confused re: towing weights

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tinap

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So my landrover is again knackered which means I'm having to beg, steal & borrow cars (not really steal!!) But I'm so confused re: towing weights!! I've been trawling the net for hours but still can't get my head round it!

Do you go on the max towing vehicle weight as the weight of trailer + weight of horse or just on the max gross weight of the trailer?? I keep getting different answers online!

I've looked at the chassis plate on my ifor 505 hunter & it only says the gross weight (2340kg) & the weight limit of each axle (1170kg each) not the unladen weight. So I'm sooo confused!!

Would love any help in simple terms please!! xxx
 
Max gross weight. Even if you are only transporting shetties your car needs to legally be able to tow the gross weight, 2340kg in your case.
 
Thanks! That's what I thought! My dad who's towed caravans for a billion years has always been told that as long as the trailer + load don't weigh more than 85% of the vehicle towing weight it is legal, & that's what it says on a few of the many sites I've been on today, but I wasn't so sure.....
 
My understanding is that the 85% is a safety recommendation to give you a benchmark but its not the legal rule.

What cars are you hoping to tow with?
 
wellsat said:
Max gross weight. Even if you are only transporting shetties your car needs to legally be able to tow the gross weight, 2340kg in your case.
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Nonsense.That is only a manufacturers design plate and its what you are actualy carrying that counts.
 
I was hoping to borrow a VW Sharon next week. I've been told it can tow 2000kg which I though would be ok as pony weighs about 390kg
 
I've just had a thought & went on local police website & it says on there maximum gross weight (well maximum authorised mass which I think is the same) so I think I'm right in saying I would be over weight legally with the VW even though it can actually manage the weight!?!
 
Standing on its own,the maximum authorised mass of a trailer such as yours is given by the manufacturers plate. Once you hitch it to any vehicle ,the MAM changes to the lowest mass permitted by the various restrictions APPLYING TO THAT COMBINATION AND YOUR LICENCE.
 
Your loaded trailer must not weigh more than the maximum weight of the towing vehicle, The combination must not weigh more than 3.5 tonnes.The loaded trailer must not exceed the maximum towing weight for the car,and finaly you must not exceed the manufacturers design weight for the trailer. Whichever one of these gives the lowest trailer and load ,dictates the maximum allowable mass.
 
So I can tow with the VW then?!! Thank you for the easy explanation- I think that's prob why I'm getting muddled up - too much jargon I don't understand!! :)........just need to find unladen weight of trailer somewhere now then!!
 
You would be amazed how many people get it wrong.As for the trailer. Take your trailer to a public weighbridge and get it weighed.
 
Yea, ill have to- thanks for all your help, don't know why it can't be a bit clearer everywhere, not surprised there's confusion!
 
Why? I do know quite a few that tow with them? I actually usually borrow a Nissan terrano but can't have the use of it next week!!
 
I would have thought it would actually be ok to tow a small Ifor and a small pony. The car on Parkers weighs nearly two tonnes so even if we use the safe value of 75% of the cars weight rather than the legal requirement (which does appear to be 2 tonnes) you could tow up to 1450kg. The trailer is unlikely to be over a tonne and the pony is under 400 kg so what is the problem?

Seems like quite a good tow vehicle for what you want of it. Just don't go in the mud!
 
No chance of mud I don't think!! I can't see it being a problem at all pulling it, just was getting confused on what the law says! I guess ill find out if I get pulled!! xx
 
I am pretty certain you will be totally legal. If you have a search of the forum there was a post not too long ago where someone had actually contacted the authorities about what was ok and put up the response. It got a bit heated (these posts always do for reasons I really don't understand!) but there was quite a lot of useful info in it. I'll have a rummage for you :)
 
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