Advice please!

SteNova said:

humm, i thought downplating was only really something for 97> licences

anyway... if i'm over is this too?
CT Tiltbed - New & Used Trailers - Horsebox, Livestock, Plant, Tippers, Car Transporters, Flatbed, Box Van, Spares

Click to expand...

The trailer has a MAM of 3.5 tonnes and an unladed weight of 885 K

So providing the dumper thing does not weigh any more than 2.6 tonnes it would be legal.

Dont know what a dumper thing weighs

Dont know what the towing vehicle is either, if it was a Disco or Defender they can tow 3.5 tonnes so again it would be legal. Not with a Freelander though

suew said:

I agree, even if its not fully loaded. You need to get the plate downrated.

Click to expand...

Welcome to HHO Towing Clinic - Page 116
"There is no law or rule that says the trailer plated MAM must not be more than the recommended vehicle towing capacity" (unless your on 97>)

suew said:

The trailer has a MAM of 3.5 tonnes and an unladed weight of 885 K

So providing the dumper thing does not weigh any more than 2.6 tonnes it would be legal.

Dont know what a dumper thing weighs

Dont know what the towing vehicle is either, if it was a Disco or Defender they can tow 3.5 tonnes so again it would be legal. Not with a Freelander though

Click to expand...

do you not know what a freelander looks like?

SteNova said:

do you not know what a freelander looks like?

Click to expand...

No Why would I


And the dumper thing weighs 1400Kg


So if its a Freelander with a 2t MTC it would be illegal. Of course some Freelanders can tow more

SteNova said:

Welcome to HHO Towing Clinic - Page 116
"There is no law or rule that says the trailer plated MAM must not be more than the recommended vehicle towing capacity" (unless your on 97>)

Click to expand...

Hmm, that came from Rog, the horse trailer towing site says you have to, is it a grey area

The only thing I usually argue with Rog about is whether just because something is legal, is it safe.

and another the LM146G same as i have 3.5tmam on a freelander

suew said:

Cars dont have it

Click to expand...

Some do.

SteNova said:

humm, i thought downplating was only really something for 97> licences

anyway... if i'm over is this too?
CT Tiltbed - New & Used Trailers - Horsebox, Livestock, Plant, Tippers, Car Transporters, Flatbed, Box Van, Spares

Click to expand...

Is that a gaylander in the picture? That'll be overweight if on the road

goonarmy said:

Some do.

Click to expand...

yeh but they are rare as you get! subaru legacy is the one i've seen

Seems you are right. Although in discovering that, a whole new can of worms is opened

Getting to grips with towing law | Features | Farmers Guardian

suew said:

Seems you are right. Although in discovering that, a whole new can of worms is opened

Getting to grips with towing law | Features | Farmers Guardian

Click to expand...

"The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) tells us it is permissible to tow a trailer with a plated gross weight higher than the towing capacity of the vehicle, as long as their combined weight does not exceed the gross train weight."

again that only applys to <97 licence

i'm trying to find the picture of my nova towing the LM146G when we first got it

Replacing the clutch fluid would be the first step, brake and clutch fluid is hygroscopic it absorbs water over time. It is the water in the fluid that boils and creates bubbles which compress as the pedal is pushed, I.e no movement at the clutch itself causing drag and difficult gear changes. Hope this helps.

SteNova said:

"The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) tells us it is permissible to tow a trailer with a plated gross weight higher than the towing capacity of the vehicle, as long as their combined weight does not exceed the gross train weight."

again that only applys to <97 licence

i'm trying to find the picture of my nova towing the LM146G when we first got it

Click to expand...

LOL, this is the bit I meant about another can of worms

VOSA is technically correct in what it says but, remember, the Agency is only talking about permissible towing weights.

Towing an empty trailer behind a heavyweight 4x4 is likely to get you pulled by VOSA and the Police, not necessarily to check weights, but to check you are recording drivers’ hours correctly. The key point regarding tachograph regulations, for those who fall under its scope, is they are not based on actual weights but theoretical maximums

SteNova said:

"The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) tells us it is permissible to tow a trailer with a plated gross weight higher than the towing capacity of the vehicle, as long as their combined weight does not exceed the gross train weight."

Click to expand...

Just checking this again, does that mean the theoretical weight does not exceed the GTW or the actual.

A Freelander has a kerb weight of around 1800Kg and a GTW of around 4500Kg meaning although the towing capacity is only 2 tonnes, legally it could tow 2.7tonnes .

This would mean that it could tow my 2.7 tonne MAM Ifor horse trailer legally using either calculation. God help the poor horses

However the car trailers with a 3.5 tonne MAM it would matter, using theoretical weights it would be legal, using actuals it might not.

SteNova said:

yeh but they are rare as you get! subaru legacy is the one i've seen

Click to expand...

Yep scoobys was wot i was thinking about.

Yes you could tow it... But what is the towbar rated to?

SteNova said:

Yes you could tow it... But what is the towbar rated to?

Click to expand...

No idea

Wouldn't own a Freelander EVER

Was just passing a boring Sunday afternoon

SteNova said:

and another the LM146G same as i have 3.5tmam on a freelander

Click to expand...

That cannot be legal. The ifor has a plate on the drawbar saying 3500kg. So it shouldn't be towed by a vehicle rated at less than 3500kg, should it?

Turboman said:

That cannot be legal. The ifor has a plate on the drawbar saying 3500kg. So it shouldn't be towed by a vehicle rated at less than 3500kg, should it?

Click to expand...

That's the maximum weight for the trailer, no problem towing it empty or part loaded as long as the tow vehicles GTW is not exceeded.

Datatek said:

That's the maximum weight for the trailer, no problem towing it empty or part loaded as long as the tow vehicles GTW is not exceeded.

Click to expand...

Not what I have heard, but if you are happy to do so is up to you
That trailer is actually loaded, those mini tracs aint light.
Im always really surprised at these freds, to me the legislation is irrelevant, as has been posted by some others, if you want to tow heavy stuff, especially livestock, surely it is much better to have a rig that comfortably exceeds the requirements.
So much at stake, your safety, safety of others, welfare of livestock, insurance premium. The legislation should be regarded as a minimum safe requirement, not what is desirable.