UK Speed Limits for MHs

60 mph limit is a nuisance as you get stuck behind lorries doing 56 mph. I find 65 - 70 mph about right in UK and Europe but of course it depends on the weather, traffic conditions etc.

Having caravanned for 34 years, we have now moved on to a motorhome, so a couple questions come to mind: The on board water tank holds about 90 litres. Clearly I wouldn't drive with the tank full, but is it recommended that the tank is drained off before every journey?

The grey water will always be drained.

We have purchased an AGURI 720 satnav unit which includes a speed trap alert. Reading some articles, it reads that these alerts are unlawful across Europe. The point of buying the satnav is that it is fully loaded with campsites and stop overs. I have spoken to a technician at AGRI who told me that they sell many of these units to European companies, including there 'partners' in Dusseldorf. He assured me that they are legal?? Do you have such a device and have you used it abroad?

I can’t speak on the over there points but we take to the road with the tanks as they are, or will fill the fresh and drain the waste before setting off. It depends on the state of the tanks. It’s what a MH is designed for - to drive, stop anywhere and use. 

If your payload is tight, you may indeed face the inconvenient need to travel fully drained. 

Hi Sunsryle, the speed trap alerts you are talking about are definitely illegal in France and I believe some other EU countries.    France have introduced heavy fines if caught using them and they do use detection equipment.      Some satnavs automatically switch these off when they enter France.    If your going over there, I would get on the web and do some homework.

My MH is 4,250t, so when I drive to or from Spain through France I have to be on the ball about the different speed limits in each country, with Spain having the lowest speed limit for my MH.

I always use a quick calculation to work out the conversion from kilometers to mpg.     To calculate a change of speed limit from 110 to 90 kph:

Multiply the first number (first 2 numbers if over 100) by 6, in this case 6 x 9, which equalls 54.  If the answer is below 50 add 1 and if the answer is 50 or above, add 2.    The answer you end up with is 56, which is the correct conversion for 90kph.       To convert 110kph to mph, 6 x11 = 66 + 2 = 68.    The correct conversion.

This gives a very close speed calc' very quickly and the more you do it the easier it gets.

BillC

Aren't UK speedos required to show kph as well as mph? (Or have the option of switching completely to kph)

I dont know if it is "required", but many do show both and some only show one or the other.     Also, some satnavs show the incorrect speed limit for larger vehicles.   TomToms show the car speed limit in France on their caravan and camper version, which is a waste of time.

If we could totally switch over to thinking kph when on the other side that would help, but some of us are too long in the tooth!

BillC