I often hear on radio that certain roads are closed to high sided vehicles but what is classed as a high sider?
I pull various sized trailers and have often wondered about it. If I have a 13’ trailer fully loaded it’s not going to go far where as a 16’ trailer may do. What’s your definition - or the radio term and even the law on high siders?
Just a little thought of the day bearing in mind the current conditions in certain areas.
I’ve had a 16’ 1" double decker on today and it wasn’t funny 
The Forth Road Bridge operators at one time (probably still do) used to define anything over the height of a standard transit panel van as high sided. So a luton was deemed too tall.
Pleased you asked this as I’ve been wondering the same…
snab:
The Forth Road Bridge operators at one time (probably still do) used to define anything over the height of a standard transit panel van as high sided. So a luton was deemed too tall.
Spot on - and if very extreme then cars only or sometimes nowt at all can use it
im sure when its really windy the severn bridge closes for vehicles over 12"6 and my trailer is 12"6 
i pulled a 15ft 7 over shap today & my heart jumped a couple of times as there was very little on the trl & the wind snapped 4 of my straps 
Each bridge will have it’s own perameters due to the design.
For example the new Severn bridge can take higher vehicles in a crosswind than the old Severn bridge
When the bridge on the M62 at Goole has ‘high sider’ restrictions on it, we go across it, at 13ft 3in without any problems.
(well, we used to,before being confined to the midlands 
)
In fact that applied to most bridges in the UK.
ivor biggin:
i pulled a 15ft 7 over shap today & my heart jumped a couple of times as there was very little on the trl & the wind snapped 4 of my straps
I’ve had a 19’ trailer fully loaded 60’ length over Shap in the snow and blizzards - 60 mph and never blinked an eye…this was in the 60’s of course
A 19’ trailer??
So how well did it go under the Motorway 16’ 6" bridges??
Just curious… 
Rick B:
ivor biggin:
i pulled a 15ft 7 over shap today & my heart jumped a couple of times as there was very little on the trl & the wind snapped 4 of my strapsI’ve had a 19’ trailer fully loaded 60’ length over Shap in the snow and blizzards - 60 mph and never blinked an eye…this was in the 60’s of course
now then that would be in the days of no cab heater,& a half bottle for company!! 
Was in donington services southbound about 1pm when a 14ft blue curtain sider pulled by steward transport rolled in being escorted by police and the highways agency, wind had caught the trailer and the supports had given way, whole lot had almost fallen flat, only the goods inside kept it sort of upright, looked a right mess
backside twitching pulling empty, blusts of winds take you out, and as for the bloke with his 19 foot trailer should of climbed it and stuck a flag in the top than drive it, 
They dont let anything over 6ft or motorbikes cross the M48 (old severn bridge) when there are strong winds.
Rick B:
ivor biggin:
i pulled a 15ft 7 over shap today & my heart jumped a couple of times as there was very little on the trl & the wind snapped 4 of my strapsI’ve had a 19’ trailer fully loaded 60’ length over Shap in the snow and blizzards - 60 mph and never blinked an eye…this was in the 60’s of course
You can try the B***it on the younguns, Rick, but I WAS going over shap in the 60s, and if you didnt blink an eye with that lot you aint got eyelids.
on a point of order
there is no old Severn Bridge
theres just a Severn Bridge
and a Second Severn Crossing
To local people on either side of the river there will always be “An Old Severn Bridge” and a “New Severn Bridge”.
The chances of a vehicle being blown over increase when the walls join the roof at right angles,i.e.90 degrees,Those where the join is made via a convex curve have better aerodynamics and take more effort to blow over.I remember seeing it demonstrated on TV once upon a time.
Seems timely to resurrect this one…
My 12’ puddle-jumper spent a bit of time up on 2 wheels today. 50p-20p-50p-20p time, took me ages to iron the pinch marks out of the seat…
Anyway. I’m due to head across the A66 tomorrow, which is currently ‘closed to high-sided vehicles’. What height do they mean in this case?
