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7 Sep 2012, 18:51 (Ref:3132597) | #26 | |||
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I've got it on good authority from two different VOSA enforcement officers that it's legal, the only problem is if you get a plod or even VOSA who make the law up as they go along. There's a few of them on Piston Heads to prove this point. |
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7 Sep 2012, 21:23 (Ref:3132661) | #27 | |
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Tim, my dad had that problem too. His car can tow 2800kg, the trailer he bought is a 3500kg Ifor Williams. The manufacturer/dealer provided a document to say that this matter had been tackled with VOSA etc and providing you didn't exceed the tow vehicles capacity all was legal.
I actually went and sat my B+E a few years ago so as I could tow without a worry. A year later I was helping out with race cars all over the country - it paid for itself several times over! |
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8 Sep 2012, 10:59 (Ref:3132869) | #28 | |||
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"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." |
8 Sep 2012, 18:56 (Ref:3132944) | #29 | ||
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Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
12 Sep 2012, 11:02 (Ref:3134726) | #30 | ||
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I was stopped by VOSA towing a Midget on a big trailer, but it was an old one with no weight plate so there was no problem. It seems absurd that if your trailer is too old to comply you can get away with it. I suppose it's a self-correcting problem in that as older equipment is scrapped only plated trailers will be around.
Tim, to get this straight in my mind, because I'm old and have BE on my licence I can tow a trailer that exceeds the theoretical maximum of my tow car GTW as long as the actual weight is within it? i.e. the ZS can tow 1000kg, but I can tow a trailer rated at 1500kg as long as the all-up weight of trailer and load is under 1000kg? Do I have a problem when I hire a van and trailer to carry the 924, but have to return the empty trailer behind the ZS because the van has to be checked in earlier than the trailer. The trailer hire company is actually next door to the County Police HQ, so I expect they're all on good terms anyway |
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Midgetman - known as Max Tyler to the world. MaxAttaq! |
12 Sep 2012, 11:55 (Ref:3134751) | #31 | |||
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With a trailer that is not plated they will normally go off the tyre ratings to determine GVW. Don't you have a seven and a half tonner you could use or have I been dreaming again? |
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12 Sep 2012, 14:40 (Ref:3134833) | #32 | |||
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Midgetman - known as Max Tyler to the world. MaxAttaq! |
13 Sep 2012, 10:03 (Ref:3135296) | #33 | ||
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My understanding of the actual letter of the law, if you like, is that it's the plated weight of the trailer that counts, not the actual weight. In other words, if you're towing a 3500 kg trailer that weighs 800 kg empty, and your tow vehicle can only legally tow, say, 2000 kg - then you can't tow that trailer even with a packet of crisps on board! Even though common sense tells you that you have 1200 kg of payload to play with.
Sadly, the law is an ass, and it's not renowned for possession of common sense! In the real world, I think it's going to depend on just who pulls you - get some wet behind the ears copper who's out to prove a point and you may have a problem. Not that I reckon many wet behind the ears coppers would have a clue about towing laws! So you may be OK then... Another common misconception is about what your vehicle can actually tow legally. Many people read the figure in their handbook about towing weights and think that's it, but in most cases manufacturers provide a recommended figure in a handbook - rarely is this the actual maximum legal figure, as manufacturers tend to err on the side of caution. The important figure to be aware of is the gross train weight or gross combination weight (GTW or GCW) - this is the maximum figure that the entire outfit (vehicle + trailer + contents of both) can weigh and still be legal. From this, you can see that what you can tow is also affected by how much stuff you carry in the tow vehicle - whatever your tow vehicle weighs once you've loaded everything into it comes off your GCW - whatever's left, you can tow (subject to complying with the other rules mentioned already). At least, that's how I've always interpreted it! |
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"Light travels faster than sound - that's why, at first, some people appear bright... until you hear them speak!" |
8 Nov 2012, 12:57 (Ref:3164078) | #34 | ||
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Towing is a constant frustration for me.
I have a cat C license which allows me to drive anything rigid, so in practise up to 34tons. Yet I still cannot tow a trailer over 750kg (and the confusing rule about 3500kg thing). Its a similar cost for me to get C+E as it is to get B+E, yet I still have not had conformation that getting a C+E would also upgrade me to a B+E. Its maddening that it makes no sense and nobody I speak to can confirm it! |
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8 Nov 2012, 16:13 (Ref:3164131) | #35 | |||
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8 Nov 2012, 17:08 (Ref:3164143) | #36 | ||
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Move to India Tim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGfLNqjh4j0
I noticed that this candidate had both hands at 9 and 3 o'clock during his marathon test ! What's more concerning is that the pass allows you to drive anything from an elephant to a truck ! |
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Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
8 Nov 2012, 20:30 (Ref:3164208) | #37 | |||
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8 Nov 2012, 20:49 (Ref:3164213) | #38 | ||
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6 Dec 2012, 12:30 (Ref:3175730) | #39 | ||
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so my Peugeot Boxer motorhome and 4 wheel open PRG mini sport with 600Kg Westfield using a licence with all A B C1 D1 restriction 1 and E BB C1 D1Restriction 1....probably needs me to take a test!.....
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2017 NSSCC Champion You cant win a race at the first corner, but you can lose it.... |
6 Dec 2012, 16:17 (Ref:3175825) | #40 | |||
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I say this as one who has fell foul of the law on towing weights and only got away with it because the cop didn't do his homework properly |
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Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
6 Dec 2012, 16:32 (Ref:3175831) | #41 | ||
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It looks like you need either a BE or C1E plus your glasses
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7 Dec 2012, 18:14 (Ref:3176275) | #42 | |||
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2017 NSSCC Champion You cant win a race at the first corner, but you can lose it.... |
7 Dec 2012, 18:18 (Ref:3176278) | #43 | ||
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From the GOV.UK website
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. https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/d...at-you-can-tow Last edited by Westysprinter; 7 Dec 2012 at 18:19. Reason: adding a relevant link |
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2017 NSSCC Champion You cant win a race at the first corner, but you can lose it.... |
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