Motorhome speed limits in the UK

[StephandJohn]

Just been looking at speed limits for motorhomes in the UK.

Just realised that In the UK if you are over 3.05t you have to drive at the lower speeds on single carriageways and dual carriageways like caravans.

In Europe, though, the weight is higher i.e. 3.5t.

We are 3.4t so will have watch it in future!

 

[StephandJohn]

Ah, sorry everyone! It is unladen weight. We are well below 3.05t

 

[Tombola]

Cant see many Bobbys patroling the motorways looking for the difference and guessing the weghts, but here they are

 

[Lenny HB]

You are confusing Unladen & Gross weights.
In the UK the speed limit is set by unladen weight, car limits up to 3050 kg unladen weight. Only problem is no manufacturers quote unladen weights except Carthago.
In Europe speed limit is set by Gross/MAM up to 3500 kg car limits apply in a lot of countries but some have different limits for Motorhomes and these will be different if over or under 3500kg.

 

[The Wino]

You are confusing Unladen & Gross weights.
In the UK the speed limit is set by unladen weight, car limits up to 3050 kg unladen weight. Only problem is no manufacturers quote unladen weights except Carthago.
In Europe speed limit is set by Gross/MAM up to 3500 kg car limits apply in a lot of countries but some have different limits for Motorhomes and these will be different if over or under 3500kg.

The European one makes a lot more sense as its related to the vehicle excise duty bands and the information readily available.

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[StephandJohn]

You are right. The European one does make more sense. I see this topic has been discussed before https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/unladen-weight.95138/

 

[The Wino]

You are right. The European one does make more sense. I see this topic has been discussed before https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/unladen-weight.95138/

Nearly as popular as toilet threads!

 

[StephandJohn]

Ah yes, the toilet threads, keeping a motorhomer, bored and possibly on the beer and at a loose end, vigilantly waiting by the laptop for a bit of fun.

Back to weights and speed limits, am I right in thinking that in order to prove you were speeding in the UK the bobby would have to take you to a weighbridge and remove anything that wasn't screwed down to prove you were over 3050 kg unladen?

 

[AndyPK]

No.......you have to prove that you are not over the weight limit.......!

I got a notice of intention to prosecute a few weeks ago for doing 68mph on a dual carriageway which I contested, and which was subsequently cancelled.

 

[The Wino]

Ah yes, the toilet threads, keeping a motorhomer, bored and possibly on the beer and at a loose end, vigilantly waiting by the laptop for a bit of fun.

Back to weights and speed limits, am I right in thinking that in order to prove you were speeding in the UK the bobby would have to take you to a weighbridge and remove anything that wasn't screwed down to prove you were over 3050 kg unladen?

I suspect that if they think you are over the first thing will be to weigh you. If you're over 3500 depending on what you're plated at theres a few points for starters!

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[AndyPK]

The problem is that the speed cameras use a database from the DVLA which is not necessarily correct in it’s detail wrt to Motorhomes.....

 

[duane0001]

Auto trail give MRO weights, the one I pick up in Feb next year is 2930kg

 

[StephandJohn]

Yes but there's two different offences based on two different weights. One is exceeding the maximum permitted weight, the other is speeding based on unladen weight as stated in gov.uk website. Surely, in law they would have to prove you were over the unladen weight for speeding related offences? I would guess our van being 3.4t maximum weight would be around 3t unladen, possibly more with an awning. So, it's right on the cusp of the threshold.

 

[Cavs]

And, just for complexity, motorhomes over 3.05 tonnes unladen weight (= heavy motor car in the vehicle classification) are not allowed in the offside lane of a motorway with more than two lanes.

So: on a three lane dual carriageway I am restricted to 60 mph but I can travel in lane 3, whereas on a three lane motorway I can do 70 mph but cannot travel in lane 3. Logical?

 

[StephandJohn]

No.......you have to prove that you are not over the weight limit.......!

I got a notice of intention to prosecute a few weeks ago for doing 68mph on a dual carriageway which I contested, and which was subsequently cancelled.

On what basis did you contest it? (and well done)

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[Nasher]

Cant see many Bobbys patroling the motorways looking for the difference and guessing the weghts, but here they are


View attachment 443740

Blimey, for all these years I've thought they were the minimum speeds - I'd better slow down a bit

 

[AndyPK]

On what basis did you contest it? (and well done)

Have a look at the ‘Speed Limits’ thread started on 13th October - my posts start at post #37. I was served with a NOIP for travelling too fast for the tax band of vehicle I was driving, which didn’t take into account that I was driving a Motorhome and not a commercial vehicle......

 

[Lenny HB]

Auto trail give MRO weights, the one I pick up in Feb next year is 2930kg

MIRO is not the unladen weight the unladen weight will be around 150kg less than the MIRO

And, just for complexity, motorhomes over 3.05 tonnes unladen weight (= heavy motor car in the vehicle classification) are not allowed in the offside lane of a motorway with more than two lanes.

So: on a three lane dual carriageway I am restricted to 60 mph but I can travel in lane 3, whereas on a three lane motorway I can do 70 mph but cannot travel in lane 3. Logical?

Not correct you can use all 3 lanes upto 7500 kg.

 

[gus-lopez]

Auto trail give MRO weights,

Unfortunately that isn't Unladen weight.
U/L is does not include anything that wasn't factory fitted & also includes items not needed to be legal.
Even fuel is not included in U/L.

ght would be around 3t unladen, possibly more with an awning.

It wouldn't count unless factory fitted. Even then it might well be exempt as not required as a legal necessity for the vehicle to be on the road.

 

[duane0001]

MIRO is not the unladen weight the unladen weight will be around 150kg less than the MIRO

Not correct you can use all 3 lanes upto 7500 kg.

I never said it was! But if your MRO is lower than the 3.05t then you are good to go, if its just over than the 75kg for driver and 90% fluids will need working out, But as I stay slightly below the 50MPH on a roads and rarely exceed 60MPH, who wants to speed about in a MH anyway, slow and steady is much more relaxing.

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[Lenny HB]

I never said it was! But if your MRO is lower than the 3.05t then you are good to go, if its just over than the 75kg for driver and 90% fluids will need working out, But as I stay slightly below the 50MPH on a roads and rarely exceed 60MPH anyway, who wants to speed about in a MH anyway, slow and steady is much more relaxing.

I was just pointing it out for the uninformed.

 

[Cavs]

Not correct you can use all 3 lanes upto 7500 kg.

Great respect for you Lenny HB but on this one I believe you're wrong. From The Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982:

Restriction on use of right hand or off side lane

12.—(1) This Regulation applies to—
(a) a motor car with a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes,
(b) a heavy motor car, except a heavy motor car constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects and not adapted or used for any other purpose the overall length of which does not exceed 12 metres, and
(c) a motor vehicle drawing a trailer.

A motorhome is clearly adapted for some purpose other than the carriage of passengers, so if it's over the 3.05 t unladen part (b) applies.

Having said that, I suspect the chances of being caught are next to nil.

 

[duane0001]

Unfortunately that isn't Unladen weight.
U/L is does not include anything that wasn't factory fitted & also includes items not needed to be legal.
Even fuel is not included in U/L.

Already covered in a previous post.

I have my own Transport consultancy and international qualifications, I sorta know what I am talking about,
I don't tend to correct people on the internet though as I am not being paid for it, also laws change and as I have been on hold because of personal reasons I would need to do some serious reading and research to be on top of my game again

 

[Pugsy]

After a full conversion,with underslung tanks and with about 30l in the fresh water and a full 25l gas tank,mine weighed in at 2804kg on its first mot after passing dvla v5 change.i did have tools in the garage aswell ,i would have taken them all out if i had known it would be weighed. Its a 2011 boxer L3H2.

Cheers Cris.

 

[nicholsong]

Unfortunately that isn't Unladen weight.
U/L is does not include anything that wasn't factory fitted & also includes items not needed to be legal.
Even fuel is not included in U/L.


It wouldn't count unless factory fitted. Even then it might well be exempt as not required as a legal necessity for the vehicle to be on the road.

Gus

Where does the 'factory fitted' bit come from? And what is a factory? If a accessory is bolted on by the manufacturer of that accessory, e.g. Goldschmit jacks, are they 'factory fitted?

If not and they need to be excluded from U/W they process of ascertaining that weight would be long and complex.

I had thought that anything bolted to and not portably removable was include in the U/W, but I am open to be persuaded otherwise.

Geoff

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[Pausim]

Only problem is no manufacturers quote unladen weights except Carthago.

Then they quote 2, one below and one above 3,050kg so no one really knows which applies.

 

[34127]

The problem is that the speed cameras use a database from the DVLA which is not necessarily correct in it’s detail wrt to Motorhomes.....

And as been mentioned before, if you convert a van to motor caravan the chances are the DVLA will describe it on the V5 as 'Van with Windows'. A commercial 'Van with Windows' has one set of speed limits but a converted 'Van with Windows' has a different set of speed limits and the databases will not know which limit applies. The DVLA, in their defence, have claimed they have started using the term 'Van with Windows' for a converted van as the authorities could not tell from outside appearance what the vehicle was being used for but by doing this they have created a lot more confusion.

 

[Lenny HB]

Then they quote 2, one below and one above 3,050kg so no one really knows which applies.

I tink you will find they quote Unladen & MIRO.

 

[Lenny HB]

Great respect for you Lenny HB but on this one I believe you're wrong. From The Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982:

Restriction on use of right hand or off side lane

12.—(1) This Regulation applies to—
(a) a motor car with a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes,
(b) a heavy motor car, except a heavy motor car constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects and not adapted or used for any other purpose the overall length of which does not exceed 12 metres, and
(c) a motor vehicle drawing a trailer.

A motorhome is clearly adapted for some purpose other than the carriage of passengers, so if it's over the 3.05 t unladen part (b) applies.

Having said that, I suspect the chances of being caught are next to nil.

Sorry I think you are wrong a Motorhome for this purpose is the same classification as a car i.e. type M1.

And from the police website.

 

[Solwaybuggier]

I tink you will find they quote Unladen & MIRO.

Yes - for example the current brochure figures (which, of course, may not be accurate!) for a Carthago C Tourer T150 on ALKO chassis, 3500 kg GVW are
Unladen weight in standard condition (UVW) 2830 kg
Weight in running order (MIRO) 3015 kg.

(Upgrading to the Fiat f40 heavy chassis, giving a GVW up to 4250kg, adds 40 kg weight, so still only 2870 kg.)

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