BigDaveUK Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 I want to trailer my busa to and from the track, just incase the worst should happen! And to keep the mileage down. what I am confused about is do I need to take another test to tow a trailer? I passed in 2003 so dvla website says yes, but I heard if the total mass of the trailer and car is less than 750kg, I won't need to. anyone know the facts please??? Quote
cliftyhanger Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 The 750kg is right, but it is not clear if the trailer has a MAX capacity of 750+kg or if it is actual weight. A car and trailer must be getting close to that figure.... Quote
cashy Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 yes you will need one. Pretty straightforward test. Quote
stu999 Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 I thought it was a bit more complicated than that, in that it was related to a total (potential) train weight too Quote
peterg Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997If 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. The car and trailer practical driving test The car and trailer test (B+E) is based on the lorry driving test and lasts for approximately one hour. Please note that B+E tests are conducted at vocational (bus and lorry) driving test centres. The towing test (B+E) includes vehicle safety questions, an off-road reverse manoeuvre, a controlled stop, uncoupling and coupling of the trailer and driving on the road. You won't be expected to carry out the following exercises: emergency stop on the public road reversing round a corner reverse parking turning in the road Note that MAM is NOT what the trailer and Westfield or whatever is on it but the maximum it COULD carry, so if you have a 4 wheel trailer with 1200kgs capacity and it weighs 400kgs then that counts as 1600kgs regardless of whatever you actually carry on it... Quote
BigDaveUK Posted August 31, 2008 Author Posted August 31, 2008 Oh cack ok thanks for the help guys, better get myself booked in for a test then! cheers dave. Quote
Nick Algar - Competition Secretary Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 Dave, Before you rush off, have a really close look at your weights. If you are using a car to tow with then there is a good chance you are OK. The reason why is MAM must not be more than 3.5 tonnes. Most cars will not go over this with the trailer attached, have a look in your car handbook. So if your trailer has a maximum total weight of 1500 Kg and your car is Max at 1900 Kg, then that is only 3.4 tonnes, which is OK. This whole area is a really complicated one to get into, I know as having been trying to sort out for Luke and a Motorhome. There is a lot of advice around, 50% of which is wrong. Best information we got was from the guy who could do the trailer towing instruction. If you haven't bought a trailer yet, then buy one with low towing weight, so you are OK. Hope this helps. Nick Quote
BigDaveUK Posted August 31, 2008 Author Posted August 31, 2008 It Certainly does nick, thanks very much! i`ll look into that cheers dave. Quote
BigDaveUK Posted August 31, 2008 Author Posted August 31, 2008 Right so i drive a Volvo S40 2.0D Sport, according to the volvo website, Max Total Weight is 1850kg, so if i get a trailer like this... http://www.brianjames.co.uk/pages/trailers/clubman.html The clubman 1000, says max weight of 1000kg, so thats total 2850 max weight, well below. is that correct? cheers dave EDIT:Reading their brochure http://www.brianjames.co.uk/downloads/BJT08_Clubman_v3_1.pdf its got load capacity 1000 and gross capacity 1300, thats what i need to be looking at, right!? Quote
Ninja Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 Found this site listing capabilities of cars (saves going out to find the manual in the dark): Clicky Quote
MARTIN T Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 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. The car and trailer practical driving test The car and trailer test (B+E) is based on the lorry driving test and lasts for approximately one hour. Please note that B+E tests are conducted at vocational (bus and lorry) driving test centres. The towing test (B+E) includes vehicle safety questions, an off-road reverse manoeuvre, a controlled stop, uncoupling and coupling of the trailer and driving on the road. You won't be expected to carry out the following exercises: emergency stop on the public road reversing round a corner reverse parking turning in the road Note that MAM is NOT what the trailer and Westfield or whatever is on it but the maximum it COULD carry, so if you have a 4 wheel trailer with 1200kgs capacity and it weighs 400kgs then that counts as 1600kgs regardless of whatever you actually carry on it... My vw Transporter is rated up to 3 Ton loaded and my trailer can cary 1200kg, so what you are saying is even if my van is empty and I only have my 550kg westy on the trailer they would still have my MAM combined weight as 4.2 Ton? Quote
BigDaveUK Posted August 31, 2008 Author Posted August 31, 2008 My vw Transporter is rated up to 3 Ton loaded and my trailer can cary 1200kg, so what you are saying is even if my van is empty and I only have my 550kg westy on the trailer they would still have my MAM combined weight as 4.2 Ton? That is how i understand it, its not what the whole rig weighs, its what it could potentially weigh, if everything was at max weight. I Think!! Quote
MARTIN T Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 My vw Transporter is rated up to 3 Ton loaded and my trailer can cary 1200kg, so what you are saying is even if my van is empty and I only have my 550kg westy on the trailer they would still have my MAM combined weight as 4.2 Ton? That is how i understand it, its not what the whole rig weighs, its what it could potentially weigh, if everything was at max weight. I Think!! If thats the case then I shouldn't have been towing my car to track days for the last two years Quote
Ninja Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 That is how i understand it, its not what the whole rig weighs, its what it could potentially weigh, if everything was at max weight. I Think!! This is what I believe too, otherwise we could drive empty trucks.. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.