3.5 limits abroad (1 Viewer)

Feb 4, 2016
232
123
uk
Funster No
41,572
MH
A class
Exp
10 years
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

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 27, 2013
13,503
31,101
Glasgow
Funster No
26,684
MH
Benimar 264
Exp
11 yrs
Bridges you mean? We usually just go over them as we don't reckon we can be much overweight if any.
 
OP
OP
Decker
Feb 4, 2016
232
123
uk
Funster No
41,572
MH
A class
Exp
10 years
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.

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irnbru

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 27, 2013
13,503
31,101
Glasgow
Funster No
26,684
MH
Benimar 264
Exp
11 yrs
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

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 25, 2007
2,080
8,988
Suffolk Coastal District, UK
Funster No
15
MH
Timberland
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.
 
Last edited:

Badknee

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 25, 2014
7,395
408,962
notloB
Funster No
33,046
MH
Vantage Neo
Exp
Living the dream.
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 :D2

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scotjimland

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 25, 2007
2,080
8,988
Suffolk Coastal District, UK
Funster No
15
MH
Timberland
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 :D2

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..
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,685
147,595
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
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.

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Apr 2, 2014
285
296
Lancashire
Funster No
30,795
MH
A Class
Exp
Since 2003
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.
 

mfw

Banned
Sep 16, 2017
1,224
508
Worthing
Funster No
50,537
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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Jan 27, 2014
167
368
Oakham, Rutland
Funster No
29,882
MH
C Class
Exp
1988
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.

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Nov 12, 2015
2,918
5,073
Colchester
Funster No
40,159
MH
Dethleffs Esprit I7150 EB
Exp
Since 2016
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

Free Member
Nov 22, 2007
6,853
9,029
East Riding of Yorkshire
Funster No
900
MH
Rapido, 999M.
Exp
18+yrs plus 25+Towing
Often I suspect, the weight limit is there not because of any potential structure but to limit larger vehicles generally?
 

Happy1

Free Member
Jan 30, 2017
516
220
Wales
Funster No
47,121
MH
Rapido A class
Exp
12 years
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!!

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Aug 20, 2007
570
625
Leyland
Funster No
128
MH
Frankia I7300 BD
Exp
since 1997 (many years tugger before then)
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.
 
D

Deleted member 57092

Deleted User
Ours has a 3500 plate under the bonnet and a 3850 one in the cab
Will show them whichever one suits the circumstance ,hopefully
 
May 12, 2011
1,180
1,854
West Midlands
Funster No
16,388
MH
Hymer
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.

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SuperMike

Free Member
Apr 28, 2010
2,477
7,593
St Albans
Funster No
11,285
MH
Winnebago Sightseer
Exp
11yrs, but many years a tugger.
10.5t and 10m long, never had any problems in France. :gum:
 
D

Deleted member 57092

Deleted User
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 .........
 
Oct 2, 2008
4,434
7,886
Salopia
Funster No
4,247
MH
Duro 6x6 Overlander
Exp
since 1968
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 !

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Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,685
147,595
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
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.
 

two

Aug 4, 2011
4,901
4,560
West Midlands
Funster No
17,624
MH
A-Class Fiat
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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