Towing.

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Do not know what it costs in the UK but same sort of laws about trailers here in France, both my sons went and did a short course and took, the test on the same day, I think it worked out about 500€ each but something they can use all there life's
 
Oh bollocks
So I have a provisional B+E it seems. It confused me into thinking I was ok to tow with the 110. Especially since it's kerb weight is 2ton. I thought I will be well under the 3.5 limit. But it's not it's kerb weight on the license. It's the MAM, which is 3ton for a 110

So if I want to tow a 600kg kit car, how can I achieve that? This is bonkers. That means without a trailer, I am at 3.6ton, already over the limit.
I passed my test in 2005
 
Nick bw said:
Thanks Huddy.

How was the test? I haven't towed anything before.
Click to expand...

The test is a piece of cake. I passed my B+E less than 6 months after passing my B test. I had been riding bikes for 2 years before hand, so knew the “rules of the road”.

The test has 2 “manoeuvres”. One is hitching on without crashing into the trailer, the second is a “reverse from one garage to another garage”. It’s basically parallel reverse park while turning left, around 10-15meters I think. I’m sure the manoeuvre is online somewhere. It’s the same as the HGV test I’m lead to believe. Once that is out the way, 30-40mins our driving on the roads, pulling over and off a few times, jobs a good one.
 
Do the training course & test through one of the companys that offer it over consecutive days using their vehicle & trailer with your test booked for the final day. Their vehicle/trailer combination will meet the rules & they are teaching you to pass the test.
Be aware if you wanted to use your own that the towing vehicle and trailer must fulfill certain criteria or the test will not go ahead & you will lose your test fee.
Rules for the trailer you use
The trailer you use and the load it carries must meet certain rules.
Your test will be cancelled and you’ll have to pay again if your trailer or load don’t meet the rules.
The trailer you use must:
  • be a closed box body, such as a horsebox
  • be around the same width and height as the car - you must only be able to see to the rear by using external mirrors, and not through the rear window
  • have a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of at least 1,000kg - you need proof to show the examiner, for example, the manufacturer’s plate
The MAM is the limit on how much the trailer can weigh when it’s loaded.

Rules about the load
The trailer must carry a load of at least 600kg. The combined weight of the trailer and load must be at least 800kg.
The load must be secured safely to the trailer. Your test will be cancelled if it isn’t.
The load can be either:
  • bagged aggregates weighing at least 600kg, for example, sand, stone chippings or gravel (but not toxic materials)
  • a 600 litre or 1,000 litre intermediate bulk container, completely full of water
Intermediate bulk containers are industrial containers for transporting liquids. They’re made from semi-transparent plastic and are usually reinforced with a wire frame.

Bags of aggregate
Each bag of aggregate must:
  • be sealed
  • weigh at least 10kg (all bags must weigh the same)
  • have the weight clearly marked on it
You can also use a single bag if it weighs 600kg or 1,000kg.

Water in containers
Water must be in an intermediate bulk container. The examiner must be able to see that it is full.

All laid out here which I suggest you read: https://www.gov.uk/car-trailer-driving-test
 
Last edited:
I think trailer laws have just got so difficult, like my jumpy van will tow 2 tons but i should not use my ivor williams as it is 3.5t gross weight even if it is empty, but if i took the weight plate off it, changed the number plate so it is the same as the van ( in france large trailers have the own registration ) disconnected the brakes i can the use it as long as it's weight is less than 750kg,and is a unbraked trailer, or that is how i read the law but would not be sure, but here I think if all looks okay police do not bother too much but if you had accident would be a different story
 
Ratae said:
Do the training course & test through one of the companys that offer it over consecutive days using their vehicle & trailer with your test booked for the final day. Their vehicle/trailer combination will meet the rules & they are teaching you to pass the test.
Be aware if you wanted to use your own that the towing vehicle and trailer must fulfill certain criteria or the test will not go ahead & you will lose your test fee.
Rules for the trailer you use
The trailer you use and the load it carries must meet certain rules.
Your test will be cancelled and you’ll have to pay again if your trailer or load don’t meet the rules.
The trailer you use must:
  • be a closed box body, such as a horsebox
  • be around the same width and height as the car - you must only be able to see to the rear by using external mirrors, and not through the rear window
  • have a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of at least 1,000kg - you need proof to show the examiner, for example, the manufacturer’s plate
The MAM is the limit on how much the trailer can weigh when it’s loaded.

Rules about the load
The trailer must carry a load of at least 600kg. The combined weight of the trailer and load must be at least 800kg.
The load must be secured safely to the trailer. Your test will be cancelled if it isn’t.
The load can be either:
  • bagged aggregates weighing at least 600kg, for example, sand, stone chippings or gravel (but not toxic materials)
  • a 600 litre or 1,000 litre intermediate bulk container, completely full of water
Intermediate bulk containers are industrial containers for transporting liquids. They’re made from semi-transparent plastic and are usually reinforced with a wire frame.

Bags of aggregate
Each bag of aggregate must:
  • be sealed
  • weigh at least 10kg (all bags must weigh the same)
  • have the weight clearly marked on it
You can also use a single bag if it weighs 600kg or 1,000kg.

Water in containers
Water must be in an intermediate bulk container. The examiner must be able to see that it is full.

All laid out here which I suggest you read: https://www.gov.uk/car-trailer-driving-test
Click to expand...

Definitely easiest way, the training provider will also have certain marks on the trailer to look out for when doing reverse manoeuvre, makes it so much easier. Plenty of vids on YouTube what to expect on a test. It's well worth doing for peace of mind and has been said, it's yours for life then and you're covered.
 
Huddy84 said:
If you do the B+E test you can drive a 3.5t MAM car with a 3.5t MAM trailer, so 7t MAM total. Trailer must not exceed maximum train weight specified on the vehicle, a 110 this is just over 6t. So you can tow a 3t trailer with your 110 if you have B+E
Click to expand...

I have just found this on the Gov website. I always thought we had a max GVT of 8250kg, but this says otherwise.

upload_2019-1-3_6-33-0.png


This assumes B test passed before 19 January 2013, and B+E entitlement held.
 
Huddy84 said:
If you do the B+E test you can drive a 3.5t MAM car with a 3.5t MAM trailer, so 7t MAM total. Trailer must not exceed maximum train weight specified on the vehicle, a 110 this is just over 6t. So you can tow a 3t trailer with your 110 if you have B+E
Click to expand...

It seems that because I passed prior to January 2013, I can tow any sized trailer, which is why I confused myself about the weights. If the OP was to go and pass B+E now, they would be restricted to 3.5T towing weight.

upload_2019-1-3_6-42-26.png
 
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