What is the maximum towing weight for Disco 1994

Help! I'm all new to Land Rovers and towing! I can't get a straight answer to my question re how much I can tow. I have been given very different answers! According to most people, I can only tow up to 85% of the vehicles gross weight, I have an ifor williams 505 horse trailer, which has a plated weight of 2345kg. So this would mean that it's too heavy for my car to tow! Surely this can't be right! Can't get my head round it! It's sooo confusing!!

3.5 tonne if the chassis is good

Chassis really good, its had alot of work done! Is there anyway to confirm the weight? I've just been told from someone else, that the car was manufactured to tow 3.5t! Where are they getting this info from? I really don't want to get nicked! And could do with having something in writing!!

You wont get nick for towing more than you car can handle, you'll just **** the rear chassis,

to be fair, you'll be fine most likely

Well that's what I thought! But everyone I know are raging on that my car isn't allowed to tow more than 2220kg! And if I tow my trailer, whether it's at its full weight or not, and I get pulled over, DVSA, will impound car and trailer!!

How old is your licence ?

It is diffrent depending on your age

Licence is 1995, and I've got the B +Be entitlement on there, so that's no issue

Jax1977 said:

Chassis really good, its had alot of work done! Is there anyway to confirm the weight? I've just been told from someone else, that the car was manufactured to tow 3.5t! Where are they getting this info from? I really don't want to get nicked! And could do with having something in writing!!

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What the manufactures claim as max the car will pull and what the law says is the max weight towable maybe very different things. At one time a 7 ton tipper could carry 7 tons. Now it is 7 tons max vehicle weight. So if the trunk weighs 4 tons it can only carry 3. Carriable weight and towing laws were changed a while ago.

See! This is my issue! I have now got an answer back from Landy themselves and they are now also saying that car is allowed to 3.5t! What the hell! So if I had this in writing from them, and DVSA pulled me over, would I still be nicked? I have the worst luck in the world, so want to make sure my facts are absolutely right!

Jax1977 said:

See! This is my issue! I have now got an answer back from Landy themselves and they are now also saying that car is allowed to 3.5t! What the hell! So if I had this in writing from them, and DVSA pulled me over, would I still be nicked? I have the worst luck in the world, so want to make sure my facts are absolutely right!

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Don't know to be honest. If that is the case and your trailer is 2345 kgs. Then the gee gees need to be less that 1155 kgs. I thought to be honest the law was 3.5 tonnes gross train weight. But i maybe wrong. I know for a fact that a large box 3.5 tonne Luton type van goes on gross weight and many would be overloaded with a driver passenger and three piece suite on them.

The trailers "plated" weight is 2345k, but unladen it weighs just over a tonne. But with the trailer fully loaded and all the gear in car, we are gonna be over! And my trailer is only one of the small ones! What sort of car is gonna tow the bigger trailer with much bigger horses???? Don't know how anyone travels legally?

Usually best to go to the source of regs.

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

Licences held before 1 January 1997

If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM.

This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.

You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.


Obviously the above is subject to not going over the MAM of the vehicle

I have the right licence, and I've been on there website, this is my source of confusion! As they are saying I'm only allowed to tow 85% of the vehicles weight, which if this is correct, I'm going to be way over with only a small trailer!!!!

Jax1977 said:

I have the right licence, and I've been on there website, this is my source of confusion! As they are saying I'm only allowed to tow 85% of the vehicles weight, which if this is correct, I'm going to be way over with only a small trailer!!!!

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Who is saying 85%? Your vehicle is plated to tow 3.5 tonnes, you're licenced to drive a combination of up to 8.25 tonnes.

What's important is the MAM figures.

That's what I thought! But stupid woman I spoke to at DVSA yesterday, has said if I tow more than 85% of my cars weight, it will be illegal!! Hence I don't understand what the f**k I'm allowed! May ring them again Monday, maybe I just got through to a f**king idiot!! Thats why in trying to get it in writing or something!

blue beasty said:

Who is saying 85%? Your vehicle is plated to tow 3.5 tonnes, you're licenced to drive a combination of up to 8.25 tonnes.

What's important is the MAM figures.

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85% is a recommended safe towing limit by the caravan club and other organisations. Its not a rule its a guideline.
Its an old rule that pre dates abs, traction control etc.
But its still good advice fer shìte drivers

Yes you've been given bad advice. You can tow what the vehicles train weight says on the plate. So say if it is 3000kg Max gross weight and 6000kg train weight, your combination must weigh in at a weighbridge at 6000kg Max. It doesn't matter if your vehicle is 2500kg and your trailer is 3500kg, the vehicle can be lighter than the trailer.
However the plate on the trailer is the Max gross for the trailer. So your trailer + nags = 2345kg Max. Trailers are available plated at 3500kg.

Rules change for HGV in that you cannot have a trailer heavier than the tow vehicle. You could be done for towing a 5t digger with an empty 7.5t tipper for example (as a policeman once warned me as he walked passed me filling up)

Jax1977 said:

Well that's what I thought! But everyone I know are raging on that my car isn't allowed to tow more than 2220kg! And if I tow my trailer, whether it's at its full weight or not, and I get pulled over, DVSA, will impound car and trailer!!

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Who is everyone?

You're fine, as long as your disco is solid.

They won't impound either. They will issue a fine and allow you to continue with the excess removed. Then you just choose which leg you want for dinner

He arst about this on September the 5th!

Spect he must have towed the nags or no by now!