What will happen if i exceed max towing weight on the car?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by Ian Sharlot

Driving home should be no problem because if the boat is over weight he will have to leave it there



Paul, Is your trailer a 1500kg as described or is it a 1300kg. I think it is more likely to be 1300, if you are using the 1300kg, I am sure you will be over weight

1. Too true Ian!! Very clever.

2. You are right, it is a 1300kg trailer, unladen is 350kg. So it would be really close!!

Boat 630kg
engine 195kg
bench seat <100kg
Trailer 350kg
Total 1275 kg

Any fuel or anything else and it will be over. Looks like it is a bare boat haul to Anglesey each year to put it on the mooring. All kit in the back of the rangey. All expeditions based from there, but hardly an issue with NWales coast and then IOM and Dublin within reach!!

[Downhilldai]

Could you fit a new axle and get the trailer re-plated to 1500kg?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Ian Sharlot

Driving home should be no problem because if the boat is over weight he will have to leave it there

Yes that was my point. And if its the trailer over the limit not just the tow car then presumably you need to find new trailer to bring boat home (or get it flat bedded!)

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

That was what I was thinking so will pop up first and ask, only 1.5 mile away, sure they would help if being upfront. How else do they expect you to check.

I take it you've never met Mr VOSA then - he doesn't understand "its only 1.5 miles" - and actually since its officially unsafe thats not really surprising. If you search the forum you will find a post I put up (regurgitated from PBO) a while back describing how to measure the weight of the boat and its accessories using bathroom scales and some geometry.

[9D280]

I know it's going to be s*d all use for you, but the VOSA weighbridge at Stirling will work in "self service" mode while unmanned, and display your weight on an old style "station clock" type display. but not give you a printout.

Not sure if they're all like that?

[Ian Sharlot]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

1. Too true Ian!! Very clever.

2. You are right, it is a 1300kg trailer, unladen is 350kg. So it would be really close!!

Boat 630kg
engine 195kg
bench seat <100kg
Trailer 350kg
Total 1275 kg

Any fuel or anything else and it will be over. Looks like it is a bare boat haul to Anglesey each year to put it on the mooring. All kit in the back of the rangey. All expeditions based from there, but hardly an issue with NWales coast and then IOM and Dublin within reach!!

Paul

You have a boat worth 20k and a lot of very nice costline around you to explore, My advice is do not restrict where you can use the boat because of the trailer. Spend a few quid and upgrade the trailer so the you can make the most of your boat.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Ian Sharlot

... Spend a few quid and upgrade the trailer so the you can make the most of your boat.

Spot on

[miketdt]

Hi I'm new to this forum have been watching but thought I put my oar in for what its worth.
To find your max towing availablitity lift the bonnet and read the Vin plate. On new vehicles it will say MAM maximum autherised mass, on older vehicles it may be GVW or GCW being gross vehicle weight or gross combinded weight, meaning the maximum weight of towing vehicle and trailer. As a general rule of thumb your trailer loaded should not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle unless the towing vehicle is a 4X4.
If the combination exceeds 3.5 tons then you need B+E on your license. I don't know about up your neck of the woods but down here in Devon and all along the south coast the old bill and VOSA pull all trailers to check for correct license and lenght and width and weights of trailers regularlly. If incorrect your insurance in not valid so they say.