Towing caravan in Spain-Marker Boards
We are planning g a trip to Spain next year 2021. Our 2019 Swift Challenger has the Thule bike rack fitted. With the cover and the fiammi red and white Aluminium board in the clear pocket. My question is as the outfit is over 12 meters long will I still need to fit the yellow and red hgv type warning boards or will the Fiammi warning board be sufficient to satisfy requirements.
If we have to fit the boards does anyone have experience of these and best way to fit as I don’t want them on permanently. Our van does not have a rear window as it’s the rear island bed model.
would attaching them to the Thule rack be acceptable.
Comments
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Morning
Yes you will still need the marker boards. If you look at www.hgvdirect.co.uk it will give you details of where they should be mounted, including distances apart and height from ground etc. Guardia Civil Trafico will get their tape measure out if you happen to get stopped. The easiest way is as AD says above to stick them on with double sided number plate tape.
The best mindset in my experience is don't give the Spanish authorities a reason to stop you. The fun bit is, if you speak Spanish, don't let on until the last minute, then berate them for what they just called you!!!
JK
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Thanks for the advice Gents. Order now placed.
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I attach the marker board to the rear of the caravan with bungee cords wrapped round the grab handles. Been doing it for years without a problem and the marker board is easily removed when not in Spain.
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Thanks Landyrover my plan was to attach to the Thule bike rack along the rail.
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you might well be getting away with it, but it is illegal. I was told of nice friendly policeman who has several packets of stick on marker boards in his car, if caught you can either pay a €100 euro fine or buy a pair of stick on ones from this nice policeman for €30 euros, mine are stuck on with double sided velcro and i dont ever intend to take them off.
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Hi JK, Did a quick Google and found the info that you mention via the club with a specific leaflet.
Interesting to read that to use in the UK your vehicle MUST-my emphasis-meet certain conditions and wonder if anyone is ever challenged on that in the UK?!
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herewith quote from practical caravan
"I am aware that most UK outfits over 12 meters travelling from the UK down through France to Spain, fit the boards in the UK and leave them fitted all the time.
Technically these outfits are not complying with UK law whilst on the UK segment of their journey.
However I have never heard of any driver being warned or prosecuted for this"been pulled over once with caravan in the UK for routine check, but nobody said anything about my boards being illegal, to me they provide that little bit of extra security and you are more visible especially at night as they are reflective.
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The EU rules state that if there is a rearwards extension on a caravan etc, such as a bicycle rack, then the marker board must be attached to the extension so that it cannot be obscured. This is much like the rules for fitting an extra rear number plate on a car with a rear-mounted cycle rack.
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Hi
As Lutz states, it's a Spanish law only. AD's photo above shows perfectly what is required, especially when carrying cycles.
JK
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AD thanks for the photo , I’ve ordered and received the boards from HGV Direct and the rear of my van is identical to your picture. So that’s how I will fix the boards.
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Yes it is technically illegal to travel with them on in France as far as I am aware. We always attached them at the last overnight stop in France before crossing the border, and removed them similarly on the way back.
Ours were attached with tie-wraps + pipe lagging to the rear handles for at least 6 trips, and never got stopped (but agree, its not correct, but didn't want to mark caravan)
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Where has the idea come from that long vehicle signs must be taken off when leaving Spain? Lorry drivers don't stop and remove them. Lutz doesn't stop and remove them. Why do other caravanners feel they have to have temporary fixings so that they can take the signs off at the border?
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This is from the Club's pdf on marker boards - (which shows I wasted effort removing them in France - Apologies for mis-information)
Using marker boards in other countries
In order to display marker boards in the UK, your vehicle must fall into one of the following categories (confirmed by the Transport Technology and Standards Department):
A motor vehicle with a gross weight exceeding 7500kg
A motor vehicle first used before 1 August 1982 and having an unladen weight exceeding 3000kg
A trailer with a gross weight exceeding 3500kg
A trailer manufactured before 1 August 1982 having an unladen weight exceeding1000kg
The marker boards are legal in Portugal and if the combined weight of your vehicles is over 3.5t they are also legal in France.
We have contacted both SOLVIT (which is an organisation set up to resolve problems caused by the misapplication of EU rules in Member States) and the European Commission who have both confirmed that Spain can apply this law to all vehicles circulating in Spain regardless of where they are registered.0 -
Yes you will still need the marker boards. If you look at https://www.truckspares365.co.uk it will give you details of where they should be mounted, including distances apart and height from ground etc. Guardia Civil Trafico will get their tape measure out if you happen to get stopped. The easiest way is as AD says above to stick them on with double sided number plate tape.
The best mindset in my experience is don't give the Spanish authorities a reason to stop you. The fun bit is, if you speak Spanish, don't let on until the last minute, then berate them for what they just called you!!!
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