Speed limit for MOST motorhomes (1 Viewer)

Jaws

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I have just had cause to check on UK speed limits for a job

Went to the govt web site and was shocked to see the speed limit reduction to 50 for single track, 60 for dual track and 70 for motorways is related not to vehicles over 3.5t but over 3.05t

Now that means an awful lot of motorhome owners in vans plated at 3.5t have been thinking they are fine at 70 on a dual carriageway when in fact they are limited to 60 mph

I am sure I am well behind the times and more people know this than less, but thought it worth a heads up
 
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Jaws

Jaws

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I have a sneaky suspicion it has been changed and changed quietly !

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Gellyneck

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More than toes wet now!
Don't think it has been changed. Well not recently.
When changing from caravan to motorhome about 18 months ago it was 3.05t then.
 
Dec 6, 2011
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thats correct but its 3.05 T unladen weight. been like that for a looooong while...

how they would know the anladen weight without manufacturers data i have no idea! as it appears nowhere on your C5 ( as far a s i can see )
 
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It's unladen weight as has already been said and as unladen weight isn't recorded anywhere for motorhomes (it isn't the same thing as MIRO) it's an unenforceable law.

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JeanLuc

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A completely stupid rule as I pointed out to the Dept of Transport a few years ago when they were consulting on new motorway speed limits. They acknowledged the lack of clarity and suggested that they would consider it (don't hold your breath!).
In my view, speed limits for 'large' vehicles should be related to GVW (or MAM) since that is the plated maximum that the vehicle can weigh and must relate to the maximum safe speed. Then, motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes GVW would be limited to 30/50/60/70 rather than having 'wriggle room' as they do now if they can claim that the ULW is less than 3.05 tonnes. In my case, it is likely that the ULW is below 3.05 but the GVW is 3.8 tonnes. But I have no way of knowing that for certain. Much better to remove the uncertainty and limit according to GVW.
Even more illogical is the fact that panel vans (Transit/Sprinter/Ducato etc.) plated at just under 3.5 tonnes GVW are limited to 30/50/60/70 and these are the same base vehicles as most motorhomes!
 
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Jaws

Jaws

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It also raises the point as to what is load and what is not .

So my chassis is a Ducato. Unlaiden weight 2.4t ( from memory so proly miles out but... )

Now then.. The converter ( Autotrail ) then LOADS the chassis up with an after market body and all the crap they put in it.

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Lenny HB

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It is crazy, my Gross is 3850kg, but no where is the unladen weight stated. On the C of C it gives the MIRO which is over the 3050kg for the speed limit, so how do you explain to Mr Plod that figure Sir, includes 75kg for driver 20kg of water, 20 kg of gas & bottle plus 80kg of fuel?
 
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Apr 2, 2014
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As pointed out, it is the unladen weight of 3050 kg that counts. We actually had the unladen, ex-factory weight specified in the handbook for our last MH (Chausson), and I used to carry a copy of that with me. Since the onus is on the authorities to prove their case, I guess that would include proving that your unladen weight is over 3050kg. I'm not sure how easy that would be.

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DP+JAY

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[QUOTE Unladen is no fuel and perhaps we could argue removing as much as possible that is not screwed down.[/QUOTE]

Yes, exactly. That is what I was told at the VOSA test centre. Remove everything that is not fixed or essential equipment for it to qualify as a motor caravan & that is the unladen weight.
 
Jul 29, 2013
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It is crazy, my Gross is 3850kg, but no where is the unladen weight stated. On the C of C it gives the MIRO which is over the 3050kg for the speed limit, so how do you explain to Mr Plod that figure Sir, includes 75kg for driver 20kg of water, 20 kg of gas & bottle plus 80kg of fuel?
@lennyhb I have found this in the Hymer Exsis brochure it States:
All seven floor layouts have an un- laden weight of less than three tons – including the comprehensive standard equipment. From 2,610 kilograms with the Exsis-i 504, the range in road-ready state extends to 2,950 kilograms with the Exsis-i 698. Even when fully laden with passengers (4 people) and with individual additional equipment, there is still ample scope to load up the vehicle and utilise the garage capacity of 250 kilograms without exceeding the 3.5 ton permissible weight. Any weight restrict
tions in road traffic that apply above this limit are thereby avoided and the vehicle maintains it
 

Lenny HB

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@lennyhb I have found this in the Hymer Exsis brochure it States:
All seven floor layouts have an un- laden weight of less than three tons – including the comprehensive standard equipment. From 2,610 kilograms with the Exsis-i 504, the range in road-ready state extends to 2,950 kilograms with the Exsis-i 698. Even when fully laden with passengers (4 people) and with individual additional equipment, there is still ample scope to load up the vehicle and utilise the garage capacity of 250 kilograms without exceeding the 3.5 ton permissible weight. Any weight restrict
tions in road traffic that apply above this limit are thereby avoided and the vehicle maintains it
Unfortunately the brochure weight is irrelevant as I've yet to see one sold in standard trim which doesn't even include a drivers door, the only figures you have as a guide are on the C of C even that can be confusing if you don't understand it and not too good at German. The MIRO on the c of C is for the standard vehicle, the line under it gives TMIRO (Technical Mass in Running Order) which includes factory fitted options, but will not include and dealer or DIY options, as I said earlier the running order additions. Only way to get the unladen weight is to empty everything out of the van & take it to a weighbridge with only 1 or 2 Lt of fuel in it, OK you could have a full tank and deduct the weight, but the ticket would show the total.

As for running a 7.2m Exsis at 3500 kg we gave up and uprated to 3850 still on the limit on the rear axle and we are quite light me 74kg, wife 46kg, & we don't carry much junk don't have 45kg of awning, also our van was under brochure weight.

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ianandkath

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mine is over 3.5 tons, and i only do 60 mph on the motorway,maybe 55 on dual roads
 

CWH

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Just looked at the specs for our moho.
Unladen Weight 2923 kg, Essential Habitation Equipment 9 kg, so meeting the lower weight limit.
We tend to stick to 30/ 50/ 50/ 60 though as it suits us to do so.
 

Badknee

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Yes 30/50/50/60 for us too, were on holiday why wouldn't we? :D

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Apr 29, 2014
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As I understand it over 3.5 tonnes but under 7.5 tonnes : 30- 50 -60 -70 and able to use fast lane on motorways
 

Lenny HB

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As I understand it over 3.5 tonnes but under 7.5 tonnes : 30- 50 -60 -70 and able to use fast lane on motorways
Nope the UK limits as stated in other posts based on the unladen weight of 3050kg, over that weight and you are restricted to the lower limits.

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Jul 29, 2013
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@lennyhb we went for the 4250 kg Exsis i698 and have plenty of payload last trip out we managed to get it to 3425kg
 

Lenny HB

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Oct 18, 2007
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@lennyhb we went for the 4250 kg Exsis i698 and have plenty of payload last trip out we managed to get it to 3425kg
Sensible move, we are usually about 3650, do run with a full water tank + 2 x 20 Lt containers in the garage. Problem with the light chassis is rear axle is limited to 2000 kg, so buy uprating to 3850 I only gain 150 kg of usable load of the 350 kg.
 
Jul 29, 2013
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Yes that's right we get max 2100 kg front and 2400 rear it works very well don't need to worry about overloading just make sure it's in the right place,we usually run full fresh tank.

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