"I think caravans should be MOT'd and pay a road tax based on their length."
Any towed trailer/caravan with a GVW >500 kg is MoTd in many mainland Europe countries every two years. Certainly the case in the Netherlands and Germany, and I think France.
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My German next door neighbour has an enclosed box type trailer for his motorbikes. It is towed by his wife's car which although based in this country still carries German plates. Not sure how they get away with that but that's another story.......
The trailer is also on German plates but a different reg number to the car. I questioned that and he tells me that the trailer is registered and insured in its own right.
Sounds plausible anyway......
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"The trailer is also on German plates but a different reg number to the car. I questioned that and he tells me that the trailer is registered and insured in its own right."
True.
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This is 'true, in Germany, but the arrangement in not legal in UK. Trailer has to have Reg No of towing vehicle SFAIK
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This is 'true in Germany but the arrangement in not legal in UK. Trailer has to have Reg No of towing vehicle SFAIK
Is that not just for insurance purposes as a UK trailer/caravan is covered by the insurance of the car?
In Europe, as previously stated, a trailer/caravan has its own insurance so has its own plates. I can take my UK car to Germany and stick a German plated trailer on it, no questions asked.
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Answers to a couple of points raised:
1) There is no MOT in the UK for caravans or trailers under 7 metres (don't know about Artic trailers).
2) In several European countries trailers and caravans are registered as road vehicles and carry differnt number plates to the towing vehicle. This is useful as it means there is no need to change the number plate when the towing vehilcle changes.
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>>don't know about Artic trailers
They have their own MOT
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>>caravan fishtailing wildly and assumed that their tyre had blown
As you pass a 'van, it'll be sucked towards you (I had it explained to me once, but I can't remember enough to repeat it).
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"As you pass a 'van, it'll be sucked towards you"
Aha, so it was all your fault then! I'd keep schtum if I were you :-) :-)
When I had a 'van it was "insured in it's own right", but that was against theft and damage to it - I don't believe it gave any cover for accidents it may have caused - I assume that would be covered by the car insurance.
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...sucked towards you....
Careful caravaners will deliberately move towards the centre line of a dual carriageway as they are about to be passed.
As passing vehicle comes alongside, caravaner pulls to nearside by a foot or two thereby creating a larger gap and negating the suction effect.
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smokie
When I had a caravan, it was covered when on the move by the car insurance and when on site by its own policy (which included all fittings and third party claims when not in motion).
I asked my insurers, who would pay if the van became detached from the car whilst in transit and caused a claim; the answer was the car insurer.
Edited by Spospe on 13/12/2008 at 20:47
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When I had a caravan it was covered when on the move by the car insurance
I don't think thats automatic, you need to check the policy wording....
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I got trailer cover - but my company told me I had very basic cover as standard. (extra cover was 52 quid a year - covers everything.)
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>>caravan fishtailing wildly and assumed that their tyre had blown As you pass a 'van it'll be sucked towards you (I had it explained to me once but I can't remember enough to repeat it).
Because of the gap between you and the caravan, the air on that side will travel slightly faster. Faster air has a lower pressure. Hence low air pressure on "your" side of the van high pressure on the other - bingo van sways towards you.
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This of course is the principle of 'flight' as air passes over the hump of the wing more quickly than the flat underside and causes lift.
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This of course is the principle of 'flight' as air passes over the hump of the wing more quickly than the flat underside and causes lift.
Bernoulli's Principle.
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That's him
Doesn't explain how some planes can fly upside though - does it? :-)
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Doesn't explain how some planes can fly upside though - does it? :-)
They have anti-Bernoulli flaps ;-)
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That's him Doesn't explain how some planes can fly upside though - does it? :-)
Actually, yes, it does, but they'll have to keep their wing leading edges tilted up, because the shape of the wing on its own won't do it when upside down.
Many stunt planes don't have aerofoil shaped wings anyway, they are symmetrical, giving better inverted performance.
You can get lift from a flat piece of cardboard so long as you tilt it a bit.
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Because of the gap between you and the caravan the air on that side will travel slightly faster. Faster air has a lower pressure. Hence low air pressure on "your" side of the van high pressure on the other - bingo van sways towards you.
A car is not usually too bad, unless it passes at high speed... a lorry or van, however is a different kettle of fish...
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I have often wondered why in UK everything being towed seemed to have a temporary registration number, often just hand-written on a bit of card. Now I understand. Here, everything towed has to be separately registered, taxed, MoT'd, and carry its own insurance ( assuming that the owner bothers with same ). No minimum size or weight, or insurance cover from the towing vehicle. Caravans are also subject to annual electrical safety certification if they can take a 230-volt supply.
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There would be a lot less stuff towed around over here if that was the case!
We always did an annual service on our 'van but many don't, though I have to admit that other than a visual check and tyre pressures I didn't really check my little trailer much...
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