Maximum Towing Width of a Rib

[Nauti Buoy]

Does any one know the maximum towing width, I have a Bombard 7.3m which has a total width of 9'. I have been told that this might be illegal to tow inflated. It is on a suitable twin axle road trailer built for the job. I have tried calling Thames Valley Police to ask them and they "Don't Know" so can anyone else shed any light on this.

Thank you

[jwalker]

Nauti, do a search, it has been discussed at length before. Remember, your boat is the load not the trailer.

This is one of them.http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....=rear+overhang

[roohairy]

If you want to talk to someone about it phone your local DVLA office, I did this regarding lorries and tachos and they were very helpful - even gave me a name and contact number in case of problems! (police wondering why I'm not on a tacho!)
I seem to remember reading somewhere that the boat can extend 30cm either side of the trailer, and the trailer can be up to 2.3m wide if it has 4 wheels. This makes the trailer 7.5 feet wide and the whole load 9.5 feet, don't lorries become a wide load after 9'6"?

[Phil Chitty]

The Solent Rib website lists their 6m Rib as being 8 ft 2 ins wide, this being the widest load that can be towed by a private user on a British highway.

I guess they must have got their info from a reliable source or they wouldn't be able to say that.

[roohairy]

I think that's only on a 2 wheel trailer though....

Trailer law is a nightmare!!!

[Jono]

..oh, you'd be surprised at what some people put in their sales blurb as though it was "The Law"...

Quote from thread, many moons ago...

"Thanks to all. I've had a conversation with a very nice lady at the "Vehicle Standard Agency" (former DOT) who has put me in the picture. Trailer up to 2.3 wide with permissible overhang of 305 on either side, but NOT greater overall than 2.9
Length of trailer as stated is 7.O excluding drawbar with permissible overhang in line with regulation 82 of the Road Vehicle(Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 as ammended (C&U)......Super!, Now where's my cheque book....Jono"

[Tim M]

The 30cm each side rule is correct. Boat trailers have slightly different laws applied to them than goods trailers. (I think). Our rowing club trailer is VERY long, and with a minibus on the front is in the eyes of the goods trailer laws illegal. However, I read in regatta magazine recently that you can get away with with as long as the bits that slick out are clearly isable with a red cloth etc. If I can find the magazine I will post the specific details here.

[roohairy]

I think the long trailers are taking advantage of the 'indivisable loads' exemption on length, not that they're specifically treated differently.

[roohairy]

The overiding law governing the size of my trailer is the width between my gateposts! And I have thought about moving them

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by timofengland

The 30cm each side rule is correct.

No, it's not. Don't state anything as fact unless do know it to be true, rather than believing it to be true.

The side overhang maximum is 305mm, which may not seem much, but there is a wee anomaly in the rules: If one takes the maximum width of a trailer and then add on the 610mm, the maximum width for a load is then exceeded.

[Tim M]

Well I understood it was true! Can you enlighten me on this?

[Tim M]

Should you have read the rest of that post - I see, it's 305mm. I stand corrected.

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by roohairy

The overiding law governing the size of my trailer is the width between my gateposts! And I have thought about moving them

[Phil Chitty]

I thought the original question was about the maximum towable width, not about the overhang.

If it is all about the overhang does this mean that I can have a 12 ft wide trailer so long as my load doesn't overhang by more that 305mm?

[John Kennett]

From a previous post (again!):

Trailer up to 2.3 wide with permissible overhang of 305 on either side, but NOT greater overall than 2.9

Which I take it means that if your overhang is 305mm on one side it may only be 295mm on the other. I wonder who decided these figures and why!

John

[Nauti Buoy]

Thank you to everyone for the info I have a good idea what I am aiming for now, the rib comes on @ 2.7m so I am inside the 2.9 overall width also the over hang is about 290mm so again iside of the overhang maximum.

[CJL]

Anybody seen this website?

http://www.ntta.co.uk/

Its very useful.

Chris

[John Kennett]

There was quite a length discussion a while ago that might be worth re reading: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3342

Tony M who occasionally posts here is an NTTA council member, as well as a trailer manufacturer and a sailer!

John

[Andy Gee]

Only thing that I do know is that if its over 11'6'' you need to notify the Police of movement and intended route, 2 days in advance and also carry a second man
As for Tachos if its private use you dont need one regardless, however you should still comply with the Domestic Drivers Hours. Another bit of useles info is that you can buy an Artic tractor unit, remove the trailer coupling (5th Wheel), tax it as a PLG and use it as a car so long as its under 7.5t gross
Andy G

[roohairy]

Originally Posted by Andy Gee

As for Tachos if its private use you dont need one regardless, however you should still comply with the Domestic Drivers Hours. Andy G

Andy I've looked into this and the drivers hours go out the window too if it's for private use. Got this from someone high up in local DVLA or whatever they're called now office, he also gave me his name and number in case of 'problems' and told me to use it if I needed to!
If anyone needs to exceed the drivers hours it would be worth talking to the agency about it.