Towbars and towing
Discussion
kambites said:
I think they changed the rules recently(ish). When we passed our tests we could either tow:
A trailer of up to 750kg behind a vehicle of up to 3500kg; or
A trailer of over 750kg assuming the combined MAM of the two is less than 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer is less than the unladen weight of the car.
I believe the change was to remove the second condition of the second rule (the bit which I've highlighted in bold).
I believe that is correct, yes. Though still requiring the trailer be lighter than the car (an 1800kg trailer behind a 1700kg car would be a no-no, even if it's still under 3500kg and the car is capable of it).A trailer of up to 750kg behind a vehicle of up to 3500kg; or
A trailer of over 750kg assuming the combined MAM of the two is less than 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer is less than the unladen weight of the car.
I believe the change was to remove the second condition of the second rule (the bit which I've highlighted in bold).
Edit: I'm also a B licence holder, and as with all the other restrictions introduced such as with motorbikes, I find it bloody irritating to be restricted compared to older drivers, but it is what it is.
One thing to menton if you're using a twin axle trailer is that if you need to move it manually at all, it can be much easier to wind up the nose on the jockey wheel so it's only running on one axle. Less scrubbing to wrestle against.
Edited by InitialDave on Thursday 31st May 15:34
I would take your B + E test. I sat mine a couple of weeks ago. £350 all in for lessons and test fee.
It’s not hard to do, just common sense for a lot of it really. Then yup don’t have to worry about weights etc.
I would book soon as the company I used was booked through till mid July for getting tests sat. It may vary from location though.
Witter tow bar for the car. Unless Nissan have a good factory option you can find on eBay.
It’s not hard to do, just common sense for a lot of it really. Then yup don’t have to worry about weights etc.
I would book soon as the company I used was booked through till mid July for getting tests sat. It may vary from location though.
Witter tow bar for the car. Unless Nissan have a good factory option you can find on eBay.
eltax91 said:
velocemitch said:
I would double check the weight. These were a pretty big van. You need to try and make sure the maximum permitted weight of the van is lower than the cars kerb weight. Or %85 if you can.
The weight in working order doesn’t cover anything inside, such as pots and pans, crockery etc. You might expect another 200 kg at least for that.
The maximum permissible mass of the van is 1500kg. The kerb weight of the qashqai is 1431kg..... So the plated MAM of the van is ever so slightly more.The weight in working order doesn’t cover anything inside, such as pots and pans, crockery etc. You might expect another 200 kg at least for that.
In reality the qashqai will have human beings and luggage in it, so will weigh maybe 1600-1700kg and the van will weigh less than 1400kg with the 200kg you suggest for personal effects? Still under the recommended 85% (1650kg x 85% = 1402kg)
Super Slo Mo said:
akirk said:
I suspect that it would be very difficult to build anti-sway into the tow hitch...
it has to work by detecting left right movement of the item being towed and effectively damping that - so it needs length to do that - usually either built into the item being towed, or as a separate add on - never seen it in a tow bar - and I have driven a vast variety of things with tow bars and towed all sorts of things...
https://www.towsure.com/snakemaster-swan-neck-stab...
is an example of an add-on, maybe that helps visualise how they work...?
Most caravans these days have anti sway tow hitches. Alko have been making them for years. A quick google will show up numerous versions. it has to work by detecting left right movement of the item being towed and effectively damping that - so it needs length to do that - usually either built into the item being towed, or as a separate add on - never seen it in a tow bar - and I have driven a vast variety of things with tow bars and towed all sorts of things...
https://www.towsure.com/snakemaster-swan-neck-stab...
is an example of an add-on, maybe that helps visualise how they work...?
The original way of doing it was to have an ‘anti-snake’ bar fitted. This required a bracket bolting to the car’s tow hitch, and one on the caravan A frame. The bar itself has a hinge that was friction damped.
Worked very well in my experience.
Either way, I would recommend some sort of sway control, it makes a huge difference.
HustleRussell said:
eltax91 said:
If i get lessons i guess i might as well spend the £400 and pass the towing test! Lessons will surely come to half that for 3-4 hours
I have to say, I’ve been towing small car trailers for coming up to 10 years now, since I was 19, and I am still thinking about doing my B+e so that I am less restricted… but I have looked into doing the test and it really annoys me how overpriced it all is and how determined efforts have been made to prevent me using my own car / trailer to take it (Who has a ton of gravel or aggregate in 20kg sacks or a cubic meter bulk container of water sitting around?)I have been legal at all times and never found towing difficult however the small car trailer will be easier to tow than a caravan which is more draggy, more susceptible to cross winds, slightly heavier etc.
I am lucky enough to be old enough to not need the test - but worth doing and if you have been towing small trailers, should be relatively easy...
A.J.M said:
I would take your B + E test. I sat mine a couple of weeks ago. £350 all in for lessons and test fee.
It’s not hard to do, just common sense for a lot of it really. Then yup don’t have to worry about weights etc.
I would book soon as the company I used was booked through till mid July for getting tests sat. It may vary from location though.
Witter tow bar for the car. Unless Nissan have a good factory option you can find on eBay.
Whereabouts are you? I’m struggling to find it locally for sub £500It’s not hard to do, just common sense for a lot of it really. Then yup don’t have to worry about weights etc.
I would book soon as the company I used was booked through till mid July for getting tests sat. It may vary from location though.
Witter tow bar for the car. Unless Nissan have a good factory option you can find on eBay.
I also took the trailer test about 2 years and luckily passed first time costing under £400 all in. However a lad I knew doing the test at the same time failed 3 times and ended off costing towards £2k or something ridiculous. My instructor lived in the North east, I've just tried to look him up but he must of retired. You've done well finding a combination under 3500 MAM as I tried all ways but gave up and took the test.
nxh66 said:
As someone said already the towing weights of the Cashcow are much lower than you may think.
Most are 1200-1400 range with some as low as 1000kg. More powerful diesels with 4wd can be up to 1800kg.
Yes. After a bit of research is seems I might actually end up with a bar on the Accord. It’s mam is almost identical (just a touch higher) to the cashcow but it’s tow capacity much higher. Most are 1200-1400 range with some as low as 1000kg. More powerful diesels with 4wd can be up to 1800kg.
eltax91 said:
WilliamWoollard said:
eltax91 said:
Whereabouts are you? I’m struggling to find it locally for sub £500
You have PM. I provide trailer training and can offer a PH discount.My son (30) did his towing training and test recently.
He said it was really well worth doing, as the instructor was excellent.
Think it cost him £500, so £350 is a good deal!!
He had talked me into going into caravanning, and he is now a named driver on my Range Rover Insurance.
(spoilt I know!)
So he can now drive the combined mass.
The RR can tow 3500kg, so total can be quite high.
We have a double axel van and the RR tows it easily!
The real thing I liked was selecting low ratio on the gear box, and then just releasing the brakes allows manoeuvring at tick over.
Me being theoldman, I am not restricted like you youngsters, but through work over the years have driven large trucks and towed a fair bit.
But I do think the extra training is a good idea and hopefully helps keep you youngsters safe!
He said it was really well worth doing, as the instructor was excellent.
Think it cost him £500, so £350 is a good deal!!
He had talked me into going into caravanning, and he is now a named driver on my Range Rover Insurance.
(spoilt I know!)
So he can now drive the combined mass.
The RR can tow 3500kg, so total can be quite high.
We have a double axel van and the RR tows it easily!
The real thing I liked was selecting low ratio on the gear box, and then just releasing the brakes allows manoeuvring at tick over.
Me being theoldman, I am not restricted like you youngsters, but through work over the years have driven large trucks and towed a fair bit.
But I do think the extra training is a good idea and hopefully helps keep you youngsters safe!
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