First of all, please forgive me for writing this in English but my schoolboy French is not up to it!
I am curious, mainly because I am off to France at the end of June for 3 weeks with my caravan.
How many French Disco owners use their car to tow a caravan?
If you do tow a caravan (or any other trailer):
What do you think of the 'new' speed limits that, because of it's weight and 3000kg towing limit, apply to the Discovery in France
Do you obey them
Are the French police strict about them
If anybody would care to translate this into French to ensure it gets the widest coverage amongst our friends across La Manche, please feel free Now an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
26th May 2011 8:45 am
Fredouille66
Member Since: 29 Apr 2010
Location: Pornic
Posts: 12
Traduction dans la langue de Molière:
Premièrement, je vous prie de bien vouloir m'excuser du fait de m'exprimer en anglais, mais mon français de collège n'est pas au niveau!
Je suis curieux, essentiellement parce que je serai en France 3 semaines à partir de la fin du mois de juin, avec une caravane.
Combien de possesseurs de Disco tracte une caravane?
Si vous tractez une caravane (ou une remorque):
Que pensez-vous des nouvelles "limites" de vitesse, par rapport au poids de la remorque, jusqu'Ã 3T), qui s'applique au D3?
Les respectez-vous?
La police française est-elle stricte à ce sujet?
26th May 2011 9:24 am
Fredouille66
Member Since: 29 Apr 2010
Location: Pornic
Posts: 12
Hi Albourneboy,
First of all, these limits are for any cars with weight < 3.5T:
There is no new speed limits. But there are more and more speed controls (by the police or by automation). For my part, speed limits are for our safety. Many times I have seen trailers booggying, tires exploding, because of speed.
I think that most of the people obey to these limits, even with a trailer or not.
A thousand thanks for the translation and for your advice.
I am asking the question because, here in the UK, we have been told that the speed limits in France for towing vehicles were changed in 2010 and are now based on the weight of the towing vehicle plus the maximum weight it is allowed to tow. For my D3 auto, this is 2718 kg + 3500 kg = 6218 kg.
This means that even if towed a tiny 300 kg Erde 102 trailer, I would be immediately limited to 90 kph on motorways/express roads because the law says I am exceeding the 3.5T limit and I am just trying to confirm if this is true.
What is ridiculous is, if I had a Peugeot 307 that weighed 1421 kg with a maximum towing limit of 1600 kg, because this adds up 3021 kg it is below the 3.5T limit therefore it is allowed to tow at up to 110 kph on motorways and 100 kph on express ways
My caravan weighs 1400 kg. Add the D3 and together they weigh 4.1T. In the UK, I am allowed to tow at 60 mph (96 kph) on motorways/express roads. Travelling 6 kph slower isn't going to make a huge difference I know and I will happily set my cruise control to 90 kph but if I did get caught by a speed camera or the police travelling at, say, 95 kph, would I be fined?
I fully agree with you about the dangers of speed and towing and I do keep to speed limits. Like you, I have seen too many caravans in little pieces all over the road, or on their sides in hedges to want to join that club Now an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
Last edited by methley on 26th May 2011 4:51 pm. Edited 1 time in total
26th May 2011 11:34 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26700
I'm towing in France this August, and am also still confused. I don't normally tow at anything over 60. MPG really suffers if I go any faster.
I got flashed by a speed camera on my way to skiing last year, I was doing about 90 solo, but never got anything either at the border, toll booth, or since.
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Yes I am in the same boat, towing TA caravan through France early August and would like clarification. Towed there last year and sat at a steady 70mph with no issues with van on back. Took van off at site and went out for day, got a £60 fine for doing 60 on a dual carriageway
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26th May 2011 12:26 pm
mzplcg
Member Since: 23 Jun 2009
Location: Gone
Posts: 1087
The new rules are being enforced, quite rightly too. If your gross train mass is over 3500 kilos then you are limited to 90KM/H (56MPH) when towing. ALL D3's have a GTM of approximately 6200KG which is the technically maximum permitted train mass, roughly 2700KG for the D3 and 3500KG for the trailer.
The required stickers are not being enforced though but the French police are not daft. They KNOW that large 4x4's are all over the weight limits so you are taking risks if you speed.
TBH, why anyone would want to tow a caravan at more than the legal solo limit here in the UK is beyond me. Plus there's absolutely no need in France where the roads are much better and quieter than ours.
Last year I towed the caravan to France and was sat at 95KM/H on the motorways, almost 60mph. Good enough for me and the French Police took no interest in me at all. I was averaging about 53 miles covered every hour cos there were no jams or roadworks unlike back in Blighty where we get stuck in some merde every 5 minutes.
However, the places you will get a ticket are in the towns. You need to be careful to stick to the limits, not all of which are signed. You are expected to know about speed limits in municipal areas. And worth noting that speed traps can be covert in France - we saw quite a few which were nicely tucked away just waiting to hand out tickets.
I've always stuck to 60mph on the French motorways/dual carriage ways and have never attracted the interest of the police or set off a speed camera but I think I'll go a little slower this year to be on the safe side. We're using some of the more popular routes so I expect there'll be more cameras about Now an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
26th May 2011 1:51 pm
Fredouille66
Member Since: 29 Apr 2010
Location: Pornic
Posts: 12
Oh dear, I was not aware about this "new" law (july 2008)!
It is completely crazy:
- Citroen Xantia hdi 110 + trailer 1360Kg => 130 km/h
- Citroen C5 hdi 170 + the smallest trailer of the world => 90 km/h
Member Since: 09 Oct 2010
Location: SE London
Posts: 840
Well published on all the caravan forums and in the caravan press.
Agree the law is a bit of an ass the way it has been written BUT I also agree 60 MPH is plenty fast enough on the Autoroutes! LR Discovery 4 XS pulling an Airstream 532 Caravan also own (since new) a 1996 MGF
26th May 2011 4:47 pm
MJ02
Member Since: 04 Nov 2011
Location: Hull
Posts: 1
I didnt know about the law change.....guess im not the only one. Caravan Hire Butlins
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