Rules on Towing
 

Does anyone know if I can legally tow a Lexus IS200 on a trailer with a 2007 S-Max 2.5T

To be honest mate you would prob be better off phoning dvla and asking and getting the name of the person u spoke to etc etc. That way there's no doubt.

Need to find out the max towing weight for your car should be in the handbook for it

also when did you pass your test mate?

looks like max tow weight for the 2.5T model is 1700kg, so even with the lightest trailers its going to be at or over limit

http://www.uktow.com/towing%20capaci...d&model1=S-Max

The towing thing is a minefield.

As a general rule you can't tow a car on a trailer of around the same weight as the car you are towing with.
As above the car will be over the limit without the trailer.

You need a 4wd Landrover or similar or Pickup to get a decent towing weight, most are capable of around 3500kg towing.

But it's your licence firstly that determines what weight you can tow.

I passed my test in 1993 and I also have HGV class 2 if that makes any difference although it's been at least 6 years from I drove a lorry

Try this first;

https://www.gov.uk/towing-rules

Believe it or not the lorry class doesn't influence what you can do in a car even towing.

As said check if you are allowed to tow that should show on your license.
Also as said the vehicle you intend to tow with will have a weight indicated on it.

You also need to be careful of the total train weight i believe.

Its a mine field out there :DD:

That would depend on your license, the trailer and weights of half a dozen different things.

apparently an IS200 curb weight is 1360kg, means u would need a 340kg trailer to be legal, so its not going to happen legally, but not to say it would tow it ok, i don't know why its such a low tow weight, my e320 merc estate diesel can to 2100kg, and my ford econoline van in america can tow about 6 ton

The SMAX is plated on the drivers door pillar at 4120kg for a braked trailer, the car is about 1600kg and the trailer 800kg and if the Lexus is about 1350kg that should be about 3750KG if my maths are good, yes i'm covered to tow a trailer with my licence as I done it for years in my last job pulling cars on a trailer only I used a Shogun or Landcruiser to do it.

Just as a bit of info.

You shouldn't be towing anything over 750kg unbraked

4120kg less the weight of car and contents and driver, ford give it a tow capacity of 1700kg that is the max you can tow, the 4120kg is to allow for a car full of people and belongings as well as being able to tow its max 1700kg, it doesn't mean you can put 4 ton behind it

May not be Not an S-Max, but a plate to demonstrate the above;

http://www.towbarexpress.co.uk/maximum-towing-weight

She done the job anyway Attachment 16181

I was looking at a mondeo st possibly to buy it looked very clean and well kept I did a mot cheak and found out it had advisorys on ball joints and suspension and other bits and bobs and next mot due soon also tow bar on back. Wouldnt touch with barge pole now as no doubt been previous owner has been towing too heavy and knackered car and decided to get rid befor it cost them lots

well there is 800kg right there just in the trailer, without the weight of car, VOSA would have thrown book at you, not to say i haven't done the same with my old mondeo

VOSA wouldnt do anything, they dont exist