trailer towing weight limit, clarification needed.

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rodp

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Right gents, need some clarification please. I believe we have some knowledgeable folk on here, maybe even involved in the legal side of this (Police officers?).

My son passed his test sometime in 2006, lets say 2007 just to be sure, and wants to tow a trailer. He hasn't passed a separate trailer test. We know any trailer over 750kg has to be braked so ok on that. What weight can he tow behind 2.1 tons of Land Rover Discovery ?

Anyone know the guaranteed correct answer ? (no guesses on this one please)

Edit to say licence says entitled to drive B, B1, F, K, P. whatever they are
 
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If his licence is C1+E without weight restrictions he can tow 3.5 tonnes
 
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Thanks gents, I'll get some more info off him just to be sure. As an aside, I know where this is going though. He wants one of my quads off me and if he can tow over 750 kg he's going to want one for his girl as well :roll: Flippin kids :D
 
rodp said:
Right, entitled to drive B, B1, F, K, P. whatever they are
Click to expand...

So can only tow up to 750kg unbraked.

can tow over 750kg providing the mam of the vehicle and the trailer is under 3500kg.
there are a few other caveats on this. Ie trailer has to weigh less than vehicle.


as an aside, if someone has grandfather or has held a C1+E for three years, they can sit in the passenger seat and your son can tow with L plates on!
 
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scubadog said:
So can only tow up to 750kg unbraked.

can tow over 750kg providing the mam of the vehicle and the trailer is under 3500kg.
there are a few other caveats on this. Ie trailer has to weigh less than vehicle.


as an aside, if someone has grandfather if hrs, or has held a C1+E for three years, they can sit in the passenger seat and your son can tow with L plates on!
Click to expand...

Seems this is the answer, it was the mam of towing vehicle that threw me, didn't read it as such.
 
As your tell us your truck weights 2134kg then he can tow 1300 approx , according to most people, remember you will need to know the weight of the vehicle loaded including passengers. For commercial purposes it will be different.
 
Taff said:
As your tell us your truck weights 2134kg then he can tow 1300 approx , according to most people, remember you will need to know the weight of the vehicle loaded including passengers. For commercial purposes it will be different.
Click to expand...

thats how I believe it to be also , obviously fuel , recovery gear in the back and any other items all add weight

you don't state what trailer you have to tow which could also be upto 400kg-500kg in weight



if your trailer is rated to 3.5 ton on a chassis plate and your son tows it whether full or empty you are breaking the law it will need to be downgraded to whatever weight your left with circa 1200-1300 kg etc so overall with your Landrover weight all combined doesn't go over 3.5 tons in total if your son tows it



it's easier to eigher tow a rated upto 750kg trailer or do a test
 
1kevb said:
If his licence is C1+E without weight restrictions he can tow 3.5 tonnes
Click to expand...

A separate test is required to achieve this category C1+E of licence to tow trailers up to 3500kg. gross weight.

There are no 'grandfather rights' for those who passed driving tests earlier than 1997 in respect of trailer towing 3500kg trailers. A person under training may tow an unladen rated 3500kg trailer (not for hire or reward) with his 'qualified' instructor accompanying in the vehicle.

All my trailers are 3500kg with overrun brakes (i.e. unassisted brakes) Gross train weight is 11000kg (10990kg). Trailers up to 3500kg without assisted brakes i.e. air/hydraulic do not have to be plated. Although they are since October 2015 subject to the new IVA testing system.
All my drivers have either the old HGV/LGV 1 licence or have passed their trailer test upgrading their licences.

I operate nine 7500kg trucks and trailers as per the link.
Redirect Notice
 
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A few people keep saying about allowing for passengers, fuel, etc in the tow vehicle. This is wrong!
The MAM (maximum authorised mass) is the figure that matters, not the actual weight. The MAM is likely to be more than the tow car will actually weigh, as it allows for maximum payload of fuel, luggage and passengers.
So if you take the tow car to a weigh bridge and find it weighs 2 tonnes, but the MAM is stated as 2.5 then your maximum (braked) trailer weight is still only 1 tonne.
 
Simon you had better tell that to the police then, last February I was escorted to the weigh bridge, where they weighed the front , rear then combined, and then asked us to get back in to be weighed, were were under.
 
The MAM is what it can legally weigh you could still make it heavier either overall or just on one Axel, trailers seem like a mine field to me most police don't know the rules so can't help. Good luck
 
Licences issued from 19 January 2013

From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:

  • small trailers weighing no more than 750kg
  • a trailer over 750kg as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500kg, you’ll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence.
You’ll then be able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg.

Behind your 2.1 ton Discovery it appears you can legally tow 1.4 ton trailer & load = 3500kg - heavier & you need to upgrade your license with the trailer test.
 
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deeangeo said:


Behind your 2.1 ton Discovery it appears you can legally tow 1.4 ton trailer & load = 3500kg - heavier & you need to upgrade your license with the trailer test.
Click to expand...

there are two things here:

Driver restrictions - when did you pass you test?
Sounds like your son will hit the driver limit for MAM above (3500kg)
Licences issued from 19 January 2013

From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:

  • small trailers weighing no more than 750kg
  • a trailer over 750kg as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500kg, you’ll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence.
You’ll then be able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg.
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 a vehicle up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
  • tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg
For anything heavier you need to take a category B+E driving test.

Licences held before 1 January 1997

If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you’re generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM.
This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.
You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.

AND -
Vehicle restrictions - each vehicle has a manufacturer's towing weight clearly indicated online and in the handbook
just because I have a pre-1997 license does not mean I can pull a 6000kg trailer with my ford focus!!

your disco has a rating

Discovery - Vehicles - Land Rover UK

BUILT FOR ADVENTURE

With the capability to transport the driver, six passengers and their luggage, and a towing capacity of 3,500kg Discovery is every vehicle you’ll ever need.


Land Rover Discovery (98-04) 2.5 Td5 ES 5d (7 Seat) - MPG, Dimensions & Performance | Parkers


[TABLE="class: verticalTable, width: 325"]
[TR]
[TH]Unbraked Towing Weight[/TH]
[TD]750 kg[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Braked Towing Weight[/TH]
[TD]3500 kg[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


FYI its less for Land cruisers at 3000kg and interestingly even less for a Hummer at 2000-2500kg!


Breach either of those limits and you are liable to be prosecuted if caught, involved in an accident etc etc
AND
your insurance company will have a field day
most insurers want to know if you will be towing anyway
ALL of them will laugh in your face if you are proven to be over limit when you attempt to claim
 
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