A towing question :-)

laura7981

laura7981

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Does anyone know if there is an actuall 4x4 and trailer combination that you can use without taking the test? I would only ever have the one horse in and she weighs 420kg so I was thinking of getting an ifor 404 or similar.
 
I don't know offhand but I reckon it would involve a single trailer or a very lightweight one like those Requisite/Cheval Liberte ones. In terms of the vehicle, no idea, but perhaps someone else will know, good luck
 
laura7981 said:
Thanks Rog, unfortunately I don't have 18k to spend on a car...would something like a Pajero be within the limits?
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Highly unlikely. The only way you could tow a horsebox without taking the test would be with a down rated single trailer and a car.

From Directgov:-

"•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."


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_10013073
 
I would just take the test. It isn't expensive, it isn't hard and it opens up a whole new world of opportunity :)

And yes, I have done mine!
 
The test is £135 I think. And if you've got somewhere to practise/ a car and trailer to practise with you can learn a lot of the reverse at home. If you can get some practise with someone who can sit beside you you probably wouldn't need huge numbers of lessons. Just a few to get you out of your bad driving habits. I think mine were about £40 an hour and I had a lot (because I didn't have a trailer/ car to tow /anyone to sit with me) but I know people who have only paid for a few hours of actual lessons and have just practised plenty at home. I don't think it's a very hard test and I'm not the most practical person. The hardest thing is most definitely trying to drive for a test and not like you would on a normal day!
 
laura7981 said:
How much does it cost roughly... If u don't mind me asking?
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im in the south west and for my test and 3 days tuition it cost £500.

I asked the same question as you on here some time ago and i think i recall someone saying they had managed it with a single trailer (changed the plating) and a landrover freelander. il see if i can find it.
Overall, unless you have a good budget to spend on a single trailer and a small 4x4 (the smaller they are the more popular) it works out cheaper to do your test so you arnt restricted on what you can buy.
Second hand singles are like gold dust so your looking at around 3k on a trailer before you have even started. whereas if you arnt restricted by what you can tow you can pick up an old decent double for around 1k-2k
 
china said:
im in the south west and for my test and 3 days tuition it cost £500.

I asked the same question as you on here some time ago and i think i recall someone saying they had managed it with a single trailer (changed the plating) and a landrover freelander. il see if i can find it.
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Around £650 all inclusive near me for B+E first time pass done over 3 half days

Freelander is 2505 GVW so would need a trailer plated to max 995 and no more than 445 unladen/empty to take a 450 horse = no chance

The cheval is the lightest trailer unladen at 655 that I could find
 
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ROG said:
I found this - 4X4 Nissan

Minimum kerb weight 1490 kg so unladen would be 1500+
Gross vehicle weight 2000 kg
Max towing weight (braked) 1350 kg

And this - http://www.tallyhotrailers.co.uk/chavelliberte100.html - The XL
Unladen 655
MAM 1400
LOAD = horse of 695 max

OR

this - http://www.horsetrailersales.co.uk/NewIforHB401.htm - downplated to 1500
Unladen 770
MAM - downplated from 1600 to 1500
LOAD = horse of 580 max

All legal for B licence towing

How does that work for your budget?
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Thanks so much for that :) Now i just have to work out if the running costs of the nissan will be cheaper than my car and a 3.5t horsebox! :rolleyes:
 
the diesel xtrail has 2t (or 2.2t if new) towing capacity, 2t gross weight, which gives you 1.5t legal towing capacity on cat B licence.
My xtrail diesel sport does (or used to, lol) about 40 miles to the gallon whilst not towing, the tax £285(or thereabouts) a year. Hope that helps.
 
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laura7981 said:
Thanks so much for that :) Now i just have to work out if the running costs of the nissan will be cheaper than my car and a 3.5t horsebox! :rolleyes:
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Remember that having a trailer standing idle when not being used does not cost anything and the annual costs are going to be less than a 3.5 tonne 'lorry'
 
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