Bateson lightweight trailer towing under 3.5 ton

S

Sarah04

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 December 2013
Messages
156
Visit site
As I haven't passed my trailer test I was thinking of getting the lightweight bateson trailer and believe if this , car and everything in both is under 3.5 ton I can tow. Just wondered what cars people tow with to keep it under 3.5 ton. We currently have a Honda civic but are changing cars next year . Thanks
 
It's no time actual weight that has to be under 3.5tonne, but the mam. So the potential weight that your car and trailer can carry.

I'm not the person to ask when it comes to car suggestion. Have you considered doing the work ailed test? Then you aren't limited, it's worth it
 
I am in the same boat but you must check the year you passed your driving test as I'm sure this makes a difference to weather or not you can tow even up to 3.5. HHO actually have a new article on this which is really helpful.

Im planning on getting an ifor williams, towing vehicle and just tow my one horse (16.2 ID) So you have to add the weight of the vehicle, weight of the trailer, plus horse and everything else (tack, water) including you and passengers and come in under 3.5 ton
 
Antw23uk said:
I am in the same boat but you must check the year you passed your driving test as I'm sure this makes a difference to weather or not you can tow even up to 3.5. HHO actually have a new article on this which is really helpful.

Im planning on getting an ifor williams, towing vehicle and just tow my one horse (16.2 ID) So you have to add the weight of the vehicle, weight of the trailer, plus horse and everything else (tack, water) including you and passengers and come in under 3.5 ton
Click to expand...

What you quoted there is actual weight under 3.5 tonne which is not within the law. The MAM on the combination has to be under 3.5 tonne, that's what you could potentially put in it, not actual

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/driving-licence-rules-and-what-you-can-tow
 
The top link in my signature below will help especially post number 2000

As I am here ....

GVW of vehicle added to trailer plated MAM must not exceed 3500 kg for B licence towing

Trailers can have their MAM down plated by contacting the manufacturer

Post what you can in that link and I will get an instant email alert
 
Yes I think that is right . It does say on the inside of car the details so I can have a look in the morning . I remember looking into it before with this car and I couldn't tow but can't remember why
 
Sarah04 said:
Yes I think that is right . It does say on the inside of car the details so I can have a look in the morning . I remember looking into it before with this car and I couldn't tow but can't remember why
Click to expand...

If you can find the weight plate then posting the top two figures of the four listed on it will help a lot
 
I thought it was something to do with the combined towing weight? If so, the problems might arise when you have to pack extra stuff - its never just the horse you take anywhere, you have to fill the trailer/car with tack, water, etc. which would probably put it over weight? We looked into it originally when the law came in, but I ended up just doing the test.
 
"tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg" from the gov website

It is the combined, but still the potential weight of the combo, not the actual.
 
CAVEAT = for the towing of a trailer over 750 kgs MAM on a B licence

Vehicle GVW = max it can legally be when fully loaded
Trailer MAM = max it can legally be when fully loaded

Add those two together and if they total more than 3500 then B+E needed

More info in post number 2000 of the HHO TOWING CLINIC - link below in my signature
 
I don't think as an article it is very good at specifying between actual weight and MAM and the importance of that difference. They talk about combined weight but then say that is MAM in brackets...... I think they could do with ROG on the editing team
 
Antw23uk said:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/towing-trailer-test-advice-533326
Click to expand...
FROM THE ARTICLE =
If you took your car (Category B) test after 19 January 2013 you can tow small trailers weighing no more than 750kg and a trailer over 750kg as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing car or van is no more than 3.5 tonnes MAM (maximum authorised mass which is the limit on how much the vehicle can weigh when it’s loaded).

The one wrong word is vehicle because that should read combination

Has anyone else noticed that the first two paragraphs say the same thing ?
 
1997-2012 you can drive a 3.5T vehicle plus a 750 trailer
2013 - now you have a 3.5T max train weight.

that is how it reads, and was my understanding too but I always bow to you on these things!
 
1997-2012 you can drive a 3.5T vehicle plus a 750 trailer ...... This is the category I come under so if someone can just tell me what car and what trailer to buy so I can tow my 16.2 ID that would be much appreciated. My budget is about 14k for both car and trailer, lol :(
 
ester said:
1997-2012 you can drive a 3.5T vehicle plus a 750 trailer
2013 - now you have a 3.5T max train weight.

that is how it reads, and was my understanding too but I always bow to you on these things!
Click to expand...

The laws and rules for towing on a B licence category have not changed for over 50 years

The 2013 EU directive did not change those laws APART from ..... the max trailer MAM is now 3500 for the towing with a category B vehicle on a B+E licence
 
Antw23uk said:
1997-2012 you can drive a 3.5T vehicle plus a 750 trailer ...... This is the category I come under so if someone can just tell me what car and what trailer to buy so I can tow my 16.2 ID that would be much appreciated. My budget is about 14k for both car and trailer, lol :(
Click to expand...

Pre or post 2012/2013 makes no difference to the towing with a B licence

My favourite combo to use as an example is
Skoda Octavia 4x4 with a down plated Bateson Derby trailer
 
ROG said:
Pre or post 2012/2013 makes no difference to the towing with a B licence

My favourite combo to use as an example is
Skoda Octavia 4x4 with a down plated Bateson Derby trailer
Click to expand...

Don't honestly think a 16.2 would fit in a Derby... a client of mine borrow one and it was a squish to get her 14.2 in it! You're only option will be to remove the partition and get a full width breast bar. It's not the height so much but the width. It is a lot more narrow than a standard trailer, it's not just that its rear unload only.

TBH if your budget is 14k, why don't you use £600 of that to do a 2 day intensive course and trailer test. Then you're not limited.
 
galaxy said:
Don't honestly think a 16.2 would fit in a Derby... a client of mine borrow one and it was a squish to get her 14.2 in it! You're only option will be to remove the partition and get a full width breast bar. It's not the height so much but the width. It is a lot more narrow than a standard trailer, it's not just that its rear unload only.

TBH if your budget is 14k, why don't you use £600 of that to do a 2 day intensive course and trailer test. Then you're not limited.
Click to expand...

Lol thanks, I did think they looked a bit small and he is a big chap! If I spent that on a trailer course I would have 600 quid less to spend on a car and budget ... Grrr its all so frustrating and depressing! :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top