Can I tow a trailer?
Discussion
Hey folks,
been doing some googling and I cant seem to come up with the answers, plus looked at the dvla website but can make neither heads nor tails of it. Basically I want to know if I can tow a trailer, to take my healey sprite to and from meets and races? The categories on my licence are A,B,B1, and F. Took my test 5 years ago. Do I need to take some other test? Or will i be alright to tow behind my landie?
sorry if i've posted this in the wrong place!
Cheers!
been doing some googling and I cant seem to come up with the answers, plus looked at the dvla website but can make neither heads nor tails of it. Basically I want to know if I can tow a trailer, to take my healey sprite to and from meets and races? The categories on my licence are A,B,B1, and F. Took my test 5 years ago. Do I need to take some other test? Or will i be alright to tow behind my landie?
sorry if i've posted this in the wrong place!
Cheers!
It's all about the weight of your trailer so unless it's a beast you should be fine with a Healey on board, there's changes on the horizon for new drivers next year though
Current and future explained:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...
Current and future explained:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...
Ecosse RM said:
Sorry, Landie part of equation slipped my mind, they're about 2400kg, Healey (? 1100kg ish ?)... 3500kgs the limit so max weight reached before counting trailer.
B & E therefore needed as suggested ^
Even more so, it is not the actual weight of these things that matters.... It is the PLATED MAXIMUM WEIGHT that both the trailer and car can weigh. B & E therefore needed as suggested ^
If these added together are under 3500kg, the actual weight of the trailer and load must be less than the unladen weight of the car.
kambites said:
You can tow as long as:
1) The maximum gross weight of the car plus maximum gross weight of the trailer does not exceed 3500kg.
2) The maximum gross weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the car.
1/ Land Rovers can tow 3.5t (in addition to their own weight).1) The maximum gross weight of the car plus maximum gross weight of the trailer does not exceed 3500kg.
2) The maximum gross weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the car.
2/ Yes, it can (see above).
http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/landrover.htm
JumboBeef said:
Needs to be a sticky. Explains it all.JumboBeef said:
Ah that's bloody helpfulThanks!
DanGibsonRacing said:
Even more so, it is not the actual weight of these things that matters.... It is the PLATED MAXIMUM WEIGHT that both the trailer and car can weigh.
If these added together are under 3500kg, the actual weight of the trailer and load must be less than the unladen weight of the car.
THIS is important ! The trailer could be empty and you can still not legally tow it.If these added together are under 3500kg, the actual weight of the trailer and load must be less than the unladen weight of the car.
I had a trailer re-plated so I could tow it.
arollingstone said:
Hey folks,
been doing some googling and I cant seem to come up with the answers, plus looked at the dvla website but can make neither heads nor tails of it. Basically I want to know if I can tow a trailer, to take my healey sprite to and from meets and races? The categories on my licence are A,B,B1, and F. Took my test 5 years ago. Do I need to take some other test? Or will i be alright to tow behind my landie?
sorry if i've posted this in the wrong place!
Cheers!
YES, you can provided the TOTAL weight of car + Trailer + load does not exceed 3500KG's, you DO NOT NEED B+E UNLESS it exceeds 3500kg'sbeen doing some googling and I cant seem to come up with the answers, plus looked at the dvla website but can make neither heads nor tails of it. Basically I want to know if I can tow a trailer, to take my healey sprite to and from meets and races? The categories on my licence are A,B,B1, and F. Took my test 5 years ago. Do I need to take some other test? Or will i be alright to tow behind my landie?
sorry if i've posted this in the wrong place!
Cheers!
As per Direct.gov
Direct.gov said:
The vehicles you can drive or ride and minimum ages
Category B:
Motor vehicles with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg, no more than eight passenger seats, with or without a trailer - weighing no more than 750 kg
Category B (Continued)
As category B but with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg. The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg. The weight of the trailer, when fully loaded, can’t weigh more than the unladen weight of the vehicle
Category B+E:
As category B but with a heavier trailer that isn't covered in the descriptions for category B
As for "plated" trailers, I've never had a plate on a car trailer I've used, but yes this is to be taken into consideration, as are your weights!Category B:
Motor vehicles with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg, no more than eight passenger seats, with or without a trailer - weighing no more than 750 kg
Category B (Continued)
As category B but with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg. The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg. The weight of the trailer, when fully loaded, can’t weigh more than the unladen weight of the vehicle
Category B+E:
As category B but with a heavier trailer that isn't covered in the descriptions for category B
Petrolhead_Rich said:
YES, you can provided the TOTAL weight of car + Trailer + load does not exceed 3500KG's, you DO NOT NEED B+E UNLESS it exceeds 3500kg's
MAM is not the same as total current weight. The maximum weight the car is allowed to carry plus the maximum weight the trailer is allowed to carry is not allowed to exceed 3500kg. It doesn't matter what the current weight is. kambites said:
Petrolhead_Rich said:
YES, you can provided the TOTAL weight of car + Trailer + load does not exceed 3500KG's, you DO NOT NEED B+E UNLESS it exceeds 3500kg's
MAM is not the same as total current weight. The maximum weight the car is allowed to carry plus the maximum weight the trailer is allowed to carry is not allowed to exceed 3500kg. It doesn't matter what the current weight is. direct.gov said:
The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg
Err, yes it does....Petrolhead_Rich said:
kambites said:
Petrolhead_Rich said:
YES, you can provided the TOTAL weight of car + Trailer + load does not exceed 3500KG's, you DO NOT NEED B+E UNLESS it exceeds 3500kg's
MAM is not the same as total current weight. The maximum weight the car is allowed to carry plus the maximum weight the trailer is allowed to carry is not allowed to exceed 3500kg. It doesn't matter what the current weight is. direct.gov said:
The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg
Err, yes it does....
ETA: Much more sensible - the old rules were bloody stupid.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 21st August 20:06
Petrolhead_Rich said:
kambites said:
Petrolhead_Rich said:
YES, you can provided the TOTAL weight of car + Trailer + load does not exceed 3500KG's, you DO NOT NEED B+E UNLESS it exceeds 3500kg's
MAM is not the same as total current weight. The maximum weight the car is allowed to carry plus the maximum weight the trailer is allowed to carry is not allowed to exceed 3500kg. It doesn't matter what the current weight is. direct.gov said:
The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg
Err, yes it does....The Disco 300 tdi has a gross vehicle weight (MAM) of 2720kg. Therefore your trailer must have a MAM also known as gross vehicle weight of 780kg to fit within the law. So in simple terms; no you can not tow with this combo.
Example 2:
Ford Mondeo has a gross vehicle weight (MAM)2000kg leaving you with a trailer capacity of 1500kg. The Mondeo has an unladen weight of 1500kg so therefore you could tow a trailer that is plated to carry up to 1499kg.
However most car trailers weigh 500kg and are plated for up to 2000kg. Hence people 'down-plate' them to a lower weight (1499kg in this case).
Quite simply this is the law......
DanGibsonRacing said:
OK....
The Disco 300 tdi has a gross vehicle weight (MAM) of 2720kg. Therefore your trailer must have a MAM also known as gross vehicle weight of 780kg to fit within the law. So in simple terms; no you can not tow with this combo.
Example 2:
Ford Mondeo has a gross vehicle weight (MAM)2000kg leaving you with a trailer capacity of 1500kg. The Mondeo has an unladen weight of 1500kg so therefore you could tow a trailer that is plated to carry up to 1499kg.
However most car trailers weigh 500kg and are plated for up to 2000kg. Hence people 'down-plate' them to a lower weight (1499kg in this case).
Quite simply this is the law......
not sure what your point is??? The Disco 300 tdi has a gross vehicle weight (MAM) of 2720kg. Therefore your trailer must have a MAM also known as gross vehicle weight of 780kg to fit within the law. So in simple terms; no you can not tow with this combo.
Example 2:
Ford Mondeo has a gross vehicle weight (MAM)2000kg leaving you with a trailer capacity of 1500kg. The Mondeo has an unladen weight of 1500kg so therefore you could tow a trailer that is plated to carry up to 1499kg.
However most car trailers weigh 500kg and are plated for up to 2000kg. Hence people 'down-plate' them to a lower weight (1499kg in this case).
Quite simply this is the law......
kambites said:
MAM is not the same as total current weight. The maximum weight the car is allowed to carry plus the maximum weight the trailer is allowed to carry is not allowed to exceed 3500kg. It doesn't matter what the current weight is.
Just to confuse you all, I could actually tow a 750kg trailer (tyre rated, plate removed) with my range rover, giving a combined MAM of 4250. With just a B license 
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