Terry Everall Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 My Passat tow car is plated as GLW of car 2140Kgs and GLW car plus trailer of 3940Kgs which means I can tow 1800Kgs braked. The PRG trailer weighs 700Kgs and so that means my Westfield and spare tyre/fuel etc can weigh up to 1100Kgs The Trailer is plated as Max Gross Weight of 2600Kgs so is that would be illegal and so do I need to get a new plate and derate the trailer to match my car limits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Bloke Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 The Trailer is plated as Max Gross Weight of 2600Kgs so is that illegal and do I need to get a new plate and derate the trailer to match my car limits?I 'think' that is correct, I'm sure someone can confirm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 I think I may now have the answer having spoken to PRG Trailers About 18 months ago the law changed so that people towing were assessed on the "AS PRESENTED" state so that it was not relevant what the GLW of the trailer is just what weight you are pulling at the time so I am ok as 1100Kgs is way beyond what my car weighs!! I will post the VOSA email when I get it from PRG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Algar - Competition Secretary Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Terry, that's completely the opposite advice I got from Brian James, when I emailed them about my trailer which is 2700kg against motorhome max of 2000kg. I did try getting an answer out of VOSA, but they are as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Although I have kept all the emails in case it ever goes to court. Another case of the law being very very unclear. If you can get a definative answer out of VOSA that would be really useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy - a15cro Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Just as a little side comment, one of my lads at work called into a police station and asked if he was able to tow a trailer on his licence (he's 23 and been driving a few years) and no one could answer his question. He was told to look it up online! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I'm in an almost identical situation with my towing setup as you Terry. I was told by the manufacturer of the trailer that if you are pulled over and they question it, you should ask them to escort you to a weighbridge as it goes by the actual weight of what you are towing at the time. Gross weight is simply a maximum weight for that part of the carriage, it's not used (or shouldn't be!) to calculate 'as used' train mass. You could down plate the trailer, but then you have to be careful that the new plated maximum gross falls within the specified weight for the braking system on the trailer - a dead giveaway for plod that you're up to something fishy if it's not! Also note your tow bar has a maximum load, in my experience it's easy to go over this if you store wheels, jerry can etc in / on the front of your trailer! A bit of wood and some bathroom scales under the tow ball on the trailer is useful here. It should read approx 7% of the overall weight of the trailer (up to the max tow bar load, anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 From: Caroline.Hicks@vosa.gov.uk [mailto:Caroline.Hicks@vosa.gov.uk] Sent: 16 May 2011 12:50 To: david.millington@ntta.co.ukSubject: Re: Trailer Weights Hi In response to your email I would like to confirm that when a vehicle is towing a trailer,it is the actual weight of the vehicle, trailer and load which is important in determining a vehicle’s compliance with legal weight thresholds, not the potential carrying capacity. Therefore it would be irrelevant whether the maximum permitted weight of the trailer was above that which the car can tow, it is only the 'in use' weight which can be considered. Obviously this seeks to clarify weight thresholds only as other considerations may preclude for example category of driving licence held. I hope this answers your query. If not please get back to me with further information. RegardsCaroline National Enforcement & Compliance Team Operations Directorate Tel: 0117 954 2632Mob: 07980 981197Fax: 0117 954 3398 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 NTTA = National Trailer & Towing Association Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash test dummy Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 That makes perfect "sensible" sense. Otherwise it would be illegal to tow an empty trailer rated at 2700kg if your car was only rated to pull 2000kg (for example). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Algar - Competition Secretary Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Terry, That's brilliant, thanks for posting that. I'm going to print it out and keep with the trailer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 Thats exactly what I have done Nick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Perfect clarification. Well done Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham frankland Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 In my experience the car manufactures brochure specifies the maximum towing weight for the vehicle in question usually expressed on 2 and 4 wheel braked trailers These are the figures to be used for the combined weight of the trailer and the load carried. They also normally define the maximum weight allowed to be applied to the tow hook. A trip to the local weigh bridge to get a certificate of the your loaded trailer weight is very useful to ensure you are inside the specified towing weight for your vehicle in case you are pulled over by the VOSA Road Side Inspectors! I hope this helps? Glutey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I thought it was actual weight if private use but if commercial it will be plated weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 I think my explanation makes it clear about max car weight and towing weight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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