5th Wheel Caravans

[Brian S]

Been working on a Caravan site, saw the biggest Caravan I've ever seen, towed by big Yank pickup, longer and a lot taller than a normal Caravan
Like this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-Berth-E...448666?hash=item488fd0751a:g:m9YAAOSwXeJXe7Wk

Anyone know the rules and regs on towing a 5th wheeler?
Remember reading that with normal caravans, some caravans, the bigger Hobbys, can't be towed by a normal tow 4x4 because they are over a certain length 7 metres (legal tow length)

Seen one for sale towed by an Isuzu Rodeo
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5th-Wheel...143969?hash=item3604a4cfe1:g:gA8AAOSw3mpXJl5P

Would you have to take an HGV test to drive one? they're up to 30ft long

 

[StarCruiser]

Now that's my sort of caravan!
Not sure but I would think that's no longer than a big standard 4 wheel caravan but I would think you are possibly limited by Gross Train Weight and may need a tacho fitted as this was a requirement to tow some of the turntable show trailers we looked into once.

 

[Rob Cowell]

Pre 97 license, you can have a GTW of 8.25 tons. Max width towing with a car is 2.55m (8' 4), max length for trailer is 7m (23') that's not including A frame, not sure what happens when part of the trailer is sitting over your pickup bed. I don't think we have a regulation that covers that. So those units you linked to would appear to be fine.

 

[karl webster]

I'm fairly sure you need hgv to pull one with the 5th wheel set up. May be wrong though.

 

[Rob Cowell]

I'm fairly sure you need hgv to pull one with the 5th wheel set up. May be wrong though.

If the fifth wheel puts enough load on the car so that the car GVW exceeds 3.5 tons then I can see how you'd need a C1+E, but not otherwise?

 

[stumog]

I would have thought as long as your train weight was covered on your licence you would be fine.

I dont think you need a taco for private use.

Questions I should know having a class 1 licence but makes life easier just being able to jump into nearly anything and drive it.

 

[lc 120]

This is a company based in North Wales who make them and they can be driven on a pre 97 licence...

http://fifthwheelco.com/

 

[Brian S]

I'm fairly sure you need hgv to pull one with the 5th wheel set up. May be wrong though.

I know you don't need HGV for the majority of them Karl
Having had a search around, there's "train weights" "tow weights" "width restrictions" length restriction" the list seems endless.
Most UK and European 5th Wheel Vans can be towed by standard pickups, others need the pickup uprating, others need a Yank pickup, this lot (I think ) can be driven on a pre 97 car licence

They are saying it's a more stable tow than with the A bar, quicker to set up, and pack up

http://www.fifthwheelownersclub.com/