Trailer MAM Q- downrating?

FigJam

FigJam

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Location
West Lothian, Scotland
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After reading a few posts recently, I was wondering if anyone knows if there are any restrictions on what type of trailers you can downrate the Maximum Authorised Mass of and by how much? Is this easily done?

Reason for asking is that my tow car weighs 1515kg. I passed my driving test in 2001, so don't have the full towing category. However, I can tow a trailer that has a MAM lighter than my car's unladen weight, as long as the two combined don't exceed 3.5t.

So this currently leaves me with the Cheval Liberte 1003XL, which I would be dead happy with, but can't afford a brand new one and second hand ones just don't seem to happen.

An Ifor Williams 401 seems a little easier to come across second hand and within my budget... but their MAM is 1600kg! Could I downrate one to £1500? It would be used for my lightweight cobX mare (15.2h) who probably weighs 550kg-600kg, so I should have plenty scope to reduce the MAM by 100kg?

My husband is able to tow as he's an oldie (
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), but I really don't want to have to rely on him anytime I want to go anywhere and I'd like to go to lessons/SJ on a Mon/Wed night which is when he's busy with his own hobby.

Thanks for any advice/info.
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I thought you would be ok as long as the vehicle, trailer and horse don't exceed 3.5kg

I don't think for legal reasons they rely on the manufacturer. You'd be put straight on a weighbridge.

Bear in mind that water, and extra people are all counted!!!
 
its the MAM of the trailer so the gross weight can not be more than your car and the combined gross weight can not be more than 3.5 tons if that is the case then you are fine to drive
 
I think the problem with this little "exception" to the rule, is that the car's actual wight has to exceed the trailer's MAM and everything still fall within 3.5t, hence why it's so difficult to get around!

I know that additional weight in the car would count towards the overall weight, but having the trailer downrated to 1500kg, still gives me almost 500kg allowance in the car- I need to do a little dieting, but not that much!!
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Yup, I understand that part, I was just wondering if there were any restrictions on downrating the MAM of the trailer? Eg. can only downrate by a maximum of 300kg, or only on certain specifications of trailer?

I'd maybe be best phoning Ifor Williams themselves and asking, just wondered if anyone on here had done it!
 
I would call Ifor williams let me know as I am in the same perdicament and would rather down grade my trailer than fail my test again as have taken it twice!! TBH i had never heard about it until now but please PM me and let me know I have a 505
 
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the best thing is to sit your trailer test
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[/ QUOTE ]

I wish I could afford to, but I only really need/want a single trailer anyway and it's this pesky difference of 85kg between my car's kerb weight and the 401's MAM that is stopping me finding a way of getting out and about with my girl. It seems like we'll both be retired before I come across a second hand Cheval Liberte in budget!
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I've seen a few 401's for sale second hand (sadly all at the other end of the country from me, I'm willing to drive a decent distance for one, just not Scotland-Cornwall!) and they seem easier to come across at a good price.
 
I have sent you a PM.

My father looked into downrating last year in some depth for me and ended up being told that to get a trailer downrated a component of the trailer needs to be changed so that it becomes the limiting factor in the MAM of the trailer (cannot think which part was suggested.)

In the end we decided against it, I am practising to take my towing test in Oct!
 
If I get around to calling them over the weekend, I'll drop you a PM to let you know what they say.

Poor you having to re sit the test so many times, from what I've heard it's certainly not a walk in the park- hence why I'm happy to avoid it if I can! (although I'm rooting for Shellonabeach's attempt to go well!
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it is not good but I get so nervous as well which does not help at all!! Going to resit it but after the summer when i have had a summer of reversing behind me!! let me know how youget on!!
 
Take the test its easy. Just put 2 young women through this week both had near reversed a trailer before. 2 days training cost them each £360 with hire of trailer and 4x4 for test. Go for it.
 
If you're looking for a light trailer look on the Robinsons Country Leisure webiste - their Requisite trailers are supposed to be super light - they do single (590kg) and double (730kg). They look nice too!!
 
Yes, you can reduce the MAM of any trailer (provided it is within reason - ie approx 10-20%) to do this all you have to do is contact the company (ie Ifor in this case) and ask for them to downgrade the MAM, they will need the trailer's serial number and will be able to send you out a new plate.. it really is that simple!!
 
Thanks for the reply, I have actually purchased and downrated an Ifor Williams 401 successfully since posting this thread!
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The MAM that you can downrate to is actually dependant on the coupling unit's rating, which has a range and the MAM can be anywhere between the two numbers shown on this.

I arranged it through my local IW dealer as they need to change the plate for you to ensure the new plate goes back on the right trailer!
 
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