http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GAZ-66-Expedition-Motorhome-truck-Vehicle-4x4-/170657102616?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item27bbf4bb18#ht_500wt_949

Its a shame its Left Hand Drive. Looks nice not far off a 101lr. 4.2 petrol/lpg. hmmmmmmm

Try getting spares for it.

As it happens, for everyday parts there is a guy on fleabay from the Ukraine who specialises in parts for GAZ and UAZ, prices are very reasonable - and that includes the postage!

Two rear tail lights for a GAZ 66 for instance are only £24.99 + £12.49 P&P That ain't bad at all.

Hopefully this link will work - http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=GAZ+66 - or type GAZ 66 into ebay to see what I mean.

40 years old it maybe, but that GAZ 66 would be a stonking expedition truck Jas!

I found a Russian Military Export company who can supply these type of vehicles and spares in the UK. The prices were not too bad.
Still what a Off road Camper tool. If only I had the money.

Bit big for everyday use. I imagine you will need an extra licence to drive it.

Yeah you could be right there. Still would be great to drive it.

This is the website and there is a even bigger Expedition truck on there now: http://www.russianmilitary.co.uk/details.php?id=188

Ive been looking at Russian based Military trucks made and read owners reviews both in the UK and the Motherland and It seems That the Russians built these big style trucks quite well......or so the owners say.

TJ

There is another Gaz 4x4 motor up for sale and its not too much of a bad price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Expedition-Motorhome-4x4-Gaz66-/300616329201?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item45fe2127f1

TJ

It comes down to weight, if it is below 12,500Kg and is purely a camper, it can be driven on a car licence.

No, i am correct, had this many times before.

If the vehicle is registered as a camper you are legally allowed to drive up to 12.5 tonnes. To legally do this you need a license to allow you to drive up to 7.5 tonnes and those with later licenses which restrict them to 3.5 tonnes cannot drive up to 12.5 tonnes.

If you have a license to drive up to 7.5 tonnes you can drive a vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes, AND tow a trailer of the prescribed type of up to 5 tonnes.

Not starting from a different point.

Under current legislation you are allowed to drive up to 7.5 tonnes on a commercial vehicle if you have this on your licence. If you hold this on your licence you can also drive any camper or technically registered motorcaravan weighing up to a maximum of 12,500Kg on this licence.

You can also drive a 7.5 tonne truck with a trailer of 5 tonnes.

Its not about train weight, its about the exemption for any expedition vehicle, motorhone, or even converted coach which is registered as a motor caravan. Motor caravans are exempt up to this weight of 12,500Kg, or at a lower weight than 12,500Kg with a trailer which does not exceed a train weight of 12,500KG.

In simple terms:

If you hold the 7.5 tonne class on your licence you can drive a motorcaravan up to 12,500KG on your licence as a single vehicle.

You can drive a motor caravan with a lower weight, but above 7500Kg's and tow a trailer which dosen't exceed a train weight of 12,500Kg.

Confusion arises where people hold the newer licence as they are restricted to 3500Kg's, irrespective of whether this is a single vehicle, or a vehicle towing a trailer within the towing vehicles permitted weight; if this train exceeds 3500Kg's you are breaking the law.

Confusion also arises from European legislation which has tried to abolish this exemption for motor caravans, but was NOT successful in being passed, and many people asumed it would be passed.

Further confusion also arises from the fact that most people assume you must have a tachograph fitted as it exceeds 3500Kg as most other vehicles do. This tacho legislation only applies to commercial vehicles, not leisure vehicles and motor caravans can be classed as either private or commercial vehicles, but it is assumed they are classed as private vehicles unless they are registered to a registered company for use by those employed by that company.

Confusing it certainly is.

References ?

My own written clarification from the DVLA when most of this confusion arose.

This was due to licence catagories, those issued Jan 1976-Dec 1985, those issued Jan 1986 - Dec 1996 which re-catagorised many of the previous classes of vehicles from 76 to 86, and added restrictions such as weight limited to 7,500KG and a maximum towing weight of 750Kg for a maximum train weight of 8250Kg unless the vehicle had an IVA certificate.

Then the further changes from 1997 which altered so much such as not allowing those vehicles which are IVA exempt to be driven on these licences, banned anyone from driving above 3500Kg unless they took a LGV of the appropriate class, and even stopped trailers unless a seperate test was taken.

I can't post links yet but from directgov about motor caravans

Category C1

With this category you can drive vehicles with a MAM over 3500 kilograms but less than 7500 kilograms with a trailer no heavier than 750 kilograms. To tow a heavier trailer you'll need category C1+E.

I know people who have bought bedford MJ who have had to downrate from 9.5 tonnes to 7,5 tonnes to legally drive it. I cannot find any primary references.

A friend of a friend had to take an HGV test to legally drive an american motorhome weighing 12 tonnes, and he passed his test in the 60's

Can you post up your DVLA communication so we can all benefit from it ?

Cheers

Rich

No, this is an annual communication between the DVLA and my companies, and contains information i will not post online.

I can understand that - no problem

But my recommendation/view still stands and would be the advice I would give to anyone looking at a truck heavier than 3.5 tonnes for an expedition camper would be to look at their license carefully.

If you have a pre '97 license then stick to under 7.5 tonnes (man 8.136) + possibly a 750kg trailer
Pre '97 and greater than 7.5 tonnes (bedford mj or daf) , go take a test to uprate your license

If you have a post '97 license then go take the test to uprate your license

These limits are very clear and printed on your license, so you can argue with Vosa / Plod and also are obvious to overseas plod etc.

I cannot find any documentation that says a Motor Caravan classification trumps the weight limits. Assasins limits may be true , I have no way of verifying it , but if you get pulled and plod/vosa say no then you will not be able to continue your journey unless you can supply a driver with the correct license that they are happy with.

There is also the moral obligation - if you are driving a 12.5 tonne truck then you should really have been trained to drive it for the safety of other people.

Rich