Towing vehicles

[LittleVet]

I hopefully qualify as a vet in a few weeks and am looking for a new car that will cope with farm tracks and snow in Aberdeen and also the motorway on a long journey home and tow a trailer. Am getting very confused over towing weights and everyone seems to have a different opinion! Does anyone know how we can properly work out weights that cars can tow as there's the number in the information from the manufacturers but then the caravan club say that you should only be towing 85% of the kerb weight but that means even the biggest cars can only tow around 2tonnes whereas their information states 3.5tonnes. Have been looking at the ford kuga, Nissan X trail and Kia Sportage but open to other suggestions! I only have one horse but would quite like to be able to take 2 if needed. Any ideas?

 

[EBHouse]

The Kuga, Xtrail and Sportage will struggle to tow two legally.

The caravan club rules aren't relevant - the vehicle handbooks it will state the maximum rowing capacity of the car and as long as that is adhered to you should be ok.

I believe the older Kia Sorento will just about, as will the older Hyundai Santa Fe but don't quote me on it. The VW Tiguan is a good smaller SUV that will tow up to 2.5T BUT it has to be the DSG model and I wouldn't drive anything off a forecourt without checking that handbook. I still wouldn't fancy using any of these to get you out of a muddy field although have seen many people do just that.

For 2.5T+ you are looking at defender, discovery, toureag, ranger territory. I've been lucky enough to have access to a disco and a ranger which are both fab for towing.

 

[PeterNatt]

The most important consideration when choosing a towing vehicle is the weight you are expecting it to tow.

Weights
When it comes down to vehicle towing capacity every single vehicle has a recommended limit found in the owner’s handbook.
As a basic guide the unladen weight of the trailer, plus the weight of the heaviest horse(s) to be towed, must not exceed the trailer’s maximum authorised mass (MAM) which is found in the trailer’s handbook or on the information panel (metal plate fixed on to the trailer).
This should also not exceed the car’s maximum towing weight (MTC), which is found in the car’s manual.
Alternatively the vehicle’s gross train weight – which is the maximum permitted weight of the fully loaded car plus fully loaded trailer – is listed on the vehicle identification number (VIM) plate on the car. This is normally found under the bonnet or inside the drivers door.
Remember to allow for the weight of tack, feed and water when calculating the load as this will count towards the maximum towing capacity.
If you prefer to tow with a non 4 x 4 there are lightweight trailers available on the market which will help to bring the gross weight down.
For example the super light Derby from Bateson Trailers has an unladen weight of 675kg. (The standard weight of a trailer is around 860kg).

Licences
Before towing you need to check that you hold the correct licence which depends on when you passed your test.

From 19 January 2013 drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:
Small trailers weighing no more than 750kg.
Trailers weighing more than 350kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg.
If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, with a combined weight of more than 3,500kg you’ll have to pass a further test and get a B + E entitlement on your licence.

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B licence, you can drive either:
A vehicle up to 3.5 tonne or 3.500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (with a combined weight of up to 4.250kg in total).
A trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total).

If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonne MAM.

Breakdown Advice
Standard car breakdown cover won’t cover you if you have livestock on board, so ensure you have the protection you need by taking out an extra policy. PRP Rescue Services offer trailer cover to RAC members which costs £45 a year as well as their independent cover. www.prprescue.com


Terminology
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
The total weight that a vehicle is designed to carry as stated by the manufacturer. It consists of the weight of the vehicle and its load and must not by law be exceeded.

Gross Train Weight (GTW)
The total weight that a vehicle is allowed to move as stated by the manufacturer. It consists of the vehicle’s own Gross Vehicle Weight GVW (see above) and the maximum gross weight of any attached trailer or caravan.
The vehicle’s gross train weight – which is the maximum permitted weight of the fully loaded car plus fully loaded trailer – is listed on the vehicle identification number (VIM) plate on the car. This is normally found under the bonnet or inside the drivers door.


For trailer users, these two weights - GVW and GTW – must be monitored carefully, as the police will prosecute if either the gross train weight or the gross vehicle weight are exceeded, and you will be fined.

Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
As a basic guide the unladen weight of the trailer, plus the weight of the heaviest horse(s) to be towed, must not exceed the trailer’s maximum authorised mass (MAM) which is found in the trailer’s handbook or on the information panel (metal plate fixed on to the trailer).

Cars Maximun Towing Weight (MTC)
This should also not be exceeded. The car’s maximum towing weight (MTC), is to be found in the car’s manual.

Kerb weight (KW)
Kerb weight is the measure by which you know how heavy a trailer you can safely tow. Confusingly there are two official definitions of kerb weights.

As defined in the Construction and Use regulations (1996), kerb weight is defined as the weight of the car as it leaves the maker with a full tank of fuel, adequate fluids (water, oil etc) for normal operations, plus its standard set of tools and equipment. It does not include the driver’s weight, any passengers or any load.

EU directive 95/48/EC defines kerb weight as the weight of the car as it leaves the manufacturers with a 90 per cent-full fuel tank, all it necessary fluids for normal operations, a nominal driver weight of 68kg and 7kg of luggage

In practice you should never tow a trailer whose maximum gross weight is heavier than the car’s kerb weight. All industry bodies recommend you ideally never tow a trailer who’s actual laden weight is no more than 85 per cent of the car’s kerb weight.

Towing Vehicles VIM Plate (VIM)
This is a metal plate which is normally found under the vehicles bonnet or inside the driver’s door and gives the vehicles gross train weight.

Trailers Information Plate
As a basic guide the unladen weight of the trailer, plus the weight of the heaviest horse(s) to be towed, must not exceed the trailer’s maximum authorised mass (MAM) which is found in the trailer’s handbook or on the information panel (metal plate fixed on to the trailer).


Remember you are towing a live animal which can move and thus move it’s weight making the trailer unstable so keep well within the towing limits so that the trailer does not become unstable.

B Car Licence

Vehicle GVW (To be found in door frame or bonnet)
Trailer MAM (Silver plate on A frame of trailer
GVW + MAM and if greater than 3,500 then can’t tow.

 

[LittleVet]

Thank you both, that's really helpful! It's such a minefield combined with trying to buy a car myself and moving 400+ miles from home! I have my b+e license so that shouldn't be a problem and my horse is only about 500kg so maybe I just need to reside myself to just taking him on his own and things might be a bit easier!!

 

[rachk89]

If it helps (i ain't good with the numbers side of it so I used this) look up the car you have seen on Google with the word parkers and check the parkers website for the specific car. More than likely it will have the facts and figures page which will tell you what the car you have found can tow.

I personally refused to consider anything that towed under 2.5tonne because I know at some point the car will have to tow two 500kg+ horses and i dont want to even slightly ruin the clutch or anything on the car by making it tow too close to its limit. I know others on here used cars that can only tow to 2t but I dunno how big their horses are. Just know mine is not small and is only gonna get bigger and my friends all have horses of a similar build lol. Had to plan for the future with my horse that refuses to stop growing.

 

[luckyoldme]

What about a pick up?
I deal for a vet because you can put all the messy stuff in the back and maybe make some attempt at keeping the cab part clean.mud mats are the monkeys nuts for muddy farms!
We have a Ford ranger wildtrak, both the wildtrak and the xl can tow 3.5t . The trick is to find a used one in good condition.
Good luck with your results...thats some achievement!

 

[Pedantic]

I won't be buying anything korean ever again, particularly ssangyong.

 

[turnbuckle]

Ace post from PeterNatt, very clearly explained.

Pick-up not a bad idea, but all depends on budget really.

Subarus always a good choice but quite grand - your new senior partner may think you have ideas above your station!

 

[ROG]

Check out post number 2000 of the HHO TOWING CLINIC thread - link below in my signature

As you have a B+E licence then once you know the weight you need to tow all you have to make sure of is that you do not go over the trailer plated max weight (MAM) or the vehicle max towing capacity

 

[ROG]

The post from Peter Natt contains some out of date laws but its not his fault as the Gov has left the old laws on the internet

Terminology
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
The total weight that a vehicle is designed to carry as stated by the manufacturer. It consists of the weight of the vehicle and its load and must not by law be exceeded.
INCORRECT - the GVW is the max the vehicle can weight including the load not the load it can carry

Gross Train Weight (GTW)
The total weight that a vehicle is allowed to move as stated by the manufacturer. It consists of the vehicle’s own Gross Vehicle Weight GVW (see above) and the maximum gross weight of any attached trailer or caravan.
The vehicle’s gross train weight – which is the maximum permitted weight of the fully loaded car plus fully loaded trailer
INCORRECT - the GTW is the max actual weight of the vehicle and trailer when added together not the total of the plated weights


Peter - can I respectfully suggest you also have a good read of post number 2000 in the HHO TOWING CLINIC .............

 

[ROG]

As the OP has a B+E licence I will not go into B licence towing laws but stick to B+E with this example using made up weights

VEHICLE
GVW 2100 - listed as max permissible weight on V5 form or top figure of four on weight plate hidden in door frame or under bonnet
GTW 4100 - second from top figure on vehicle weight plate
Towing capacity 2000 - listed in handbook and is usually, but not always, the GTW minus the GVW
Empty weight 1500 - listed as mass in service on V5 form but only true way is to take empty to a weighbridge

TRAILER
MAM 2800 - maximum weight legally allowed when fully loaded - usually the high figure on the silver plate
Empty weight 900 - listed by manufacturer but only true way is to take empty to a weighbridge

Max load for vehicle = 600 (2100-1500=600)
Max load for trailer = 1100 (2000-900=1100)

The plated weights of GVW 2100 + MAM 2800 adds up to 4900 which is more than the GTW of 4100 but that is not a legal concern

hope this example helps

 

[Annagain]

There's some good info on this website.
http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/index.htm

http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_vehicles.htm
This page in particular is useful. I'd choose your trailer (lots of info on choices there too) work out the weight of the horse(s) you want to tow and put the details in. It will then come up with a list of vehicles that can tow the weight you need.

 

[Britestar]

If you are going to use the vehicle for work too, then make sure your have a good ground clearance. Some of the farm tracks you'll be driving on are NOT kind to cars with low clearance.

 

[asmp]

I wanted something to tow two horses - husband wanted something comfortable with gadgets, so went for a VW Touareg. (Second hand!). Easily tows 2 horses as tows 3500kg and happily tows out of muddy fields too.

 

[Jenna1406]

2nd the touareg. My OH half bought one almost 2 years ago and its amazing to tow. he went for the 5.0 V10 version which is more than capable for the 3.5T. Also, you can adjust the suspention to suit

 

[EBHouse]

I wanted something to tow two horses - husband wanted something comfortable with gadgets, so went for a VW Touareg. (Second hand!). Easily tows 2 horses as tows 3500kg and happily tows out of muddy fields too.

What is the fuel consumption like day to day with these? Have been looking at them myself but been put off by the specs on the autotrader website!

 

[LittleVet]

Thank you everyone, some really useful information and a lot to think about! Hopefully I can sort it soon!

 

[asmp]

What is the fuel consumption like day to day with these? Have been looking at them myself but been put off by the specs on the autotrader website!

Not that brilliant but it is a 3.0d engine. Don't think there's much difference between it and the old BMW X5 we had before (which I really liked too but couldn't afford a newish one)