1959grantura Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 First of all apologies I have googled and gone through all the searches on this forum and still confused as to how the system works. Tow car Honda CRV towing weight 2000kg or Golf 1400kg Westfield 560kg Driving licence post 97 Am I allowed to tow with a minnow or similar? Any advice most welcome Cheers Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D7PNY Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 It comes down to the MAM (or gross weights) You will be towing more than 750kg so total MAM cannot exceed 3500kg. Other bit to be careful of is that MAM of the trailer cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. It is possible to do it but only a small margin to work with so you may find you have to do what I did and 'downgrade' your trailers MAM by having it replated to keep the weight low enough to keep within the range. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Yes - providing your trailer weight is less than the weight of the tow vehicle, and is plated under the towing capacity of said vehicle. They have tweaked the gov website recently and it's a little clearer now... will dig a link out. https://www.gov.uk/towing-rules 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 It is possible to do it but only a small margin to work with so you may find you have to do what I did and 'downgrade' your trailers MAM by having it replated to keep the weight low enough to keep within the range. This too - but make sure the new plate on your trailer isn't outside the rated weight for the brake system! A dead giveaway you've fudged the numbers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arm Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Other bit to be careful of is that MAM of the trailer cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. Is that true ? Is that new ? How does that work for say a Landrover or Lancruiser with a 3.5 ton towing capacity therefore a 3.5 ton trailer/ load when the towing vehicle weighs just over 2 ton ? Our Santa Fe has a 2.5 ton towing capacity yet doesn't weigh 2.5 ton unladen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1959grantura Posted September 8, 2015 Author Share Posted September 8, 2015 Ok so I get this right CRV weighs 1600kg and tows 2000kg Car weighs 560kg Trailer plated at 1200kg maximum (plate reduced) Total 3360 kg total weight = Legal Is that correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terryathome Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 If the trailer is plated at 1200 then the tow vehicle must be plated to tow that weight. The 2015 crv auto can tow 1500kgs. The manual maybe more. Watch your tow ball weight as the crv is low compared to other 4x4 but at 1200 your should have no problem. If the max of the car and trailer exceeds 3500kgs then your driving licence should cover that requirements. BE rings a bell and should be stated on you licence. The high tow weights are the max that a car and trailer can start moving when on a specified hill start and should be ignored for safe towing. The recommended max tow weight should be 85% weight of the tow car. Do not tow 2000kgs with a 1600kgs car. Tail wagging the dog you see and will in most cases bring you to the attention of the boys in blue. If the max trailer weight exceeds 750kgs then the trailer must be braked. Better Google the 750 braked thingy make sure it's right. Above is from memory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D7PNY Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Other bit to be careful of is that MAM of the trailer cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. Is that true ? Is that new ? How does that work for say a Landrover or Lancruiser with a 3.5 ton towing capacity therefore a 3.5 ton trailer/ load when the towing vehicle weighs just over 2 ton ? Our Santa Fe has a 2.5 ton towing capacity yet doesn't weigh 2.5 ton unladen That rule only applies to the 'post 97' license which has these special rules. If post 97 license holder were to pass their trailer test if would no longer apply nor does it apply to pre 97 license holders. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Other bit to be careful of is that MAM of the trailer cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. Is that true ? Is that new ? How does that work for say a Landrover or Lancruiser with a 3.5 ton towing capacity therefore a 3.5 ton trailer/ load when the towing vehicle weighs just over 2 ton ? Our Santa Fe has a 2.5 ton towing capacity yet doesn't weigh 2.5 ton unladen You'll be like me Ash, on Grandad rights, so you get the full towing capacity, 2.5 tons. Likewise, I get the full 3.5 tons on my pick up. (Not that I'd fancy towing 3.5 tons too often!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenh Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Grantura, the 1200 mlw of your trailer includes the 560 weight of your Westy! The trailer doesn't weigh 1200kg, the plate just means that the combined weight of the trailer and the Westy mustn't exceed 1200kg., and it won't be anything like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Seems I've done the wrong thing in getting an old Range Rover to tow with. This will push my total train weight about 3.5T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1959grantura Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 Grantura, the 1200 mlw of your trailer includes the 560 weight of your Westy! The trailer doesn't weigh 1200kg, the plate just means that the combined weight of the trailer and the Westy mustn't exceed 1200kg., and it won't be anything like that. So I will be well within the limits on my licence to tow legally then with the CRV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Well you could take the test That would allow you to tow with your Range Rover and you've got the ability for ever I will be doing this at some point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Pete Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Just to clarify that the 85% rule is just a recommendation by the caravan club for inexperienced towers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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