Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained
Discussion
I did my B&E a number of years ago and was, at the time, pretty clued up on all the regulations but seems they're pretty fluid and have changed since. I've searched but perhaps not done a very good job of finding out what I need to know.
Normally I tow a car transporter plated at 2700kg MAM (actual weight is 600kg & track car is c. 900kg) behind a Cayenne with a 3500kg capacity, and so haven't really needed to think too much about weights for a number of years.
Recently I bought a Hiace Van which can tow up to 2000kg. My trailer with the track car comes in at around 1500kg actual weight total so I was thinking I might use the van for towing the odd time as it's within it's capacity and would be better suited to trackside duties.
Are these capacities OK or will I trip up at the MAM hurdle given the trailer has a MAM that exceeds what's permissible with the van.
Normally I tow a car transporter plated at 2700kg MAM (actual weight is 600kg & track car is c. 900kg) behind a Cayenne with a 3500kg capacity, and so haven't really needed to think too much about weights for a number of years.
Recently I bought a Hiace Van which can tow up to 2000kg. My trailer with the track car comes in at around 1500kg actual weight total so I was thinking I might use the van for towing the odd time as it's within it's capacity and would be better suited to trackside duties.
Are these capacities OK or will I trip up at the MAM hurdle given the trailer has a MAM that exceeds what's permissible with the van.
Coog said:
I did my B&E a number of years ago and was, at the time, pretty clued up on all the regulations but seems they're pretty fluid and have changed since. I've searched but perhaps not done a very good job of finding out what I need to know.
Normally I tow a car transporter plated at 2700kg MAM (actual weight is 600kg & track car is c. 900kg) behind a Cayenne with a 3500kg capacity, and so haven't really needed to think too much about weights for a number of years.
Recently I bought a Hiace Van which can tow up to 2000kg. My trailer with the track car comes in at around 1500kg actual weight total so I was thinking I might use the van for towing the odd time as it's within it's capacity and would be better suited to trackside duties.
Are these capacities OK or will I trip up at the MAM hurdle given the trailer has a MAM that exceeds what's permissible with the van.
As long as you never load more than 1400 onto the trailer then it is 100% legalNormally I tow a car transporter plated at 2700kg MAM (actual weight is 600kg & track car is c. 900kg) behind a Cayenne with a 3500kg capacity, and so haven't really needed to think too much about weights for a number of years.
Recently I bought a Hiace Van which can tow up to 2000kg. My trailer with the track car comes in at around 1500kg actual weight total so I was thinking I might use the van for towing the odd time as it's within it's capacity and would be better suited to trackside duties.
Are these capacities OK or will I trip up at the MAM hurdle given the trailer has a MAM that exceeds what's permissible with the van.
There is no law or rule that states the trailer MAM cannot be more than the max towing capacity of the vehicle or that the combined MAMs cannot be more than the GTW
Captain Answer said:
Quick double check really....
If a braked trailer is unplated (i.e. really old) then it's max capacity inc trailer weight (MAM) would be the equivilant of the tyres max load? So a twin with two tyres of 500 would be a max of 2000kg including the trailer as an example?
YES - that is the way the authorities do itIf a braked trailer is unplated (i.e. really old) then it's max capacity inc trailer weight (MAM) would be the equivilant of the tyres max load? So a twin with two tyres of 500 would be a max of 2000kg including the trailer as an example?
Slightly odd one here - I'm looking at a small trailer for tip runs, camping, boat stuff etc. Bulky but not heavy basically.
The tow car will be a morris minor. The car should handle the weight - even my inflatable boat + outboard + kit is under 100kg, but the car has a comically small boot. It's the same story for the camping/holiday gear.
There's no VIN plate listing any towing weights, but the manual and workshop manual state the towing weight is 762kg and the Kerbside weight is 764kg.
The usual rule for unbraked trailers (all that's available at such a low weight) is that they must be a maximum of half the kerbside weight of the car - in the minor's case 381kg. That seems a reasonable weight!
What I keep getting very confused by is that some sources list the maximum trailer weight being it's MAM (which for even very small trailers is usually over the 381kg)
While others refer to the limit being it's Actual weight at any given time (sometimes written as loaded weight or mass in service) - and even with a "600kg" trailer, it's tare weight + my payload would be well under the 381kg and therefore perfectly OK.
Clearly from a licencing pov it's fine (as they'll all be under 750kg anyway) but for unbraked trailers do they go on the Plated MAM or its actual weight at the time?
Tere's practically no trailers under 381kg MAM, but with my use the actual fully loaded weight of the trailer would be under 250kg.
The tow car will be a morris minor. The car should handle the weight - even my inflatable boat + outboard + kit is under 100kg, but the car has a comically small boot. It's the same story for the camping/holiday gear.
There's no VIN plate listing any towing weights, but the manual and workshop manual state the towing weight is 762kg and the Kerbside weight is 764kg.
The usual rule for unbraked trailers (all that's available at such a low weight) is that they must be a maximum of half the kerbside weight of the car - in the minor's case 381kg. That seems a reasonable weight!
What I keep getting very confused by is that some sources list the maximum trailer weight being it's MAM (which for even very small trailers is usually over the 381kg)
While others refer to the limit being it's Actual weight at any given time (sometimes written as loaded weight or mass in service) - and even with a "600kg" trailer, it's tare weight + my payload would be well under the 381kg and therefore perfectly OK.
Clearly from a licencing pov it's fine (as they'll all be under 750kg anyway) but for unbraked trailers do they go on the Plated MAM or its actual weight at the time?
Tere's practically no trailers under 381kg MAM, but with my use the actual fully loaded weight of the trailer would be under 250kg.
MustangGT said:
I believe it may be possible to simply un-plate the trailer (if it even has one), then it's actual weight is the only measure. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
I'd looked into that - as far as I can work out if there's no plate they use the load rating of the tyres to calculate it instead, and even the lowest are 265kg, so 2 of those is well over the 381kg. Plymo said:
I'd looked into that - as far as I can work out if there's no plate they use the load rating of the tyres to calculate it instead, and even the lowest are 265kg, so 2 of those is well over the 381kg.
My brother is a copper. I asked him the question. He said it would have to be a really bad day for the cop that pulls you who sees the trailer clearly has a dry weight stamped on it plus the cargo is obviously under weight. He reckoned you should take the trailer to your local weigh bridge and get it weighed in it’s various states of load. With a printout stating trailer vin plus what is loaded at the time. Keep that in the car and he reckons you’ll pass the ‘sniff test’ if they even stop you in the first place
Plymo said:
The usual rule for unbraked trailers (all that's available at such a low weight) is that they must be a maximum of half the kerbside weight of the car - in the minor's case 381kg. That seems a reasonable weight!
That is not a legal rule afaik, simply an advised rule of thumb.Just another reminder that I'm really old and need to renew my licence 
NFU said:
Drivers holding a category B+E licence before their licence expired at age 70 can continue to drive a vehicle weighing up to 3.5 tonnes with a trailer up to a maximum combination weight limit of 8.25 tonnes, once renewed.
https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/...
A question before I press GO with online renewal. Currently my licence (originating from 1969) shows BE for towing amongst a myriad of other qualification (bikes and HGVs). When renewed via the online process, will BE still be shown? https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/...
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff