. Some sites specifically don't permit continental vans, but I suspect that's because they are traditionally used by a certain demographic.They worry that something someone said might happen will. You should read about the fear of stopping at french motorway Aires and getting gassed. Happens on the rare occasion to truck drivers with expensive loads but Clive and sue from bolton. Are terrified that someone will have their I year old Merc and second hand caravan away.
The pitch thing with the continental caravans. Just put the caravan on the other side of the pitch. Works exactly the same.
JM said:
Most Land Rovers are rated to tow 3500kg's. As are some other 4x4's.
Can they do over 3500kg? I thought the next stage up is a 7.5 tonner. I just don't know if you would need a different license or extra equipment in the vehicle to do it.Looking into towing license addition for my license, seen I can get a C section added for the same price as the B and E.
Like the idea of driving a proper truck!
Tampon said:
For some.reason caravaning seem to attract real namby Pamby follow the rules types.
They worry that something someone said might happen will. You should read about the fear of stopping at french motorway Aires and getting gassed. Happens on the rare occasion to truck drivers with expensive loads but Clive and sue from bolton. Are terrified that someone will have their I year old Merc and second hand caravan away.
The pitch thing with the continental caravans. Just put the caravan on the other side of the pitch. Works exactly the same.
I think you're probably right about caravan enthusiasts. I know you feel you'd like to become one, and I wish you luck.They worry that something someone said might happen will. You should read about the fear of stopping at french motorway Aires and getting gassed. Happens on the rare occasion to truck drivers with expensive loads but Clive and sue from bolton. Are terrified that someone will have their I year old Merc and second hand caravan away.
The pitch thing with the continental caravans. Just put the caravan on the other side of the pitch. Works exactly the same.
I don't believe anyone, ever, including truck drivers, got gassed on an aire on the continent. There's a lot of b
ks on the internet claiming it happens, but there's also a lot of people claiming it's impossible.I've got an old Hymer motorhome with the habitation door on the wrong side, and I've never had a problem in the UK or the continent.
As for putting the caravan on the other side of the pitch, that would mean your door and awning would face a British van's door and awning, and that would never do.
Tampon said:
JM said:
Most Land Rovers are rated to tow 3500kg's. As are some other 4x4's.
Can they do over 3500kg? I thought the next stage up is a 7.5 tonner. I just don't know if you would need a different license or extra equipment in the vehicle to do it.Looking into towing license addition for my license, seen I can get a C section added for the same price as the B and E.
Like the idea of driving a proper truck!
Tampon said:
s2sol said:
paintman said:
Note that the doors are usually on the opposite side to UK built caravans which may cause awning problems on some UK caravan sites unless you have a motor mover to put the caravan onto the pitch point first.
Apparently, a lot of sites don't want caravans on the pitch the wrong way round in case the van catches fire or something equally exciting. It's difficult to drag a caravan from a pitch if it's not the accepted way around. Some sites specifically don't permit continental vans, but I suspect that's because they are traditionally used by a certain demographic.They worry that something someone said might happen will. You should read about the fear of stopping at french motorway Aires and getting gassed. Happens on the rare occasion to truck drivers with expensive loads but Clive and sue from bolton. Are terrified that someone will have their I year old Merc and second hand caravan away.
The pitch thing with the continental caravans. Just put the caravan on the other side of the pitch. Works exactly the same.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff