Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

[ROG.]

Thanks a lot for this clarification - it's very useful in ensuring that people know what they're legal to tow.

Q1 - So basically, if you have a reasonably rated estate car (e.g. 2WD 130PD Passat GVW2030kg) and a lightweight car trailer, with a stripped out Golf2 or similar you're going to be OK on a B. 

Q2 - The fly in the ointment for my set up, on a B is that the trailer is rated at 1450kg so a B licence would mean you weren't allowed to tow it because the MAM of the train could be over 3500kg, right?

Q3 - Just to confirm the calculation that the police would use to confirm a good shafting if someone with a B-licence was caught with my set up would be:

Car GVW 2160kg
Trailer MAM 1450kg
Total MAM = 3610kg

Q4 - But if they were running a 2WD Passat 130PD with the same trailer they'd be OK on the handbook value of that car's GVW of 2030kg

Q5 - Are there many car trailers now being produced which are low weight, high capacity to cater to the B-only market?  I know a lot of the Brian James rigs are rated to load 2000kg on them, which would put a B licence holder WAY over on most things that could tow them with a reasonable load.

A1 - If the stripped out Golf and the weight of the empty trailer are under 1470 and the trailer is not plated to more than 1470 AND the unladen weight of the Passat is not less than 1470 then yes (1470+2030=3500)

A2 - correct

A3 - correct again- very easy to check on at the roadside and they tend to target towing drivers under the age of 35

A4 - yes, providing the unladen weight of the Passat was not less than 1450

A5 - http://www.armitagetrailers.com/Cartransportertrailers.htm - that is small!!
http://www.trailertek.com/2383/car_transporters/lightweight-car-transporters/#more-2383 - loads of examples in that list and it seems that they are all about 400 kgs unladen (MAM - LOAD)
Taking the LW-102 twin axle car transporter trailer as an example - it has an unladen weight of 400 and a MAM of 1600 but that MAM could be downplated to perhaps 1500, 1450 or 1400 which would allow respective loads of 1100, 1050 and 1000

Manufacturers will be happy to downplate the MAM if they are asked and that is often done for free or at a token admin cost

[danny_p]

i know Iforwilliams will do so if you ask.   it's free as well but you have to take the trailer to one of there dealers so they can look at it and decide it's not nicked before replateing it,  quite a sensible thing imo

[Horney]

Great topic and thanks for all the info. Looks like I'm good to go with  ZT, trailer and Golf on the back.

nick

[clipperjay]

So the last time I towed a Golf MK2 (800kg) on the Dodge the weights permitted were:
MAX GTW unbraked 450KG
MAX GTW braked    1200KG
MAX tongue Wt.     80KG
Can't remember what weight the trailer was I think it might have been about 450KG
Another note the trailer weighs more than 450KG it should have brakes!
450+800=1250kg? I was towing? GVW is about 2000KG on mine I think?

My license states B+E untill 2045
 

[ROG.]

Great topic and thanks for all the info. Looks like I'm good to go with  ZT, trailer and Golf on the back.

nick

Gimme these (weights in kgs) and I'll confirm for you if you wish me to?
LICENCE
B or B+E

VEHICLE
Kerb =
GVW =
Towing capacity =

TRAILER
Unladen =
MAM =

LOAD =

[Horney]

problem is I will be hiring a trailer for when I use one for trackdays as I don't own one and don't currently have anywhere to keep one if I did.

LICENCE
Old fart (passed in 95)

VEHICLE
Kerb = 1515
GVW =  Unknown
Towing capacity = 1600

TRAILER
Unladen = 500 (approx)
MAM = Unknwon

LOAD =  850KG

[ROG.]

So the last time I towed a Golf MK2 (800kg) on the Dodge the weights permitted were:
MAX GTW unbraked 450KG
MAX GTW braked    1200KG
MAX tongue Wt.     80KG
Can't remember what weight the trailer was I think it might have been about 450KG
Another note the trailer weighs more than 450KG it should have brakes!
450+800=1250kg? I was towing? GVW is about 2000KG on mine I think?

My license states B+E untill 2045

With a GTW of 1200 which usually stands for Gross Train Weight but in this case stand for Gross Trailer Weight just to confuse things!! then you were 50 kgs over with 800+450

Assuming that the Dodge was at least 50 kgs under the permitted GVW and any trailer plated MAM was not exceeded at the time then it gets interesting ......
The GTW (Gross Train Weight) will not have been exceeded because that will be GVW+towing capacity - no plated law broken
The plated weight on the trailer will not have been exceeded - no plated law broken

So we are left with just the manufacturers towing capacity being exceeded - no specific law written for that BUT .... According to a very reliable source......

Exceeding the towing capacity of a vehicle could leave the driver open to prosecution under the following:-

Regulation 100 C&U regs 1986

Road traffic act section 40, 41 or 42 with possible penalty points

If overload more than 30% then may consider vehicle/combination being in dangerous conndition

[ROG.]

problem is I will be hiring a trailer for when I use one for trackdays as I don't own one and don't currently have anywhere to keep one if I did.

LICENCE
Old fart (passed in 95)

VEHICLE
Kerb = 1515
GVW =  Unknown
Towing capacity = 1600

TRAILER
Unladen = 500 (approx)
MAM = Unknown

LOAD =  850KG

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/mg/zt/used-mg-zt-2-0-cdti-135-4dr-witham-fpa-201214462254029
Found a 2005 ZT with these specs
Kerb = 1515
GVW =  2030
Towing capacity = 1600

TRAILER
Unladen = 500 (approx)
MAM = for a B+E = up to 3500 but loaded to an actual weight max of 1600
MAM = for a B = up to 1470 because 1470+2030=3500

[clipperjay]

So the last time I towed a Golf MK2 (800kg) on the Dodge the weights permitted were:
MAX GTW unbraked 450KG
MAX GTW braked    1200KG
MAX tongue Wt.     80KG
Can't remember what weight the trailer was I think it might have been about 450KG
Another note the trailer weighs more than 450KG it should have brakes!
450+800=1250kg? I was towing? GVW is about 2000KG on mine I think?

My license states B+E untill 2045

With a GTW of 1200 which usually stands for Gross Train Weight but in this case stand for Gross Trailer Weight just to confuse things!! then you were 50 kgs over with 800+450

Assuming that the Dodge was at least 50 kgs under the permitted GVW and any trailer plated MAM was not exceeded at the time then it gets interesting ......
The GTW (Gross Train Weight) will not have been exceeded because that will be GVW+towing capacity - no plated law broken
The plated weight on the trailer will not have been exceeded - no plated law broken

So we are left with just the manufacturers towing capacity being exceeded - no specific law written for that BUT .... According to a very reliable source......

Exceeding the towing capacity of a vehicle could leave the driver open to prosecution under the following:-

Regulation 100 C&U regs 1986

Road traffic act section 40, 41 or 42 with possible penalty points

If overload more than 30% then may consider vehicle/combination being in dangerous conndition

Nick old fart well mines says 94 LOL!
The tongue weight doesnt include in the 450KG?
mmmm I'm guessing the golf weight was about 800KG?
The Dodge weight is 1700KG
Possibly I was just over, but under the 30%
All I know is the fuel bill was the biggest expense but it was a very long distance!