Speed limits in Euroland towing a 750kg trailer (1 Viewer)

WESTY66

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Hi all, been looking up speed limits in Europe and I’m a bit confused, I know the limits for my Moho, on its own without a trailer, I’ve even looked on some sites with limits set by under/over 3.5t......Now what I would like to know is that the GTW (cos I would be up around 4.1t) or the Moho (tow vehicle) weight on its own without accounting for the trailer weight? ?‍♂️?‍♂️?‍♂️
 

Kingham

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Hi all, been looking up speed limits in Europe and I’m a bit confused, I know the limits for my Moho, on its own without a trailer, I’ve even looked on some sites with limits set by under/over 3.5t......Now what I would like to know is that the GTW (cos I would be up around 4.1t) or the Moho (tow vehicle) weight on its own without accounting for the trailer weight? ?‍♂️?‍♂️?‍♂️
The signed weight limits are gross weight of the vehicle, not train weight..... If that’s what you’re asking.

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Flamenca

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In France I believe it is the GTW that is used to determine the speed limit for your vehicle. When I am towing a trailer it takes my train weight to around 4T and consequently I should stay within the limit for vehicles over 3.5T
 
Aug 18, 2014
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In France I believe it is the GTW that is used to determine the speed limit for your vehicle. When I am towing a trailer it takes my train weight to around 4T and consequently I should stay within the limit for vehicles over 3.5T
If that was the case then it would apply to nearly everything towing a double axle caravan yet they all sit on the toll roads at 130+kph, the limit. even on other roads all the signage only reduces the towing limit to 110kph when raining or on specified downhill sections-
 

Flamenca

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If that was the case then it would apply to nearly everything towing a double axle caravan yet they all sit on the toll roads at 130+kph, the limit. even on other roads all the signage only reduces the towing limit to 110kph when raining or on specified downhill sections-


Caravan Guard quotes speed limits in France when towing as follows:

Section III) If a motorhome has a trailer, then the speed limit will be based on the gross train mass, the same as a vehicle towing a caravan.
For example:
Ford Focus Style 5 door 1.8 Duratec
Gross Vehicle Weight: 1895kg
Towing Limit: 1160kg
Gross Train Mass: 2995kg (i.e. under 3.5 tonne see Section I)
Volvo X590 D5 manual
Gross Vehicle Weight: 2740kg
Towing Limit: 2250kg
Gross Train Mass: 4990kg (i.e. over 3.5 tonne see Section IV)

Section IV) Any vehicle which has a gross train mass over 3.5 tonne, towing a trailer or caravan; unless otherwise signposted and on dry roads the speed limit in kilometres per hour is: –
  • On autoroutes (motorway) 90kph (55mph);
  • On dual carriageways 90kph (55mph);
  • Single carriageway 80kph (50mph);
  • In towns 50kph (31mph). The town name starts the limit; a horizontal bar through the town name is the derestriction sign.

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Last edited:
Aug 18, 2014
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They really need to crack down on it then as the amount towing at 130 is ridiculous & all would be in excess of 3,5t with a double axle van.
 
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WESTY66

WESTY66

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I think it would be helpful if posters stated what country they are referring to when quoting limits. In my experience each country has their own rules.
Netherlands, Germany, Austria?
 
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WESTY66

WESTY66

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Caravan Guard quotes speed limits when towing as follows:

Section III) If a motorhome has a trailer, then the speed limit will be based on the gross train mass, the same as a vehicle towing a caravan.
For example:
Ford Focus Style 5 door 1.8 Duratec
Gross Vehicle Weight: 1895kg
Towing Limit: 1160kg
Gross Train Mass: 2995kg (i.e. under 3.5 tonne see Section I)
Volvo X590 D5 manual
Gross Vehicle Weight: 2740kg
Towing Limit: 2250kg
Gross Train Mass: 4990kg (i.e. over 3.5 tonne see Section IV)

Section IV) Any vehicle which has a gross train mass over 3.5 tonne, towing a trailer or caravan; unless otherwise signposted and on dry roads the speed limit in kilometres per hour is: –
  • On autoroutes (motorway) 90kph (55mph);
  • On dual carriageways 90kph (55mph);
  • Single carriageway 80kph (50mph);
  • In towns 50kph (31mph). The town name starts the limit; a horizontal bar through the town name is the derestriction sign.
That’s what was confusing me, I didn’t know for sure whether the +/- 3.5T was the GTW or just the GVW of the tow vehicle. But thanks for that info?
 

Kingham

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Caravan Guard quotes speed limits in France when towing as follows:

Section III) If a motorhome has a trailer, then the speed limit will be based on the gross train mass, the same as a vehicle towing a caravan.
For example:
Ford Focus Style 5 door 1.8 Duratec
Gross Vehicle Weight: 1895kg
Towing Limit: 1160kg
Gross Train Mass: 2995kg (i.e. under 3.5 tonne see Section I)
Volvo X590 D5 manual
Gross Vehicle Weight: 2740kg
Towing Limit: 2250kg
Gross Train Mass: 4990kg (i.e. over 3.5 tonne see Section IV)

Section IV) Any vehicle which has a gross train mass over 3.5 tonne, towing a trailer or caravan; unless otherwise signposted and on dry roads the speed limit in kilometres per hour is: –
  • On autoroutes (motorway) 90kph (55mph);
  • On dual carriageways 90kph (55mph);
  • Single carriageway 80kph (50mph);
  • In towns 50kph (31mph). The town name starts the limit; a horizontal bar through the town name is the derestriction sign.
Does that mean that France doesn’t have an automatic reduction in speed as soon as you tow a trailer, such as in the UK ?

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Flamenca

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Does that mean that France doesn’t have an automatic reduction in speed as soon as you tow a trailer, such as in the UK ?

No there is no automatic reduction of speed limit in France for vehicles towing a trailer. The gross train weight applies.
 
Jun 10, 2010
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Well I didnt believe that to be the case but having checked - yes it is. I wonder how many people towing cars on trailers know about the 90km/h motorway limit.

Voici le texte de l’article R413-8 qui régit cette vitesse :

La vitesse des véhicules dont le poids total autorisé en charge est supérieur à 3,5 tonnes ou des ensembles de véhicules dont le poids total roulant autorisé est supérieur à 3,5 tonnes, à l’exception des véhicules de transport en commun, est limitée à :

– 90 km/h sur les autoroutes ;

– 80 km/h sur les routes à caractère prioritaire et signalées comme telles. Toutefois, cette vitesse maximale est relevée à 90 km/h pour les véhicules dont le poids total est inférieur ou égal à 12 tonnes sur les routes à deux chaussées séparées par un terre-plein central ;

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Jun 10, 2010
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A further thought is how do the French consider an eze tow?

1, if its a trailer then if the combo is over 3500kgs its 56mph on a motorway
2, If its an extension to the MH (GTW >3500kgs)then its 68mph
 
Aug 18, 2014
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Until I came across the French towing at 130kph I thought that the 50 mph limit for towing , was standard across the eu.When did the UK allow it to be increased from 50?
It sould be quite simple. Towing = 80kph(50 mph = that's it-Personally I have always advocated that anything with a roof rack skis, back bike racks, tow bar racks, etc; etc; should all be subject to the same limit.
 
Apr 22, 2018
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But it’s not 50mph in the uk. It’s 60mph on motorways

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Augusta08

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I came thru Belgium last month with the Porsche on the trailer @ 110kph and police came past me without problems
IMG_20190626_133610.jpg
 

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