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scooter / motorbike rack


hymer1942

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I to have a Honda 125. We have a small van but it carries it fine with no overload on the rear axle. I decided on a carrier made by Watling Towbars which works well and is fairly light. You can find them at watling-towbars.co.uk. If you give them a call they may be able to give you a local, to you, towbar fitter who also supplies there racks. They did this for me and the company, Coastel Towbars at Rhyl did a good and fast job. They made up the tow bar and fitted rack in about five hours. I looked at various racks and did favour one that you could lower to the ground with a hydraulic pump but it stuck out the back to far and was very heavy. If you need any information please pm me.
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Keithl - 2008-11-22 5:28 PM

 

Very good point on rear overhang.

Maximum permissible rear overhang is 60% of wheelbase, our Aouttrail with just a towbar is absolutely on this limit!

Keith.

 

I wonder if this is correct. The law states 'in a four wheel rigid the distance from centre of rear axle to rear of vehicle must not exceed 60% of wheelbase'. Does a rack on the rear count as the new rear of the vehicle?

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I've just been Googling this and not come up with any definitive answer so if anyone else can help then please reply.

As I believe the rear overhang includes any towbar or fixed projection (such as a motorcycle rack).

For a twin rear axled vehicle the best I have found is that the wheelbase is measured to and the rear overhang is measured from the mid point of the two rear axles.

Can anyone else give a better answer please?

Keith.

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Keithl - 2008-11-22 6:53 PM

 

I've just been Googling this and not come up with any definitive answer so if anyone else can help then please reply.

As I believe the rear overhang includes any towbar or fixed projection (such as a motorcycle rack).

For a twin rear axled vehicle the best I have found is that the wheelbase is measured to and the rear overhang is measured from the mid point of the two rear axles.

Can anyone else give a better answer please?

Keith.

 

This Keith is what I am not sure about. I to could not find any reference about an extension you may add. Loads of people carry these large fixed storage boxes on the back, lots carry four bikes and others like me scooters. To the rear of my scooter is certainly more than 60% but to the rear of the main vehicle it is not. I was aware of this from the start but choose to ignore it, I did ask a local traffic policeman I know and he did not have a clue, he just stressed do not overload the rear axle. I will telephone the DVLA next week but suspect they will not know either. It would be nice to know but I will still ignore it.

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This is an edited version what was published on P 230 Feb 2006 MMM.

 

The wonderfully simple 60 per cent of wheelbase rule that used to cover vehicle overhang, under pressure of EC harmonisation has become rather, shall we say, elastic. Some years ago the UK Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 were amended to permit heavy motorcars (ULW exceeding 2540KG) that complied with Para 7.6.2 of Annex 1 of Community Directive 97/27 covering turning circle requirements to exceed the 60 per cent rule.

 

( This involves driving the vehicle around a 12.5 M diameter circle and monitoring what the tail does but can be proved by the makers by calculation.) The bit of string used to draw the circrle must of course be of an approved standard and a non smoker and have attended an awareness course).

 

There is provision for the vehicle manufacturer to show compliance by calculation or scale drawing but goodness knows if an owner would be allowed to present such information.

 

It is possible to legally build a vehicle with a rear overhang that is significantly longer than allowed under the old rule.

 

As far as I am aware there have been no prosecutions in the UK Courts to establish precedent.

 

Being practical, if the old rule is exceeded by a minimal amount the chances of anyone in authority taking an interest in your vehicle are very low. Even if they did, quoting the relevant regulations off the top of your head would most likely convince them not to get involved in researching a subject unlikely to result in a prosecution.

 

In terms of vehicle dynamic behaviour overhang is 'a bad thing'. The nearer the corners the wheels are the more control they have over the vehicle.

 

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
After much serching and looking have had rack fitted and made by PARKINSON at Freckleton, not cheap at £550, but AM I impressed with it, not only does it look great in Galvanised steel and alloy but it is simple and yet solid, but the best bit is take out 2 pins and you just slide it off. Comes complete with number plate, lights, and 4 straps.
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