B + E Trailer Test

Anyone done the training + test? How much did it cost? Is it fairly straight forward if you are used to towing trailers anyway?

Kind of feel i should really do the B + E test as i do tow a trailer from time to time and would rather not loose my license / get points because of it!

i feel the same, but i get the impression its a massive money making scam!! I know i can tow a trailer properly, a lot better than most people on the road anyhow. Not happy about paying £500 to get a little logo on my licence!!

Depending what you're towing, you may not need it. Only if the trailer is heavier than the car or the whole train is over 3.5t on the plates.

Ian Griffiths said:

Depending what you're towing, you may not need it. Only if the trailer is heavier than the car or the whole train is over 3.5t on the plates.

Click to expand...

Yeah but a 90 is about 2 tonnes, a decent trailer will be 1 tonne +, meaning 500Kg for load. Our twin axel Ifor Is 1350Kg empy, leaving 150Kg for load, Not ideal for me, but if your towing a little pidly trailer which you might fit your lunch in, you wont need the B + E

its a piece of **** mate. i dont know how much it is though as i got mine free through the army. i only had a hour and a half driving before i got put on my test. its just driving around the streets and then revears into a bay, also a braking test.

I'd advise you raise the priority of getting the test sorted out a bit. They'll do you not only for driving unlicensed, but for no insurance too (because the insurance only covers you for what you're licensed to drive, not anything). That will be a fair few points on your licence and a hefty fine, even before the massive hike in insurance premiums for the next 8 years.

I got my B+E and a bunch of other stuff when I did my 1st test. The training is probably worth having though. There's a few times at work and home where I've made a right dog's dinner of reversing or hitching/unhitching trailers, etc.

yeah i would like to do mine, my company wont pay for mine though. It really annoys me to see a heavily loaded car towing a trailer, probably just within the law, when if i get caught with a decent serviced trailer with a few 100 kgs over with a car which can pull 4 tonnes, i could get done. I know the law is the law, but it doesnt seem right when i have a vehicle made for towing when jo average can use his vehicle to its limits and be within the law as such!! it just doesnt seem right. Sorry for hijacking the thread!

Ian Griffiths said:

Depending what you're towing, you may not need it. Only if the trailer is heavier than the car or the whole train is over 3.5t on the plates.

Click to expand...

Trust me... i need the license.

Disco = near enough 2.5 ton

Trailer = 1 ton

that's my limit with no load.


Think my bro in law did his for £200 ish but not 100% sure

Its priority for this year, probably in the first few months. I don't tow too much at present above what i legally can but i keep having more requirements to tow more hence wanting to get it done asap

Yeah just making the point that there are combinations where you can tow without +E

Obviously most Land Rover owners will struggle.

On those figures you're probably already over because the weights are based on the plated capability, ie. the 1 ton trailer with no load is probably already worth 3.5t in terms of that calculation.

robpenrose said:

Yeah but a 90 is about 2 tonnes, a decent trailer will be 1 tonne +, meaning 500Kg for load. Our twin axel Ifor Is 1350Kg empy, leaving 150Kg for load, Not ideal for me, but if your towing a little pidly trailer which you might fit your lunch in, you wont need the B + E

Click to expand...

Chaps chaps it's not about the weight of your vehicle or the weight of the trailer. It's about the COMBINED MAM OR GVW of the towing vehicle and the trailer

A D2 has a mam of 2700Kg so max trailer would be 800Kg

A 90 has a MAM of 2400Kg so max MAM of trailer is 1100Kg.

Bump is that 1000KG the weight of the trailer or the Maximum weight of trailer and load.?? if it's the trailers empty weight then you can't tow it at all as it's MAM will be much higher than that.

He said that's with no load, sounds a fairly heavy trailer but yeah, probably plated to a lot more.

i was lookin at this last year and as i was ringing round gettin as much info as i cud a chap from one company said:

as you drive a landrover 2.5tons and pull a empty trailer will a maxium load weight over the 3.5 tons is illgeal and you can get the same as towing as an over loaded trailer etc ... thats what he told me so cant say its true but this govement ************************************* as much as they can.

prices wer around 450-500 2days training and test

Anthony

Coopers Driving School in Worcestershire. Our instructors provide lessons in Worcester, Kidderminster and Redditch

This website states that the test cost £105 (set by the DSA) and they charge £30 an hour for tuition in the students vehicle.

brockus said:

i was lookin at this last year and as i was ringing round gettin as much info as i cud a chap from one company said:

as you drive a landrover 2.5tons and pull a empty trailer will a maxium load weight over the 3.5 tons is illgeal and you can get the same as towing as an over loaded trailer etc ... thats what he told me so cant say its true but this govement ************************************* as much as they can.

prices wer around 450-500 2days training and test

Anthony

Click to expand...

He's correct. the ruling was brought in to save plod having to drag you all the way to a public weighbridge to see what your actual weight was. Now all he has to do is look at weight plate on car and trailer.for the MAM or GVW Add the 2 numbers together and if it exceeds 3500Kg, or the mam of the trailer is higher than the vehicles unladen weigh he can nick ya..

What cost the most is lessons it is worth doing a few lessons, the testers hate someone who isn't familiar with routine, I did mine as I have to tow a 14ft tri axle cattle trailer so lapd defiantly give me looks, also it's vital for my/farm insurance

brockus said:

i was lookin at this last year and as i was ringing round gettin as much info as i cud a chap from one company said:

as you drive a landrover 2.5tons and pull a empty trailer will a maxium load weight over the 3.5 tons is illgeal and you can get the same as towing as an over loaded trailer etc ... thats what he told me so cant say its true but this govement ************************************* as much as they can.

prices wer around 450-500 2days training and test

Anthony

Click to expand...

Dont know about anybody else but i dont get what your saying there???:doh:

I'm also looking to do my trailer test, I have a 750kg trailer to take rubbish to the dump and a 3.5ton which i tow empty to my dads so he can pick up cars for me (I think from what your saying is I can't even tow it empty) even though its so much easier to move about as I can even see the little one behind the car.

Any way does anyone know of companys in or around the suffolk, norfolk, cambridgeshire borders.

redhand said:

He's correct. the ruling was brought in to save plod having to drag you all the way to a public weighbridge to see what your actual weight was. Now all he has to do is look at weight plate on car and trailer.for the MAM or GVW Add the 2 numbers together and if it exceeds 3500Kg, or the mam of the trailer is higher than the vehicles unladen weigh he can nick ya..

Click to expand...

thats what else he said haah so load off bollocks really cheers for clearin that up redhand

steve's P38 RR said:

Dont know about anybody else but i dont get what your saying there???:doh:

I'm also looking to do my trailer test, I have a 750kg trailer to take rubbish to the dump and a 3.5ton which i tow empty to my dads so he can pick up cars for me (I think from what your saying is I can't even tow it empty) even though its so much easier to move about as I can even see the little one behind the car.

Any way does anyone know of companys in or around the suffolk, norfolk, cambridgeshire borders.

Click to expand...

You might be interested to know that if your dad sits in the passenger seat, you're provisionally entitled to the B+E license (so you could in fact do the towing, with L plates attached to the front and rear). However, on your own, it would be illegal for you to tow it even empty.

3.5ton which i tow empty to my dads so he can pick up cars for me (I think from what your saying is I can't even tow it empty)

Click to expand...

That's correct it's illegal. As I explained up there^^^^ it's the MAM of the trailer that counts.