daniel mason
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| posted on 28/3/11 at 08:54 PM |
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how do i know if i can tow a small trailer?
what do i need on my licence to tow a small trailer?
on the back of my licence i have cat B with a pic of a car next to it and a B1 with what looks like a trailer or van type thing? my license is valid
from 05/05/1999
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mcerd1
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| posted on 28/3/11 at 09:04 PM |
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what do you mean by small ?
your good for 750kg MAM (Max. Allowable Mass) thats of the trailer + max load it can carry
as long as the car your towing it with is also rated for towing 750kg (you'll need to check what its max. towing load is for braked and
unbraked trailers - most 750kg MAM trailers are unbraked)
you can tow heavier trailers than that on your licence depending on the car your using - but it gets a bit more complicated so I'll not go into
it just now (unless 750kg isn't enough for you that is....)
[Edited on 28/3/2011 by mcerd1]
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will121
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| posted on 28/3/11 at 09:05 PM |
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Think B1 is a milk float, think its E you need for a trailer but should be able to check on net
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Danozeman
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| posted on 28/3/11 at 09:05 PM |
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Everyone can tow a small trailer. Its only when u tow bigger ones your licence matters.
linky
Dan
Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk
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daniel mason
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| posted on 28/3/11 at 09:29 PM |
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so can i buy a small kit car transporter and argue the toss over the 750kg max with the 7 on board?
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PSpirine
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| posted on 28/3/11 at 09:34 PM |
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Am I right in understanding that it's 750kg or a trailer whose maximum gross weight is less than half of the kerb weight of the tow vehicle?
I.e. you can tow a 750kg caravan, or you can tow a 1200kg rated trailer with a car on it with a Range Rover (Kerb weight something like 2500kg)?
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owelly
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| posted on 28/3/11 at 09:50 PM |
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It depends on the vehicle. The Range Rover is a poor example because it can tow 3500kg! The max weight for an unbraked trailer is 750kg. Above that,
you need to have the correct entitlement on your license.
It's also worth noting, that even if you're towing an EMPTY trailer, if that trailer is plated at over whatever weight you're
allowed to tow, either restricted by the tow vehicle, or your license, then you can get in bother from the BiB. And it's illegal to have a
trailer without a weight plate (although most have 'fallen off' or were built before that reg came in!).
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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Johneturbo
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| posted on 28/3/11 at 09:51 PM |
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I have a brian james trailer for sale clubman 950
bought it when i raced stock hatch pug 205
the mnr does fit on but only if i fit the narrow sierra wheels
excuse the subtle plug
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 07:03 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
so can i buy a small kit car transporter and argue the toss over the 750kg max with the 7 on board?
You can argue, but if you are wrong you will get the points. The trailer should be plated, and if the MAM is over 750kg, it would be silly to argue.
Besides, it is normally the experts in this area if you just get pulled, and they REALLY know their stuff.
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edsco
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 07:30 AM |
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Okay. To set the record straight.
If you passed your driving test after the 1st Jan 1997 you are only allowed to tow a trailer up to a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 750kg. The
750kg is the combined weight of both the trailer and the weight of what it is carrying. The trailer CAN be unbraked. Trailers that are plated over
750kg then the trailer must be braked assisted. To be able to tow a trailer, caravan or car transporter or anything that has a MAM of over 750kg you
need to take a trailer test which will provide you with the correct licence.
Everyone who passed their test pre Jan 1997 have this entitlement on their licence, what is often called grandfather rights. If you passed after 1st
Jan 1997, you wont have these rights.
The very subtle plug for the sale of the Clubman 950 trailer i am sure is a fantastic buy, but its a 950 which refers to its MAM which is 950kg. You
would therefore require the additional entitlements to use this trailer legally.
For unbraked trailers, you can tow up to 750kg (combine weight of trailer and what you are carrying), but this needs to be no more than half of the
kerb weight of the towing vehicle. Whichever of these figures is the lowest is the recommended route to take. For braked trailers (especially large
ones), they should be 85% of your car's kerb weight or less.
Does this help???
edsco
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 07:44 AM |
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Taken from Direct.gov website:
Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997
If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to
750kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing
vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight
limits.
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daviep
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 08:03 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by edsco
Okay. To set the record straight.
If you passed your driving test after the 1st Jan 1997 you are only allowed to tow a trailer up to a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 750kg. The
750kg is the combined weight of both the trailer and the weight of what it is carrying. The trailer CAN be unbraked. Trailers that are plated over
750kg then the trailer must be braked assisted. To be able to tow a trailer, caravan or car transporter or anything that has a MAM of over 750kg you
need to take a trailer test which will provide you with the correct licence.
Everyone who passed their test pre Jan 1997 have this entitlement on their licence, what is often called grandfather rights. If you passed after 1st
Jan 1997, you wont have these rights.
The very subtle plug for the sale of the Clubman 950 trailer i am sure is a fantastic buy, but its a 950 which refers to its MAM which is 950kg. You
would therefore require the additional entitlements to use this trailer legally.
For unbraked trailers, you can tow up to 750kg (combine weight of trailer and what you are carrying), but this needs to be no more than half of the
kerb weight of the towing vehicle. Whichever of these figures is the lowest is the recommended route to take. For braked trailers (especially large
ones), they should be 85% of your car's kerb weight or less.
Does this help???
Pure nonsense, did you make this up of the top of your head?
Do as the wise poster above me did and go to DIRECT.GOV and get the facts - relevant page
HERE and
[Edited on 29/3/11 by daviep]
“A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone.”
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eddie99
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 09:07 AM |
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As above, that is rubbish... I have done a lot of research lately and its all about the MAM's
Im close to the limit on a new license.
I have a car that can tow MAM 1600kg, I have a trailer plated to 1350kg. Together this is just under 3 tonnes. The Mam of the trailer is less than the
unladen weight of the car as well.
Its on the limit as the car weighs 1400kg but its all legal 
http://www.elitemotorsporteng.co.uk/
Twitter: @Elitemotoreng
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elite-Motorsport-Engineering/153409081394323
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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mcerd1
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 10:17 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by eddie99
As above, that is rubbish... I have done a lot of research lately and its all about the MAM's
Im close to the limit on a new license.
I have a car that can tow MAM 1600kg, I have a trailer plated to 1350kg. Together this is just under 3 tonnes. The Mam of the trailer is less than the
unladen weight of the car as well.
Its on the limit as the car weighs 1400kg but its all legal
^^ thats a nicley matched setup
what car is it ?
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eddie99
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 10:19 AM |
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Audi s3, i know its horrible for the car....but i believe the a3 has the same towing limits etc... And i've done over a thousand miles towing in
the last month and it tows lovely
http://www.elitemotorsporteng.co.uk/
Twitter: @Elitemotoreng
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elite-Motorsport-Engineering/153409081394323
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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mcerd1
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 10:23 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
so can i buy a small kit car transporter and argue the toss over the 750kg max with the 7 on board?
as above - you run a high risk of getting pulled for a spot check at the side of the road - and if they catch you you don't havn't got a
leg to stand on....
If your strugling with this and the direct.gov site isn't helping.... then just tell us what your tow car is (make, model, age, engine..) and
how heavy a locost/kit car you want to be able to tow
then we'll can tell you what trailer spec you'd need / if your allowed to tow it
[Edited on 29/3/2011 by mcerd1]
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coyoteboy
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 10:29 AM |
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When the new towing regs came out the info was somewhat ambiguous and I spent a good few years towing a 1.7t trailer in a 2.5t car. When the rules
were revised and the wording corrected I realised and had to stop, but even so I think it's very confusing to the general public.
And what's more, the trailer test does absolutely nothing to enhance safety specifically for heavier trailer/car combos - go take a look at the
content of it. As such I raised the issue with my MP who's currently on the job, but it has come to light that the restrictions were brought in
with absolutely NO data to back up the decision and no subsequent data to prove whether it helped. Idiotic.
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 10:57 AM |
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useful link
made it easier for me!
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luke
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 12:15 PM |
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I did my B+E about a month ago so did research into this before hand.
this statement was the clearest i could find as parts of the Directgov website contradict each other.
'Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs
MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes
MAM.'
from - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_10013073
Thing you need to be careful of is the trailers plated limits. A trailer when empty could only weigh 500kg but if it has a plate that states the MAM
as 2.6 tonne, you need to be capable of towing that weight and therefore need the B+E.
As the OP asked if he could tow a car trailer, i guess that MAM would be higher than the B entitlement.
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coozer
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 12:54 PM |
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Cut the confusion and go get your C+E.
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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mad-butcher
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 06:34 PM |
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Don't be fooled it's not PC Plod you have to worry about, there as thick as pig shit, the ones you have to worry about are the VOSA
enforcement officers, they carry gear in the back of there 4x4 that can weigh upto 40+ tonnes, they also have a data base that they can use to
calculate the weight of an artic by the ride height of the trailer. they also have the right to impound any vehicle instantly.
[Edited on 29/3/11 by mad-butcher]
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JoelP
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 06:44 PM |
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i do love a 'set the record straight' type post thats passing wrong information about
would be ironic in an alanis morissette kind of way
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coozer
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| posted on 29/3/11 at 11:11 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mad-butcher
Don't be fooled it's not PC Plod you have to worry about, there as thick as pig shit, the ones you have to worry about are the VOSA
enforcement officers, they carry gear in the back of there 4x4 that can weigh upto 40+ tonnes, they also have a data base that they can use to
calculate the weight of an artic by the ride height of the trailer. they also have the right to impound any vehicle instantly.
[Edited on 29/3/11 by mad-butcher]
Well said lad, they put the plod into the shade with their draconian powers and your lack of appeal... all your gears gone and crushed before you can
say "hang on a minute.."
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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