On or around Wed, 29 Jun 2005 07:26:32 +0000 (UTC), beamendsltd
<
[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>In message <[email protected]>
> "Stuart" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I have a 1.5 ton mini-digger that I would like to transport very
>> occasionally. I have a Nissan Cabstar 3 litre turbo pick-up truck that I
>> was going to use for towing it, but have been told by a friend that I would
>> be better off legally to use my 2 litre diesel Freelander.
>> From what I can gather from googling, the most I can tow with the Freelander
>> is about 1.25 ton. Is this correct? It doesnt seem a lot compared to other
>> (lesser?) vehicles.
>>
>>
>
>I'm reasonably sure that the Freelander can tow 2 tons - but check with
>the hand book that came with the vehicle to be sure, though when
>allowing for the trailer you're going to be pretty close to the limit
>if it is 2 tons.
>
>I don't know about the Cabstar, but quite a lot of the Jap (and US)
>4x4's have remarkably low towing weights (one or two people have been
>caught out round here at Ministry checks)
hmmm. Just been looking in the traffic legislation, and I can't see
anything about trailers exceeding or not exceeding the manufacturer's
recommended trailer weight.
Highway code says, in regulation 74:
you MUST NOT overload your vehicle or trailer. You should not tow a weight
greater than that recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle
and refers to C&U, regulation 100:
>100. Maintenance and use of vehicle so as not to be a danger, etc.
>
>(1) A motor vehicle, every trailer drawn thereby and all parts and
>accessories of such vehicle and trailer shall at all times be in
>such condition, and the number of passengers carried by such vehicle
>or trailer, the manner in which any passengers are carried in or on
>such vehicle or trailer, and the weight, distribution, packing and
>adjustment of the load of such vehicle or trailer shall at all times
>be such, that no danger is caused or is likely to be caused to any
>person in or on the vehicle or trailer or on a road. Provided that
>the provisions of this regulation with regard to the number of
>passengers carried shall not apply to a vehicle to which the Public
>Service Vehicles (Carrying Capacity) Regulations 1984 apply.
>
>(2) The load carried by a motor vehicle or trailer shall at all
>times be so secured, if necessary by physical restraint other than
>its own weight, and be in such a position, that neither danger nor
>nuisance is likely to be caused to any person or property by reason
>of the load or any part thereof falling or being blown from the
>vehicle or by reason of any other movement of the load or any part
>thereof in relation to the vehicle.
>
>(3) No motor vehicle or trailer shall be used for any purpose for
>which it is so unsuitable as to cause or be likely to cause danger
>or nuisance to any person in or on the vehicle or trailer or on a road.
In that lot, I suspect that 100(3) is the one they could get you for.
However, I assume they'd have to prove that the vehicle was so unsuited as
to cause a danger. I guess if you try to tow 5 tons behind a metro, you
could well argue that this could cause a danger. However, towing say 2500Kg
behind a vehicle rated to tow 2000Kg, I reckon they'd have to prove that you
were travelling recklessly fast, or that the brakes weren't up to scratch,
or something.
Bearing in mind, of course, that lower speed limits apply to vehicles towing
trailers, so that if they pulled you at 70 with a oversize trailer on they
will do you for the speed limit and maybe for contravening C&U as well.
--
Austin Shackles.
www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"Quos deus vult perdere, prius dementat" Euripedes, quoted in
Boswell's "Johnson".
