Towing. Sort of

[Slow]

Am 18 so i cant use a trailer? Not going to do a test for one if i can yet.

If i drive a classic range rover 4.3l would i be able to tow a classic mini?

The mini isnt insured so cant drive it.

Wondering as i would like to take my mates mini down to knockhill.

[iva cosworth]

The mini needs insurance for starters if the wheels are on the road

[Slow]

So i couldnt have its front on like a frame so just the backs are running?

[NateWM]

Slow said:

So i couldnt have its front on like a frame so just the backs are running?

Nope!

[iva cosworth]

Slow said:

So i couldnt have its front on like a frame so just the backs are running?

I am no law expert but fairly certain that's not allowed either

[Slow]

Would running 1 day insurance and then just towing it be fine?

[Slow]

"a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500 kilograms (kg) Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (with a combined weight of up to 4,250kg in total)"


The mini weights about 650 kgs so if i find a trailer under 100kgs i can tow it on a standard licence?

[Condi]

Slow said:

"a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500 kilograms (kg) Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (with a combined weight of up to 4,250kg in total)"


The mini weights about 650 kgs so if i find a trailer under 100kgs i can tow it on a standard licence?

Yes.

But good luck getting a trailer strong enough to hold the mini under 100kg.

[Slow]

"a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen or ‘kerb’ weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)"

Cant find the weight of the range rover classic 4.3 lse as its slightly bigger than the standard one.

But i could then have like a 300 kgs trailer?

[Dimski]

Slow said:

"a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen or ‘kerb’ weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)"

Cant find the weight of the range rover classic 4.3 lse as its slightly bigger than the standard one.

But i could then have like a 300 kgs trailer?

The trailer can weigh more than 750kg as long as its MAM (that's Maximum Authorised Mass) is less than the kerbweight of the Range Rover, AND the entire weight of everything, range rover, you, passengers, kit, trailer and car weighs less than 3500.

So, a Range Rover towing trailer suitable for a mini should be ok. A range rover towing a trailer that is capable of carrying another range rover, even if it is only loaded with a mini is not.

As I said, that's how I understood it...

(Someone can correct me if I've got this wrong. )

[Slow]

Dimski said:

The trailer can weigh more than 750kg as long as its MAM (that's Maximum Authorised Mass) is less than the kerbweight of the Range Rover, AND the entire weight of everything, range rover, you, passengers, kit, trailer and car weighs less than 3500.

So, a Range Rover towing trailer suitable for a mini should be ok. A range rover towing a trailer that is capable of carrying another range rover, even if it is only loaded with a mini is not.

As I said, that's how I understood it...

(Someone can correct me if I've got this wrong. )

Thats how i read it.

If i got pulled over how would they check that it isnt over 3500?

[4key]

Does the range rover have a roof rack?

[Slow]

4key said:

Does the range rover have a roof rack?

No minis shall be on my mums cars roof XD

Also if i got a 2500 kg land cruiser if i stripped weight down by removing seats in boot and stuff.

Would cops just base the weight off stock or do they weigh it?

Looking at trying to get down to about 2200 then i have 1300 for trailer and car?

Nice e36 striped down to all but seat would be sub 1000 i hope =D Then i have 300 for trailer. Or something like this.

[Dimski]

Slow said:

Dimski said:

The trailer can weigh more than 750kg as long as its MAM (that's Maximum Authorised Mass) is less than the kerbweight of the Range Rover, AND the entire weight of everything, range rover, you, passengers, kit, trailer and car weighs less than 3500.

So, a Range Rover towing trailer suitable for a mini should be ok. A range rover towing a trailer that is capable of carrying another range rover, even if it is only loaded with a mini is not.

As I said, that's how I understood it...

(Someone can correct me if I've got this wrong. )

Thats how i read it.

If i got pulled over how would they check that it isnt over 3500?

If they are that worried they would direct to you a weighbridge. (AFAIK)

I would not advocate unsafe towing, but as long as the trailer isn't obviously too small or light for the car (or so large it looks like it belongs behind a truck cab) I think they won't pay that much attention to a Range Rover towing a mini.


I tow a Brain James 1400 (it can take a car up to 900kgs, normally loaded with a 500kg Locost, or 650kg Morgan) and I've never had so much as a second glance while towing.

[Dimski]

Slow said:

Also if i got a 2500 kg land cruiser if i stripped weight down by removing seats in boot and stuff.

Would cops just base the weight off stock or do they weigh it?

Looking at trying to get down to about 2200 then i have 1300 for trailer and car?

Nice e36 striped down to all but seat would be sub 1000 i hope =D Then i have 300 for trailer. Or something like this.

I don't know how they check, but suspect that they'd probably use the standard kerbweight as a figure.

Also, it isn't that the trailer and mini must be less than 1300, it is that the trailer's MAM must be less than 1300.

And, that is without considering the weight of you, passengers, spares and kit. To be honest, when using a towcar that heavy it limits you quite quickly.

[Distant]

Guys, the actual weight of the combination is not relevant, its the MAM you need to go by. I guess a RR MAM will be close to 3.5 tonnes anyway, therefore you need to find out the maximum permissable weight of the car (trailer), if its less than 750kg you're fine, more and you're not.

[GreatGranny]

Just take the bloody test and then you don't have to fath with stripping out cars etc..

[oldcynic]

Dimski said:

I would not advocate unsafe towing, but as long as the trailer isn't obviously too small or light for the car (or so large it looks like it belongs behind a truck cab) I think they won't pay that much attention to a Range Rover towing a mini.

The police may not give it a second glance unless there's an accident, likewise the insurers would take a dim view (as in not paying out) if anything went wrong and they did the maths. Anything to keep their premiums down line their own pockets.

[Dimski]

Distant said:

Guys, the actual weight of the combination is not relevant, its the MAM you need to go by. I guess a RR MAM will be close to 3.5 tonnes anyway, therefore you need to find out the maximum permissable weight of the car (trailer), if its less than 750kg you're fine, more and you're not.

I freely admit I could have misunderstood this, but I thought the RR MAM was irrlevant.

DVLA said:

Licences held from 1 January 1997

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B (car) licence, you can drive either:

a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500 kilograms (kg) Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (with a combined weight of up to 4,250kg in total)
a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen or ‘kerb’ weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)

Surely it is the second point that applies, with less than 3,500kg total. It doesn't mention the MAM of the towcar, only the trailer...

[samdale]

Dimski said:

I think they won't pay that much attention to a Range Rover towing a mini.

Might pay a bit more attention to an 18 year old driving a range rover and towing though.

Dimski said:

I tow a Brain James 1400 (it can take a car up to 900kgs, normally loaded with a 500kg Locost, or 650kg Morgan) and I've never had so much as a second glance while towing.

<bitter, jealous and a distinct lack of symbols on licence> At a guess I'd say you're old and qualified </bitter, jealous and a distinct lack of symbols on licence>

The OP does seem to have it right though. As long as the towed weight is less than the driven weight and the whole lot is under 3.5t then you're fine. Driven weight is of course unladen.

If the range is 2t you have 1.5t spare but you'd have to take your weight into account (say 80kg) then you've only got 1.42t to play with.