Towing Driving Licence Help!
Discussion
Hello,
I am aiming to do sprint racing and some of the races are as far out as Wales. Where I live that is at least 4 hours drive. Now I know taking a car 200+ miles one way and 200+ miles back and racing the same car is not generally a good idea
So i have been thinking what if i purchase something like a Shogun, Landy or Transit and tow the car on a flatbed trailer.
My only issue is I do not understand the whole license thing for towing. I'm 25 years of age so I know i am limited to 3500Kgs? Can someone shed some light on what I need to apply for or what tests i need to take to make sure im legally allowed to drive a large 4x4 or van with a trailer towing a car weighing about 1000Kgs?
I did try the DVLA but i get some whack auto reply which really didnt help
Many Thanks
Ryan
I am aiming to do sprint racing and some of the races are as far out as Wales. Where I live that is at least 4 hours drive. Now I know taking a car 200+ miles one way and 200+ miles back and racing the same car is not generally a good idea
So i have been thinking what if i purchase something like a Shogun, Landy or Transit and tow the car on a flatbed trailer.
My only issue is I do not understand the whole license thing for towing. I'm 25 years of age so I know i am limited to 3500Kgs? Can someone shed some light on what I need to apply for or what tests i need to take to make sure im legally allowed to drive a large 4x4 or van with a trailer towing a car weighing about 1000Kgs?
I did try the DVLA but i get some whack auto reply which really didnt help
Many Thanks
Ryan
R0G on here put a thread together which usually helps regarding towing related matters
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
If anything needs clarification, he's normally around / replies if a question is posted on the thread
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
If anything needs clarification, he's normally around / replies if a question is posted on the thread
You will have class B, which if you’re towing a car (which would normally be a braked trailer) you are limited to 3.5 tonne train weight.
Thing is, that as I understand it, you have to use the trailer’s MAM (maximum authorised mass), rather than its actual weight. I have a fairly light trailer that can take a 900kg car, MAM 1400kg, unless I’ve got it wrong that means the maximum the tow car can be is 2.1, regardless of whether the trailer is empty or has a car on it. A big estate car is pushing that, leave alone a 4x4.
Its basically a trailer test you’ll need to do, it will add B+E to your licence. Not that hard to do.
Thing is, that as I understand it, you have to use the trailer’s MAM (maximum authorised mass), rather than its actual weight. I have a fairly light trailer that can take a 900kg car, MAM 1400kg, unless I’ve got it wrong that means the maximum the tow car can be is 2.1, regardless of whether the trailer is empty or has a car on it. A big estate car is pushing that, leave alone a 4x4.
Its basically a trailer test you’ll need to do, it will add B+E to your licence. Not that hard to do.
Edited by Dimski on Friday 3rd May 22:30
Well piston heads has its very own spell check now. I never knew 
To all those who have actually helped thank you. I am reading through that post shared to better understand towing
Also I will have a look into the trailer test. I did make a call to a company that offers trailer tests and they mentioned revising round cones and driving through cones. Probably one of those easier than it looks things
To all those who have actually helped thank you. I am reading through that post shared to better understand towing
Also I will have a look into the trailer test. I did make a call to a company that offers trailer tests and they mentioned revising round cones and driving through cones. Probably one of those easier than it looks things
ryansturgess95 said:
Well piston heads has its very own spell check now. I never knew
To all those who have actually helped thank you. I am reading through that post shared to better understand towing
Also I will have a look into the trailer test. I did make a call to a company that offers trailer tests and they mentioned revising round cones and driving through cones. Probably one of those easier than it looks things
It's about a million times easier than it looks To all those who have actually helped thank you. I am reading through that post shared to better understand towing
Also I will have a look into the trailer test. I did make a call to a company that offers trailer tests and they mentioned revising round cones and driving through cones. Probably one of those easier than it looks things
Get yourself a test done; they can be done in one day. It is reasonably expensive, but it's probably the best long term solution. I did mine some years ago and it was well worth doing. There's not much to it, since you can drive already.
I did mine in a manual car, but my examiner told me that if you have a manual licence, you can do it in an automatic and still tow with a manual car, if that helps you. Same for the C (and presumably C+E) test, although that doesn't matter here
Just take the test. It's less than half the price of a decent, roadworthy trailer and actually very useful if you have no towing experience. Besides, unless you're towing a Caterham-alike behind a bog-standard car you're probably pushing your luck on a standard licence!
If you're anywhere near the south east drop me a pm and I can recommend someone
If you're anywhere near the south east drop me a pm and I can recommend someone
normalbloke said:
It’s licence.
First reply, 5 mins after the thread was made, and that is the most constructive thing you could come up with? What a t
t. OP - I'll second R0G's thread, all the info you need is there. You'll need to sit a test as you don't have "grandfather rights" for towing.
Pica-Pica said:
fatboy b said:
normalbloke said:
It’s licence.
I’m amazed someone took the trouble to point that out. 
te often written on PH, I agree it is rather Sisyphean.Licence is a noun and refers to the piece of paper/plastic that has been issued to you to show that you are able to drive.
License is a verb and is the act of issuing the piece of paper/plastic that shows the holder is able to drive.
Easy really.
Cold said:
It's important, yet quite simple too.
Licence is a noun and refers to the piece of paper/plastic that has been issued to you to show that you are able to drive.
License is a verb and is the act of issuing the piece of paper/plastic that shows the holder is able to drive.
Easy really.
No, you are being a pedantic tLicence is a noun and refers to the piece of paper/plastic that has been issued to you to show that you are able to drive.
License is a verb and is the act of issuing the piece of paper/plastic that shows the holder is able to drive.
Easy really.
t for no reason. No one is impressed by your English lessons. All you are doing is derailing threads. Please refrain in future. seiben said:
Just take the test. It's less than half the price of a decent, roadworthy trailer and actually very useful if you have no towing experience. Besides, unless you're towing a Caterham-alike behind a bog-standard car you're probably pushing your luck on a standard licence!
If you're anywhere near the south east drop me a pm and I can recommend someone
I have PM'd you because as luck would have it according to your location i live about 20-30 minutes away from you 😀 also that is to everyone with constructive help. I'm definitely going to get my trailer test done If you're anywhere near the south east drop me a pm and I can recommend someone
Will be doing mine at some point this year as will be changing car and going bigger.
The thing I find so nuts is I can tow a 1300kg MAM caravan with my accord estate and I’m JUST legal. It’s not a comfortable experience, I’m always weary of what’s happening and hills are a serious struggle.
If I chucked the same caravan on the back of a Disco 3 for example, I’d be safer, more stable and better up the hills but I would Be illegal.
Ridiculous
The thing I find so nuts is I can tow a 1300kg MAM caravan with my accord estate and I’m JUST legal. It’s not a comfortable experience, I’m always weary of what’s happening and hills are a serious struggle.
If I chucked the same caravan on the back of a Disco 3 for example, I’d be safer, more stable and better up the hills but I would Be illegal.
Ridiculous
SD_1 said:
No, you are being a pedantic tt for no reason. No one is impressed by your English lessons. All you are doing is derailing threads. Please refrain in future.
I won't take instruction or requests from you, mainly due to the fact I have no idea who you are. Or care, come to that. Perhaps aim your vitriol at someone who might be impressed by your attempt at forcefulness?t for no reason. No one is impressed by your English lessons. All you are doing is derailing threads. Please refrain in future. But, if you care to comprehend my post rather than just read it, you'll notice it was in response to the matter being previously raised by others instead of an uninvited contribution.
As for the accusation of thread derailment, the information has already been give in the form of a link to a sticky thread in SP+L where all the answers to this often repeated towing question are contained.
So basically you're sounding like a weeny.
Cold said:
I won't take instruction or requests from you, mainly due to the fact I have no idea who you are. Or care, come to that. Perhaps aim your vitriol at someone who might be impressed by your attempt at forcefulness?
But, if you care to comprehend my post rather than just read it, you'll notice it was in response to the matter being previously raised by others instead of an uninvited contribution.
As for the accusation of thread derailment, the information has already been give in the form of a link to a sticky thread in SP+L where all the answers to this often repeated towing question are contained.
So basically you're sounding like a weeny.
A nice stance to take and quite correct however rather nicely, you have fallen upon your own sword. I hope it's not sheathed, at least in part, Sir.But, if you care to comprehend my post rather than just read it, you'll notice it was in response to the matter being previously raised by others instead of an uninvited contribution.
As for the accusation of thread derailment, the information has already been give in the form of a link to a sticky thread in SP+L where all the answers to this often repeated towing question are contained.
So basically you're sounding like a weeny.
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