Towing Rules?
21-09-2011, 05:13 PM
#1
I'm Finding My Feet Here Now
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Towing Rules?
Just been on DVLA website to try figure out towing rules, and now im confused even more!!
Basically, I past my test after 1997.
The car is a Ford Focus TDCI on a 03 plate.
Im looking to tow a flatbed trailer and a car.
Can I tow this legally, or do I have to do a trailer licence?
Basically, I past my test after 1997.
The car is a Ford Focus TDCI on a 03 plate.
Im looking to tow a flatbed trailer and a car.
Can I tow this legally, or do I have to do a trailer licence?
21-09-2011, 05:14 PM
#2
Lucifer II - 666
afaik you have to do a test because of when you passed.
21-09-2011, 05:40 PM
#7
PassionFord Post Troll
on a post 97 liscence you can drive a car of 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer upto 750kg MAM
OR
you can tow a trailer with a MAM greater than 750kg so long as the combined train MAM does not exceed 3,500kg.
even if you are within these limits you can NOT exceed the towing capacity of the tow vehicle!!!!!!!!!! so you can't tow a focus on a trailer with a micra to keep within the licence weight limits.
to exceed the above you need to take a towing test and have the entiltement added on your licence.
thats the easy bit.
now you need to know what car your going to tow, on what SUITIBLE trailer and get the MAM figure of the trailer plate. if this exceeds the towing capacity of the focus you intend to tow with (even if you don't load the trailer to its MAM) then its illegal even if it falls within the 3,500kg train MAM rule which i suspect it won't!
and all this is before you've checked the trailer is in good working order, including the lights, fitted with the number plate of the tow vehicle and hooked up.
OR
you can tow a trailer with a MAM greater than 750kg so long as the combined train MAM does not exceed 3,500kg.
even if you are within these limits you can NOT exceed the towing capacity of the tow vehicle!!!!!!!!!! so you can't tow a focus on a trailer with a micra to keep within the licence weight limits.
to exceed the above you need to take a towing test and have the entiltement added on your licence.
thats the easy bit.
now you need to know what car your going to tow, on what SUITIBLE trailer and get the MAM figure of the trailer plate. if this exceeds the towing capacity of the focus you intend to tow with (even if you don't load the trailer to its MAM) then its illegal even if it falls within the 3,500kg train MAM rule which i suspect it won't!
and all this is before you've checked the trailer is in good working order, including the lights, fitted with the number plate of the tow vehicle and hooked up.
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21-09-2011, 06:07 PM
#8
PassionFord Post Whore!!
With or without trailer licence, The basic rule is, you can't legally tow a car on a trailer with a car,or a van up to and including SWB Transit size.
.
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21-09-2011, 06:56 PM
#11
PassionFord Post Whore!!
It's 99% correct, Ive tried to simplify it.
The exceptions would be a large or 4x4 car with high towing weight limit using a lightweight trailer to carry a stripped out car, track car or very small car.
.
21-09-2011, 07:26 PM
#12
10K+ Poster!!
I had this discussion with someone the other day, we were using a Lexus RX300 towing a large Brian James trailer with a 1300kg car on and I wasn't convinced it was within the rules or not.
21-09-2011, 08:33 PM
#13
PassionFord Post Whore!!
21-09-2011, 10:45 PM
#18
PassionFord Post Troll
there not exceptions to the rule as they ARE rated to tow that much. i don't know about the new stuff but certainly the old discovery's have a towing capacity of 3,500kg. i think your getting confused between towing capacity (what that vehicle is rated to tow) and kerb weight/MAM of just the tow vehicle as, using the example above, the disco's curb weight is around 2,000kg.
22-09-2011, 08:55 AM
#21
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
A lot of misinformation as usual!
As 1 person has said and got right, provided the MAM of the vehicle and what its towing do not exceed 3500kgs and the weight of the trailer doesn't exceed the limits of the car - its legal for post 97 licence holders to tow.
The 750kg limit is the maximum weight allowed for an unbraked trailer for anyone.
Best options for us with these licences if you don't want to do the test is to run a disco/d90/rangie or similar. They can tow 3500kgs and there's a few light single axle car trailers available allowing you around 1100kgs for a small car.
IIRC the old Kia Sorrento could tow over 2000kgs too as a cheaper alternative to a land rover product!
Heres the definitions for the categories - See Cat B:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ons/DG_4022547
If you intend to tow regularly and to remove all doubt its sensible to do your test, shopping around you can get it for between Ł4-600.
Also get yourself to a weighbridge and make sure you know 100% that you're within weight if you aren't doing the test. VOSA are sharp on towing limits, i may have posted it on here before but they recently setup shop outside a country show at Hickstead and checked all the weights etc... of traders and horse types.
As 1 person has said and got right, provided the MAM of the vehicle and what its towing do not exceed 3500kgs and the weight of the trailer doesn't exceed the limits of the car - its legal for post 97 licence holders to tow.
The 750kg limit is the maximum weight allowed for an unbraked trailer for anyone.
Best options for us with these licences if you don't want to do the test is to run a disco/d90/rangie or similar. They can tow 3500kgs and there's a few light single axle car trailers available allowing you around 1100kgs for a small car.
IIRC the old Kia Sorrento could tow over 2000kgs too as a cheaper alternative to a land rover product!
Heres the definitions for the categories - See Cat B:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ons/DG_4022547
If you intend to tow regularly and to remove all doubt its sensible to do your test, shopping around you can get it for between Ł4-600.
Also get yourself to a weighbridge and make sure you know 100% that you're within weight if you aren't doing the test. VOSA are sharp on towing limits, i may have posted it on here before but they recently setup shop outside a country show at Hickstead and checked all the weights etc... of traders and horse types.
Last edited by mcst; 22-09-2011 at 08:59 AM. Reason: adding link
22-09-2011, 10:04 PM
#22
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22-09-2011, 10:06 PM
#23
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Also get yourself to a weighbridge and make sure you know 100% that you're within weight if you aren't doing the test. VOSA are sharp on towing limits, i may have posted it on here before but they recently setup shop outside a country show at Hickstead and checked all the weights etc... of traders and horse types.
22-09-2011, 10:40 PM
#24
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
Yep, mostly traders running double cabs and a box trailer for being over weights or not running a tacho.
Maybe a bit of chinese whispers but apparently they were pinning a few for driving hours too. Something like these horse types running a rangie and loaded horsebox and having worked all week then driving 7 hours to or from the show.
Maybe a bit of chinese whispers but apparently they were pinning a few for driving hours too. Something like these horse types running a rangie and loaded horsebox and having worked all week then driving 7 hours to or from the show.
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