Congratulations are to be given to the RVDA for their work in lobbying Government to secure the future of RV imports into the UK.

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Legal RV width due to increase from 2.55m to 2.60m?

Draft proposals currently with the Government show an intention to increase the legal width of motor-caravans (RVs) from the current 2.55 metres to 2.60 metres.

This would make the body width of all RVs legal in the UK as the widest Recreational Vehicles are 102" or 2.59 metres.

You can read more at the DfT website (a PDF Document).

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Awnings and Accessories

The Exterior Projections section of the draft Testing Manual states "Those parts of a Motor caravan, Ambulance or Hearse, other than the driver's cab, shall be exempted from any requirement of this section if it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Approval Authority that it is impossible for the vehicle to comply due to its special purpose.

We are researching the "Approval Authority" part.

Another part of the draft proposals states the following are excluded from measurement;

• on motorhomes: "slide-out" sections,
• on motorhomes: awnings (including their support arms), provided that any part more than 1m from the ground does not exceed 50mm, and any part more than 2m from the ground does not exceed 100mm, from the side of the vehicle,
• grab handles for aiding access,
• handles and hinges of external lockers,
• trim or sealing strips provided they do not exceed 10mm from the side of the vehicle,
• retractable steps.

All the above are in addition to rear mirrors, tyre bulge, wheel arches etc.

Warning on non-permanent Dining Chairs.

Basic IVA (BIVA) states that seats at the dining table "must be secured directly to the vehicle floor and/or side wall" and "The seats must be secured as a permanent feature, (bolted riveted, screwed or welded)".

Members should be wary if buying or importing an RV unless the chairs are permanently fixed ie a dinette.

In fact, the requirement for fixed seating has always been in place; but it has not been enforced before. It is highly likely that it will be checked from 2012 onward.

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The RVOA would like the RV Dealers Association to provide proof to support their claim that awnings etc are currently excluded from measurement on registration.

The draft proposals above are (if accepted) in force from April 2012, not now.

The DVLA etc have clearly stated to us that accessories etc are at present still included in the width measurement.

We will let you know when we learn more.