Trailer Towing Lessons

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darkangelv24

Member
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73
Location
Birmingham
Right well I understand i'm one of these people who passed their test after 1997 and as a result need to pass a seperate test if i want to tow anything more than 3.5T gross train weight.

But my problem comes i have never towed anything. I dont just want to hook up a trailer and drive arround without some kind of training.

Is there anyone that could recomend a course (preferably cheap) or could give me some training for some beer?
 
google trailer driving lessons and explain you don't want to tow more than your legally allowed to but you'd like a few hours to be shown the ropes and see whether you can strike up a deal... as grimmer says - location would be helpful as you might be lucky and find some kind soul on here that's willing to show you the ropes!
 
you need a test if yer gonna tow more than 750 kgs, you wont tow anything over 3.5 gtw unless ya get air brakes -or a lorry.
 
goonarmy said:
you need a test if yer gonna tow more than 750 kgs, you wont tow anything over 3.5 gtw unless ya get air brakes -or a lorry.
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Fink yoov misunner staan him. he can tow a max of 3.5tonnes GTW that's car+trailer+load as long as trailer doesn't exceed MAM of towing vehicle. and loads of other bumpf, I can't be arsed to copy un paste. :rolleyes:
 
redhand said:
Fink yoov misunner staan him. he can tow a max of 3.5tonnes GTW that's car+trailer+load as long as trailer doesn't exceed MAM of towing vehicle. and loads of other bumpf, I can't be arsed to copy un paste. :rolleyes:
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what he said, 750kg is just the braked/unbraked limit, you can still tow a 750kg+ trailer as long as your MAM is under 3.5t. remember though its worked on what you can legally carry and not what you actually are, if your vehicle is 2t+ 1.7t trailer you need a C license to do it even if you only want to load the trailer to 1t
 
I'm currently doing trailer lessons. TBH, if you only want to tow a small trailer there really isnt much to it. I have a small 5ft x 4ft trailer that I use occassionally. Its narrower than the Landy so much of the lane positioning that you need to think about to pass the trailer test doesn't apply to such a small trailer. The reversing stuff doesn't really apply either, as its so much easier to just unhook the trailer and move it and the car independantly and hook up again facing the right direction.

I would recommend taking professional lessons though if you can afford it. The most difficult part I've found is shaking the 15 years of bad driving habits. For the test, they do expect a high standard of driving. Its not the same as taking a driving test when you're seventeen. The examiners are the guys who test HGV drivers. They are a different bunch than those who do normal driving tests.
 
Oh its not that. TBH the reversing stuff really isn't difficult. Apparently on the test, they are looking for a number of specific mirror checks and the order in which you do things.

For example, turning right on a roundabout requires a minimum of three left hand mirror checks at specific points. Two of which I do instinctively, the other one I just don't instinctively see the need for.

When I pull up to park, out of habit I knock it into neutral on the way to putting the hand break on. Its the wrong way round. The handbrake must go on first.

When I pull away from the side of the road, I indicate, put it in gear, take of the handbrake whilst checking my blind spot and then go. Well apprently the mirrors need a full check first (ideally both sides), then signal, and the blind spot must be checked before the handbrake is released. Not at the same time or whilst finding biting point.

On top of that the drive has to be soo smooth, such that a passenger with their eyes closed wouldn't notice when you change gear. Also, you need to show that your observations far up the road allow you to plan your arrival at each and every obstical. E.g. make sure you arrive at the traffic lights behind the other cars just as they pull away, rather than stop behind them. If you're approaching a narrow part because a car is parked on the side of the road, you're supposed to time your arrival so to avoid simultainious arrivial of oncoming traffic. Similarly making sure you don't arrive at a zebra crossing at the same time as a pedestrian.

Its getting the normal driving stuff up to test standard that seems the most difficult.
 
mundungus said:
Oh its not that. TBH the reversing stuff really isn't difficult. Apparently on the test, they are looking for a number of specific mirror checks and the order in which you do things.

For example, turning right on a roundabout requires a minimum of three left hand mirror checks at specific points. Two of which I do instinctively, the other one I just don't instinctively see the need for.

When I pull up to park, out of habit I knock it into neutral on the way to putting the hand break on. Its the wrong way round. The handbrake must go on first.

When I pull away from the side of the road, I indicate, put it in gear, take of the handbrake whilst checking my blind spot and then go. Well apprently the mirrors need a full check first (ideally both sides), then signal, and the blind spot must be checked before the handbrake is released. Not at the same time or whilst finding biting point.

On top of that the drive has to be soo smooth, such that a passenger with their eyes closed wouldn't notice when you change gear. Also, you need to show that your observations far up the road allow you to plan your arrival at each and every obstical. E.g. make sure you arrive at the traffic lights behind the other cars just as they pull away, rather than stop behind them. If you're approaching a narrow part because a car is parked on the side of the road, you're supposed to time your arrival so to avoid simultainious arrivial of oncoming traffic. Similarly making sure you don't arrive at a zebra crossing at the same time as a pedestrian.

Its getting the normal driving stuff up to test standard that seems the most difficult.
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None of the above are unique to driving with a trailer. They are all good driving techniques to have regardless of your vehicle.

If the OP is looking for cheap, but helpful advice he could contact his local Institute of Advanced Motorists group, who will often offer Caravan Towing advice, or even his local Camping & Caravanning club who might be able to suggest a source.
 
Just come across this thread.
I'm a towing instructor, based in Surrey.
Like what most have said, the hardest bit is shaking off the years of bad habits.

The reversing is actually quite easy - and if its going wrong, you can shunt forward twice - providing the shunt is constructive.

With the uncoupling and re-coupling, everything must be done in exactly the right order - something which isnt always how most would usually do it.

I always get people come to me who've tried to take the test with no professional training, and needless to say its not gone well fo them. The driving test is constantly changing and it is well worth spending a day brushing up on everything with a trainer. The test alone is £115 and its a lot of money to blow away by cutting corners and not getting training.

Have a look at www.trailertowinglessons.co.uk
and if you have any other Q's - just ask!

Matt
 
Simple B licence towing rules -

GVW of vehicle added to plated MAM of trailer must not exceed 3500 kgs = law

Plated MAM of trailer must not exceed kerbweight of vehicle = law (but might be scrapped in Jan 2013)

Actual towing weight SHOULD NOT exceed manufacturers towing capacity for vehicle = not law but recommended

No plated weights must be exceeded = law

GTW/MTW must not be exceeded = law (that is the actual weight of the lot when placed on a weighbridge)

B licence = any vehicle not more than 3.5 tonnes GVW

Where someone got C from for 2 tonnes baffles me
 
The B+E test
No medical or theory test required
Read a number plate from a certain distance
VIDEO - Show Me Tell Me Questions - usually 5
The next three can be in any order:-
VIDEO - Reversing Exercise - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
VIDEO - Uncouple/couple up - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
One hour road drive - includes the independent drive and is done virtually the same as the basic car test

DISCLAIMER - I have no connection to any companies which may be featured in those videos

This is interesting BUT NOT RECOMMENDED – a B licence towing set up can be presented for the B+E test but L plates must be used for the test. So you can train yourself, go to test by yourself, fit L plates, do the test, then, pass or fail, remove L plates and drive away by yourself.
DSA B+E TEST AND VEHICLE/TRAILER REQUIREMENTS


SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER
In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.
They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.
All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.
The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -
The supervising driver must be aged over 21
The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years
L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer
Correct insurance for a B+E learner
 
wot happens when yer trailer aint got a weight plate gos they hadnt been thought of when the trailer was cobbled together in someones back yard?
 
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