Requirements for towing trailers in Great Britain

[masterfuji]

ROG,

You might point me in the right direction. I am worried having read the max GVW of the trailer is what the towing vehicle has to be able to tow.

I am collecting a double axle trailer next week which is slightly bigger than what I need for my boat but I figured this is better than being too small. I am not worried about the licences but more about the legal points of the tow The details I have are as follows:

Vehicle Curb Weight Heaviest : 2570kg
Vehicle Trailer Load (according to specs) : 2500kg
Trailer (Super Roller Coaster 8) : GVW 3200kg

The trailer itself is 800kg with a carrying capacity of 2400kg. The boat is only a 5.5mt rib and when you make allowances for double console, engines, fuel, etc it cant be over 1000kg.

That said the most load I will draw will be 1800kg but is the GVW of 3200kg of the trailer what the requirement for the vehicle is?

Thanks in advance.

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by masterfuji

ROG,

You might point me in the right direction. I am worried having read the max GVW of the trailer is what the towing vehicle has to be able to tow.

Where did you read that old MYTH?

Originally Posted by masterfuji

I am collecting a double axle trailer next week which is slightly bigger than what I need for my boat but I figured this is better than being too small. I am not worried about the licences but more about the legal points of the tow The details I have are as follows:

Vehicle Curb Weight Heaviest : 2570kg
Vehicle Trailer Load (according to specs) : 2500kg
Trailer (Super Roller Coaster 8) : GVW 3200kg

The trailer itself is 800kg with a carrying capacity of 2400kg. The boat is only a 5.5mt rib and when you make allowances for double console, engines, fuel, etc it cant be over 1000kg.

That said the most load I will draw will be 1800kg but is the GVW of 3200kg of the trailer what the requirement for the vehicle is?

Thanks in advance.

Assuming a 2500 towing capacity is listed for your vehicle and the trailer weighs 800 unladen then you can load 1700 onto it (800+1700=2500)

The fact that the trailer is capable of being 3200 has nothing to do with any of it unless Ireland has different rules to the UK

[masterfuji]

Thanks ROG. I read it somewhere but could not understand it. The rules here always follow on from the UK so I feel comfortable knowing that. Thanks for your reply.

[wellhouse]

i've got a Ford Kuga 2.0tdci awd and as far as i can make out it has the following details:
Kuga 2.0 AWD
Gross Weight
2130 kg
Kerb Weight
1613 kg
Towing Limit (braked)
2100 kg

Avon a620 with yamaha f115 = around 850kg
what are the trailer requirements? Any help really appreciated. cheers

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by wellhouse

i've got a Ford Kuga 2.0tdci awd and as far as i can make out it has the following details:
Kuga 2.0 AWD
Gross Weight
2130 kg
Kerb Weight
1613 kg
Towing Limit (braked)
2100 kg

Avon a620 with yamaha f115 = around 850kg
what are the trailer requirements? Any help really appreciated. cheers

For a B licence holder (no B+E)
Trailer needs to have a plated MAM of no more than 1370 kgs 1370+2130=3500 (max 3500 for B licence towing)
The difference between the unladen weight of the trailer and the plated MAM weight of the trailer needs to be at least 850

For a B+E licence holder
The difference between the unladen weight of the trailer and the plated MAM weight of the trailer needs to be at least 850
The trailer MAM can be anything up to 3500 MAM
The trailer when loaded must not exceed 2100

[wellhouse]

thanks ROG, appreciated, so passed my driving test 40 years ago that makes it trailer plus rib no more than 2100kg?

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by wellhouse

thanks ROG, appreciated, so passed my driving test 40 years ago that makes it trailer plus rib no more than 2100kg?

You got it

For a B+E licence holder
The difference between the unladen weight of the trailer and the plated MAM weight of the trailer needs to be at least 850
The trailer MAM can be anything up to 3500 MAM
The trailer when loaded must not exceed 2100

[wellhouse]

Originally Posted by ROG.

You got it

thanks ROG, glad we've got an expert on board!

[martin p]

Sorry for another 'will my car pull it' question but will a polo.
Kerb weight 1089kg
laden weight 1640kg
towing capacity 1090kg

pull a combo of
4.2m rib at 180kg
engine 110kg
trailor 140kg
extra 50kg

so total of 470kg

On a B licence?

many thanks

martin

[A1an]

Its too many numbers for my little brain.

Il find out if im in the wrong when/if I get pulled over.

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by martin p

Kerb weight 1089kg
laden weight 1640kg
towing capacity 1090kg

pull a combo of
4.2m rib at 180kg
engine 110kg
trailor 140kg
extra 50kg

so total of 470kg

On a B licence?

No problem in actually towing that

The maximum trailer plated MAM for that set up on a B licence would be 1089 kg

[martin p]

so can i legally tow on a B licence with that set up?

sorry if that is what you meant by saying it would tow it!

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by martin p

so can i legally tow on a B licence with that set up?

sorry if that is what you meant by saying it would tow it!

YES providing the trailer MAM is not more than 1089 kgs

[stew]

Hi, I'm sure it is fine just a quick check. A 4.5 tonne trailer and rib setup on a braked trailer towed with a L200 on a B+E ?

cheers
Stew

[Trailer Guy]

Originally Posted by stew

Hi, I'm sure it is fine just a quick check. A 4.5 tonne trailer and rib setup on a braked trailer towed with a L200 on a B+E ?

cheers
Stew

Not on standard auto-reverse brakes, I'm afraid, Stew. Max is 3500kg gross.

All the best

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by stew

Hi, I'm sure it is fine just a quick check. A 4.5 tonne trailer and rib setup on a braked trailer towed with a L200 on a B+E ?

cheers
Stew

Licence = ok

BUT .... Mitsubishi which L200 in that list is it because none are anywhere near 3500 towing let alone 4500 !!!

[Trailer Guy]

Originally Posted by ROG.

Licence = ok

BUT .... Mitsubishi which L200 in that list is it because none are anywhere near 3500 towing let alone 4500 !!!

Agree with ROG's concern over tow vehicle, but question licence being ok.

3500kg is max towing capacity (for Type 02 trailers) on overrun brakes, so immaterial to licence, or vehicle, you can't tow it on the road.

Unless you've two lined air brakes fitted? In which case I'll shut up, but, along with ROG, not about the towing vehicle

[ROG.]

A B+E licence does not have a max weight limit

There is a limit which is 3.5 tonnes for the vehicle and I think (not sure) it is a max trailer of 8.5 tonnes (max type approval)

That trailer would perhaps be an electric or air braked trailer fifth wheel type

There are american set ups like this about in the UK

The NEW DRIVER licence changes coming in jan 2013 will limit NEW B+E licence holders to a max 3.5 tonne trailer and to tow a trailer over 3.5 tonnes with a B category vehicle they will have to get a LGV C1+E licence

[stew]

Okay very glad I done my research before doing this one. Was unaware of the 3.5tonne limit to all tows in the UK without some form of coupled braking system. Could someone please advise of an ideal vehicle for regular towing up to a maximum of 5tonnes, a full artic seems a little overkill.

Many thanks

[SW Boat Transport]

We used to run a Iveco Daily Mini Artic with a capacity of just below 5 tons (there is still a picture of it on our website at Boat Transport South West - Boat Transportation across UK & Europe). We now run a Eurocargo Artic as we needed the extra weight capacity, but if you only need 5 tons, I would certainly recommend the Daily Mini Artic. As an added bonus, it can be driven on a B+E licence.