Another trailer towing thread - help appreciated

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Dolsey1

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Hi

I'm currently looking into options for transport. Currently we pull my Ifor Williams HB505 with an Isuzu Yukon D-Max so no problems there.
What I would really like to know is what car I would need to tow my Ifor on a B licence. I would be towing one 600kg cob or other lighter ponies but not more than one at a time. Would I need to downplate my trailer or buy a lighter weight one? Or buy a lighter weight horse?! Currently looking at other options (ie 3.5t box or take towing test) but I need a car anyway so if its doable then it could be a good option for me.

Many thanks for any help received
 
The total combination of maximum weight of car + trailer + horse cannot exceed 3500kg. The trailer+ horse cannot exceed the car's towing capacity.

As an example, if you have a car weighing 2000kg, you would have to downplate your trailer's maximum allowable mass (MAM) to 1500kg to come in within the 3500kg. As your 505 weighs 905kg that would allow you to put a horse weighing 595kg on the trailer. That's pushing it (especially if you're guesstimating your horse's weight as he could be more), so if you want to keep your trailer you would probably need to be looking at a car around the 1800kg mark.

However, with a lighter car you then need to be careful about towing capacity. Actual weight applies for towing capacity rather than MAM so it would be a case of the 905kg + 600kg of your horse so you would need a car capable of towing a minimum of 1505kg

A lighter trailer could give you a bit more leeway if you want a fairly heavy tow car, but with something around the 1800kg you would be fine with yours.

Hope I've explained that clearly!
 
Thank you - it all sounds a bit close doesn't it! Maybe I'm better off taking my B+E then thinking about a new car. Thanks for your help.
 
Not necessarily, you just need to find the right car. For example, ROG often recommends the Skoda Octavia as a tow car. If you get the right model, it weighs in at around the 1800kg mark and has a towing capacity of 1800kg. With a 905kg 505 trailer, you could downplate the trailer to roughly 1700kg (within the 3500kg licence limit and the towing capacity is more than that so not a problem) which allows you to put nearly 800kg of horse on it.
 
B licence is very simple the combined MAM of trailer and towing vehicle cannot exceed 3500kg.

You will really struggle to find a combination that will work for you with that trailer even to downplate
 
Whilst waiting for ROG to pop up on this thread(!), we're in the process of buying a 2015 Skoda Octavia Scout 150bhp manual 4x4 estate. We were seriously impressed with it on the test drive. It has a higher ride height and extra underbody protection cf the standard Octavia 4x4, so is ideal for towing off road, but is still a 'car'. It can tow 2000kg, as long as the drivers licence allows them to (we're both B+E, so all good). Its kerbweight is 1451kg, and its total weight (?MAM?) is 2096kg.

I think it's only the manual 2l 4x4 estates that will tow 2000kg, the 2WD models tow less, and the more powerful auto box 4WD tows 1800kg, so you need to check your model.

ETA, that's not going to work with your combo on a B licence.
 
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Dolsey1 said:
Hi

I'm currently looking into options for transport. Currently we pull my Ifor Williams HB505 with an Isuzu Yukon D-Max so no problems there.
What I would really like to know is what car I would need to tow my Ifor on a B licence. I would be towing one 600kg cob or other lighter ponies but not more than one at a time. Would I need to downplate my trailer or buy a lighter weight one? Or buy a lighter weight horse?! Currently looking at other options (ie 3.5t box or take towing test) but I need a car anyway so if its doable then it could be a good option for me.

Many thanks for any help received
Click to expand...
When you say WE are currently towing do you mean YOU on your own or YOU under B+E learner rules ?

Vehicle plated GVW(MAM) + trailer plated MAM must not total more than 3500 on a B licence when towing a horse trailer

Unlikely a 505 will be suitable

Try something like this -
Vehicle GVW 2100 with 1800 towing capacity
Trailer Bateson Derby at 675 empty but down plated from 1700 to 1400
Max load for trailer = 725
 
annagain said:
Not necessarily, you just need to find the right car. For example, ROG often recommends the Skoda Octavia as a tow car. If you get the right model, it weighs in at around the 1800kg mark and has a towing capacity of 1800kg. With a 905kg 505 trailer, you could downplate the trailer to roughly 1700kg (within the 3500kg licence limit and the towing capacity is more than that so not a problem) which allows you to put nearly 800kg of horse on it.
Click to expand...

http://carleasingmadesimple.com/business-car-leasing/skoda/octavia/gross-vehicle-weight/
4x4 octavia is just under 2100 GVW
 
My octavia has a GVW of 1300kgs approx. and my trailer is 610kgs (old rice one) and MAM 1423kgs = just under 3500kgs, with 800kgs of horse able to go in it in theory. In practise, I don't think I'd put a horse that big in, but a chubby 15hand cob feels fine. It's also 25mpg fully loaded, 50mpg without and done 170k miles, much of that towing and being thrashed down farm tracks, and still has plenty of life in it! I saw an octavia for sale the other day which had done 325k! So I'm looking forward to the next ten years together <3 lol.
 
DanceswithCows said:
My octavia has a GVW of 1300kgs approx. and my trailer is 610kgs (old rice one) and MAM 1423kgs = just under 3500kgs, with 800kgs of horse able to go in it in theory. In practise, I don't think I'd put a horse that big in, but a chubby 15hand cob feels fine. It's also 25mpg fully loaded, 50mpg without and done 170k miles, much of that towing and being thrashed down farm tracks, and still has plenty of life in it! I saw an octavia for sale the other day which had done 325k! So I'm looking forward to the next ten years together <3 lol.
Click to expand...
GVW of 1300kg - I dont think so - maybe an unladen/empty weight of 1300kg

GVW probably around 1800 to 1900 but with a trailer MAM of 1423 (strange number) it would be legal on a B licence
 
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