Am I reading this right?

[Emubiker]

Ok, still looking for a tow car but wanted to check that I am readin the Gov't website correctly regarding my class B licence:

Gov't said:

"Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM."

So I could only tow my trailer (Max gross weight 1360kg) with a car which has a kerb weight of equal or more than this but which does not have a gross weight exceeding 2140kg (3500kg-1360kg).

Thought appreciated.

Just ralised I missed the "g" in reading

Edited by Emubiker on Sunday 3rd April 00:20

[RA500]

If the car on trailer + trailer is 1360kg then the tow car needs to be 2140kg or less providing the tow vehicle is capable of towing 1360kg


[quote]
Car licences obtained before 1 January 1997

If you passed a car test before 1 January 1997 you keep your existing entitlement to tow trailers until your licence expires. This means you're generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM). You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.

Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997

If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.
The car and trailer practical driving test

The car and trailer test (B+E) is based on the lorry driving test and lasts for approximately one hour. Please note that B+E tests are conducted at vocational (bus and lorry) driving test centres.

The towing test (B+E) includes:

* vehicle safety questions
* an off-road reverse manoeuvre
* a controlled stop
* uncoupling and coupling of the trailer and driving on the road

Your practical driving test will include approximately ten minutes of independent driving. This is designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions independently.


[/quote]

I'm not sure if they enforce it as I was stopped by VOSA in a LR Discovery with a 1 ton trailer with a 4 ton load and they didn't have a problem
(I was only going 1 mile to the tip)

[Liquid Knight]

Cat' B vehicles are for parts only.

[Emubiker]

[quote=RA500]If the car on trailer + trailer is 1360kg then the tow car needs to be 2140kg or less providing the tow vehicle is capable of towing 1360kg
quote]

And that the kerb wight of the car must also be more than 1360kg?

[RA500]

providing the tow vehicle is capable of towing 1360kg

[sjabrown]

It is confusing. I looked into a suitable car for trailering the rally car (pug weighs about 860kg unladen) but when I did the sums I couldn't find anything that was suitable by the time you add in tyres, spares, fuel and passenger - the weights were normally over. Still trying to get time to do the trailer test but I'd rather that than be caught out.

[Emubiker]

sjabrown said:

It is confusing. I looked into a suitable car for trailering the rally car (pug weighs about 860kg unladen) but when I did the sums I couldn't find anything that was suitable by the time you add in tyres, spares, fuel and passenger - the weights were normally over. Still trying to get time to do the trailer test but I'd rather that than be caught out.

Saab 9-3's and some vectra's seem to be coming in ok as tow cars atm

[Emubiker]

RA500 said:

providing the tow vehicle is capable of towing 1360kg

I did see that in your post, but there are quite a lot of cars whose towing capacity is greater than their kerb weight. Vlovo v40s, audi A3s, etc