Transporting a car?

[Benruddle]

So if you had a large lorry based motor home with a tail lift, could you transport a small 800kg car on it?

I know the weights good in a static situation (car is sub 1000kg) but what about while driving?

 

[tonyidle]

The tail lift will be sitting on hydraulics. A couple of braces for travelling would be OK I'd have thought.

 

[NicM]

You mean driving with a tail lift down? Would not think that would be legal, would it not put to much weight on the rear axle as well?

 

[bobandjanie]

I would say totally illegal, it's not designed to be used like that, plus every junction you would probably take out everything when you turned leaving a trail of disruption behind you.

It's like pulling your curtains back on the empty trailer in windy conditions, if the trailer collapses it's not covered by insurance, the curtain creates the strength and designed to be used as such, shut the curtain and get blown over fully covered by insurance.

 

[busbuddy]

I'm sure someone on this forum posted a pic of one they had seen abroad

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[pappajohn]

I know the weights good in a static situation (car is sub 1000kg) but what about while driving?

1 ton on the tail lift will, due to lever/moment arm effect over maybe 8ft, equate to maybe 1.75 ton on the axle.

 

[Badknee]

Not to build regs. They are designed to lift x number of kgs statically not have it bounce around on it.
Not to lighting regs, you would need to mount a set of lights and a number plate as the big cycle rack people do.

 

[Bobby-gg]

And, can you imagine the damage that it cause if someone ran into the back of you!

 

[TheBig1]

highly illegal for a few reasons. For one, the extended overhang would be far too excessive. Draw a line between the centre of the rear axle, on the floor and the underside of the rear of the vehicle. Any rearward protrusion should not fall past that line with the vehicle being driven on the road. Then consider the load on the rear axle being increased by the fulcrum effect. Then consider that a tail lift is only rated for a static lift and needs locking in place when closed to take the load off the mechanism before driving

Transporting a car on a flat tail lift would be downright dangerous

 

[mitzimad]

highly illegal for a few reasons. For one, the extended overhang would be far too excessive. Draw a line between the centre of the rear axle, on the floor and the underside of the rear of the vehicle. Any rearward protrusion should not fall past that line with the vehicle being driven on the road. Then consider the load on the rear axle being increased by the fulcrum effect. Then consider that a tail lift is only rated for a static lift and needs locking in place when closed to take the load off the mechanism before driving

Transporting a car on a flat tail lift would be downright dangerous

Cant see how thats true when every scaffold lorry has over hanging loads to name just one

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[flatpackchicken]

Not only extremely dangerous and overweighting the rear axle but having a car poking out about 3.5m from the rear of any fixed object ie: rear of body, would require not only rear marker lights but also rear marker boards and any load projecting more than 3m from rear of truck would also require an attendant and 2 days clear notice to police of route from start to finish for an abnormal load permit. C&U Regulations (Construction and Use) and May also require an abnormal load escort by van or police escort

 

[mitzimad]

Cant see how thats true when every scaffold lorry has over hanging loads to name just one

Makes my bike rack illegal

 

[tonyidle]

A lot would depend on the wheel base of the truck. There is a limit to overhang based on a %age of the wheelbase. Assuming that your 'extension' would be within that limit then you need to calculate total rear axle load and arrange detachable bracing for the tail lift. Many trucks carry a fork lift tucked in to the rear that I imagine will be the same weight as a small car.

 

[TheBig1]

Makes my bike rack illegal

some are and an easy target for a bored traffic officer

 

[tonyidle]

having a car poking out about 3.5m from the rear of any fixed object ie

I'd imagine the car would be carried transversely ie. under 2M extension.

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[gus-lopez]

Many trucks carry a fork lift tucked in to the rear that I imagine will be the same weight as a small car.

Yes but they are purpose built.+ have to add a axle

I'd imagine the car would be carried transversely ie. under 2M extension.

I would think that the reinforcing needed to support a tail lift + everthing else to make it legal would render it unable to be usable.

 

[flatpackchicken]

for pI'd imagine the car would be carried transversely ie. under o police 2M extension.remit

The car may be carried Sideways as you described, but would then be overwidth by at least 2’ either side and again would require side markers and side lights and escort again with 2 days notification to police on or abnormal load permit as will be in excess of max 2.9m width limit

 

[Badknee]

Cant see how thats true when every scaffold lorry has over hanging loads to name just one

If they overhang more than a metre there illegal.

 

[pappajohn]

Any rearward protrusion should not fall past that line

If the load extends more than one meter behind the rear of the vehicle it must be fitted with some form of end warning and more than 2 meters then diagonal striped warning boards at each rear corner.
If rear road lighting isn't visible from something like 45° to either side and directly behind it needs auxiliary lights or a light board.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overhanging-loads-on-vehicles/overhanging-loads

 

[mitzimad]

If the load extends more than one meter behind the rear of the vehicle it must be fitted with some form of end warning and more than 2 meters then diagonal striped warning boards at each rear corner.
If rear road lighting isn't visible from something like 45° to either side and directly behind it needs auxiliary lights or a light board.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overhanging-loads-on-vehicles/overhanging-loads

Thank you papa I thought big1 was incorrect

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[Jamesh]

Is there a 2m long car that would fix transversely in a garage? Smart coupe?

 

[TheBig1]

Thank you papa I thought big1 was incorrect

when I had 4x4s, I wanted to put a bike rack on the back tyre on the back door. I was advised then that it would be an issue

 

[tonyidle]

The car may be carried Sideways as you described, but would then be overwidth by at least 2’ either side and again would require side markers and side lights and escort again with 2 days notification to police on or abnormal load permit as will be in excess of max 2.9m width limit

Smart car is under 2.7M long and well under 2M wide - and may be the only car that would fit.

 

[Coolcats]

Probably best to just get a trailer this is an interesting link

General Haulage - Delivering On Time, Every Time

General Haulage services provided by Walker Tuxford, central to Nottingham, Sheffield, Lincoln and Doncaster. No job is too big or small.

www.walker-tuxford.co.uk

 

[Benruddle]

that's all pretty much as I thought. Would be on a 7.5 ton so would use up all load carri g any way. The car will be a fiat panda type.
I think we will just drive it. The cost of a trailer will propel a panda a long way and move slowly mostly

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[Benruddle]

Cheers for getting repmies

 

[pelican]

Makes my bike rack illegal

Is it made from scaffold tubes