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[andrewk]

Originally Posted by jace

so in europe it could be hooked upto a passat say and towed legally? yet over here great hulking 3.0td 4x4 cant tow it that is mad!

I've seen a Passat towing a wide-bodied Hobby - was in Scotland last year when we were on holiday. It was registered in Germany, I think - so is legal here. Dafter and dafter ......

Cheers
Andrew

[andrewk]

Originally Posted by theduck

YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD Jace. On the continent you are right you can tow a wide van like this with a normal saloon car.

The rules that apply are those of the country in which the towcar is registered. This means that a Passat registered in Germany can legally tow a wide-bodied Hobby in Germany and also in the UK. I cannot tow the same Hobby legally in either UK or Germany with a LWB Nissan Patrol which is getting on for twice the weight of the Passat.

Dafter and dafter and dafter ........

Cheers
Andrew

it would help to exsplain why hobbys etc are quite bit cheaper than there english counterparts unless you go for single wheeler as there narrower i believe.

[andrewk]

Originally Posted by jace

it would help to exsplain why hobbys etc are quite bit cheaper than there english counterparts unless you go for single wheeler as there narrower i believe.

German vans are not necessarily a lot cheaper than their British counterparts. It depends on the van, where you buy it and whether it is UK spec or not. From my experience, though, they are definitely better built.

I bought a Burstner S-Class S500TS new in 2006 from MG Caravans in Todmorden which has a UK layout and is to a UK spec for electrics, gas, water. It has all the bells and whistles that you'd expect a decent British van to have. Fridge, proper cooker (with an oven), shower that works, radio/CD built in, blown warm air heating and so on. It was also a similar kind of price too - £14250 new in Feb 2006. Burstner have now stopped making them.

They do, though, make a Burstner Belcanto 500TS which is a continental layout van, not to UK spec . I don't know whether any of the UK caravan dealers are going to stock it (but I do know one that definitely isn't). I'm given to understand that in the UK, it'll be a couple of thousand cheaper - mainly due to differences in layout and spec.

Cheers
Andrew

new to me be waste money 3kids and dogs itd have me in tears in minutes i bet! older 2nd hand if i get few yrs outve it an things get broken not so much heartache!

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Originally Posted by theduck

YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD Jace. On the continent you are right you can tow a wide van like this with a normal saloon car. What we have is British beaurocacy. Brussels tell us what to do and then do what they like???? :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: We only use our caravan in europe because it far cheaper

So you keep it across channel? cos surely otherwise towing it in uk would still be illegal. Have you notified your motor insurer of the van's spec?



I did see a petition recently on pm.gov requesting scrapping of wide body ruling to bring it inline with mainland.

Now if its based on country of registration then you could still be illegal over seas.

Its also quite ironic that some of these vans are shorter than uk body max of 7m/23ft but a few inches either side rules them out. Sorry guys not trying to rain on your parades, I'd love one too. But the thought of invalidating the T2's insurance and the liabilities in an accident or claim kind of put me off.

Btw the legal route would either be something like a merc sprinter 416 which defn has a gvw of around 4.6 tonnes or a yank 4x4 like a 3/4 ton or 2500 series pickup or suburban, or ford excursion.

Also the last time I checked one of these crew cab tiwn wheel tipper transits grossed out at 3500 kg. not over so would not be acceptable.

i shyed away towing mine with the crewcab didnt want the gypsy stigma when pulling up on holiday sites, i was just frightend theyd turn me away. wonder if the petition will do any good i signed it as have vested interest lol
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/trailer-width/

[theduck]

So I guess that with all the adverse comments I won't be welcome at the national rally then :?:

ha ha were all jealous of that stunnin combo u got there an when is anyone 100% legal?