private penguin
Well-Known Member
I don't disagree... but the way I read your post sort of suggested that there was only 360kg left, which would certainly be a tiny trailer.
For people who own a defender for other reasons, but want to be able to tow the family camping trailer, or even a small box trailer (our one at work is 750kg) they could still legally do that with the defender. However, they wouldnt be able to tow a big 2 or 3 tonne box trailer or plant trailer, or a recovery trailer.
private penguin
Well-Known Member
If you haven't towed anything before, i'd see if you could borrow a trailer (ideally 750kg or less) from a friend, and go out with someone who has towing experience to get used to it... then book a lesson or two
Because of the requirements for the test trailer, most people use a professional company for a couple of lessons and the test. That said, if you have access to a box (or curtain sided) trailer and an IBC its easy enough to create the right rig yourself.
One thing you'll learn is the bigger the trailer (within reason) the easier it is to tow. A large box trailer is far easier to maneuvre than a little family camping trailer - you can see if clearly in the mirrors and its much more forgiving when steering in reverse. One of the easiest trailers i've ever reverse maneuvered was a 30ft mobile climbing tower.
mick 1986
Well-Known Member
Our folding camper is a 1T Conway, but yes a small 750Kg trailer should be fine.
Seems like a pointless change that doesnt change anything in reality
private penguin
Well-Known Member
I'm trying to find any vehicle that you could drive on a B license that has a towing capacity of more than 3.5 tonnes.....
Certainly not anything from the Landrover range. The Navara tops out at about 2.6 tonnes, and the hilux and ranger stop just short of 3.5 tonnes.
The only thing i've found is a 4 wheel drive transit van, which can tow 3.6 tonnes... hardly worth spending the money on a trailer that's plated 100kg heavier.
Guess its designed to stop people hopping into 3.5 tonne farm tractors and towing heavy trailers on the road maybe?
Certainly not anything from the Landrover range. The Navara tops out at about 2.6 tonnes, and the hilux and ranger stop just short of 3.5 tonnes.
The only thing i've found is a 4 wheel drive transit van, which can tow 3.6 tonnes... hardly worth spending the money on a trailer that's plated 100kg heavier.
Guess its designed to stop people hopping into 3.5 tonne farm tractors and towing heavy trailers on the road maybe?
Landrovers can tow 4 tons with the right brake set up. I've never seen one with it and never heard of one with air brakes.
mick 1986
Well-Known Member
As has been said, most defender and discovery models are rated at 4T, but these need “coupled brakes”, either air or electric.
If you look at the likes of a Ford F250 these can tow huge weights compared to our defenders, driveable on standard B licence.
mick 1986
Well-Known Member
For the U.K. market. Check the USA spec for the same vehicle.
Huddy84
Well-Known Member
I did a day and half tuition followed by test. This made the test relatively easy and I passed with no minors. Instructor and Examinor were both absolutely sound.
Huddy84
Well-Known Member
I believe you can’t tow a trailer heavier than the tow vehicle, or the max train weight plated on the vehicle. I don’t think the manufacturers can plate it to allow heavier trailers either. So I assume 7t will be the maximum for a B+E category regardless.
Exceeding the plated weights is illegal. Whereas if towing a trailer heavier than your car isn’t illegal it certainly isnt recommended.
jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
land rovers a and few others are deemed capable of towing more than the tow vehicle
Huddy84
Well-Known Member
Yeah I caught up reading after I post that. I’d be very worried about the trailer wagging the car under sudden braking/manoeuvring, seen a few poorly loaded trailers cause it.
I only got the licence to tow my Sankey, and I always make sure to have nose weight so it behaves itself. Towing it is a dream, reversing it took a lot of practice!
I only got the licence to tow my Sankey, and I always make sure to have nose weight so it behaves itself. Towing it is a dream, reversing it took a lot of practice!
private penguin
Well-Known Member
A lot of that is to do with brakes. In theory, if you had electric or air brakes on the trailer there would be less of an issue. With overrun brakes, you still rely on the car to provide the initial braking force, with the trailer brakes being activated by the compression force of the trailer catching up with the car. If you put a heavy trailer on a light car, there is that risk that rather than the brakes slowing the trailer, the trailer will just push the car forward.
private penguin
Well-Known Member
Towing a Sankey on a landrover is bliss... as they follow so neatly in the landrover's tracks. The downside to them is they're so short, that by the time you realise its turning on a reverse, its almost too late to correct.
Shippers
Well-Known Member
There was a RRC in South Queensferry belonging to friend of mine that had couplings on back for airbrakes to tow a large trailer and boat from her house to harbour never saw it being used though.
jai_landrover
Well-Known Member
Coupled brakes you can tow more than 3.5T
Ed in Surrey a driving instructor did me a deal. I explained that i have towed trailers however not quite legally. he advised i book an afternoon test and come down at 8.30am for a mornings tuition and then test.
Think its was £220 or something like that plus the test fee which i booked myself
Ed in Surrey a driving instructor did me a deal. I explained that i have towed trailers however not quite legally. he advised i book an afternoon test and come down at 8.30am for a mornings tuition and then test.
Think its was £220 or something like that plus the test fee which i booked myself
