trailer towing weight limit, clarification needed.

[highland stalker]

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.

This is 100% correct. I am in the process of booking my trailer test and this is the same as what the test supplier told me. He has asked for clarity from VOSA and the police and neither could provide any. Stay under the 3500kg mark and you will be left alone.

 

[joe soapy]

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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

Think thats a VOSA myth that has been tested and found wanting

 

[FGYT]

Dont let the missus see this Ive been getting out of towing hte horse box by saying im limited to 750kg unbraked as i took my car test late in life
now running the numbers
i could tow the horse box
Pick up truck 1987kg unladen
and trailer 905kg unladen
with one pony in it up to 600 kg ish

ssSSSHHHHH

Edit::
its ok the horse box MAM is 2.5 tonnes so puts the MAM of whole lot well over the 3.5 tonnes MAM even unloaded

 

[scubadog]

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.


Redirect Notice

errmmm yes there are grandfather ingots for trailers....
you are probably confusing cpc to wich the grandfather rights were dropped.

 

[scubadog]

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

its nothing to do with the weight of the vehicle, providing the weight of the vehicle does not go over the maximum authorised weight of the vehicle....wich it should never be any way!

same with trailers....your trailer could have a MAM of 2500kg and only weigh 300kg un laden.....even if it's unloaded, it's the 2500kg that count!

 

[scubadog]

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.

They ey weighed you to see the weight on each axle.....perfectly normal.
other things they probably weighed is the nose weight of the trailer.
again, you have limits governed by the car manufacturer on all of these, regardless of licence type!

 

[deeangeo]

errmmm yes there are grandfather ingots for trailers....
you are probably confusing cpc to wich the grandfather rights were dropped.

There are no grandfather rights for towing a 3500kg trailer. If you tow a trailer gross wt. 3500kg + the weight of towing vehicle, your license must be upgraded via a trailer test.

 

[scubadog]

There are no grandfather rights for towing a 3500kg trailer. If you tow a trailer gross wt. 3500kg + the weight of towing vehicle, your license must be upgraded via a trailer test.

Completley and utterly incorrect!
couldn't be much firer from the truth in fact!


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.

 

[FGYT]

Completley and utterly incorrect!
couldn't be much firer from the truth in fact!


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.

yep

Towing with a car - GOV.UK

 

[deeangeo]

Completley and utterly incorrect!
couldn't be much firer from the truth in fact!


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.

Woopsie dropped. I'm thinking with my commercial head on & the 7.5ton vehicles I operate. These plainly exceed the 8.250kg max. There are no grandfather rights for towing 3500 kg trailers in these circumstances.

 

[kimh]

once you have loaded the vehicle with what you think is the correct weight, You drive it to a weigh bridge to confirm, they will issue a certificate and if correct your son can steal your quads, don't forget to take the girl friend to the weigh bridge as baggage soon adds up...

 

[FGYT]

once you have loaded the vehicle with what you think is the correct weight, You drive it to a weigh bridge to confirm, they will issue a certificate and if correct your son can steal your quads, don't forget to take the girl friend to the weigh bridge as baggage soon adds up...

maybe wrong as its confusing

the Actual Weight of the Car trailer and load isnt relevant as such its the Rated maximum that matters (MAM)

which is why I think i cant tow my girls Horse on my 1998 B licence even tho the weight is below 3.5tonnes loaded 2000kg+900kg plus 400kg
the the MAM of the trailer is 2.5 tonnes
and the Dmax is 2 tonnes (but has a MAM of 3tonnes and a Towing MAM of 6 tonnes)

only if i get the MAM offically lowered would i be legal and if the MAM of the truck is taken as loaded ie 3tonnes that only leaves 500kg to tow any way

 

[scubadog]

maybe wrong as its confusing

the Actual Weight of the Car trailer and load isnt relevant as such its the Rated maximum that matters (MAM)

which is why I think i cant tow my girls Horse on my 1998 B licence even tho the weight is below 3.5tonnes loaded 2000kg+900kg plus 400kg
the the MAM of the trailer is 2.5 tonnes
and the Dmax is 2 tonnes (but has a MAM of 3tonnes and a Towing MAM of 6 tonnes)

only if i get the MAM offically lowered would i be legal and if the MAM of the truck is taken as loaded ie 3tonnes that only leaves 500kg to tow any way

You are correct...the actual actual weight is almost irrelevant....it's the MAXIMUM authorised mass, irrespective of what the actual weight is.