trailer towing licence

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BearDy89

BearDy89

Well-Known Member
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1,518
Location
Bristol
So I have just bought a sankey and I want to convert it into a camping trailer.

I want to know how heavy ti can be for me to tow on my B1 licence.

I have done lots of searching and googling and its all very hit and miss and then i Found what looks like a simple calculator.


attachment.php



A = 1750kg

B = 2400kg

C = 400kg (un modified sankey)

?? = 1000kg ?? My new sankey


So I miss condition 1 as it will be over 750kg.

Condition 2 is B + C = <4250kg
2400 + 400 = 2800
which is less than 4250kg.

so potentially I can make the trailer as heavy as i want as long as this sum doesnt exceed 4250.

4250 - 2400 = 1850kg

However 1850kg exceeds Condition 3 that is the trailer weight cannot exceed the Kerb weight of the tow vehicle so

Condition 3 states

C > 750kg Yes
B + C = < 3500

so 2400 + 400 = 2800kg Yes

So if i take 3500kg allowed minus the 2400kg = 1100kg

1100kg Is the maximum weight of trailer I can tow with the 90 IF the MAM of the 90 is 2400kg.

The law states any trailer over 750kg must be braked which a Sankey is.

Have I missed anything?
 

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Is B1 the standard license to anyone who's past in the last 15 or so years? (unsure of when the law was changed) as if so I'd also like to know the answer to this one. I have a nato hitch but no time or funds to sit a trailer test.
 
my best mate phoned dvla last week about this and was told 750kg max ,anything larger and he would need the relevant test .
 
B1 is for youngsters who passed since Jan 1997..?

BigSi, this confuses me as that means the above document I found is complete bollocks.
 
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.



Section in Bold states that person can tow 1.25T on the B1 licence, thats a direct copy n paste from here, Towing trailers or caravans with vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes : Directgov - Motoring
 
he passed in 98, i'd ring them and record the call ,it only took 2 mins the other day to ring dvla. i can't tow owt big either on my license.
 
bollox, bloke at dvla was spouting ****e. max 750 is for a vehicle with a mam of 3500kgs.

BearDy has it spot on, you only need a test if you want to tow larger than 750kgs with a van of mam 3500kgs.
under that, the combined max weight cannot be more than 3500kgs.
So, you could take a car of max weight 1800kgs and tow another 1700kgs behind it.
 
From the DVLA :
Check you have the right driving licence

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary Category B licence, you can drive either of the following:
  • a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes (3,500 kilograms) maximum gross weight towing a trailer of up to 750 kilograms maximum gross weight (up to 4,250 kilograms in total)
  • a trailer over 750 kilograms maximum gross weight as long as it is no more than the unladen or 'kerb' weight of the towing vehicle (up to 3,500 kilograms in total)
For anything heavier you need to take a Category B + E driving test.


From that : your Unladen weight of 1750 allows for a trailer of up to that weight also - ie total then 3500. This would also fall within the 4250kg total limit.
 
I have just emailed, DVLA so will have it in writting,

But from what everyone has posted it seems I am correct in thinking as long as it is a braked trailer you can tow over 750kg porviding the combined vehicle + trailer weight is less than 3500kg.
 
Dear Mr Beard



Thank you for your enquiry.



DVLA will send a reply to you within 3 working days.



If this takes longer because your query may need investigating, we will let you know.



Alternatively, for help, advice and online services you can visit the website at Motoring : Directgov
Click to expand...

3 working days to answer an email!! what a joke
 
BearDy89 said:
I have just emailed, DVLA so will have it in writting,

But from what everyone has posted it seems I am correct in thinking as long as it is a braked trailer you can tow over 750kg porviding the combined vehicle + trailer weight is less than 3500kg.
Click to expand...


combined MAX weight, otherwise, yes that is correct.
 
BearDy89 said:
I have just emailed, DVLA so will have it in writting,

But from what everyone has posted it seems I am correct in thinking as long as it is a braked trailer you can tow over 750kg porviding the combined vehicle + trailer weight is less than 3500kg.
Click to expand...

That is effectively what they told me when I rang up... So I just take a tractor/trailer instead...it tows 15 tons better than my 90 and I'm legally allowed to tow proper trailers/loads :D
 
Anyone can rate a trailer.. as long as it follows C&U regs for axles brakes, auto reverse brakes lights etc.

A large trailer can be derated if you want it to be. however derate a 3.5T trailer to 1100kg and try to load it to 3.5tonnes and you will get done for been overloaded. The MAM of the trailer as well as unladen weight must be clearly marked on the rating plate.
 
Hi All,

Just an Email from DVLA to confirm what most of us thought.

Dear Mr Beard



Thank you for your email received on 18/9/12. Your email reference number is 1031967.



The holder of a full car (Category B) licence would be able to tow the following combinations:



If your car weighs less than 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM) you are able to drive a combination weight of 3.5 tonnes (i.e. a car of 2.5 tonnes towing a trailer of 1 tonne). In this instance the laden weight of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle.



If your car weighs exactly 3.5 tonnes MAM you are able to tow a smaller trailer of 750kgs.



If you would like to tow a larger trailer you will need to contact the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) with a view to booking a test for category B+E. Their details are as follows:



Telephone number: 0300 200 1122



Email: [email protected]



Website address: Driving Standards Agency - Department for Transport



The holder of a full car licence will automatically have provisional entitlement for category B+E. Provisional entitlements are recorded on the paper counterpart section of a photocard licence.



Please note that the Category B1 you mentioned is not for trailers, please see definition below if there is any confusion.



Category B1 - Motor tricycles/quadricycles, three or four wheeled vehicles with an unladen weight not exceeding 550kg (minimum age 17*).



Do not reply to this email. If you wish to contact us again about this response then please use our Reply Form or copy and paste the following URL in to your browser:



https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail/directgov/en/reply_form_drivers.html



When filling in the form the email reference number 1031967 will be required.



Regards



H Bennett

Customer Enquiries Group

DVLA
Click to expand...
 
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