Angles Morts

I have secured the leading edge of my magnetic stickers with a length of 3M Magic Tape.
Does the tape leave glue residue on the bodywork when removed?

I have recently purchased a set of magnetic signs for the cab doors and due to cab door panel shape there is not a flat surface on which to place the sign above the legal minimum height. So it has to go on a contoured section. When on the motorway I am concerned they might blow off so the 3M tape idea could save the day.
 
Before starting our current six month European trip (Schengen rules don’t apply), I was quite worried about payload because six months is quite a long time away and needs become a little more weighty. 3-4 week jollies - fine we can manage the woefully inadequate 3.5 all up weight limit and avoid the need to slap angle morts stickers/magnets on our van. We’ve spend quite a lot of time in France over the years and as previously mentioned here, when these stickers were made compulsory for vehicles over 3.5 tons, many of our favourite Aires became technically inaccessible because of the coincidently introduced road signs excluding traffic over 3.5 tons. We’ve seen dozens of motorhomes obviously over 3.5 tons proudly displaying their angles morts stickers (some even displayed in the right places on their vehicles!), but wondered when the locals/local gendarmerie will cotton on to the fact that overweight motorhomes are using roads which invalidate any insurance should a collision occur?

Luckily our friendly municipal tip has friendly staff who helped me not only with all up weight but front and back axle allowances as well. Our Chausson 630 typically had a woefully inadequate and exaggerated payload. I suspect many other manufacturers play the same game. SvTech up plated us to 4 tons at a reasonable price because someone ahead of us had done the same thing on our particular choice of vehicle so the number crunching had already been done. Like many people here I suspect C1 licences abound so weight up plating isn’t an issue. Very simple to down plate should health issues dictate.

I don’t display angle morts stickers for the following reasons.

1. We have a Mororhome with a footprint no larger than all others plated at 3.5 tons. They are deemed safe to be allowed on the roads without any warning sign requirement. Since March we have recently crossed our 20th European border and have been searched once leaving Turkey to the island of Chios (Greece), token search. Chios to Piraeus was just like the Mersey ferry (ok a 9 hour Mersey Ferry 😉). We were stopped about 20 miles into Sweden near Mo I Rana by border police, politely questioned, lovely guys nice conversation then waved on. No questions about angle morts and no search.

2. I’d sooner worry about insurance validity whilst in running order than a European directives dictating a sticker requirement that may or may not actually apply. I proudly display my GBM sticker on the back of our van in the knowledge that we have never belonged to Europe, we don’t need to change to a U.K. sticker just because some spiteful EU directive considered GB offensive to people from N.I. Were you offended Trev? I thought you were from the U.K. anyway? 🤣.

By the by we met an English couple who put their motorhome in storage in Bulgaria so they could go visit family. When they returned the owner of the storage facility refused to take money from them because he thought their new U.K. sticker meant they were Ukrainian. Not the first time Europeans on this trip have mentioned this to us - perhaps a great time for U.K. travelers?

3. I’d sooner pay a fine for not displaying the angles morts sticker/magnetic encumbrance than have our insurance company renege on cover because of weight infringement either by being overweight on a road leading to a desired location, or being stopped and weighed only to find that the lovely salesman who sold us a machine capable of travelling to the moon and back was a little bit of a fibber.

4. It’s easy and not outrageously expensive to down plate again, could even be a selling point depending on prospective buyers needs.

In Greece right now, I’ll keep you posted should any officious border person question why we aren’t displaying angle morts stickers/magnetic plates in entirely the exact places according to the specific EU directive. 😉👍🇮🇲
Why do Schengen rules not apply to you ?
 
Before starting our current six month European trip (Schengen rules don’t apply), I was quite worried about payload because six months is quite a long time away and needs become a little more weighty. 3-4 week jollies - fine we can manage the woefully inadequate 3.5 all up weight limit and avoid the need to slap angle morts stickers/magnets on our van. We’ve spend quite a lot of time in France over the years and as previously mentioned here, when these stickers were made compulsory for vehicles over 3.5 tons, many of our favourite Aires became technically inaccessible because of the coincidently introduced road signs excluding traffic over 3.5 tons. We’ve seen dozens of motorhomes obviously over 3.5 tons proudly displaying their angles morts stickers (some even displayed in the right places on their vehicles!), but wondered when the locals/local gendarmerie will cotton on to the fact that overweight motorhomes are using roads which invalidate any insurance should a collision occur?

Luckily our friendly municipal tip has friendly staff who helped me not only with all up weight but front and back axle allowances as well. Our Chausson 630 typically had a woefully inadequate and exaggerated payload. I suspect many other manufacturers play the same game. SvTech up plated us to 4 tons at a reasonable price because someone ahead of us had done the same thing on our particular choice of vehicle so the number crunching had already been done. Like many people here I suspect C1 licences abound so weight up plating isn’t an issue. Very simple to down plate should health issues dictate.

I don’t display angle morts stickers for the following reasons.

1. We have a Mororhome with a footprint no larger than all others plated at 3.5 tons. They are deemed safe to be allowed on the roads without any warning sign requirement. Since March we have recently crossed our 20th European border and have been searched once leaving Turkey to the island of Chios (Greece), token search. Chios to Piraeus was just like the Mersey ferry (ok a 9 hour Mersey Ferry 😉). We were stopped about 20 miles into Sweden near Mo I Rana by border police, politely questioned, lovely guys nice conversation then waved on. No questions about angle morts and no search.

2. I’d sooner worry about insurance validity whilst in running order than a European directives dictating a sticker requirement that may or may not actually apply. I proudly display my GBM sticker on the back of our van in the knowledge that we have never belonged to Europe, we don’t need to change to a U.K. sticker just because some spiteful EU directive considered GB offensive to people from N.I. Were you offended Trev? I thought you were from the U.K. anyway? 🤣.

By the by we met an English couple who put their motorhome in storage in Bulgaria so they could go visit family. When they returned the owner of the storage facility refused to take money from them because he thought their new U.K. sticker meant they were Ukrainian. Not the first time Europeans on this trip have mentioned this to us - perhaps a great time for U.K. travelers?

3. I’d sooner pay a fine for not displaying the angles morts sticker/magnetic encumbrance than have our insurance company renege on cover because of weight infringement either by being overweight on a road leading to a desired location, or being stopped and weighed only to find that the lovely salesman who sold us a machine capable of travelling to the moon and back was a little bit of a fibber.

4. It’s easy and not outrageously expensive to down plate again, could even be a selling point depending on prospective buyers needs.

In Greece right now, I’ll keep you posted should any officious border person question why we aren’t displaying angle morts stickers/magnetic plates in entirely the exact places according to the specific EU directive. 😉👍🇮🇲
I am a bit confused by this. If you have up plated your vehicle to 4 tonnes and that is on the V5 then under any circumstances your vehicle is considered to be 4tonnes. I believe (but may be wrong) that displaying the stickers is a legal requirement so there is no technical about it, you will be breaking the law without them. Once rated at 4t any legal restrictions will apply whether or not you display stickers.

Of course I may know of laws I may chose to ignore at my own risk and this is exactly what you are doing so I don’t have any problem, you pays your money you takes your chance and all that. I am just confused on why you think there is a difference in what could happen by displaying the signs or not. I haven’t been awake too long though so it could just be my head not working yet 😁
 
My motorhome is rated at 4,100kg and that is confirmed on the new VIN plate, V5C and the .GOV site so i am required " by law " to display them in France.

For those that wish not to display them when required and then get caught the old saying springs to mind ................................................................

Don`t come running to me when you break your leg o_O:eek:🤪:eek:
 
It's an easy law/rule to follow imho. Yes it displays to the world that you are over 3500kg but having had 2 months in Spain and a month in France so far this year it hasn't inhibited us at all. Being 5t in weight I am watchful for weight no go areas anyway.
 
Look for a pack of 3 on Ebay - 2 magnetic for the doors and one sticky one for the rear.
 
3 needed, look at the graphics for where to place them.


A Gendarme was very interested when he saw the Camping Car on mine and asked where i`d got them, i have these ones.

 
You only need them stupid stickers in Urban Areas.
How the French determine an urban area is anyone's guess

Ps, I forgot to buy some, 2 months I forgot for 🤔
 
Instead of sticking the one on the rear panel I'm just making a panel and bracket, then I will drill and tap the rear bumper bar so I can remove it when we are back in the UK, It may be a bit on the low side as it should start a 900mm high, but will be clearly visible. I'll post a picture when finished.
I tried my mock bracket on the rear bumper today, and basically it looked crap, so I'll do the same as everyone else and stick the back one on, but what I'll do is cut a 10mm boarder off the backing so it will not be stuck in the middle 150mm x 230mm so easier to peel off for the other 50 weeks of the year we don't need them.
 
I am a bit confused by this. If you have up plated your vehicle to 4 tonnes and that is on the V5 then under any circumstances your vehicle is considered to be 4tonnes. I believe (but may be wrong) that displaying the stickers is a legal requirement so there is no technical about it, you will be breaking the law without them. Once rated at 4t any legal restrictions will apply whether or not you display stickers.

Of course I may know of laws I may chose to ignore at my own risk and this is exactly what you are doing so I don’t have any problem, you pays your money you takes your chance and all that. I am just confused on why you think there is a difference in what could happen by displaying the signs or not. I haven’t been awake too long though so it could just be my head not working yet 😁
Don’t have a V5 and the only country I’ve seen motorhomes displaying these stickers routinely is France, on vehicles obviously over the 3.5 ton limit, yet they are resting in places they could only have gained access to by nullifying their insurance. The growing number of roads in France prohibiting vehicles over 3.5 tons. No other country seems bothered in the slightest about angle morts stickers on Motorhomes.

As mentioned 20 EU borders crossed to date on this trip, two customs searches - no issues. Again as mentioned I only up plated for this trip because the majority of motorhomes in the 3.5 ton class prepared for a reasonably long trip (including ours) would be over weight - not insured should the unthinkable happen. Running the risk of a €135 fine for not displaying angles morts stickers on a vehicle that visually fits the criteria for a motorhome under 3,5 tons is fine with me, it’s only likely to happen in France if an overly zealous gendarme decides to check my weight plates and we’re only likely to be there on this trip for a short while.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that most motorhomes plated at 3.5 tons are over the limit once all extras are loaded up for a good spin. Hence my trips to our local friendly municipal tip with an accurate weigh bridge. It isn’t just the all up weight that matters either, overload front or rear axles and your friendly insurers are likely to fall out with you should the unimaginable happen.

This might not work for everyone, especially ardent Francophiles but it works for me 😉👍🇮🇲
 
Does the tape leave glue residue on the bodywork when removed?

I have recently purchased a set of magnetic signs for the cab doors and due to cab door panel shape there is not a flat surface on which to place the sign above the legal minimum height. So it has to go on a contoured section. When on the motorway I am concerned they might blow off so the 3M tape idea could save the day.
No residue, I've just removed my stickers after being attached for two months. That's why I chose that tape ...
 

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top