No worries, it's good info and as good a thread as any for it to be.
No worries, it's good info and as good a thread as any for it to be.
sas_pinkie
Member
All that said, the test itself is easy. I have not long done it and all in, including the test fee and a tutor for a 3 hour lesson was about £400.00.
as long as you can reverse a trailer the test itself posed no issues and I could have passed with less tuition, but my employer paid for it so not a problem for me.
as long as you can reverse a trailer the test itself posed no issues and I could have passed with less tuition, but my employer paid for it so not a problem for me.
mick the builder
Well-Known Member
Twill all be changing over here soon. You will has to pass a trailer test and towing a twin axle trailers with a car will be illegale . not sure about little halfrauds trailers though.
DieselDazzler05
Member
Hi guys,
just want to ask a few questions on this, as when I was building my trailer I used the dvla site and called various official trailer manufacturer's to verify but no one would give me a straight answer,
I have a post 97 license btw,
ok so my understanding is above 750 kg it has to be braked,
however this rides along with the MAM of the towing vehicle which is now a 110 3door,
so lets say my landy weighs 2 tons and can tow 3 tons (cant remember the actual figure)
and I have a ifor williams twin axle which can carry 3tons
but Only weighs 1 ton
so my maximum train weight is 5 tons (over the limit)
so in order to be within the law id need to have my trailer re plated to drop the carrying weight to 1.5 tons their for limiting the use of my trailer if say my dad wanted to use it for his vintage tractor,
can someone verify this as it seems a little silly to limit us on maximum possible weight rather than the actual carrying weight, im currently renovating my house and want to buy all the insulation in bulk as its cheaper but risk getting pulled and fined ect as the MAM is over 3.5ton even although I'm only carrying a few hundred KG of insulation board and the trailer is well within the towable limit for the landy and the whole lot is under 3.5ton (actual weight),
jeeze this is such a mindfuc£!
just want to ask a few questions on this, as when I was building my trailer I used the dvla site and called various official trailer manufacturer's to verify but no one would give me a straight answer,
I have a post 97 license btw,
ok so my understanding is above 750 kg it has to be braked,
however this rides along with the MAM of the towing vehicle which is now a 110 3door,
so lets say my landy weighs 2 tons and can tow 3 tons (cant remember the actual figure)
and I have a ifor williams twin axle which can carry 3tons
but Only weighs 1 ton
so my maximum train weight is 5 tons (over the limit)
so in order to be within the law id need to have my trailer re plated to drop the carrying weight to 1.5 tons their for limiting the use of my trailer if say my dad wanted to use it for his vintage tractor,
can someone verify this as it seems a little silly to limit us on maximum possible weight rather than the actual carrying weight, im currently renovating my house and want to buy all the insulation in bulk as its cheaper but risk getting pulled and fined ect as the MAM is over 3.5ton even although I'm only carrying a few hundred KG of insulation board and the trailer is well within the towable limit for the landy and the whole lot is under 3.5ton (actual weight),
jeeze this is such a mindfuc£!
DieselDazzler05
Member
110 is 3,050 tons,
DieselDazzler05
Member
yes this is my point, if I had a trailer of 750kgs id still have a combined MAM of over 3500kgs
my trailer would have to be plated 450kgs MAM
jus because the MAM of the landy is 3050 tons and the trailer MAM is 3 tons doesn't mean both are at full capacity,
if im in my landy, towing 100kg of "feathers" but my trailer has a MAM of 3 tons, im breaking the law,
which would mean id have to either have a tiny trailer or restrict the usage of mine by plating it lower and then have to buy my old man a new trailer that he can use with his paper license...
my trailer would have to be plated 450kgs MAM
jus because the MAM of the landy is 3050 tons and the trailer MAM is 3 tons doesn't mean both are at full capacity,
if im in my landy, towing 100kg of "feathers" but my trailer has a MAM of 3 tons, im breaking the law,
which would mean id have to either have a tiny trailer or restrict the usage of mine by plating it lower and then have to buy my old man a new trailer that he can use with his paper license...
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blue beasty
Leaks an prone to bits dropping off
Doesn't even have to have feathers in. Simply hooking it up empty at the side of the road is illegal.
Welcome to the wonderful VOSA world of what might possibly happen
DieselDazzler05
Member
Yes thats what I was meaning, sorry if the way I was putting it was confusing people, basically I can only tow the remainder of the MAM left over from the(heavier) towing motor and the trailer plate must state this.
Better buy a few plates I guess!
Oh and its better to be braked but at these "legal weight's" is pretty pointless as it will always be under 750kg
Better buy a few plates I guess!
Oh and its better to be braked but at these "legal weight's" is pretty pointless as it will always be under 750kg
Why not take the extra test? I gather it's not that difficult, and then you would solve all these problems. of course there's a fee, and the cost of the lessons - you have to take the test in a school vehicle, as the trailer has to be certified as to weight loading etc.
As a secondary thought, can you put L plates on and tow the higher weights if accompanied by somebody with the "full" license?
As a secondary thought, can you put L plates on and tow the higher weights if accompanied by somebody with the "full" license?
DieselDazzler05
Member
taking the test is the obvious option but its the cost that some of us simply cant afford, I know a few guys that have been put through the test here in Aberdeen that have been failed for ridiculous reasons,
even more so when you discover the trailer they were going to be towing was under the 750kg and braked but the company thought it would take the precaution anyway, these are guys I work with and trust, that I know can reverse a trailer ect. as the company was paying they never really bothered about it, but after failing and having to pay to re-sit the test 3 times when it wasn't needed anyway is a bit of a rip off,
it's all just another one of VOSA's money making scams,
bet they cant wait to get rid of the tax disc, think of the income in fines when the police computer is slow to update!
Edit:
not sure about the L plates I guess that wouldn't be allowed,
even more so when you discover the trailer they were going to be towing was under the 750kg and braked but the company thought it would take the precaution anyway, these are guys I work with and trust, that I know can reverse a trailer ect. as the company was paying they never really bothered about it, but after failing and having to pay to re-sit the test 3 times when it wasn't needed anyway is a bit of a rip off,
it's all just another one of VOSA's money making scams,
bet they cant wait to get rid of the tax disc, think of the income in fines when the police computer is slow to update!
Edit:
not sure about the L plates I guess that wouldn't be allowed,
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SteNova
Well-Known Member
no, your trailer would have to be plated at 750kg, (or be unplated with tyres limiting 750max) you can tow 750kg even if you have 3500mam vehicle see the ifor williams flow chart
biketeacherdave
Well-Known Member
yes you can
and no you dont have to take the test in a school vehicle at all as long as your towing vehicle and trailer meet the requirements for the test thats all that matters.i recently taught a mate of mine to tow an ADI who didnt have towing on his license as he wanted to expand his business by offering the towing license option. its now a big part of his business.
DieselDazzler05
Member
if this is the case why is the total train weight (MAM) limited to 3500kgs
with out the extra test you cant have a total MAM of over 3500kgs,
also I cant find the flow chart anywhere on the IFW site,
as Wilson294 said:
"But last year the uk was forced to come back in to line with Europe on this wich means anyone with a car licence can tow a combined mam weight of 3500kg"
if what you saying is correct then it would kind of tie in my original gripe, which was having to limit the use of my trailer because it can carry (and is plated stating so) approx. 3000kgs ,but im only allowed to carry a max of 750kgs,
not trying to be awkward but this is what im trying to clear up and I cant find a straight answer from anyone.
SteNova
Well-Known Member
DieselDazzler05
Member
right, ok
first ones yes as a 110 is 3050kgs
2nd is no as the IFW is rated to 3000kgs= total MAM 6050kgs
3rd is no too as stated above trailer MAM is 3000kgs
=not permitted to tow
not sure where their getting the 4250kg value from either, I presume that's for tractors pulling sheep crates ect, never seen a 3.5ton car before, maybe a 101 right enough..
biketeacherdave
Well-Known Member
Well done that man. They get the 3.5ton vehicle from vans and the like small trucks ie towing plant equipment how many road workers have you seen towing a diggeror roller behind them.
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