Don Madge Posted June 18, 2006 Share Posted June 18, 2006 The following is a post from a thread on the Motorhome List. I'm not sure how many ARV owners are on this site but it makes very interesting reading. Regards Don "Looking at the construction and use regulations on the OPSI website it looks as though they were amended as from 12 December 2005, which may be what as started the DVLA looking at imported motorhomes. By reading what is available on the OPSI website I think I can see what has caused the panic. The regulations used to state a maximum width of 2.55M not including safety features such as mirrors. If I understand the 12 December 2005 amendment correctly the change is that mirrors must now not project more than 20cm beyond the width of the vehicle, this appears to be in order to comply with a European directive. I suspect that a lot of the USA Class A motorhomes, apart from exceeding the 2.55M width limit, also have mirrors which do not comply. I have noticed a large number of US class A motorhomes for sale on E-Bay this week, I wonder why? I guess if the DVLA has decided to check the mirrors comply they are probably also taking their tape measure to the vehicle body width as well. It is interesting to note that a large number of RVs in the USA are actually also illegal to drive there. It is illegal to drive a 102" wide motorhome with an awning fitted in all states apart from Hawaii, even 99" wide ones exceed the 102" limit if an awning is fitted and some states have a 96" limit on non-federal highways. Interesting. My US class C is 2.515M wide and the mirrors only exceed the width by about 18cm, so it looks like mine is okay. When I imported my motorhome I asked the dealer who carried out the conversion work for me to remove the awning as it made the vehicle over 2.55M wide. He advised me that it wasn't necessary as the law wasn't enforced, he actually bragged to me that he regularly imported and sold motorhomes 2.59M wide and then with an awning fitted as well which must have made the overall width about 2.69M. He said that he had never had a problem. I think that there are going to be an awful lot of very disappointed people around if the rumours turn out to be true and it looks as though I may have to remove my awning." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsandywhite Posted June 18, 2006 Share Posted June 18, 2006 :'( Hi Don. I am one of those facing this predicament with my Newmar. I have sersiously considered taking it over to Spain and parking it on a piece of land. Or perhaps using it on it's Montana plates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Madge Posted June 18, 2006 Author Share Posted June 18, 2006 John, I'm very sorry to hear that I hope you get it sorted OK. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsandywhite Posted June 18, 2006 Share Posted June 18, 2006 :-D Thanks for that Don. I am between the Devil and the deep Blue sea. I have converted the lights ready for the MOT. The problem is there are other things that will most likely need changing/repairing to pass the MOT. If I then pass the MOT for DVLA not to allow registration? It will all have been a waste of time, effort and money. :-( :-( Why bother? :-( B-) Perhaps I could register it in Poland? (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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