towing a trailer
Discussion
The age has not got anything to do with it. If your friend passed his test after january 1997 he will have B but not E (towing). This does not prevent him towing as long as the car kerb weight is more than the MPTLM (Maximum Permissable Technical Laden Mass or maximum gross weight as it was known) of the trailer, and the combination of the vehicle maximum laden weight plus MPTLM (the train weight)does not exceed 3500kg. To put this in context a Honda CRV has maximum laden weight of 2000kg and a large single axle caravan a MPTLM of 1400kg so he would be able to drive this combination.
This applies to a braked trailer, if unbraked the trailer MPTLM must not exceed 750kg and you can tow with a combined weight of trailer MPTLM and tow vehicle kerb weight up to 4.250kg.
>> Edited by rewc on Monday 20th March 16:49
This applies to a braked trailer, if unbraked the trailer MPTLM must not exceed 750kg and you can tow with a combined weight of trailer MPTLM and tow vehicle kerb weight up to 4.250kg.
>> Edited by rewc on Monday 20th March 16:49
just read all of that (from the link) several times and still don't feel 100% about what it's saying?
for example, at one point is states "the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle."
which fly's in the face of "Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle"
now, with larger 4x4's etc, the manufactures recommend maximum tow weights are way over the unladen weight???
also, how do you apply this to 5th wheel trailers on pick-ups?
for example, at one point is states "the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle."
which fly's in the face of "Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle"
now, with larger 4x4's etc, the manufactures recommend maximum tow weights are way over the unladen weight???
also, how do you apply this to 5th wheel trailers on pick-ups?
Slightly O/T - seen all these bits on here about extras got with car licence ---got mine well before 1997 - more like 1967 but have c1/d1/be/c1e/d1e - looked at DVLA site - it's as clear as mud on what i can and can't drive - and since i've recently been diagnosed with diabetes ( tablets only) and only need to notify ( which i've done).Are there any restrictions now or in future .
Also - no points on it( print getting faint) - but licence now held together with tape - any restrictions on physical state of licence.Don't really want to change it as if i need a new one for medical reasons in next few years i don't have to pay for a photo one.
Also - no points on it( print getting faint) - but licence now held together with tape - any restrictions on physical state of licence.Don't really want to change it as if i need a new one for medical reasons in next few years i don't have to pay for a photo one.
scuffham said:
just read all of that (from the link) several times and still don't feel 100% about what it's saying?
for example, at one point is states "the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle."
which fly's in the face of "Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle"
now, with larger 4x4's etc, the manufactures recommend maximum tow weights are way over the unladen weight???
also, how do you apply this to 5th wheel trailers on pick-ups?
If you have B + E licence, which you would have got automatically if you passed your car test prior to 1997, you can legally tow a trailer, with a vehicle that has a MAM of up to 3500kg, as long as it does not exceed the towing vehicles towing and train weight limits set by the manufacturer. As you have pointed out in the case of Landrover Discovery etc. the maximum tow can be far in excess of the vehicles unladen weight. The towing limit is a technical limit on the vehicle being able to restart on a 12% slope at sea level. It is not a measure of how stable the combination will be and you would be very unwise to tow a 4 ton load with one on the open road.
It was normal practice to also give C1+E which allows the tow vehicle between 3500 kg to 7500kg, with the combined weight of vehicle and trailer up to 12,000kg.
If you passed your test after Jan 1997 and only have B licence you can only tow a trailer (braked) which has a MAM that is the same (100%) or less than the unladen weight of the tow vehicle and where the train weight is less than 3500kg.
theconrodkid said:
cheers chaps,further info,it is a transit 35cwt van about half loaded and trailer will weigh about 2 ish tons.
do you just get some practice in and book a test as you would a driving test?
he hasnt got long to do it in!
I have some experience in towing having been taught in the army and have caravanned for over 20 years. In my opinion your friend needs to take care if he is planning the journey you described. Even if he has passed the additional towing test I think he is very inexperienced an there will be every chance of the tail wagging the dog.
As told by the examiner at Garretts Green in Birmingham 'the only difference between this test (the trailer test) and a practical class 1 HGV test is you don't have to have a medical'.They will test to that standard. Don't think it's just hitch the trailer on, reverse it into a parking space and un-hitch it again. They take you out for at least 45 minutes driving around. You need more than a bit of practice!!
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