Towing weight Cobra 7.55 and Verado 250 - Page 3

PeterM · 31 December 2008, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Stop worrying!!!

I towed my boat on a CLH trailer and it's perfectly legal - the Police boats are the same size on the same trailers!!!

My overall legth was about the same as an artic.........

Police never prosecute themselves though! Over a cetain lenght I 'think' you need extra signs ( long vehicle & warning triangles) - load of old bollocks if you ask me !

I'll stick with my theory if it look OK you generally get away with it & I'll have to pay the fine/ cost if I ever get stopped .

MikeL · 02 January 2009, 14:16

I might be a bit stupid admitting this on the forum but I am a diver with the Police - I will dig out the traffic books next week and get some definitive answers from you.

Regarding the speed rule though - yes vans have a lower national speed limit and yes we will stop you and deal with it if we spot it.

Regarding the boat towing - it is a little complicated and I will have to get back to you but we have a 8.5m rib with twin 250hp and legally we can tow it behind a disco. We tried this and rolled it so I think there might be a difference in what legally you can tow and what you should tow. The 85% guildline is a good stating point for higher speed work.

Mike

codprawn · 02 January 2009, 15:49

What sort of trailer was it on? I find a CLH with 3 axles is incredibly stable but weight distribution can make a hell of a difference.

Not only that but front tyres on the towing vehicle. I towed a car trailer to Oxford and it was a nightmare. The Disco was following all the ruts on the M4 and felt really twitchy. I thought it was down to the trailer. I did have one scary moment but got it back under control.

My front tyres were perfectly legal but I replaced them and the problem vanished - must have had a strange wear pattern!!!

SPUD18 · 05 January 2009, 20:25

regarding van speed limits, i have been driving vans for about 10 years now and never had a problem with speed limits. but last year my buisness partner who drives a transit pickup got flashed by a gatso and was fined for doing 55 in a 60 zone, next day he went through same camera in my transit panel van doing 55 and camera didnt flash. his pickup was loaded with steel at said time so as far as we can gather its done on weight because when we queeried the ticket we were told the transit pickup was classed as heavy goods now?????? wot a load of bull and they only tell you they changed the law when you get a ticket.

codprawn · 06 January 2009, 12:20

How does a gatso weigh you???

Nos4r2 · 06 January 2009, 13:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUD18

regarding van speed limits, i have been driving vans for about 10 years now and never had a problem with speed limits. but last year my buisness partner who drives a transit pickup got flashed by a gatso and was fined for doing 55 in a 60 zone, next day he went through same camera in my transit panel van doing 55 and camera didnt flash. his pickup was loaded with steel at said time so as far as we can gather its done on weight because when we queeried the ticket we were told the transit pickup was classed as heavy goods now?????? wot a load of bull and they only tell you they changed the law when you get a ticket.

1) they haven't changed the law.

2) They don't weigh your vehicle-they just check if it's over a certain axle weight to work out if it's an HGV or not. They use all sorts of tactics-sometimes pointing the detector up high so it doesn't detect cars, sometimes using an induction loop in the road.

Nos4r2 · 06 January 2009, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

Regarding the boat towing - it is a little complicated and I will have to get back to you but we have a 8.5m rib with twin 250hp and legally we can tow it behind a disco. We tried this and rolled it so I think there might be a difference in what legally you can tow and what you should tow. The 85% guildline is a good stating point for higher speed work.

Mike

If it was a single vehicle accident wth no extenuating circumstances (blowout, debris etc) then it's far more likely your driver didn't know what he was doing when towing.

Hightower · 06 January 2009, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

How does a gatso weigh you???

It doesn't weigh you, it's number plate recognition technology. It cross referances your vehical details with the speed limit and nobbles you accordingly

SPUD18 · 06 January 2009, 19:03

another question for you all regarding vans, my transit panel van has same carrying capacity as our pickup. so why didnt my van set off gatso and the pickup did doing the same speed ?

PeterM · 06 January 2009, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUD18

another question for you all regarding vans, my transit panel van has same carrying capacity as our pickup. so why didnt my van set off gatso and the pickup did doing the same speed ?

Aren't vans rated on something other than carrying capacity - like axle weight etc or something or gross vehcile weight ? IS that why - a loaded transit is heavier than a loaded pickup ?