3.5t limit in french towns and villages

[Roryboys Dad]

If I was you I'd worry that you're more likely to be stopped for the MH being overloaded than travelling through places that have a 3500kg limit – and that's a rarity in itself!

 

[Welsh girl]

Well we haven't had any problems since I first started this thread and we've changed the van to below 3.5t not for the reason I started the thread though. We have had a great time touring France Spain and now Portugal in that time and never been stopped once.

 

[peterc10]

Our vehicle is based on a Peugeot and is 2.69 metres wide. It's a long time since I measured in feet and inches, but I am sure that equates to about 6'6"!
Allan

I hope not. The maximum legal width in the UK is 2.55m. Anything wider and you need an escort!!

 

[Gaston aires]

Forget it Trish ... and IF IF IF you caught , just talk in english ...and that's it ! They won't bother ... !!!



Amicalement

Frankie

I disagree, in my experience they love to nick Brits. Impound the vehicle if you cant/wont pay.
Phil

 

[Larrynwin]

We weigh in at 6577kg and at most tolls pay the car rate, presumably because it is obviously not commercial.
On French roads I try to avoid 3.5 ton limits but not always possible, perhaps just lucky not being caught or because again not goods vehicle.

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[yodeli]

Have you experienced this personally, having your vehicle impound ?

There are only 2 cases you can see motorhomes STOPPED on a layby by the gendarmes.

First one has nothing to do with the weight but with the snow and not having the required equipment to go on, and being as well a danger for the others.
The second one , you are entering a very old village which has been kept in its former widths and lengths and only small vehicles can get in, and of course a sign tells you not to get in if overweighed.


But impound??!!! Never saw this in some 37 years driving on French roads!!! It only happens when you are parking where you should not AND you are not on board to park it somewhere else.



Usually you are there because you intend to visit , so you are supposed to know it is an old village! We had the case with JJ and the Hymer, in Richelieu. But we never saw the sign. JJ managed to get out without any damage, and there was no one to fine us

Of course you have to be sensible and if you see a bridge right in front of you with a limited weight sign just before ... of course DON'T GO! We are talking about these signs at the entrance of a normal town/village.

These signs are there for trucks not for 3,5t motorhomes. If it's a real pain for you to take the indicated way for over weighted vans then just carry on the same road. If you just have a few metres more to avoid to obey the rule and if it makes you feel better, then just follow the signs.

Amicalement

Frankie

 

[Reallyretired]

The only time I've been stopped in France was in the Pyrenees nearish to Andorra, and they were stopping everyone. We hadn't been to Andorra so they didn't bother with us. I have always assumed the 3.5t signs only apply to trucks, as several aires and sites are on 3.5t limited roads.

 

[makems]

Ha Ha, I see you have a Wentworth...so do we, but where did you see that the air suspension makes you lighter

The air bags are filled with Helium.....

 

[Merle]

The air bags are filled with Helium.....

Well!! you learn something every day.....and the tyres ?