For those towing a trailer on a 'B Licence'

L

lexibell

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 January 2009
Messages
508
Location
Northants/Cambs border
Visit site
Hello

I know there have been various threads related to towing and licence requirements, But having spent over an hour reading ROGs clinic I am still baffled by how to work out whats legal and whats not (yes I am sure its really very easy but it makes no sense to me, try as I might I have read various posts over and over, I cant get my head around it all!!!)

I am currently looking to buy a new car and possibly a trailer too, I have not taken the B+E, although I have towed comfortably and confidently under supervision using my B+E Provisional rights. I would rather not spend money on a test if I dont have to, I only have one small horse weighing in at just under 500kg.

Could people share information relating to the combos that they are towing legally and any advice etc, Im just looking for examples of whats ok and whats not so I can perhaps look at some vehicles to test drive.

Unfortunatly budget wont stretch to a brand new car so older models would be perfect :)

Thank you
 
I have a korando - towing capacity 2 tonnes
Car weighs 1750
Trailer weighs 800
Horse weighs 400
Then me and tack. When i tow horse weighing 450 he has the partition out which reduces weight a little.
 
The very simple extra rule on top of all the other towing rules for the towing of a trailer on a B licence is this ..

The vehicle plated GVW (top of the 4 on the weight plate) added to the trailer plated MAM (highest figure on the silver plate) must not total more than 3500

You have a B licence and your horse is 500 kg

Here are two legal examples for you - figures are approx

= = = = = = =

4x4 example ....
Nissan Xtrail
GVW 2100
Towing capacity 1800

trailer - HB403
Empty 800
MAM 1600 but down plated to 1400
max horse weight 600

= = = = = = =

Basic saloon example ......
Skoda Octavia
GVW 1900
Towing capacity 1500

trailer - Bateson Derby
Empty 700
MAM 1700 but down plated to 1600
max horse weight 800

= = = = = = =
 
Spotsrock said:
I have a korando - towing capacity 2 tonnes
Car weighs 1750
Trailer weighs 800
Horse weighs 400
Then me and tack. When i tow horse weighing 450 he has the partition out which reduces weight a little.
Click to expand...


need GVW of car and MAM of trailer to see if that's legal for a B licence and those are the two very important weights which are missing from your quote
 
If you are really finding it hard to get your head around this then just post what vehicle and trailer you are thinking of getting and we will see if we can help you out with the legalities and how they might be made legal if too much
 
I don't tow horses, but will give you example on my livestock trailer:
03 reg x-trail sport GVW 2025kg
towing capacity 2000 kg
Bateson 8foot livestock trailer weighing 670 kg empty
MAM of trailer 1450 kg
room for 780 kg of stock, which is 10 - 12 ewes or 18 lambs.
 
martlin said:
I don't tow horses, but will give you example on my livestock trailer:
03 reg x-trail sport GVW 2025kg
towing capacity 2000 kg
Bateson 8foot livestock trailer weighing 670 kg empty
MAM of trailer 1450 kg
room for 780 kg of stock, which is 10 - 12 ewes or 18 lambs.
Click to expand...

2025+1450=3475 so within the 3500 limit for B towing
 
lexibell said:
Thank you all for your replies. My other half likes the volvo v50 2010 model is there a trailer I could legally tow with this?
Click to expand...
Found this one - http://www.availablecar.com/used-volvo/v50_2.0-d3-150-r-design-5dr/307343 but there are many models so would need to know the specific model to give a definitive reply

The one I found has these weights
GVW 2020
Towing 1500

With that model you could have a choice of trailers but most would need down plating by the manufacturer to a max of 1480
HB401/403 - Bateson Derby are but two examples

Generally with a 500 horse any trailer with an max empty weight of 900 where the manufacturer is still trading will do you so you can down plate it
 
Sorry to post hijack OP but ROG doesn't have a pm option!

Rog, what happens if you buy an older trailer which doesn't have a plate (or a seller who has no idea?)
 
I'm also very confused.
I have an xtrail, 2.2d, tows 2t. My horse is 560kg, how much would I have left for the trailer before I had to take my test. I know this counts the weight of any passengers, tack etc.
hope you can help. I was just assuming is have to take the test
 
JoClark said:
I'm also very confused.
I have an xtrail, 2.2d, tows 2t. My horse is 560kg, how much would I have left for the trailer before I had to take my test. I know this counts the weight of any passengers, tack etc.
hope you can help. I was just assuming is have to take the test
Click to expand...

If your x-trails GVW is 2000 kg (is it? it depends on year) you have 1500 kg left for trailer and horse.
 
JoClark said:
It's a 55, tows 2t. Hmm prob not enough for a trailer horse tack etc :(
Click to expand...

You can carry your tack in the boot :) I'm not asking how much your car can tow, just how much it weighs.
You can easily tow a single/mare&foal trailer for example. Your horse weighs 560 kg, so as long as your trailer doesn't weigh more than 940 empty, even if its MAM is more than 1500 kg, you can have it downplated to 1500kg and be fine.
 
JoClark said:
I'm also very confused.
I have an xtrail, 2.2d, tows 2t. My horse is 560kg, how much would I have left for the trailer before I had to take my test. I know this counts the weight of any passengers, tack etc.
hope you can help. I was just assuming is have to take the test
Click to expand...
I hope you do not put passengers in the trailer !!
Vehicle has a max weight known as GVW - trailer has a max weight known as MAM

Xtrail GVW 2050 which leaves 1450 max plated MAM for trailer so if horse weighs 560 then you need a trailer with a max empty weight of 890 but 800 would be better - a HB401/403 is 780 empty for example but comes with a MAM of 1600 so would need down plating to 1450 by contacting IW who now charge about £50 for that so I have been recently informed
 
I tow a ifor 401 which weighs 770kg, down plated to a mam of 1400kg, towed with a freelander 1 td4 with a gvw of 2080 and a towing capacity of 1800kg. Pony weighs 500kg. All OK on a b licence (and I worked it out by asking ROG!) - tows really well.
 
I tow with a Nissan Xtrail (55 plate) and an ifor HB401 single trailer. Horse is a 500kg TB. Had the trailer downplated to ensure im legal : )
 
bex1984 said:
I tow a ifor 401 which weighs 770kg, down plated to a mam of 1400kg, towed with a freelander 1 td4 with a gvw of 2080 and a towing capacity of 1800kg. Pony weighs 500kg. All OK on a b licence (and I worked it out by asking ROG!) - tows really well.
Click to expand...
This used to be my setup too but my Freelander died!
 
I have a Chysler 300C 3.5Diesel 56 reg, could I legal tow with that on a standard license without having to take a test?
 
horsefeed said:
I have a Chysler 300C 3.5Diesel 56 reg, could I legal tow with that on a standard license without having to take a test?
Click to expand...
GVW is about 2400 so that only leaves about 1100 MAM for a trailer and the lightest trailer I know of is 675 empty so if that was plated at 100 it would leave 425 for the trailer load/horse
 
If anyone else has a question on towing please post in the towing clinic thread - link below in my signature
 
Dear Rog, please help! Can a 32 year old legally tow a 400kg pony in an Ivor Williams 505, using a vauxhall Monterey 3.1?
Going mad here!
Thank you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top