Quick towing question...

[MM&PP]

I was under the impression that regardless of whether the trailer had anything in it or not, it is illegal to tow it with a vehicle which cannot pull the maximum laden weight.

EG:

Ifor Williams max. laden weight: 2650kg
Ifor Williams unladen weight: 1000kg
Generic car towing capability: 1400kg

Illegal?

Even empty, it would be illegal to tow the above trailer with the generic car is my understanding - correct? Or not?

 

[ROG]

I was under the impression that regardless of whether the trailer had anything in it or not, it is illegal to tow it with a vehicle which cannot pull the maximum laden weight.

EG:

Ifor Williams max. laden weight: 2650kg
Ifor Williams unladen weight: 1000kg
Generic car towing capability: 1400kg

Illegal?

Even empty, it would be illegal to tow the above trailer with the generic car is my understanding - correct? Or not?

Load trailer with 400 kgs = legal on a B+E driving licence

There is an internet myth still doing the rounds where some numpties are saying that because the recommended manufacturers towing capacity cannot cope with the trailer if fully loaded to its legal max MAM then its illegal = PLONKERS

There is no law or rule which states the recommended manufacturers towing capacity must be able to cope with the MAM of the trailer

For those with a B+E licence .... find the trailer MAM and the max vehicle towing capacity and use the lower of the two as the max the trailer can be when loaded

PS - some numpties have down plated their trailer MAMs so they are not more than the vehicle towing capacity so every time they change the vehicle they will be spending time and money doing up or down plating for no reason !!

Also - as the same weight rules apply to commercial vehicles then can you imagine what would happen every time a different plated artic unit went to pick up a different trailer - they would need to have VOSA up or down plate before they could take it !!!