B licence towing with a 4X4 & single horse trailer - comments please

ROG

ROG

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I would like to know what members think of these vehicles and single horse trailers as many members only have a B licence (no B+E) and are often looking for this type of thing :)

For any speciific towing questions please direct your queries to the Welcome to HHO Towing Clinic thread - thank you

VEHICLE 'A' is a Nissan Xtrail 4X4 with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1515
GVW = 2050
Towing = 2000

VEHICLE 'B' is a Kia Sportage AWD with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1678
GVW = 2140
Towing = 1600

These 3 single horse trailers seem to be the most popular but there are others .....
1 - BATESON LIGHT HORSE TRAILER
2 - CHEVAL LIGHT HORSE TRAILER
3 - IFOR LIGHT HORSE TRAILER
As all these manufacturers are still in business then downplating any of those trailers is easy and usually free or very little cost - just call them to sort it :)

Set ups:-
A+1 = trailer downplated to 1450 leaves a load of 775 (or 1400 & 725)
A+2 = no downplating leaves a load of 745
A+3 = trailer downplated to 1450 leaves a load of 680 (or 1400 & 630)
B+1 = trailer downplated to 1360 leaves a load of 685 (or 1300 & 625)
B+2 = trailer downplated to 1360 leaves a load of 705 (or 1300 & 645)
B+3 = trailer downplated to 1360 leaves a load of 590 (or 1300 & 530)

All those set ups are legal for B licence towing but what do members think about those vehicles and trailers?
 
Very very good ideas for those restricted by license.

I have towed with a sportage & really liked the car.

If I was having trouble with legally towing I would certainly consider one of the options.
 
Not exactly sure what you are asking, sorry. I don't have experience of either of the vehicles but, as a trailer hater, I was pleasantly surprised, as were the horses I took in it, by the IW 401 that I borrowed a few times and towed with a diesel Skoda Octavia estate. I wasn't aware at that time, several years ago, that it would have been ok on a B test only, as due to my age I have B+E, we were only going on what the car could, theoretically, cope with. Perhaps in my portfolio of trailers I need to consider getting a 401 to get my daughter mobile in the Skoda estate!
 
Emma86 said:
What does downplating a trailer involve?

Not clued up with the lingo sorry! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Good question :)

Trailers (and vehicles) are constructed to manage a certain weight and anything beyond that weight is deemed to be unsafe.

That weight is then put onto various plates attached to the trailer/vehicle and on the the V5 registered keeper forms and in handbooks

Those weights can be reduced or downplated so the trailer or vehicle is restricted to a lesser weight

The reasons for doing that could be for conforming to certain rules like B licence towing or to get cheaper road tax in the case of commercial vehicles

In the case of commercial vehicles the plating is controlled by VOSA but for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes they are controlled by the manufacturer

As far as I know the only way to downplate a trailer is to contact the manufacturer of a trailer and get them to downplate it

The manufacturer will usually get the driver to take it to one of their dealers for the plate to be exchanged - this is usually free or for a very small charge

Has that explained it ok for you?
 
ROG said:
Good question :)

Trailers (and vehicles) are constructed to manage a certain weight and anything beyond that weight is deemed to be unsafe.

That weight is then put onto various plates attached to the trailer/vehicle and on the the V5 registered keeper forms and in handbooks

Those weights can be reduced or downplated so the trailer or vehicle is restricted to a lesser weight

The reasons for doing that could be for conforming to certain rules like B licence towing or to get cheaper road tax in the case of commercial vehicles

In the case of commercial vehicles the plating is controlled by VOSA but for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes they are controlled by the manufacturer

As far as I know the only way to downplate a trailer is to contact the manufacturer of a trailer and get them to downplate it

The manufacturer will usually get the driver to take it to one of their dealers for the plate to be exchanged - this is usually free or for a very small charge

Has that explained it ok for you?
Click to expand...

what if the manufacturer no longer exists?
 
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