Towing a trailer... [Archive] - SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum

TazDaz

11-05-10, 06:50 PM

Does anyone "in the know", know the licence required to tow a trailer, or rather a bike trailer?

The DirectGov website seems to be contradictory on the subject and I'm unclear whether I can tow anything at all. Some pages state that I need B+E to tow anything, but then other pages say that I can tow up to 3.5 under category B.

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers
Tazdaz

maviczap

11-05-10, 06:56 PM

Depends what year you passed you test and what do you have on your licence

I can tow anything above 3.5 cos I've got C1+E on my licence. But guys who work with can't because they didn't pass their test until after 1992 I think

Not much help I'm afraid

TazDaz

11-05-10, 06:57 PM

Ah, well the cutoff date was 1997, but I passed in 2006 so I only have B on my licence.

_Stretchie_

11-05-10, 07:04 PM

Can o worms..

If you passed your driving test on or after 01 January 1997 then you are subject to the differing entitlements. If you passed before just tow it.

If you passed after 01 Jan 97 then it's like a sliding rule, with the right set up you can tow upto 750kg (fully loaded including the trailer) AS LONG AS the combined mass of the vehicle you are driving, all it's contents and the trailer and all it's contents do not exceed 3.5 tonne (or therabouts).

However if you are driving a 1.2 Corsa then you are allowed to tow considerably less as it is to do with combined weights of the vehicle and the trailer.

I passed after 01 Jan 97 and have a Land Rover so I am allowed to tow the maximum of 750kg trailer (including it's contents). If my 1.5 Civic had a towbar (which it doesn't) then I think The maximum I can tow with it is 250kg or 500kg (this is just to illustrate how the amount changes depending on the vehicle, I've not looked in to it for the Civic as it doesn't have a tow bar and I'm not fitting one on it)

Have a butchers here at a thread I started asking about the same thing

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=146718

Hope it helps. There was another thread started about towing and this entitlement a week or so oafter mine so have a butchers around

**EDIT** The bit in bold and italic is wrong, see my next post further down with quotes from DVLA

bysie bye

maviczap

11-05-10, 07:08 PM

Well, I know my colleagues don't have to pass an extra test to tow our big trailer, because we were going down the route of a DOT test, but we found out they don't need to.

Our dept wants them to do a trailer driving course, just so they don't do something stupid.

I'll see if I can find out from work tomorrow, if you haven't got an answer

-Ralph-

11-05-10, 07:12 PM

or rather a bike trailer?

Is it a bike trailer you are actually looking for advice on?

_Stretchie_

11-05-10, 07:15 PM

Here is a starter for 10.. What car are you using?

Have a look at this

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring/driverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_10013073

Category B: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to eight passenger seats

Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.

For example:

a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle

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
Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle's handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of the trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne would be well within the new category B threshold.

TazDaz

11-05-10, 07:23 PM

Ok, so this is my understanding.

So basically I can tow anything, provided that the combined MAM is within 3.5tonnes and that the MAM of the trailer is less than the MAM of the car, otherwise I need to do the test to obtain B+E entitlement.

I've just been finding the wording a bit contradictory. It was this page which confused things.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564

"
Car driving licence first obtained since 1 January 1997

Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles. In addition to the new driving tests, drivers of vehicles which fall within subcategories C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E also have to meet higher medical standards."

Cheers btw.

2hys

11-05-10, 07:33 PM

before i got my hgv licence and have'n only passed my car test in 98 i to only had the B entitlement i looked in to hiring a trailer to take my mini to a rolling road to be set up, the bloke at the hire centre got out sum sort of dvla bible which lead him to the conclusion that the combined weight must not exeed 3.5t. i was driving a mk3 cav 1.5t-+, towing a 1t-+ trailer with a 750g-+ mini straped to it. he happy to let me hire it....

but then ive heard others say you can only tow those lil ali box trailers you get from halfords!!

7755matt

11-05-10, 07:51 PM

One of the important things to remember is to use the Maximum Gross Weight of the trailer involved. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking its the actual weight, hence a lot of horse trailers being towed by unsuitable cars

TazDaz

11-05-10, 07:54 PM

Is it a bike trailer you are actually looking for advice on?

Missed your post earlier. Yep, just seeing if I can tow a track bike around the country.

_Stretchie_

11-05-10, 08:01 PM

Missed your post earlier. Yep, just seeing if I can tow a track bike around the country.

Again, what car you driving? Also what bike is it you want to tow and how heavy is it?

One of the important things to remember is to use the Maximum Gross Weight of the trailer involved. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking its the actual weight, hence a lot of horse trailers being towed by unsuitable cars

Aye, also check your vehicles max towing weight, I was talking to someone who has a gritting company and one of their drivers got a fine not sure about points but deffo a fine as he was towing a trailer too big for the vehicle.

He just assumed as he had a 4x4 he was fine, I think it was a Mitsubishi L200 (could have been a Nissan Terrano) and it turns out his vehicles max towing weight was a 2.7 tonne braked trailer whereas my Disco has a max of a 3.5 tonne braked trailer. (No idea why, maybe it's to do with chassis and/or axle design or that the Land Rover is permanent 4 wheel drive whereas the other one wasn't)

He got done towing an empty 3.5 tonne trailer, they said even though it was not loaded it was plated for 3.5 tonne and his vehicle was not allowed to pull it because for all they know he could have been loading it up and bringing it back.

Of course I was not actually there so cannot guarantee it happened but they sounded a quite narked off when talking about it so inclined to believe them that it happened.

Richie

11-05-10, 08:15 PM

you can look here at the
EDIT :- Sorry too late..
towing part of the Driving Liecence.gov web site (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564).

I can tow loads of stuff... Reversing it is another matter :smt101
I lovs a good toe job me... :0)
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/2945/towing.jpg

barwel1992

11-05-10, 08:17 PM

so do you think if i had a 1.4 corsa i could tow a bike trailer the single bike kind ?

_Stretchie_

11-05-10, 08:18 PM

so do you think if i had a 1.4 corsa i could tow a bike trailer the single bike kind ?

How heavy is the car? Whats the MAM of the trailer?

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/2945/towing.jpg

Oh my god, you're one of them things from Battlestar Gallactica

Messie

11-05-10, 08:23 PM

Aye I agree with Stretchie. Towing anything forwards is simple.

It's reversing that's the problem. There should be a separate test for reversing a trailer round corners - or maybe not; I'd fail :(

Richie

11-05-10, 08:30 PM

Oh my god, you're one of them things from Battlestar Gallactica
Yes I am, but don't tell anyone....
Aye I agree with Stretchie. Towing anything forwards is simple.

It's reversing that's the problem. There should be a separate test for reversing a trailer round corners - or maybe not; I'd fail :(

I have to agree with your there Messy... :salut:

TazDaz

11-05-10, 08:30 PM

Again, what car you driving? Also what bike is it you want to tow and how heavy is it?

I don't have a specific car in mind as I sold mine in March, which means I can pick and choose to ensure I am legal.

This is all just in the planning stage for next spring, mentioned to someone I'd get a car and trailer and was told I'd need to take a test. I checked the directgov web and it seemed contradictory.

barwel1992

11-05-10, 08:35 PM

How heavy is the car? Whats the MAM of the trailer?

going by a new ish corsa its gross 1565kg

trailer that i have found is Gross Weight: 600 kg

Richie

11-05-10, 08:41 PM

you can get a bike trailer that one person can pick up off the ground... So any car will be fine (unless your bike is HUGE.)
if your going to tow a bike on a trailer then anything bigger than a puggy 205 will be fine.

ref puggy 205.... AR 2007... the pug of lov towing my bike over a few hills heated the brakes till I got a tad of brake fade.
But I was driving like a male chicken at the time.

maviczap

11-05-10, 08:41 PM

Reversing it is another matter :smt101

Piece of cake :p

Richie

11-05-10, 08:44 PM

Piece of cake :p
Twin pivot...! Then I :salut: you mate...

maviczap

11-05-10, 08:45 PM

Aye I agree with Stretchie. Towing anything forwards is simple.

It's reversing that's the problem. There should be a separate test for reversing a trailer round corners - or maybe not; I'd fail :(

There are those that can and those that can't and never will :p

I'm one of those clever dicks who can. I have to reverse our trailer for my colleague who can't :smt033

_Stretchie_

11-05-10, 08:45 PM

going by a new ish corsa its gross 1565kg

trailer that i have found is Gross Weight: 600 kg

Well, I'm no Carole Vorderman but I'd say this falls well within the category that you'd be able to drive/tow.

Don't forget the MAM of the trailer is 600kg, so now you need to know how heavy the trailer itself is, subtract that from the 600kg and see how much in weight you can put on it. Enough for a bike, beers and some tools hopefully.

Sod it, just buy a Land Rover, get a trailer with a MAM of 1250kg (these figure are subject to me making them up but they sound ABOUT right to me) and if you can't tow it, chuck it in the back and drive over something

; )

you can get a bike trailer that one person can pick up off the ground... So any car will be fine (unless your bike is HUGE.)
if your going to tow a bike on a trailer then anything bigger than a puggy 205 will be fine.

ref puggy 205.... AR 2007... the pug of lov towing my bike over a few hills heated the brakes till I got a tad of brake fade.
But I was driving like a male chicken at the time.

That was a cool car, until you killed it

maviczap

11-05-10, 08:47 PM

Twin pivot...! Then I :salut: you mate...

Twin axle jobbie, has a life of its own reversing it. :p

barwel1992

11-05-10, 08:50 PM

Well, I'm no Carole Vorderman but I'd say this falls well within the category that you'd be able to drive/tow.

Don't forget the MAM of the trailer is 600kg, so now you need to know how heavy the trailer itself is, subtract that from the 600kg and see how much in weight you can put on it. Enough for a bike, beers and some tools hopefully.

Sod it, just buy a Land Rover, get a trailer with a MAM of 1250kg (these figure are subject to me making them up but they sound ABOUT right to me) and if you can't tow it, chuck it in the back and drive over something

; )

Im 18.... lol i doubt i would have a chance with insurance

Richie

11-05-10, 08:54 PM

Twin axle jobbie, has a life of its own reversing it. :p

I can concur.... Yes they bloody well do.:jocolor:

jimmy4237

11-05-10, 09:21 PM

You need to have a "BE" cataegory on your licence if want to tow a trailer anything above the grand weight of 750kg. You've to sit the test using a suitable vehicle and heavy trailer (1 ton) at the HGV test centres, and the test costs £72:(:( Money grabbing government.....:smt097

You can legally tow a sports bike on a single axle unbraked bike trailer on your "B" licence as long as the total weight of the trailer is under 750kg.
I used to tow a 125 Yamaha dirt bike on a single axle trailer with my old Peugeot 205 1.4 petrol, and it pulled it no problems at 70mph. The wee car didn't even know it was pulling, the bike and trailer was that light...

But I killed the car one day by pulling an ifor williams 10x6 double axle flatbed belonging to my neighbour. I didn't know it weighed 850kg empty...
Sorry brakes and clutch..... the fuel consumption was crazy nuts...:rambo::rambo:

Just remember that when reversing with a trailer, left = right, and right = left.:jocolor::jocolor:

jimmy4237

11-05-10, 09:31 PM

There are those that can and those that can't and never will :p

I'm one of those clever dicks who can. I have to reverse our trailer for my colleague who can't :smt033

Lets see you reverse a 45foot long triaxle curtainsider trailer hitched to a truck, blind reversing (using the passenger side mirror only....) round 4 corners on a tight industrial estate 'cos the stupid council was digging up the road, and didn't bother to tell anybody or put up signs, until you approach them playing silly buggers with a JCB... Me and several other HGV drivers had to do it the day, and were not happy.... As the road is also lined with people abandoning their cars on the corners too.....:hackedoff::hackedoff:

Richie

11-05-10, 09:37 PM

Red Herring

11-05-10, 10:37 PM

Lets keep this really simple. Look at the trailer. If it's a one, two or even three bike trailer it's unlikely to have any brakes fitted. Provided it isn't something knocked up by somebody in their back garden this will mean that the gross weight of the trailer has to be less than 750kg because if it was more than that it would have to have brakes.

On a B licence you can tow a bike trailer behind just about any normal car. Get on with it and enjoy yourself.

Richie

11-05-10, 10:45 PM

I don't have a specific car in mind as I sold mine in March, which means I can pick and choose to ensure I am legal.

This is all just in the planning stage for next spring, mentioned to someone I'd get a car and trailer and was told I'd need to take a test. I checked the directgov web and it seemed contradictory.

Fill ya boots pal.

enjoy your towing.

Fin.;)

Dicky Ticker

12-05-10, 07:53 AM

Reversing trailers----General rule of thumb
Single axle will turn very quickly
Twin axle slightly slower as you have to push the second axle
Tri-axle you have to push round corners due to drag
The length from coupling/tow hitch to the axles[s] makes a difference,short trailers turn quickly
Trailer with A Frame and independent turning front axle only requires short sharp movements of the pushing vehicle steering and skill as the trailer is an independent vehicle with its own steering
Steering rear axle trailers with three axles turn about the same as a two axle.

A comment I will make is people tend to try to get to much turn on a trailer when reversing and then struggle to compensate it----be gentle,it is easier to increase the turn than correct it
Therefore---bike trailer is very short and close coupled so will turn very quickly

ricky

12-05-10, 05:09 PM

You need to have a "BE" cataegory on your licence if want to tow a trailer anything above the grand weight of 750kg.

try again.

i have had arguments with police officers and won many times when this was all new to them.

you can to any trailer, but with conditions, the trailer must not be havier than the car and both compained fully laiden must not be above 3.5 tons.

but and this is where its gets confusing, if you have a trailer that is only 750kg ( the small things from halfords) you can hav ethis on a car and the total weight can be 4.25tons, as thats a 3.5 ton car fully loaded and then the trailer at 750kg fully loaded and un braked.