Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

[jagracer]

Zoobeef said:

Just a quick question. Trying to find another trailer after mine was stolen. Helpfully no-one selling a trailer states how long, wide or how much they can carry.

Just asked one guy and he says the plate says
Top 850
Middle 1200
Bottom 850

It's a brian james tiltbed, can anyone relate that to its capacity?

Cheers.

MY BJ tilt bed plate is
Top - Unladen weight--500
Middle - Gross weight--1900
third one down - Max load per axle--920
bottom - carrying capacity--1400

the top figure seems heavy if it's a car trailer

Edited by jagracer on Saturday 4th July 16:26

[Zoobeef]

Which is why I'm confused as it's a brian james clubman twin axle transporter similar to my old one which was 400kg unladen, 1800kg mam.

If it means 1200kg mam and 852kg carrying capacity then it's too small.

[jagracer]

If the third one down is the axle capacity then It's got to be a gross weight of around 1650-1700kg, I just cant see a clubman weighing 850kg empty maybe he's read them wrong as my plate is fairly hard to read now due to oxidisation.
Have you seen a photo that it is a twin axle and not a single?

Edited by jagracer on Saturday 4th July 18:44

[R0G]

This is what one looks like

[Zoobeef]

I assume he just cocked up reading it. Seems too low for what I want anyway and the auction has just finished.
I'll keep looking, cheers.

[jagracer]

R0G said:

This is what one looks like

Same as mine apart from mine has 60kg more capacity

[evilmiyagi]

LICENCE
B or B+E = B

VEHICLE
GVW = 2100
Towing capacity = 2000

TRAILER
Un-laden/empty = 550
MAM = 1500

based on that I'd assume I can't tow? but I've read elsewhere that its actually based on Kerb Weight for the vehicle rather than gross which is c. 1650

EM

[Super Slo Mo]

Yep, you're 100 KG's over the limit for a 'B' licence.

[evilmiyagi]

Super Slo Mo said:

Yep, you're 100 KG's over the limit for a 'B' licence.

thought as much...

edit - so if I can find a Brian James CT1 at 1300 kg I would be ok to tow?

Edited by evilmiyagi on Tuesday 4th August 11:15

[R0G]

If its your trailer then simply contact the trailer manufacturer and get it down plated from 1500 to 1400

That will reduce the trailer load potential from 950 to 850 kg

[Simon832]

Depends when you passed your test too. If it was after 1997, then the combined actual weight of the car + trailer must be less than 3500kg so you might be OK. If you passed after 19th Jan 2013 then the MAM of the car + trailer must be less than 3500kg.

ETA: source - https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

Edited by Simon832 on Wednesday 5th August 08:38

[R0G]

Simon832 said:

Depends when you passed your test too. If it was after 1997, then the combined actual weight of the car + trailer must be less than 3500kg so you might be OK. If you passed after 19th Jan 2013 then the MAM of the car + trailer must be less than 3500kg.

ETA: source - https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

Edited by Simon832 on Wednesday 5th August 08:38

OP stated B licence

[evilmiyagi]

R0G said:

OP stated B licence

Yeah, I'm B class license from 2002. So should be fine...

[BMW343]

Hi all

Hopefully you can help me
I'm looking to buy a trailer and looking for advice / guidelines

I have a cat B license held since September 1997

I have a Defender 110 which will be used as the tow car

What I'm looking for advice is what is the maximum trailer size / load I can tow with this combo

I know I can have a small trailer up to 750Kg but they are a little on the small size.

But I'm looking for a double axle trailer with sides and brakes to take rubbish so the dump and that type of stuff . General garden waste. i.e. home user not a professional hauling large lawn mowers or the like

So I'm trying to maximize the trailer / load size while staying with the rules of a cat B license. I'm not in position at the moment to take the Cat e exam.

Land Rover Defender details
EEC Kerb Weight 2020 Kg (I think closer to 1887kg)
Gross Vehicle weight 3050
Gross Train Weight 6550Kg

Any guidance is most appreciated

Many thanks

T.

[R0G]

BMW343 said:

Hi all

Hopefully you can help me
I'm looking to buy a trailer and looking for advice / guidelines

I have a cat B license held since September 1997

I have a Defender 110 which will be used as the tow car

What I'm looking for advice is what is the maximum trailer size / load I can tow with this combo

I know I can have a small trailer up to 750Kg but they are a little on the small size.

But I'm looking for a double axle trailer with sides and brakes to take rubbish so the dump and that type of stuff . General garden waste. i.e. home user not a professional hauling large lawn mowers or the like

So I'm trying to maximize the trailer / load size while staying with the rules of a cat B license. I'm not in position at the moment to take the Cat e exam.

Land Rover Defender details
EEC Kerb Weight 2020 Kg (I think closer to 1887kg)
Gross Vehicle weight 3050
Gross Train Weight 6550Kg

Any guidance is most appreciated

Many thanks

T.

Max trailer plated MAM for you = 750kgs on a B licence

you need a vehicle with a lower GVW

[Slow]

R0G said:

BMW343 said:

Hi all

Hopefully you can help me
I'm looking to buy a trailer and looking for advice / guidelines

I have a cat B license held since September 1997

I have a Defender 110 which will be used as the tow car

What I'm looking for advice is what is the maximum trailer size / load I can tow with this combo

I know I can have a small trailer up to 750Kg but they are a little on the small size.

But I'm looking for a double axle trailer with sides and brakes to take rubbish so the dump and that type of stuff . General garden waste. i.e. home user not a professional hauling large lawn mowers or the like

So I'm trying to maximize the trailer / load size while staying with the rules of a cat B license. I'm not in position at the moment to take the Cat e exam.

Land Rover Defender details
EEC Kerb Weight 2020 Kg (I think closer to 1887kg)
Gross Vehicle weight 3050
Gross Train Weight 6550Kg

Any guidance is most appreciated

Many thanks

T.

Max trailer plated MAM for you = 750kgs on a B licence

you need a vehicle with a lower GVW

You also say your not in a position to do the test?

Its about £150 including a hours practice before to learn the tricks for the test.

[R0G]

Cost depends on experience and competency of the driver

[Slow]

Just assumed as he seemed confident enough with a trailer already haha

[BMW343]

Thank you for the information

Looks like I will have to do the test so

Timing is the issue at the moment -- new baby just arrived, new house move

Handy enough at towing and reversing so I suppose I should just crack on with it and apply for a B+E learner permit and get the test done

No time like the present

[Slow]

You already have it on your licence. You only need to do a test.