Slow motorhomes/caravans - should they pull over?

[hornetrider]

Might get flamed for this but hey-ho.

Towing my van I quite easily keep a pace of 50-55 indicated on A roads with little bother (V8 tow car). Since getting it last year I've not been at the head of any cross country queue, but have been stuck in a few.

When I had a dog slow camper in NZ I would frequently pull over on inclines or twisties to let vehicles past, even if there was only one of them as I see this as common courtesy.

Today I'm towing east on the A44 out of Aberystwyth no one behind me. I spot, then gain very quickly on a Burstner motorhome who is doing about 40-45. We head up an incline and the speed drops even further and he passes numerous large laybys but doesn't pull in. It's annoying but fk it, it's a bank holiday so I chill out and stay behind as I have to of course.

If that was me in that motorhome I'd have been embarrassed to be so blatantly holding someone up and would have pulled over.

What's your policy on this?

[sunnygym]

No, have a little patience.

[Johnnytheboy]

Yes, just because you are on holiday doesn't mean other people don't have somewhere to be.

Edited by Johnnytheboy on Tuesday 27th May 08:36

[nagsheadwarrior]

Most modern Motorhomes and all 07 on ones are plenty quick enough, it's just the choice of the drivers to crawl along.

[Nigel Worc's]

To not pull over is a very English/Welsh thing, people pull over all the time in Scotland and elsewhere in the EU, almost without hesitation.

[Rosscow]

Nigel Worc's said:

To not pull over is a very English/Welsh thing, people pull over all the time in Scotland and elsewhere in the EU, almost without hesitation.

Is it?!

When I'm towing the caravan, if I notice a queue forming behind me I'd pull over.

Maybe those who don't tow are sometimes oblivious to speed limits for caravans/trailers?

[Engineer1]

If the vehicle is slow up hill maybe the driver isn't that keen to stop for fear that a hill start may prove very difficult. I wouldn't want to pull over then struggle to gain all the speed I had lost pulling over only to end up having to pull over again repeating till the top of the hill.

[size13]

We had a 24 year old 1.9td van that would barely make 40 on an uphill A road. I always used to pull over if a. I could, and b. I knew I could get going again. If is was a steep twisty road, I'm afraid it was tough for those following but you did find the odd loon that would overtake across solid whites on a blind bend!

Now we have a 140bhp 2.4td I find we're getting held up by other road users, including cars.

[oblio]

Yep..I pull over

Dont the Fench have a law regarding slow moving vehicles and the driver having to pull over? ...or am I making that bit up?

If it is right...it seems a good idea to me (providing its safe to do so; you are able to pull off again etc etc)

[ch108]

Nigel Worc's said:

To not pull over is a very English/Welsh thing, people pull over all the time in Scotland and elsewhere in the EU, almost without hesitation.

I'd like to know where in Scotland. I've been stuck behind plenty of the plastic monstrosities that don't pull over here in Scotland. Do these folk get to their campsite and boast about how many people they managed to hold up?

[strattonkillick]

I'm pretty sure that in the US if there are more than six vehicles behind you then you should pull over. We were certainly told that when we rented big RVs in California. When I'm in my VW here I try to work to the same rule.

[mike9009]

Engineer1 said:

If the vehicle is slow up hill maybe the driver isn't that keen to stop for fear that a hill start may prove very difficult. I wouldn't want to pull over then struggle to gain all the speed I had lost pulling over only to end up having to pull over again repeating till the top of the hill.

I have not climbed many long hills in my 78BHP T25, but when I climb hills I do worry about pulling out again and starting. If I am slowing to 30mph on a hill, then I stop to let cars past. What speed will I be doing when I start again without the precious momentum??

If convenient I would pull over but only if it was safe to do so....

[BigBob]

I tend to keep an eye on my mirrors and 'read' the road ahead on my satnav - then I'll use any natural feature to leave my tail pass me. Favourite is going around a roundabout twice to let others get ahead.

BB

[Rosscow]

BigBob said:

I tend to keep an eye on my mirrors and 'read' the road ahead on my satnav - then I'll use any natural feature to leave my tail pass me. Favourite is going around a roundabout twice to let others get ahead.

BB

That's a good one - I'll remember that!

[berlintaxi]

nagsheadwarrior said:

Most modern Motorhomes and all 07 on ones are plenty quick enough, it's just the choice of the drivers to crawl along.

Spot on, mine will happily sit at 70 all day long, flies past caravans.

[surveyor]

I don't really hold people up.

Back when I towed with a 1.8 Laguna I could on a very steep hill with a sharp bend end up in first to the top. Normal service would soon be resumed though.