3.5 limits abroad

[Decker]

How do funsters deal with these limits which are very common in Europe?

If you have had your van ( particularly pvcs) up rated do you avoid these limits or take a chance as you appear to be 3.5tonnes.?

 

[irnbru]

Bridges you mean? We usually just go over them as we don't reckon we can be much overweight if any.

 

[Decker]

Bridges you mean? We usually just go over them as we don't reckon we can be much overweight if any.

Not just bridges but limits in towns and villages.

 

[irnbru]

No so much bridges as limits in towns and villages

We do go through but try sticking to the main roads. I won't turn into any little streets anymore. Learned my lesson.

 

[scotjimland]

Came access few in French villages, I was told they they are to stop goods vehicles from entering .. and don't 'normally' apply to campervans.. so just ignored them,

Have also saw coaches ignoring them.

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[Badknee]

When we were at 3850 in our other moho we ignored them but now @5250 we don’t. I’ve heard that they may or may not apply to “camping cars” but I’m not going to find out the hard way

 

[scotjimland]

When we were at 3850 in our other moho we ignored them but now @5250 we don’t. I’ve heard that they may or may not apply to “camping cars” but I’m not going to find out the hard way

first encountered one with the RV, which was 8.5t, going into Plougonvelin to use the aire.. one way street with a 3.5t limit sign. I stopped and wondered what to do, then I saw a coach ignoring it, so I followed it. When we reached the aire there was also a coach park full of coaches that must have came the same way..

 

[Just smiffy]

I just ignore it, everyone else who lives there does the same.....

 

[Lenny HB]

Often no choice, driving down the road and ahead a 3.5t sign, no other way so you carry on.

Last time I tried to be a good boy, there was a left turn by the 3.5t sign so I took it. 3 miles later down a country lane hardly any wider than the van I found somewhere to turn round. Back to the village & through the limited area, not falling for that again.

 

[ctc]

Rules? In France? Haven't you led a sheltered life.

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[rickwiggans]

Bear in mind that if it only has a weight on it, it applies to all vehicles, but if there is a symbol of a van or lorry on it, it only applies to goods vehicles. I ignored one once, in a one way system, and discovered that what it really meant was "just round the 90 degree bend you are approaching, there is a 3 metre high balcony overhanging the road" Oops. Thankfully, a kind gentleman in his garden, who'd obviously seen it all before, helped guide us under it.

 

[peterc10]

As I understand it from our resident French lady @yodeli if the sign has a truck in it then it only applies to commercial vehicles and not motorhomes.

 

[yodeli]

CORRECT!

 

[scotjimland]

same question 2011, same answers.. https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/3-5t-limit-in-french-towns-and-villages.42577/page-2

 

[mfw]

Worst case scenario you will get a fine individual choice - got a fine ( backhander ) eastern europe going over a bridge did not see sign though as it was at night but 2.5T limit

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[Madcaravanner]

Got my sat nag set to max loaded weight so will ignore the roads that are limited so will avoid automatically

 

[Reallyretired]

Many Aires are up roads with weight limits. I think all French motorhomes are 3.5t regardless of size.

 

[Petehvan]

My Pilote is 3650k plus there are many French vans bigger and heavier than mine. With the abundance of village and town bypasses that have appeared in France I don't think it is the problem it used to be.

 

[MichaelT]

We generally ignore for towns/villages and practice our Gallic shrug as we drive thru. Obviously for a bridge etc. we take note if possible but if the sign is only shown when you arrive at said bridge it is not always practical to turn round on a narrow road as @Lenny HB states above.

 

[PeteH]

Often I suspect, the weight limit is there not because of any potential structure but to limit larger vehicles generally?

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[Happy1]

And on motorways?
Over 3.5t speed limited to 90km per hour and have you seen the two tier cameras to catch lorries etc?
Only flashed once and no ticket so far!!

 

[walburga]

I always ignore the signs...but have an excuse ready if ever stopped...we're looking for an aire, or have just left one...looking for a supermarket / boulangerie / diesel etc. Wether any of these would work with the police has not yet been tested by us.

 

[Deleted member 57092]

Ours has a 3500 plate under the bonnet and a 3850 one in the cab
Will show them whichever one suits the circumstance ,hopefully

 

[Detnor]

And on motorways?
Over 3.5t speed limited to 90km per hour and have you seen the two tier cameras to catch lorries etc?
Only flashed once and no ticket so far!!

Would that be because a Motorhome is intended for the carriage of passengers and such vehicles between 3.5t and 12t have a higher speed limit on autoroutes. Code de la route Article R413-8-1.
The cameras will flash any large vehicle, the law is applied on the image.

 

[SuperMike]

10.5t and 10m long, never had any problems in France.

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[Deleted member 57092]

We had a left hand drive car for use in europe with an old number plate on it that is three numbers and three letters and ends in ‘CD’
It actually looks like two pairs of numbers and the ‘CD’ on the end
I went through customs in Igoumenitsa in Greece last year
The guy looked at it and says ‘is diplomatic ?’
I said ‘no British’
He said ‘but diplomatic yes ?’
I said ‘no’
He said ‘is not normal’
I said ‘no, not diplomatic but a special number’
He said
‘Ok just go’ and shut the boot without looking in the car !
We have been flashed twice in France but possibly due to the odd spacing (plates were made in seville) nothing ever happens.
Plate as of this week is now transferred to MH so we shall see if it continues its magic on a RHD vehicle , which I doubt .........

 

[tacr2man]

If its not an axle weight limit , I look for bus stop signs , if they have them I am OK to go worked OK so far !

 

[Lenny HB]

nd on motorways?
Over 3.5t speed limited to 90km per hour and have you seen the two tier cameras to catch lorries etc?

Only if signposted normal limits over 3.5t are 100 & 110.

Ours has a 3500 plate under the bonnet and a 3850 one in the cab
Will show them whichever one suits the circumstance ,hopefully

Often when stopped the first thing they ask for is your V5.

 

[Deleted member 57092]

Ah
V5 says 3850kg

 

[two]

I tend to respect their wishes but there have been times when it was more practical to ignore the signs and continue. Sometimes it's been tight, we've even been followed by onlookers to see if we would make it (no assistance provided) but we've not received a fine, yet...
SatNag has often taken us through them. I don't think it knows if we are allowed or not (there is no parameter to enter 'camping car', just a weight), errors are due to poor data.

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