Discussion
Hi All,
Im thinking about towing my track car rather than driving it everywhere as i do not want to insure/tax/mot it when i have no use for it other than the track.
I've checked my licence and i can tow upto 3500kg.
Now weights is where im getting confused, various sites are saying different things. I'll be dowing with an Audi A3 Sport Backup 2.0 TDI Manual 3013 model.
To put it simply, can anyone tell me how much i can tow, including trailer, car, passengers etc on a braked trailer?
Also anyone know of any companies that make lightweight trailers, I have an Accord Type R to go on and i think i can get the weight down to 1050kg.
Thanks
Jay
Im thinking about towing my track car rather than driving it everywhere as i do not want to insure/tax/mot it when i have no use for it other than the track.
I've checked my licence and i can tow upto 3500kg.
Now weights is where im getting confused, various sites are saying different things. I'll be dowing with an Audi A3 Sport Backup 2.0 TDI Manual 3013 model.
To put it simply, can anyone tell me how much i can tow, including trailer, car, passengers etc on a braked trailer?
Also anyone know of any companies that make lightweight trailers, I have an Accord Type R to go on and i think i can get the weight down to 1050kg.
Thanks
Jay
Edited by JayK12 on Friday 27th September 10:26
Edited by JayK12 on Friday 27th September 10:26
doogz said:
Towing a track? That'll be heavy!
Looks like the braked towing capacity of your car is 1800Kg. So your trailer, complete with car, and everything else you're putting in the trailer, can't weigh more than 1800kg.
What's the car, and what sort of trailer?
Haha, sorry ment track car. Looks like the braked towing capacity of your car is 1800Kg. So your trailer, complete with car, and everything else you're putting in the trailer, can't weigh more than 1800kg.
What's the car, and what sort of trailer?
Where did you find that? I havent got the car yet Audi say it will arrive in November, so i cant check the hand book.
1800kg, i think i could manage that. The car is an Accord Type R, i think i could get the weight down from 1280 to 1050kg. I dont know what trailer, need to start looking at them to see what the lightest i can get is.
The MAM of the trailer (so the max weight of the trailer, regardless of if there is anything on it) cannot be more than the kerb weight of the towing vehicle.
The kerb weight of the a3 is around 1300kg (guess). You can get trailers with a MAM of 1300kg but once you take the weight of the trailer off that it means you can usually load it with less than 1000kg.
The kerb weight of the a3 is around 1300kg (guess). You can get trailers with a MAM of 1300kg but once you take the weight of the trailer off that it means you can usually load it with less than 1000kg.
Car trailers typically weigh about 500kg and I doubt you'll find much variation. Some a bit more, some a bit less.
Although this suggests you'll be inside the car's 1800kg limit, you will probably have to get the trailer manufacturer to stick a new plate on the trailer as even little car trailers are quite often maximum 2000kg gross. Although you'll be loading to under 1800kg and hence legal in terms of actual weight, if the trailer gross is over your car's maximum towing weight it's still illegal. From what I hear, trailer manufacturers are used to this sort of request.
I've never seen anyone check, but I always pulled heavy trailers with a Landrover and its 3500kg limit.
Have you ever towed a car/trailer? Do a few miles with it empty on quiet roads to get used to it. When you strap down the car, do so on all four wheels and recheck tightness of straps after a couple of miles. Cars always bounce around and find the point of loosest restraining.
Although this suggests you'll be inside the car's 1800kg limit, you will probably have to get the trailer manufacturer to stick a new plate on the trailer as even little car trailers are quite often maximum 2000kg gross. Although you'll be loading to under 1800kg and hence legal in terms of actual weight, if the trailer gross is over your car's maximum towing weight it's still illegal. From what I hear, trailer manufacturers are used to this sort of request.
I've never seen anyone check, but I always pulled heavy trailers with a Landrover and its 3500kg limit.
Have you ever towed a car/trailer? Do a few miles with it empty on quiet roads to get used to it. When you strap down the car, do so on all four wheels and recheck tightness of straps after a couple of miles. Cars always bounce around and find the point of loosest restraining.
There's are the rules, I'm presuming you havent passed your test this year.
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)
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)
doogz said:
Zoobeef said:
The MAM of the trailer (so the max weight of the trailer, regardless of if there is anything on it) cannot be more than the kerb weight of the towing vehicle.
The kerb weight of the a3 is around 1300kg (guess). You can get trailers with a MAM of 1300kg but once you take the weight of the trailer off that it means you can usually load it with less than 1000kg.
Sorry, complete BS.The kerb weight of the a3 is around 1300kg (guess). You can get trailers with a MAM of 1300kg but once you take the weight of the trailer off that it means you can usually load it with less than 1000kg.
OP, please, don't listen to this.
Zoobeef said:
The MAM of the trailer (so the max weight of the trailer, regardless of if there is anything on it) cannot be more than the kerb weight of the towing vehicle.
Better not tell the chaps and chapeses who tow with Landrovers then. Both the Defender 90 and 110 have a max towing weight of 3500kG and even the big one weighs less than 2500kg.Oh and I'm sure there was a VW Golf made that weighed under 2000kG with a max towing weight of 2000kG.
Added - all this is based on the OP having a licence that gives group B+E under grandfather rights but has never used them. A non +E licence holder will be struggling to get under the various weights and really would be best advised to do the course and get the +E licence as it will make things simpler, and you'll be safer too.
Edited by Slidingpillar on Friday 27th September 10:56
Here's the information on the government's site:
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/driving-licence...
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/driving-licence...
Slidingpillar said:
Better not tell the chaps and chapeses who tow with Landrovers then. Both the Defender 90 and 110 have a max towing weight of 3500kG and even the big one weighs less than 2500kg.
Nothing wrong with that as long as they have B+E. Edited by kambites on Friday 27th September 10:56
doogz said:
kambites said:
I think the OP doesn't have B+E. The rules he's quoted are certainly for B only.
Where has the OP quoted rules?He's mentioned that he's towed with an L200.
OP can you clarify what licence category you have and when you gained it?
Zoobeef said:
There's are the rules, I'm presuming you havent passed your test this year.
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)
I passed my test in 2001.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)
So thats saying I can tow upto 3500kg, but surely the towing limits of my car come into effect? Which is 1800kg.. confused again lol
Slidingpillar said:
Zoobeef said:
The MAM of the trailer (so the max weight of the trailer, regardless of if there is anything on it) cannot be more than the kerb weight of the towing vehicle.
Better not tell the chaps and chapeses who tow with Landrovers then. Both the Defender 90 and 110 have a max towing weight of 3500kG and even the big one weighs less than 2500kg.Oh and I'm sure there was a VW Golf made that weighed under 2000kG with a max towing weight of 2000kG.
JayK12 said:
So thats saying I can tow upto 3500kg, but surely the towing limits of my car come into effect? Which is 1800kg.. confused again lol
Assuming you haven't taken a separate trailer test, you can drive/tow either:a) 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) or
b) 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)
The loaded weight of the trailer must also be less than the maximum towing capacity of the car, but that has nothing to do with licence categories.
Personally I think you'll be on the max with regards to the cars max towing weight and the set up you're planning on towing.
It's not good to be so close to the limit as the car will feel unstable especially when going down hills as the trailer will be trying to push the towing car. Side ways movement will also be un-nerving especially on motorways when over taking or being overtaken by large vehicles e.g. Lorries.
Also, getting the weight distribution is critical as well. The maximum nose weight of the trailer on the Audi will be circa 50kgs, and with the Type R on the trailer pointing forwards on a single axle trailer this will be considerably heavier than 50kg if the relationship of the rear axle of the trailer is to far back.
Twin axle trailers are more stable and are less prone to 'snaking' with heavy loads on them, but they are more difficult to manoeuvre at low speeds.
Personally, I would be inclined to tow your Typre R and trailer with a heavier car.
It's not good to be so close to the limit as the car will feel unstable especially when going down hills as the trailer will be trying to push the towing car. Side ways movement will also be un-nerving especially on motorways when over taking or being overtaken by large vehicles e.g. Lorries.
Also, getting the weight distribution is critical as well. The maximum nose weight of the trailer on the Audi will be circa 50kgs, and with the Type R on the trailer pointing forwards on a single axle trailer this will be considerably heavier than 50kg if the relationship of the rear axle of the trailer is to far back.
Twin axle trailers are more stable and are less prone to 'snaking' with heavy loads on them, but they are more difficult to manoeuvre at low speeds.
Personally, I would be inclined to tow your Typre R and trailer with a heavier car.
Think this applies to me also as i passed my test in 2001.
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)
When they say combined weight does this mean of the trailer, the car on the trailer, and the towing car?
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)
When they say combined weight does this mean of the trailer, the car on the trailer, and the towing car?
kambites said:
Assuming you haven't taken a separate trailer test, you can drive/tow either:
a) 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) or
b) 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)
The loaded weight of the trailer must also be less than the maximum towing capacity of the car, but that has nothing to do with licence categories.
Ok that makes sense now thanks.a) 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) or
b) 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)
The loaded weight of the trailer must also be less than the maximum towing capacity of the car, but that has nothing to do with licence categories.
So for you, the car's (1800kg) towing limit is irrelevant. You cannot tow a trailer with a MAM of over the kerb weight of the car (1300kg).
Basically, if you can find 200kg trailer with a MAM of 1300kg you'll be alright to tow a 1100kg car. If the MAM is higher you aren't allowed to tow it, if the MAM is lower it wont take your track car's weight. No idea is such a thing exists.
Basically, if you can find 200kg trailer with a MAM of 1300kg you'll be alright to tow a 1100kg car. If the MAM is higher you aren't allowed to tow it, if the MAM is lower it wont take your track car's weight. No idea is such a thing exists.
Edited by kambites on Friday 27th September 11:05
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff