Trailers

martin1512 · Jul 30, 2012

disco147 said:
thats interesting - that change in 2013 they're making... might have to get my B+E done now just in case otherwise it looks like they'll be making people take 2 tests!

That change only applies to new drivers who take their test after 2013.

Chrisfrain2007 · Jul 30, 2012

disco147 said:
post 97 means you can tow BUT the maximum allowed mass is NOT to exceed 3.5t of vehicle and trailer so I believe you'd be ok towing a camping type trailer with a p38?

I found the info on the DSA website somewhere ages ago but don't ask me for a link...

for a trailer test you're looking at about £700ish upwards...

It's about 65 quid for the test and and my local instructor offers lessons for 35 quid a lesson ( min 2 lessons ) so if you are Alrite at driving 200 quid should prob do it, gonna do mine soon , mite be cheaper if you use your own kit too

Jongould · Jul 30, 2012

martin1512 said:
FFS!!! The law is quite clear on this, and has been covered many, many times. For drivers who passed their test after 1997, you can drive any vehicle with a GVW of up to 3500kg, and a trailer of 750kg. This gives a maximum GTW of 4.25 tons. You can also tow a trailer over 750kg, provided that the max GVW and trailer combination does not exceed 3500kg, and the weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the vehicle. Take for example a car with a kerb weight of 1100kg and a GVW of 2000kg. A driver without B+E entitlement on their licence could tow a trailer with a maximum weight of 1100kg, which although it would be within the 3500kg GTW, the trailer weight cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. Another example would be a vehicle with an 1800kg unladen weight and a GVW of 2500kg. In this vehicle, a person without B+E entilement can tow a trailer with a max weight of 1000kg. This is because although the trailer weighs less than the unladen vehicle, the combined weight of the trailer, and the max GVW of the towing vehicle cannot exceed 3500kg.

Thats quite interesting, I was lead to believe that it was you can tow a trailer up to 750KG but not over, its good to know that I can tow more however...

All these license changes are a pain in the arse, when I worked at Fords I use to drive the recovery truck which is 4T + the car your speccing, I use to also drive the tractor units (I worked in commercials) although I knew I wasn't allowed to drive them, only between yards though which was about 1/4 mile...

Grit Valve · Jul 30, 2012

jamesmartin said:
how did you manage to leave it so late ?

After 16 years training 58 fails he finally got there slow learner

johnny curt 1 · Jul 30, 2012

MPfive said:
It also has to be an unbraked trailer no greater than 750kg. Everything else you need a ticket for.

hang on i passed my test in late 97 and have a small stripped out conway trailer tent kept in verry roadworthy condition with brakes weighing in under 750kg

does this mean i need a test for that

if it does they can fook off

MPfive · Jul 30, 2012

Yep. It states a single axle unbraked trailer no greater than 750kg. But as another thread stated it will depend on what your towing with.

johnny curt 1 · Jul 30, 2012

reet since my trailer is less than 750kg with brakes should it matter as id have thought it would be safer with brakes rather than nothing and the smallest thing ive towed it with is a 1.8 ford escort when i get me injun sorted its going on the back of the series 88" diesel

MPfive · Jul 31, 2012

To be fair. Unless your blatently overloaded you'll never get pull over. However if your ever in an accident with a trailer the plod will go over everything.

ricc · Jul 31, 2012

ffs in the license regs theres no mention of brakes... or lack of. the confusion is coming from any trailer over 750kg has to have overrun brakes.... so cheapskate little trailer makers dont fit them on cost grounds.....

martins post is as good as youll get.

martin1512 said:
FFS!!! The law is quite clear on this, and has been covered many, many times. For drivers who passed their test after 1997, you can drive any vehicle with a GVW of up to 3500kg, and a trailer of 750kg. This gives a maximum GTW of 4.25 tons. You can also tow a trailer over 750kg, provided that the max GVW and trailer combination does not exceed 3500kg, and the weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the vehicle. Take for example a car with a kerb weight of 1100kg and a GVW of 2000kg. A driver without B+E entitlement on their licence could tow a trailer with a maximum weight of 1100kg, which although it would be within the 3500kg GTW, the trailer weight cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. Another example would be a vehicle with an 1800kg unladen weight and a GVW of 2500kg. In this vehicle, a person without B+E entilement can tow a trailer with a max weight of 1000kg. This is because although the trailer weighs less than the unladen vehicle, the combined weight of the trailer, and the max GVW of the towing vehicle cannot exceed 3500kg.

Bump · Jul 31, 2012

MPfive said:
To be fair. Unless your blatently overloaded you'll never get pull over. However if your ever in an accident with a trailer the plod will go over everything.

I bet the plod still wouldn't give a ****.

Insurance company would put you over a barrell and screw the living brains out of you though.

The two times i've been in accidents (one my fault, rolling a car, other being hit by some idiot) the police haven't cared about looking at cars, just that everyone was ok and getting the road opened again.

timtheenchanteruk · Jul 31, 2012

ricc said:
ffs in the license regs theres no mention of brakes... or lack of. the confusion is coming from any trailer over 750kg has to have overrun brakes.... so cheapskate little trailer makers dont fit them on cost grounds.....

martins post is as good as youll get.

Agreed.

The cost of the BE test is more than £65 though, its £115/£141 depending on weekday/weekend
Driving test fees : Directgov - Motoring
cost me £300, a 1/2 days training, and the test, my combination at the time was not over the 3500, so couldn't be used for the test.
The test itself was **** easy, but I had been towing a caravan for a while, bigger car needed upgrade on the licence,
First on the test was a bit of, what ifs on snaking etc, pre flight checks etc.
Then they make you hitch up (reversing up to the trailer) and a few manoeuvres on the training ground, reverse round a corner and into a marked space, easy on bigger trailers, dont even try with a camping one!! then a bit of on road practical, hardest bit here is making sure you take corners wide enough so as not to clip the kerb, but not too wide.

Hardest part for me was remembering to do the steering wheel shuffle and the normal "driving test" stuff you forget within 10 minutes of passing your test!

A.J.M · Jul 31, 2012

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/towing-freelander-tips-190720.html

All info for towing with a B licence is in there as i asked the same question.

Yes, it's in the gaylander section but the info still applies and come with some hints and tips for people who haven't towed before.

Chrisfrain2007 · Jul 31, 2012

timtheenchanteruk said:
Agreed.

The cost of the BE test is more than £65 though, its £115/£141 depending on weekday/weekend
Driving test fees : Directgov - Motoring
cost me £300, a 1/2 days training, and the test, my combination at the time was not over the 3500, so couldn't be used for the test.
The test itself was **** easy, but I had been towing a caravan for a while, bigger car needed upgrade on the licence,
First on the test was a bit of, what ifs on snaking etc, pre flight checks etc.
Then they make you hitch up (reversing up to the trailer) and a few manoeuvres on the training ground, reverse round a corner and into a marked space, easy on bigger trailers, dont even try with a camping one!! then a bit of on road practical, hardest bit here is making sure you take corners wide enough so as not to clip the kerb, but not too wide.

Hardest part for me was remembering to do the steering wheel shuffle and the normal "driving test" stuff you forget within 10 minutes of passing your test!

Rang a local instructor, yep test is as you say and was 39.50 an hour tuition, still way of 700, gonna book a two hour assessment soon with him then see wheat he reckons

MPfive · Jul 31, 2012

The test is a bit of a **** take. I took mine about 3 yrs ago. Its the same test lay out as a class1 and the buggers tested you like it aswell. I had to bite my tongue from reminding everyone I had a licence already.

timtheenchanteruk · Jul 31, 2012

Chrisfrain2007 said:
Rang a local instructor, yep test is as you say and was 39.50 an hour tuition, still way of 700, gonna book a two hour assessment soon with him then see wheat he reckons

sounds about right, the only time I think it would be 700 is if you have neve towed before, if you have towed/can reverse a trailer, it will be no where near that.
The combo i used as a ruddy big box trailer, easy to see where it was going.

mattallaspects · Jul 31, 2012

Just another point aswell I have 3 mates who recently have been pulled towing just to have their licences checked the one who didn't got 3 points and 200 quid fine

might just be our local bobbys knowing tree surgeons and lanscapers are easy targets for this so deffo be careful out there.

MPfive · Jul 31, 2012

1 tip I'd give is try and find an instructor with a twin axle trailer. Hell of alot easier to reverse into they bay they mark out.

Trailers

martin1512

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Chrisfrain2007

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Jongould

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Grit Valve

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johnny curt 1

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MPfive

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johnny curt 1

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MPfive

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ricc

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Bump

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timtheenchanteruk

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A.J.M

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Chrisfrain2007

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MPfive

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timtheenchanteruk

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