Caravan Limits and Reverse Polarity Issues

Caravan speed limits and mains power problems. Caravan reverse polarity issues, why it happens, why you have a reverse polarity light in your caravan or motorhome and how it might help.
We don't see many issues with speed limits when towing, but we have covered them in this video. We look at taking the euro tunnel to France with your caravan and how the reverse polarity light may be worth checking while abroad.
We have a look at some used caravans for sale at our caravan dealer. If you are looking for used caravans for sale visit our website www.thecaravanplace.com
#caravan #caravanspeed #reversepolarity

[@Medge2sc]

Thanks to your videos we are currently enjoying our first weekend away in our coachman

[@thecaravanplace]

Great, enjoy the weather 👍

[@grahamwebb4124]

Great Vid! It's worth pointing out that in France towing weights dictate speed limits, in some scenarios, you can drive at the same speeds advertised on motorways. One for another video Mark.

[@thecaravanplace]

Thanks Graham, didn't know this, will investigate 👍

[@RobertBishop-lp8mv]

To be compliant with BS 7671 (uk wiring regs) circuit breakers fitted to caravans are 2 pole ie disconnect line and neutral conductors, this is to comply with regulation 721.43.1 Neutral is considered as live conductor. A circuit breaker protects from overload and short circuits and RCD protects you from earth faults and can be a life saver in the event of an electric shock

[@thecaravanplace]

They are only fitted with single pole mcb's

[@10triumphs]

The amount of people towing trailers and caravans on the motorway doing at least 70 is amazing and stupid

[@andrewjones-productions]

I really enjoyed watching the tractor being used at the end! I grew up on a farm and so tractors are familiar and wanted to see it in action! Little things please little minds I suppose. Talking of small minds, I do not understand the snobbery about you parking your huge lorry next to someone on a campsite. I say - tough! It is the luck of the draw and I wonder if people would be so negative if it were a huge A-class motorhome based upon a HGV. Anyway...... Here in Japan, the speed limits are far lower. For ordinary vehicles, the national speed limit on ordinary roads is a whopping 60kmh (37mph) with most roads being either a 50kmh (31mph) or 40kmh(25mph) and lots of 30kmh (18.6mph). We don't really have dual carriageways like in the UK, but the expressways (motorways) are either 80kmh (50mph), 100kmh (62mph) and a few stretches on the Tomei and Tohoku Expressways are 120kmh (75 mph). Like the UK, vehicles towing a trailer (any kind including caravans) observe the stipulated speed limits. However, we are limited to 80kmh and the use of the left lane (Japan is LHT like the UK) except for overtaking. Essentially, we are treated as HGVs on the expressways and use the HGV parking. Our expressways are mostly tolled and if towing a single-axle trailer are charged as being light commercial vehicles. If a twin-axle and the distance between axles is no more than a metre, then charged as a light commercial vehicle and if more than a metre apart or have triple axle trailer, then we have to pay the same as any HGV lorry. I can't think of a caravan with three axles, but Brian James Trailers are starting to appear here and some of those have three axles. They are however mostly pulled by lorries anyway. American RV trailers are also prevalent here and some of those are twin axle with more than a metre apart. Also, if you drive something like a Toyota Hilux pickup or any other commercially registered van and tow even a tiny camping trailer with 8" wheels, then you will be classified as a HGV at the toll booth. Even let's say if it were something like an old small Mini van towing a cheap tiny trailer from somewhere like Halfords. Yes, I know.....

[@thecaravanplace]

Wow, I thought our laws were funny 👍

[@paulefc1971]

We go to France every year, surprising how many sites still have reverse polarity, we stayed at 5 sites last August, 4 of them were reverse polarity (as indicated on our Swift panel). Most campsites use the three pin plugs now but there are still some big sites that use the two pin plugs

[@thecaravanplace]

Thanks for the info 👍

[@mikebro2557]

Thanks for the speed limit info, I assumed single carriageways was 60mph 👍

[@thecaravanplace]

Thanks Mike, glad it's been useful 👍

[@mikebro2557]

@@thecaravanplaceMark, I watch your videos every week and they are all useful. I must pop over and get one of those big books from your amazing shop 👍

[@tristanmorgan8407]

Great update, that’s a really good price … we have looked at France and Brittany Ferries and a ferry to Jersey in the main summer holiday period and with cabins it would be between £1000 and £1309 for night crossings. Night train would be good as could drive on through the night to the destination and sleep in the late arrivals etc….😀😀

[@thecaravanplace]

Yes seemed a good price to me too. It was Euro tunnel, I didn't make that clear 👍

[@tristanmorgan8407]

@@thecaravanplace yeah you did and to be fair I’ve used the tunnel a few times and always been fine and seemed and easier experience compared to the ferries, squeezed tightly together which you don’t get on the tunnel 😀😀

[@paulefc1971]

We usually sail Brittany Ferries from Poole to Cherbourg, costs around £600 in peak season and we sleep in the lanes at Poole, it's supposed to cost around £15 to sleep in the lane but they weren't charging last year

[@martinehulme8743]

Great information, I'm surprised with the cost of taking a car and caravan 🎉

[@thecaravanplace]

Not bad price 👍

[@bizarremagick]

Going with the caravan to Europe, take a UK/European EHU adaptor. Have been on many sites in Europe and Morocco that were reverse polarity, never bothered about it and never had a problem.

[@thecaravanplace]

Brilliant 👍

[@stehume]

Good vid, On the reverse polarity can you not get a adaptor that you put in between the post and the eau cable that changed it back over to being sensible and safe? A road trip sounds good

[@thecaravanplace]

Yes they do a little change over lead with 2 ends and wired backwards. 👍

[@paulmorgan464]

Big meet up I think !

[@Martin37vg]

We have still had reverse polarity in europe in recent years . We use a socket tester to tell us and you do not need a power bank. Just carry a short artic lead with one end wired the oppisite way plug it in van first and it swops the polarity back to correct way. I also heard Motorhome matt ( podcast )say something about unlike the uk if test passed after 1997 you are still restricted to 3.5 total weight. Not sure on this as does not effect us oldies but worth checking . I thought £400. Bit of a bad time crossing with caravan as where you going to go when you arrive in france at tht time of night.

[@thecaravanplace]

Thanks Martin, laws changed so even if passed after 1997, anyone can tow a caravan and drive any car upto a combined weight of 7000kg, so 3500kg car, 3500kg caravan or trailer. 👍

[@Martin37vg]

Yep Mark but I meant to say that I am sure you can not drive in europe with a total weight over 3.5 ton unless you have B+E pre 97 or have actually taken training. Search for this podcast on youtube from motorhome Matt Titled Are driving licences changing? The 4th Directive on Driving Licences 18th March 2024 Listern to the bit with David Whitehead from the NCC explaining the law in europe at 18min 20 secs. Sounds like a lot of people might fall foul of the law.

[@davidmilledge221]

You guys on a road trip would be fantastic and get ya out off the yard have a nice break 👍

[@thecaravanplace]

It would be funny.

[@user-go8li7ei1n]

He mark great video just touching on going to France correct me if I’m wrong but if you was given your B+E licence and did not carry out a test I’m sure it does not cover you to drive in France as it does in the uk

[@thecaravanplace]

You can send your licence off for renewal. When it comes back it will then have B+E on your new licence and you are then covered. Theoretically it wouldn't stand up if they tried to give a fine in the EU, as a UK citizen you are entitled to drive the same entitlement in the EU as in the UK, but it would be better and less of an argument if it's on your licence.

[@wsatnutter9674]

37k for the coachman lets have a look

[@user-cw6ky2gp8f]

I was wondering why you need a ramp on your self build ( horses that explains everything)

[@thecaravanplace]

Bloody horses lol 👍

[@brianridley1102]

If reverse polarity light is on what can you do to be safe ? Rewire your plug temporarily? Or do you just need to run off battery

[@thecaravanplace]

Either change the wires over, or you can buy a small lead with the wires already changed over from amazon, ebay etc.

[@michaelhesford4587]

French electrics are better than ours, they switch the live and neutrals so it does not make any difference which way it is wired. It is us that are not as safe because we only switch the live.

[@Cabin20]

Think you said, having a look at April prices as we are in February now?

[@thecaravanplace]

I've been using that time machine 😂😂.

[@paulmorgan464]

Mark do you know your months ?

[@thecaravanplace]

It had been a long day 🤔

[@paulmorgan464]

Was this the caravan which you towed without mirrors (naughty boy)?

[@thecaravanplace]

Mirrors what mirrors 🙈

[@matterhorn1975]

Channel tunnel I reckon is £320 return

[@thecaravanplace]

£285 👍

[@davidfarmer3527]

@@thecaravanplace I would be interested to know where you have that quote from because on the le shuttle web site its around £763 return for end of July. Were going on 31st May & its costing us £580 return & ive used £100 of Tesco club points to get that price. Its more than £285 one way. Incidentally its best to have the reverse polarity tester kit with you as there are a quite a few sites that are like this & they are not all old little ones as you mention. We have caravanned many years in France now & had to use on big sites too. Last being last year stopover on way to Lake Annecy so always worth taking as you never know.

[@kevandrews4699]

Febuary mark , where have you been for the last 3 months 😂

[@thecaravanplace]

It had been a long day 😂😂😂

[@michaelmcleary8566]

So you're doing the legal limit on a single but the 4 mile queue behind you want to go that extra 10 mph but can't often get past. No wonder ordinary car drivers hate caravaners!

[@SusiB13]

I reckon that I've done my time following caravans and now I've one of my own! So tough tit!!!

[@thecaravanplace]

Can't do much about the law 🤷 👍

[@coraspapa]

Could have said all national speed limit roads are ten miles an hour less then car when towing .👮🏻‍♂️

[@thecaravanplace]

That would have been too easy lol. 👍