B+E test training (how much?!)

[mini_b]

This is just a whinge for a bit of reassurance from others really.
I NEED to do my b+e

I have a lovely trailer, I have a towing vehicle.
I am however reliant on my poor long suffering non horsey dad to drive my car and trailer. (I’m married with children btw - that’s how tragic this is ha)

i can confidently reverse and park my vehicle sans trailer, no problem there it’s my daily car.

As soon as I hitch up (which admittedly I’ve done once) it was a nightmare. Trailer all over the place, couldn’t get my head around it to be honest and it dented my confidence in my ability to actually pass the bloody thing.
I can’t afford to do it multiple times to be honest.

so, is it “hard”
I know that is so subjective...
I’m going to book a 2 day course, can they teach someone that’s a total blank slate to pass the test.

out in the real world I see people swinging their trailers around and parking with such ease. B*stards!

 

[muddycloud]

I literally passed B+E this week on my second attempt and I am a complete nervous nelly when the word ‘test’ is put with anything practical. If I can do it, you absolutely can!

I had no experience, never done it before - proper blank canvas. I found that the hard bit was the driving part and I’ve driven for almost 15 years now. I failed the first attempt on the driving part, which was silly!

it’s really not that bad when it’s broken down. Get it booked up with a good instructor. Good luck! X

 

[mini_b]

Thank you for your reply!
ive been driving 14 years and I’m also very nervy this is why I’ve put it out to this audience to see what people reckon!

how long was your course?
Mine says 2 day min if you are not experienced at towing and the pass rate is 2 fails in 6 months from driving error (not checking mirrors, pulling out in front of a car)

 

[doodle]

I didn’t have to pass the test but what I found really helpful when I first started towing was to take car and trailer to a large flat field and play about reversing and moving it about. I had a friend experienced towing with me who gave me tips but actually doing it (without things in the way to bash into) was the thing that helped.

A couple of helpful people would give me tips as to how to reverse but without actually doing it you don’t know which method will work best for you.

 

[muddycloud]

Thank you for your reply!
ive been driving 14 years and I’m also very nervy this is why I’ve put it out to this audience to see what people reckon!

how long was your course?
Mine says 2 day min if you are not experienced at towing and the pass rate is 2 fails in 6 months from driving error (not checking mirrors, pulling out in front of a car)

I did a 2 and a half day course, but as you have a bit of experience (and a trailer to practice with) I’m sure you’ll smash it in 2 days!

YouTube has some helpful videos too!

 

[mini_b]

No I literally have zero experience. I did it once, tried to manoeuvre around a triangle and reverse park into my space and it ruined it for me. Couldn’t get my head round it.
Just wondering if people truly started from scratch on these 2/3 day courses or had a bit of experience

 

[TheMule]

I would say it's best to figure out the reversing before doing the course. There's plenty of other stuff to perfect without having to spend hours just clocking up experience with that one, which is all it really is.

 

[Dizzy socks]

I passed mine first time after (I think) 6 hours of training. I had never towed before, bar briefly with a quad.

I was very nervous for the test, and everything seemed to go wrong - but I passed. The reversing isn’t hard when you figure it out, and the instructor will give tips and tricks - the reversing element is the same in every test, so you can almost learn it formulaically

 

[Henry02]

The more practice the better. Not sure how many lessons I had but I think the whole lot cost me around £800. Alas I failed the first test due to a stupid error, but I deserved to fail as I made bad desicions with my driving

 

[mini_b]

I would say it's best to figure out the reversing before doing the course. There's plenty of other stuff to perfect without having to spend hours just clocking up experience with that one, which is all it really is.

this is what I was thinking but i got myself into a right pickle with the reversing. thought it might have been better for someone to teach me from scratch.

 

[muddycloud]

The reversing is really nothing to worry about - the trainer tells you the process on how to do it.

For me it was: reverse slowly using clutch control; straight from the off hard right with the wheel; when you see a certain point on the trailer hard left with the wheel; straighten up and reverse straight for a bit; steering wheel half left to start swinging the trailer into the bay; once positioned straiten up and reverse straight. You are allowed two shunts forward in the reversing exercise, so if you get into a pickle drive forward and reverse into the bay straight.

Honestly, you can absolutely do it.

 

[mini_b]

Every test has that same manoeuvre so if there is a formulaic approach to the instruction of it I might stand half a chance.

 

[ROG]

This is just a whinge for a bit of reassurance from others really.
I NEED to do my b+e

I have a lovely trailer, I have a towing vehicle.
I am however reliant on my poor long suffering non horsey dad to drive my car and trailer. (I’m married with children btw - that’s how tragic this is ha)

i can confidently reverse and park my vehicle sans trailer, no problem there it’s my daily car.

As soon as I hitch up (which admittedly I’ve done once) it was a nightmare. Trailer all over the place, couldn’t get my head around it to be honest and it dented my confidence in my ability to actually pass the bloody thing.
I can’t afford to do it multiple times to be honest.

so, is it “hard”
I know that is so subjective...
I’m going to book a 2 day course, can they teach someone that’s a total blank slate to pass the test.

out in the real world I see people swinging their trailers around and parking with such ease. B*stards!

Why is dad driving when all you need to do is to put L plates on and drive yourself with Dad in the passenger seat?
Dad does not need insurance to do that but does if driving it


What vehicle and trailer do you have only some can be towed on a standard B licence?

 

[SpotsandBays]

Why is dad driving when all you need to do is to put L plates on and drive yourself with Dad in the passenger seat?
Dad does not need insurance to do that but does if driving it


What vehicle and trailer do you have only some can be towed on a standard B licence?

I didn’t think you could do this with an animal in the back?

 

[TheMule]

Whilst I agree the instructor can teach you quite easily to do the test reverse..... what's going to happen in the real world once you pass and you meet a large vehicle that can’t reverse on a narrow lane? Or you follow sat nav and take the wrong turn so need to turn around?
Reversing is just practice so that your brain can figure it out

 

[ROG]

I didn’t think you could do this with an animal in the back?

Yes you can legally

 

[ROG]

What vehicle (GVW if known) and trailer (MAM if known) do you have?

 

[KittyH]

I did quite a lot with L plates and set up the reversing exercise in a big yard and did it about a million times. I did a 2 1/2 day course, shared with one other person. I found it tough as I'm a crap driver and don't do much urban driving. Also the way you need to drive for the test isn't how you'd drive with a horse in. Having said all that I did pass first time and have towed thousands of miles a year since then, and if I can do it honestly absolutely anyone can!

 

[mini_b]

What vehicle (GVW if known) and trailer (MAM if known) do you have?

I don’t know the GVW and trailer MAM but I’ve got a defender 90 and a 511

I didn’t know that I could drive with someone with plates on.

 

[ROG]

I don’t know the GVW and trailer MAM but I’ve got a defender 90 and a 511

I didn’t know that I could drive with someone with plates on.

A B licence automatically has BE provisional

GVW is about 3000 and trailer is about 2400 = total 5400 so well over the 3500 limit for towing alone on a B licence = BE rules apply either full or provisional

Now you know you can driver under supervision with a driver who has had BE for at least 3 years and is over age 21 you can practice cheaply
REMEMBER TO INFORM YOUR INSURER - usually no extra cost

 

[Michen]

Started from scratch and passed no issue. The difficulty is remembering how to pass a driving test not the actual trailer bit. Bad habits are hard to shift!

 

[gemisastar]

I did a day course which cost £350 including the test. What I did do before (for WEEKS!!) was set up the reversing manoeuvre in the area and practice practice practice, and the hitching up and checks. I had very little towing experience prior to this.

 

[mini_b]

I think I’m going to have to practice beforehand then :/

 

[McFluff]

Do you know what’s making you nervous or worried?
Would your Dad be up for sitting with you every day for a week or so?
The Defender is a great tow vehicle, and if you are used to driving it, it won’t take many times to get more confident.
Do you have a wee circular route that you can do?
I didn’t have to do the test as I’m old and passed my driving test at a time when you just got all the rights, even so, I wanted to be confident before adding a horse to the mix.
For a week I hitched up every day and took it round the block. By the end of the week it felt much more natural. For some bizarre reason I find the reversing easy. Even so, the more you do it, the better you feel.
The benefit of all the practice is that I can line up and hitch in no time.

 

[mini_b]

Thanks for asking! I’m quite nervy anyway, like catastrophic thinker.

competence breeds confidence yes, but any test situation makes me really ridiculously nervous to the point where I can’t fall back on any previously acquired knowledge/practice. Mind blank etc

i have a private drive/little loop I could use but it’s the actual test itself and then failing and having to £££ again

unfortunately my old man is still working and as he’s feeling his age I can’t get him up from his afternoon snooze once he’s finished work, I think tempers would be frayed!!

 

[ROG]

If you are in Leics then I could give free help with expenses covered
EX LGV & B+E instructor
EX advanced driving senior observer

 

[mini_b]

If you are in Leics then I could give free help with expenses covered
EX LGV & B+E instructor
EX advanced driving senior observer

what a very kind offer but unfortunately I’m way up north.
Thank you ever so much.

 

[Maple_stirrup]

I would say the hardest part is the driving.
I failed mine today sadly, but the test routes are horrendous where I am and they take you around the city vs really tiny narrow lanes.
There is a set routine to the coupling/uncoupling. Few questions before hand.
The reversing I think you will be fine with once they show you the tricks.
The driving on the other hand, if the test centre is in a quiet area then you’ll have no problem!
Just constant mirrors.
I will try again after Christmas I think ?

 

[mini_b]

I would say the hardest part is the driving.
I failed mine today sadly, but the test routes are horrendous where I am and they take you around the city vs really tiny narrow lanes.
There is a set routine to the coupling/uncoupling. Few questions before hand.
The reversing I think you will be fine with once they show you the tricks.
The driving on the other hand, if the test centre is in a quiet area then you’ll have no problem!
Just constant mirrors.
I will try again after Christmas I think ?

aw shame
Mine has been postponed and postponed due to lockdown 1 then 2.
I am booked, again, for after Christmas.
good luck on yours!

 

[Maple_stirrup]

aw shame
Mine has been postponed and postponed due to lockdown 1 then 2.
I am booked, again, for after Christmas.
good luck on yours!

Just unlucky! That’s a shame, where is your test centre located?