Towing limits

[Trist]

I was told the other day that its ilegal to tow any trailer that has a capacity of 2.5 tonnes unless you have a commercial licence and a tacho graph

Is this true??

[BogMonster]

Capacity or gross weight?

The bigger Ifor Williams (gross 3500kg) must have a capacity of over 2500kg (i.e. I doubt the trailer weighs over a ton) and I would have thought you can tow those on a suitable car license with something rated to tow the weight (like a Land Rover), but I don't know.

[Dry_Doc]

For private or commercial use?

I think this is accurate, (but I stand to be shot down in flames.......)

With a B+E licence you can tow a vehicle combo of up to 8.25t, with a tow vehicle MAM of 3.5t. For private use you don't need a tacho or a commercial operator's licence.
If it's commercial use, then you need a tacho for any vehicle combo over 3.5t - unless you're carrying tools/materials/machinery for use in the course of your work and you are within 50km of your 'base of operations'.
You might also need a commercial operator's licence if the ULW of the trailer is greater than 1020kg.

Simples. (Not)

[Lets go boating]

if its private only and you have passed your test before 1997 its ok to tow what the car is capable of

if you passed aftr 1997 you have to take a trailer test if the cars and trailers combined weight over a certain limit (i think its 3500kg not to sure)

i had to do the test.

20 mins manourvering on a car park
50 mins driving on the road

boring as hell

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Trist

I was told the other day that its ilegal to tow any trailer that has a capacity of 2.5 tonnes unless you have a commercial licence and a tacho graph

Is this true??

Read the PDF on the sticky here:-

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27183

[willk]

One of the benefits of being an old git is the "legacy" driver's licence - mine is good for a 7.5 ton truck with a 6.5 ton trailer, and then there's the heavy plant endorsement...

Sat my test in a Fiat SuperMirafiori, no trailer

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by willk

Sat my test in a Fiat SuperMirafiori, no trailer

That must have been no later than 1980, then willk.
All the Supermarioferraris had rusted away to nothing after then.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

That must have been no later than 1980, then willk.
All the Supermarioferraris had rusted away to nothing after then.

*raises eyebrow*

she was remarkably well preserved*, considering the abuse she got

1986, if I recall correctly.

* with Isopon

[Trist]

i do have a landy and legaly that can tow 3500kg but the police seem to be saying that any trailer towing that is rated to carry over 2.5 tonnes should have a licence even if it is for private use (ignoring the trailer test)

[Dry_Doc]

Originally Posted by Trist

i do have a landy and legaly that can tow 3500kg but the police seem to be saying that any trailer towing that is rated to carry over 2.5 tonnes should have a licence even if it is for private use (ignoring the trailer test)

The officer you spoke to is mistaken.
If it's a dual purpose vehicle (i.e. a 4x4 with more than 2 seats) then you're exempt from having a commercial operator's licence. Alternatively, if the ULW of the trailer is less than 1020kg, then it's ignored and you go with the plated weight of the tow vehicle.

WRT tachos, I was mistaken in my earlier post - If the plated weight of the combo is greater than 3.5 tonnes (which would put most 4x4 vehicles with even a small trailer over the limit!) then you fall under the EU driver's hours rules and will need a tacho fitted - but the 50km radius derogation still applies.
This only applies to good vehicles - I'm not sure whether a landy counts as commercial or private.......I suspect the former.

Some further reading (warning - the following may cure insomnia!):

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repositor...tober%2009.pdf

http://online.businesslink.gov.uk/Tr...s_vehicles.pdf