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

[DocSteve]

R0G said:

DocSteve said:

Hi,

I have tried to find an answer to this here and on the gov.uk website and I think I'm correct that this is not allowed...... but someone has told me that a police officer stated that if you are towing a trailer of <750kg with a suitable vehicle (and the whole lot doesn't exceed 3500kg) then if the trailer is completely unladen then it is the weight of the trailer not the MAM posted on the trailer's chassis that counts, therefore allowing you to tow it with a B licence only assuming you do not load it with anything.

What do the experts here say to this?

Thanks
Steve

Total rubbish and illegal to do so = 100% fact

Thanks - yes, I thought so!

[Slow]

Seems the best place to ask.

Looking at buying a homemade at least 25 year old ex farm trailer to use on private land. It is a twin axle steel trailer without brakes, weight plates nor lights. Obviously I can throw a lightbar on to fix one issue.

It comes with everything sat on the bed, I can throw some of it into the car to reduce weight but from my understanding the trailer can not be over 750kg total as it doesn’t have brakes. What do we reckon this weighs as it’s about an hour away.

[R0G]

For private land use only you can ignore weights BUT make sure it is SAFE and you can stop ok

[eltax91]

I think he’s asking about towing it home on the roads Rog!

[Slow]

Yeh more worried about getting it home. As it’s 30 miles of main roads so fairly likely to encounter police.

This picture was on private land... stopping well it did not do, nor move well!

[V8RX7]

Slow said:

Seems the best place to ask.

Looking at buying a homemade at least 25 year old ex farm trailer to use on private land. It is a twin axle steel trailer without brakes, weight plates nor lights. Obviously I can throw a lightbar on to fix one issue.

It comes with everything sat on the bed, I can throw some of it into the car to reduce weight but from my understanding the trailer can not be over 750kg total as it doesn’t have brakes. What do we reckon this weighs as it’s about an hour away.

My car trailer weighs 600kg and that looks far heavier built, I'd suggest 1000+ kg empty - however behind a Rangie I doubt you'd get stopped

[R0G]

With no plate then for public road use the total of the tyre load ratings will be the MAM and if that is over 750kg then it must have brakes

I assume you have a B+E licence?

[Supernova190188]

R0G said:

With no plate then for public road use the total of the tyre load ratings will be the MAM and if that is over 750kg then it must have brakes

I assume you have a B+E licence?

This is how it works for my hilux surf, it’s an import so no weight on v5 so it goes off tyre load up to max of 3500kg, so technically my truck weighs 3.5 ton and I can only tow 750kg unbraked with it, yet with my car I can tow a small caravan etc legally even though it’s less safe

[Leptons]

Supernova190188 said:

This is how it works for my hilux surf, it’s an import so no weight on v5 so it goes off tyre load up to max of 3500kg, so technically my truck weighs 3.5 ton and I can only tow 750kg unbraked with it, yet with my car I can tow a small caravan etc legally even though it’s less safe

Theoretically My mother could tow more than I could before I could before I did B+E, not that she’d have a clue. The law's the law, a line has to be drawn somewhere, even if it means there are daft idiosyncrasies.

[R0G]

Supernova190188 said:

This is how it works for my hilux surf, it’s an import so no weight on v5 so it goes off tyre load up to max of 3500kg, so technically my truck weighs 3.5 ton and I can only tow 750kg unbraked with it, yet with my car I can tow a small caravan etc legally even though it’s less safe

Is there a weight plate hidden on the vehicle?

[Supernova190188]

R0G said:

Supernova190188 said:

This is how it works for my hilux surf, it’s an import so no weight on v5 so it goes off tyre load up to max of 3500kg, so technically my truck weighs 3.5 ton and I can only tow 750kg unbraked with it, yet with my car I can tow a small caravan etc legally even though it’s less safe

Is there a weight plate hidden on the vehicle?

I’m not sure actually, I’ll check

[PurpleSector]

Hello guys. Need advice on whether I’m understanding the laws correctly and if I’m going to be safe and legal. I’ve asked a local policeman and he had less idea than me!

I have a Conway box trailer, plated to 900Kg max gross weight, 580Kg max payload , it’s single axle, braked, and running 8plys.

I used to run it on the back of my TDI Vw golf and my transit, which was within the rules, as I understood them anyway. Transit was 2500KG MAM.

Now, it’s a few years since I’ve used the trailer but I’ve found a use for it again, I thought I’d better check the rules again just in case anythings changed. I’m now down to one vehicle, a new Transit Custom kombi (Im not removing the bulkhead before anyone am says why do you need a trailer!) it’s MAM is 2900KG, so from what I can see this isn’t permitted as it breaks the 3500Kg barrier. Am I correct there?

If so what are my options?

Obviously I can do the test (I probably should, as it would be handy)

Also wondering if I can buy a ID tag and deplate the gross weight to 750Kg? Is that allowed? It looks like I can go over 3500Kg combined weight as long as the trailers limited to 750kg and the combined weight doesn’t exceed 4250kg.

It’s all a bit confusing.

Obviously deplating to 750kg reduces the payload by 150kg But I’m not moving anything heavy, just bulky.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Supernova190188]

PurpleSector said:

Hello guys. Need advice on whether I’m understanding the laws correctly and if I’m going to be safe and legal. I’ve asked a local policeman and he had less idea than me!

I have a Conway box trailer, plated to 900Kg max gross weight, 580Kg max payload , it’s single axle, braked, and running 8plys.

I used to run it on the back of my TDI Vw golf and my transit, which was within the rules, as I understood them anyway. Transit was 2500KG MAM.

Now, it’s a few years since I’ve used the trailer but I’ve found a use for it again, I thought I’d better check the rules again just in case anythings changed. I’m now down to one vehicle, a new Transit Custom kombi (Im not removing the bulkhead before anyone am says why do you need a trailer!) it’s MAM is 2900KG, so from what I can see this isn’t permitted as it breaks the 3500Kg barrier. Am I correct there?

If so what are my options?

Obviously I can do the test (I probably should, as it would be handy)

Also wondering if I can buy a ID tag and deplate the gross weight to 750Kg? Is that allowed? It looks like I can go over 3500Kg combined weight as long as the trailers limited to 750kg and the combined weight doesn’t exceed 4250kg.

It’s all a bit confusing.

Obviously deplating to 750kg reduces the payload by 150kg But I’m not moving anything heavy, just bulky.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Yeah you would be illegal as you’d be at MAM of 3800kg, if it is an unbraked trailer then can be downplated to 750kg and towed legally.

[PurpleSector]

Thanks supernova.

Are you saying you think I need to remove the brakes to downplate? That doesn’t seem right.

I can’t find anything official saying it has to be non-braked if it’s 750kg or under. Only that trailers above 750kg have to be braked.

[R0G]

No legal need to remove brakes
Simply contact trailer manufacturer to get trailer down plated to 750

You will be left with only a 430 payload for the trailer

Edited by R0G on Monday 10th August 06:53

[dhutch]

Slow said:

Yeh more worried about getting it home. As it’s 30 miles of main roads so fairly likely to encounter police.

This picture was on private land... stopping well it did not do, nor move well!

fks sake! ....love it.

[PurpleSector]

R0G said:

No legal need to remove brakes
Simply contact trailer manufacturer to get trailer down plated to 750

You will be left with only a 430 payload for the trailer

Edited by R0G on Monday 10th August 06:53

Thanks R0G.

430kg is manageable, it’s only for a couple of motocross bikes which are about 100kg each.

[eltax91]

PurpleSector said:

Thanks R0G.

430kg is manageable, it’s only for a couple of motocross bikes which are about 100kg each.

Question number 2 R0G. If he downplayed the trailer, then when he’s finished having fun with the motor crossers, or passes his B+E, can he ‘upplate’ it again?

[dhutch]

eltax91 said:

Question number 2 R0G. If he downplayed the trailer, then when he’s finished having fun with the motor crossers, or passes his B+E, can he ‘upplate’ it again?

I see no reason why not. I would hold onto the old plate!

[crosseyedlion]

Sorry if this has been talked to death somewhere on PH, but I can't seem to find anything definitive using the search function.

The situation is this:
Towing a 3500kg trailer with a 4x4 (vw touareg v10...2600kg kerb, 3500kg towing weight)
For business (so hire and reward)

I know I'll need a tacho, but do I need an operators licence?

Is it exempt?

Theres conflicting information out there stating dual purpose vehicles are exempt but must be under 2040kg empty. But then 4x4's are passenger vehicles. There's even guidance that specifically lists 4x4's as exempt but doesn't ref. the weight.

From what I can tell, if its not exempt - most operators doing similar running a 4x4 seem to just ignore it. Whats the reality?