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| Hi all from a newbie; my first hobby | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 16 2009, 10:34 PM (140 Views) | |
| tonycrf | Aug 16 2009, 10:34 PM Post #1 |
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Newbie
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just saying hello, got our first hobby yesterday its our third van in three months  just starteed caravanning and hope we have now found the van that meets our needs......its a de luxe 560 kmfe and we are going to be towing it with an audi a6 2.7 v6 tdi looking fwd to posting on here. happy hobbying to all Tony |
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| Hobbynut | Aug 16 2009, 10:54 PM Post #2 |
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Welcome to the site..The only thing I will mention before anybody else does it that it is illegal in the UK to pull the 560 with the vehicle you have described..There are many people pulling Hobby's illegally but as I always say, " You pays your money and you takes your chance " Cheers Hobbynut |
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| tonycrf | Aug 16 2009, 11:29 PM Post #3 |
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Newbie
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thanks for the heads up... but do you know of many people that have been prosecuted for this offence or is it still the grey area that i have heard about? and is it a pointable offence or just a fine? i have tried to get info but still seems a grey area...thanks again Tony |
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| Hobbynut | Aug 16 2009, 11:38 PM Post #4 |
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It's not a grey area..it's just illegal full stop. I have heard of one guy who had a crash and the insurance wouldn't pay out on his Hobby and his car insurer wouldn't pay out on his Toyota Landcruiser and he lost a small fortune..Technically it's an illegal tow and there are obviously insurance implications with this which could lead to fines and penalty points..My experience over the years is that the Police either don't know or don't care..The new scurge of society is VOSA, they seem to know everything about everything..But it's back to what I said originally, about paying your money and taking your chance..my mate frequently tows a 700 SMF behind an Isuzu Trooper and suffers from panic attacks every time he sees a police car because he knows he is doing wrong Cheers Hobbynut have a look at this link http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/dimensions.htm Edited by Hobbynut, Aug 16 2009, 11:39 PM.
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| tonycrf | Aug 17 2009, 12:03 AM Post #5 |
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Newbie
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like you said pay your money take your chance....so most hobby vans i see are towing illegally!!!!! do you know if there is going to be any change of the law? as if anybody comes over here from abroad they will be subjec to the same laws. sorry to ask so many questions but as we are new to this it is a bit worrying |
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| Hobbynut | Aug 17 2009, 07:38 AM Post #6 |
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There's no way will the government change the law to suit a very small number of people who want to tow foreign caravans..The question of foreigners coming over here does keep cropping up and I would expect that they are subject to the same rules as we are. I live in Hull not far from King George Dock which is a base for P & O Ferries, I have never seen any foreigners coming away from the dock area pulling oversize continental caravans...The only oversize ones, specifically Hobby's, that I have seen have been brand new which went straight into the storage compound to await collection by dealers Cheers Hobbynut |
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| weeden | Aug 17 2009, 10:06 AM Post #7 |
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HI Tony and welcome to the site ,as i have posted on another thread a ford focus pulling a 635 just rubs plod and vosa the wrong way a little bit of common sense helps. |
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| Hobbynut | Aug 17 2009, 10:51 AM Post #8 |
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Advanced Member
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A 635 behind a Focus is the work of the unhinged...the extra 20 cms width is not really noticebale on say a 560 and won't draw immediate attention at all..Once you get to a 720 or a 690 which is quite obviously very long and the result causes heads to turn and makes you a focal point, then you could be on a hiding to nowhere..At the end of the day the big vans are illegal on anormal vehicle but if you want to try and get away with it then don't " kick the a.se out of it " Cheers Hobbynut PS.. can't help feeling that some people buy the biggest Hobby they can, put it on the back of a Range Rover and suffer from " Look, have you seen what I've got syndrome " Edited by Hobbynut, Aug 17 2009, 10:55 AM.
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| deejay24 | Aug 17 2009, 12:09 PM Post #9 |
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Perhaps the best thing to do is get a big tarmac wagon, a load of clothes pegs, no extended mirrors, no number plate and just go for it-seems to work for certain "legal exempt" members of society! I passed a "convoy" consiting of LMCs, Hobbys and and an old Buccaneer-all massive, on the M62 last week-tow vehicles consisting of assorted 4x4s,an 09 X5 and a tipper wagon! Dont think they were going on their jollies and certainly didnt appear bothered about being stopped! |
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| tonycrf | Aug 17 2009, 12:48 PM Post #10 |
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Newbie
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thanks for replies folks.... hi again weeden i think i have spoke to you on another forum. i was browsing this forum regarding insurance and found your post with the tel no of a company, do you insure yours for towing too or is it just for the theft side of things....thanks Tony |
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