Towing With Trailers

Chriss · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2005 Karma :

Hi,

Looking into the rules with towing with trailers. Reading this, I understand that I can tow a trailer, up to 750kgs. That is, the trailer alone weighing 750kgs, not the combined mass of the trailer and load (ie, before I put bikes on, the trailer can weigh 750kgs, afterwards it can weigh 1200kgs).

However, as a side rule, the weight of the trailer+load+car mustn't come to more than 3.5 Tonnes.

Do I read that correctly?

I'm quite baffled and this is the third understanding I've had.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

On a basic car license that allows you to tow upto 750kg, That's the weight of the trailer and whatever you put on it. The combined weight total of the trailer (including whatever is on it) and the vehicle towing can't be more than 3500kg.

DSA and DVLA making things overly complicated? Nah, they'd never do that. Laughing

edit: removed about b+e cos that's the trailer test as has been said below.

Chriss · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2005 Karma :

Wait, I don't have B+E, I have A,B,B1,f,k,p. Does that mean I can't tow at all?

And how do you find out the weight of a trailer? And do you just use the manufacturer's claimed weight for the weight of the load? Confused

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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

Im-a-Ridah · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Karma :

Chriss · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2005 Karma :

Ok, so it's like the 33bhp law, it's there, but just ignore it as it's stupid and impossible to enforce?
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

Chriss · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2005 Karma :

Good point, well presented. I know an average bike weighs about 200kg, so that's 400kg of bike, leaving 350kg for trailer.

Any idea how much the average trailer weighs? Thinking

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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

https://www.scott-trailers.co.uk/pdf/gh94.pdf

Just to give you an idea. Thumbs Up

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Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Trailers suck.

Get a van.

(My understandiong's always been 750kg combined weight, so the trailer and whatever you put onto it. Most trailers have their weight marked on them.)
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cal91 · Nearly there... Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Karma :

It's stupid.
I got told a HGV driver would still have to take that test to pull a small trailer!

That makes great sense doesn't it?
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10 pence Short · Crazy Courier Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Karma :

When and if you tow a trailer don't tow it in lane 3 of the motorway like some of the current camping crowd seem to do.

Quite often it's at high speed too, the tiny tyres don't like that!
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WildGoose · White Van Man Joined: 20 Mar 2002 Karma :

paulcdb · Scooby Slapper Joined: 29 Jul 2003 Karma :

and just another perk to having passed my test with the dinosaurs Laughing

Guessing clarkson has a job with DVLA and decided to finally rid us all of caravans Twisted Evil

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NSR Mick · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Karma :

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

What job is that? Can't think of anywhere that would want someone driving HGVs offroad without a licence either, the implications if there was an accident would be quite severe I imagine, all shunters and HGV mechanics have to hold a licence to move them about the yard.

As for pulling overladen trailers, there is no excuse really, you could say that you don't have a weighbridge at home but the country is littered with public weighbridges which everyone is entitled to use to check their weight. Aslong as you are on your way to your nearest one to check then the police can't prosecute you unless you are quite obviously dangerously overwieight and anyone doing that probably isn't on their way to a weighbridge anyway.

To guage a bike trailer's unladen weight, try and pick it up Wink

, simple ones really don't weigh much at all and I think even with a 3 bike trailer you'd be hard pressed go overweight, however you might want to be careful if you're towing it with a smart car so you don't exceed the weight of the towing vehicle.