Reedy
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Registered: 11th Apr 04
Location: Hammersmith
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Ive seen car trailers on ebay and was quite interested in one but problem is, normal drivers can only pull like 750kg.
Is there some special test i need to take? cost much?
Also any better way to transport a car thats off the road?
cheers
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Reedy
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Registered: 11th Apr 04
Location: Hammersmith
User status: Offline
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Any takers?
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ed
Member
Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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You can tow what ever you want can't you? Just so long as it isn't in excess of the vehicle you are driving's weight...
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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nope all depends on when you passed your test. And yes its another test you have to take!
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Doug_SRi
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Registered: 1st Sep 02
Location: Aberdeen. Drives: Stage 2 Astra VXR and Nova
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i am sure your allowed to tow up to 1500kg in total so long as it doesnt exceed the cars towing limit, sure its like 3ton max trailer and car. i looked into it a while back as i use a vectra c to tow my nova and only had my licence 4yrs
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Doug_SRi
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Registered: 1st Sep 02
Location: Aberdeen. Drives: Stage 2 Astra VXR and Nova
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http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/TowingAndCommercialVehiclesArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10013073&chk=BIZx8Z
not that clear to me tho
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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ah yes i was just searching for that.
the mam of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the tow vehicle.
Is your trailer a proper one or heath robinson?
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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The car and trailer practical driving test
The car and trailer test (B+E) is based on the lorry driving test and lasts for approximately one hour. Please note that B+E tests are conducted at vocational (bus and lorry) driving test centres.
The towing test (B+E) includes vehicle safety questions, an off-road reverse manoeuvre, a controlled stop, uncoupling and coupling of the trailer and driving on the road.
You will not be expected to carry out the following exercises:
emergency stop on the public road
reversing round a corner
reverse parking
turning in the road
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Doug_SRi
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Registered: 1st Sep 02
Location: Aberdeen. Drives: Stage 2 Astra VXR and Nova
User status: Offline
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I was using a gross weight 3.5ton brian james tilt bed but this was sold so now used a 2ton gross weight aberdeen trailers trailer. Was more than likly over the limit with the brian james but only used it twice
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Doug_SRi
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Registered: 1st Sep 02
Location: Aberdeen. Drives: Stage 2 Astra VXR and Nova
User status: Offline
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The vectra I use basically weighs 1450kg, with 2 ton gross and 1600kg max towing limit with braked trailer. My trailer has 2ton gross and I recon the trailer weighs a max of 500kg and my nova at the most 1ton making the trailer kerbweight 1.5ton.
Still not sure if im ok to tow this as dont really follow what they say
[Edited on 15-10-2006 by Doug_SRi]
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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Right basicall you are illegal.
The maximum authorised mass of the trailer ie gross weight ie 2 ton must not exceed the unladen weight of the tow vehicle.
So you would need a tow vehicle with an u/l weight of 2 ton.
However combined weight must not exceed 3.5 ton which obviously 2 plus 2 is 4.
So there is no way you can legally tow that trailer on a cat b licence!
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Reedy
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Registered: 11th Apr 04
Location: Hammersmith
User status: Offline
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so basically, with a trailor, car towing trailor and car on trailor it cannot exceed 3.5 tons.
So if i want to tow a hatchback i need to get a truck / jeep.
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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yes but then your going to be pushing on the 3.5 weight limit. Basically you cant tow a car on a trailer without a b+e
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Doug_SRi
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Registered: 1st Sep 02
Location: Aberdeen. Drives: Stage 2 Astra VXR and Nova
User status: Offline
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i have put a post on another site where there is a police officer who car answer it, will post it up when I get a reply. Seems stupid that I cant tow a 1300kg load with a 1500kg car just cause the trailer is designed to tow 2000kg max.
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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Unfortunately you may not get the correct answer from a police officer a lot of them do not know of or fully understand the new rules.
I would sooner go to your police station and get it from them in wirting.
Yes it may seem stupid. Then what is the point in the +E licence. If it isnt to stop inexperienced drivers towing big trailers with cars on top?
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Doug_SRi
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Registered: 1st Sep 02
Location: Aberdeen. Drives: Stage 2 Astra VXR and Nova
User status: Offline
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My question - "Im wanting to use a car with an unladen weight of 1501kg and max towing weight of 1600kg. Gross weight of the tow car is 2050kg. The trailer I plan to use has a gross weight of 2000kg and unladen weight of 500kg and has brakes. The car I plan to tow is 800kg making the trailer weight 1300kg. I have had my licence since 2002"
The reply - "You can drive this combination on a category 'B' driving licence without sitting a 'B' + 'E' test.
EK"
Lothian & Borders Police Cruise Liaison Officers
Sergeant Eddie Kelly and PC Colin Reid.
http://www.edinburghcruise.co.uk/ecbb/viewtopic.php?t=15174&highlight=
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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Well they have given you a clear answer there so i should print it off and also make sure that the webpage is available offline!
It contradicts the website you posted before but thats what i expected tbh!
Edited to say this bit to be precise:
Whereas
the same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
[Edited on 15-10-2006 by ainsley_brader]
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Reedy
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Registered: 11th Apr 04
Location: Hammersmith
User status: Offline
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theres a certain date that if you passed your test before your allowed to, was it like 1997 or something?
Would this work?, my dad passed ages ago, i could get him to do the moving 
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Doug_SRi
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Registered: 1st Sep 02
Location: Aberdeen. Drives: Stage 2 Astra VXR and Nova
User status: Offline
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yeah....
Car licences held before 1 January 1997
All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. They also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.
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ainsley_brader
Member
Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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ye thats correct pre 1st of 1st 1997 is not a problem
My old man does all my towing atm
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