speed limits over 3500kg (1 Viewer)

Neckender

Free Member
Oct 15, 2007
3,221
5,921
Neckend or North Wales.
Funster No
635
MH
VW T6.1Kombi day Van
Exp
Since 2004
I know that this as been done to death but could you tell me if I’m reading this correctly, my Globecar Campscout PVC has been uprated to 4.1 tonnes and it’s unladen weight is below 3.05 tonnes. So I can drive at 70 on motorways and dual carriageways, and 60 on single carriageways unless stated otherwise.

John.


National speed limits

Type of vehicle Built-up areas mph(km/h) Single carriageways mph (km/h) Dual carriageways mph (km/h) Motorways mph (km/h)
Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles 30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles when towing caravans or trailers 30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 60 (96)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48)
 

MillieMoocher

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 18, 2015
1,118
10,634
West Yorkshire
Funster No
37,199
MH
Autosleeper Kingham
Exp
40 years under canvas: Motorhome 2016 To 2020
That’s my interpretation too, my MH is plated up to 3,860 but has a MIRO of less than 3,050 so “car” speed limits apply in UK.

When abroad I adhere to > 3.5 ton limit just to be safe.

Sat nav is set at vehicle greater than 3.5 ton so is always telling me I’m exceeding the speed limit - annoying but keeps me off narrow lanes.
 
Mar 23, 2012
9,446
31,629
sleights
Funster No
20,245
MH
c class
Exp
1
I thought that was the case in the UK but lower limts in europe where the limit is on 3500 max weight

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Jul 11, 2016
407
364
Worcestershire
Funster No
44,026
MH
Burstner Ixeo TL680g
Exp
returnee
I created this,printed and laminated and stuck it on the sun visor.


speeds2a6.jpg
 
Sep 12, 2016
2,262
5,012
Chesterfield England Tellus 3
Funster No
45,091
MH
Lunar Roadstar 800
Exp
6 years
UK speed limits go on MAX weightkmph

so 50 on Single Carriageways
and 60 on Dual Carriageways
and 70 on Motorways

@Mark McG Do you have the limits for France Autoroutes although I do tend to stick to 110kmph would like confirmation as they are strange about Camping Cars sometimes I feel like there's me going backwards although
https://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/french-speed-limits-950/
says 110 on Autoroutes 100 on dual carriageways (RN) 80 on single carriageways and 50 in towns
 
2

2657

Deleted User
UK speed limits go on MAX weightkmph

so 50 on Single Carriageways
and 60 on Dual Carriageways
and 70 on Motorways

@Mark McG Do you have the limits for France Autoroutes although I do tend to stick to 110kmph would like confirmation as they are strange about Camping Cars sometimes I feel like there's me going backwards although
https://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/french-speed-limits-950/
says 110 on Autoroutes 100 on dual carriageways (RN) 80 on single carriageways and 50 in towns

Not for motorhomes, as already stated speed limits defined by 3050k(3 tons) unladen weight, which is almost impossible to define for a motorhome but definitely not MIRO.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
D

Deleted member 29692

Deleted User
That’s my interpretation too, my MH is plated up to 3,860 but has a MIRO of less than 3,050 so “car” speed limits apply in UK


The speed limit loophole states unladen weight not MIRO.

MIRO and unladen weight are not even close to being the same thing. There is a specific legal definition of unladen weight. The MIRO figure can be based on anything the converter chooses, there isn’t even an industry wide convention never mind a legal definition.

Unladen weight can only be recorded by the manufacturer as the vehicle comes off the production line and before any liquids are added. It’s not recorded for motor caravans because the 2 stage production process makes it impossible. If it is recorded anywhere for your van it will be for the base chassis before conversion which obviously makes the figure meaningless.
 
D

Deleted member 29692

Deleted User
The lack of a manufacturer recorded unladen weight figure for motor caravans makes this particular law unenforceable so don’t worry about it.


It’s only a silly loophole that nobody cares about anyway. It only applies to motor caravans, no other class of vehicle.
 

Augusta08

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 25, 2015
949
1,405
Morbihan
Funster No
37,886
MH
Autocruise Augusta
Exp
Since 2001
I have always believed that it's the MGVW that applies when calculating speed allowances, not the unladen weight.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Sep 12, 2016
2,262
5,012
Chesterfield England Tellus 3
Funster No
45,091
MH
Lunar Roadstar 800
Exp
6 years
OK
Just been on https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits and I stand corrected

Motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70 (112)


AND my motorhome has a PLATED unladed weight of 2945kg I can go a little faster on UK Roads
 

Augusta08

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 25, 2015
949
1,405
Morbihan
Funster No
37,886
MH
Autocruise Augusta
Exp
Since 2001
Nope- as above its the Unladen Weight
Does that explain my revenue weight?

My MGVW is 4,500kgs GTW 6,050Kgs but I'm still a PLG tax rate. The unladen weight is circa 3,400Kgs as stated above it is not on the Vin Plate, or the V5.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
Does that explain my revenue weight?

My MGVW is 4,500kgs GTW 6,050Kgs but I'm still a PLG tax rate. The unladen weight is circa 3,400Kgs as stated above it is not on the Vin Plate, or the V5.
you should be phgv thats cheaper tax i would get it changed .
 

AXO66

Free Member
Oct 6, 2016
762
4,715
Pembrokeshire
Funster No
45,470
MH
Chasson 510
Exp
2016
Going back to the French law. Is it under 3.5k for the faster spreeds...or, 3.5k and under.

Or to put it another way if your 1kg over 3.5kg then the slower speed limits apply?

Our MIRO Is 2890 so should be ok in uk.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Cheshirecat57

Free Member
Feb 3, 2018
3,482
5,589
Mid Cheshire
Funster No
52,244
MH
None
Exp
10 years on and off
Does that explain my revenue weight?

My MGVW is 4,500kgs GTW 6,050Kgs but I'm still a PLG tax rate. The unladen weight is circa 3,400Kgs as stated above it is not on the Vin Plate, or the V5.
Revenue weight is a different thing, thats the charge(road tax) that is levied based on the max operating weight and the number of axles

Eg a 3 axle tractor unit pulling a 3 axle trailer has a max operating weight of 44 tonnes and pays £1200 pa but the unladen weight of such a rig is about 12tonnes or so

PHGV class is a special tax group for commercial vehicles operating not for gain or reward
 
Last edited:
D

Deleted member 29692

Deleted User
I have always believed that it's the MGVW that applies when calculating speed allowances, not the unladen weight.

It is for pretty much every class of vehicle everywhere in the world apart from motor caravans in the UK.

Unladen weight applies in that one case - to the only class of vehicle for which unladen weight can’t be recorded.

Why?

That’s anyone’s guess.
 
Oct 2, 2008
4,434
7,886
Salopia
Funster No
4,247
MH
Duro 6x6 Overlander
Exp
since 1968
Does that explain my revenue weight?

My MGVW is 4,500kgs GTW 6,050Kgs but I'm still a PLG tax rate. The unladen weight is circa 3,400Kgs as stated above it is not on the Vin Plate, or the V5.
If that MGVW is on your VIN plate , and on your V5 then you are on wrong tax rate , and do you have suitable driving licence class?
 

SMB

Apr 26, 2013
1,230
1,347
Spain
Funster No
25,710
MH
Coachbuild
Exp
Fulltiming since February 2013
I created this,printed and laminated and stuck it on the sun visor.


View attachment 213608
Depends which country you are travelling, for instance the maximum speed on a Spanish motorway for vehicles > 3500kgs is now only 90kmph

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Aug 18, 2014
23,537
131,293
Lorca,Murcia,Spain
Funster No
32,898
MH
Transit PVC
Exp
16 years since restarting
Depends which country you are travelling, for instance the maximum speed on a Spanish motorway for vehicles > 3500kgs is now only 90kmph
That is also the limit for ALL vans, regardless of size/weight, without windows. Motorhomes have there own speed limits different from cars. I.e. maximum is 100kph on mways
 

Margaritaman

Free Member
Oct 27, 2013
270
395
East Yorkshire
Funster No
28,763
MH
Low Profile C Class
Exp
since 2008
Yes John @Neckender. I agree with your explanation in your opening post. I drove our Pilote for a couple of years at 60,70,70 in UK BEFORE we had it uprated. Only after uprating I found our unladen weight on some Pilote literature as 3150t. Oops...

So presumably I’d been exceeding the speed limit for our Pilote all that time.But never had a speeding ticket. Perhaps I was lucky.

Since uprating to 3850t I observe the 50,60,70 limits on the basis I’m on the DVLA’s radar now. Just wonder if speed cameras can distinguish between various vehicle weights. Have seen trucks slow down at cameras. Maybe they use Numberplate Recognition??

Like your new levellers by the way

Don’t forget to wave as you pass me on the A50 lol

Cheers
Chris
 
Oct 2, 2008
4,434
7,886
Salopia
Funster No
4,247
MH
Duro 6x6 Overlander
Exp
since 1968
Some cameras are height sensitive so can take for HGV limit , there used to be one on A52 near Grantham I have seen flash trucks

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,682
147,580
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Only after uprating I found our unladen weight on some Pilote literature as 3150t. Oops...
That is the MIRO which not the same as unladen, with a MIRO of 3150 your unladen weight will be well under 3050 so car speed limits apply.

If you really want to know your unladen weight, take everything out that is movable drain the fuel tank, engine oil & cooling system then take it to a weighbridge.:ROFLMAO:
 

Margaritaman

Free Member
Oct 27, 2013
270
395
East Yorkshire
Funster No
28,763
MH
Low Profile C Class
Exp
since 2008
3462B38E-D8FE-4C3A-9953-82682650EFE5.jpeg
That is the MIRO which not the same as unladen, with a MIRO of 3150 your unladen weight will be well under 3050 so car speed limits apply.

Thanks @Lenny HB

This is what the Pilote Technical Brochure says.Unladen weight 3155kg ( not 3150t as I stated earlier lol) Ours is the 2008 model year. Don’t know if the MIRO terminology was used back then?? So Pilote may mean the MIRO in their brochure. Any ideas? Thanks again
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,682
147,580
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
View attachment 213824

Thanks @Lenny HB

This is what the Pilote Technical Brochure says.Unladen weight 3155kg ( not 3150t as I stated earlier lol) Ours is the 2008 model year. Don’t know if the MIRO terminology was used back then?? So Pilote may mean the MIRO in their brochure. Any ideas? Thanks again
MIRO has been used for quite a few years before 2008.
In Motorhome terms unladen normally means MIRO, in the last couple of years Hymer, & Carthago have line in their spec that says unladen weight but it's not it's the MIRO, easily confirmed on the Certificate of Conformity.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Fletton

Free Member
Oct 19, 2014
1,531
2,501
Lincolnshire, UK
Funster No
33,882
MH
Knaus Sky I Plus 650LG
Exp
First MoHo - April 2015
Just out of curiosity I got my Cert of Conformity out...

C58C3822-875A-4422-A2DA-B03592F34EC6.jpeg


13. Mass of vehicle ready to drive 3220kg

13.2 Actual Mass of the Vehicle 3262kg

Is 13 the “unladen” weight?...
 
Aug 6, 2013
11,941
16,527
Kendal, Cumbria
Funster No
27,352
MH
Le-Voyageur RX958 Pl
Exp
since 1999
Unladen weight is determined by the manufacturer of the base vehicle. I assume that it would therefore exclude the added weight of the conversion that brings it up to the MIRO.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top