Welcome to HHO Towing Clinic

[ROG]

Try Peter Smythe LGV + B+E training as they have residential courses - free residential for those over 70 miles from Mansfield Notts and I am fairly sure it covers B+E ..........

 

[ester]

good luck for tomorrow, the main thing I found as to the difference horse towers would consider good and examiners won't is being quicker to get up to speed than you probably would with horses on board, so you have to think no live cargo .
If it doesn't work out just forget everything that has passed and start again .

I'm a bit worried, on the basis that most people are test worthy after a day training tops (I did about 2 hours one day, 2/3 hours another, then drove about 45 mins to test) whether the current guy has been wrecking your confidence just to make more money out of you?

 

[henmother]

I'll look into that , I'd need somewhere fully accessible . T12 incomplete paraplegic. There is no way I'll be going back to get shouted and swore at .

 

[ROG]

Those with a lot of L plate experience before they go to an instructor can easily do a morning training then test in the afternoon and pass

 

[henmother]

good luck for tomorrow, the main thing I found as to the difference horse towers would consider good and examiners won't is being quicker to get up to speed than you probably would with horses on board, so you have to think no live cargo .
If it doesn't work out just forget everything that has passed and start again .

I'm a bit worried, on the basis that most people are test worthy after a day training tops (I did about 2 hours one day, 2/3 hours another, then drove about 45 mins to test) whether the current guy has been wrecking your confidence just to make more money out of you?

I've had two sessions in the yard doing the manouvres , out yesterday for 4 hours , today drove from 9-12, manouvres for around two hours . They got my test booked without me even having done an assessment drive which I found odd. It's how it's done with the intensive courses , which is strange . Thankfully I've had a few trips out with friends , and brother , so I sort of thought I'd need more training on the manouvre . I know a lot of folk struggle with reversing .
He won't get another penny out of me . I'll find someone even if I have to travel further and the process takes longer .
Yes , there's a lot of , quickly reaching speed , I certainly won't be in any rush when my boys in the back !! I won't be a slow coach , to the detriment of other road users , but I want my lad to have the smoothest ride possible .

 

[henmother]

Thankyou both for your sensible advice . I actually passed !! Fluffed up the start of the reverse manouvre but managed to correct after a shunt . Got 6 minors on road , phew !! Let the fun and games begin !

 

[ROG]

Thankyou both for your sensible advice . I actually passed !! Fluffed up the start of the reverse manouvre but managed to correct after a shunt . Got 6 minors on road , phew !! Let the fun and games begin !

 

[henmother]

thankyou very much .

 

[L&B]

For a friend...
Has a VW Caddy (1.9l).
Max towing capacity 1425kg, GVW 2211kg.
Hoping to tow one horse 500kg.
With a single trailer unladen 655kg, Max gross weight 1400kg.
Legal??

 

[ROG]

For a friend...
Has a VW Caddy (1.9l).
Max towing capacity 1425kg, GVW 2211kg.
Hoping to tow one horse 500kg.
With a single trailer unladen 655kg, Max gross weight 1400kg.
Legal??

B+E licence = legal with 245kg trailer load to spare

B licence = illegal as total MAM is 3611 (2211+1400) so over 3500 total MAM limit
Solution = down plate trailer from 1400 to 1250 which leaves 95kg trailer load to spare

 

[ester]

henmother I just saw your update, brilliant

 

[Cherylx]

I hope this is the correct place. If not, please redirect me.

Does anybody tow with a Nissian Xtrail? Looking to trade in my car for a bigger one (albeit older) to tow and these seem reasonably priced?

From what I have read, they sound reliable. Any thoughts?

 

[ROG]

I hope this is the correct place. If not, please redirect me.

Does anybody tow with a Nissian Xtrail? Looking to trade in my car for a bigger one (albeit older) to tow and these seem reasonably priced?

From what I have read, they sound reliable. Any thoughts?

Loads on here tow with them

They are particularly useful for towing one horse with a lightweight (usually down plated) trailer on a B licence

 

[henmother]

henmother I just saw your update, brilliant

Thankyou . Our first trip out was somewhat of a disaster. Horse went over the breech bar while loaded up ready for the return journey . Horrifying . Thankfully some girls were on hand to help release the bars . Horse has never ever went over so it was very unexpected , but serves as a warning to us all . Be prepared for the worst when towing . He is fine thankfully , despite the fact I was a jibbering wreck. We were at a venue that I'd usually ride to , around 20 mins ride away . Thought a little familiar trip would be best for our maiden voyage. Trailer back to dealers Thursday to have internal breech bar holder replaced and a new tie up ring installed . Lots of empty trailer trips out for me to try and rebuild my confidence .

 

[EmmaLou]

Thought I'd come back with an update. Picked up my new Bateson on Saturday. First time hitching and towing with over 35 mile drive home to practice, no issues couldn't have gone any better, although reversing needs more practice as to park it I have to do an uphill reverse around a corner! Which I managed but took a while lol. Driving home, nerves vanished as soon as I left the car park, this trailer follows your car very nicely and not too big/long. Took it for its maiden voyage with pony on-board next day and even better with a horse in it.

So I thought some might be interested in my set up...
Car- Kia Sportage KX-3 AWD, MAM 2140kg, towing capacity 2000kg
Trailer - Bateson Derby, unladen 675kg, plated MAM 1360kg, available capacity 685kg
Pony - on a weight bridge 506kg
Licence - B

 

[ROG]

Thought I'd come back with an update. Picked up my new Bateson on Saturday. First time hitching and towing with over 35 mile drive home to practice, no issues couldn't have gone any better, although reversing needs more practice as to park it I have to do an uphill reverse around a corner! Which I managed but took a while lol. Driving home, nerves vanished as soon as I left the car park, this trailer follows your car very nicely and not too big/long. Took it for its maiden voyage with pony on-board next day and even better with a horse in it.

So I thought some might be interested in my set up...
Car- Kia Sportage KX-3 AWD, MAM 2140kg, towing capacity 2000kg
Trailer - Bateson Derby, unladen 675kg, plated MAM 1360kg, available capacity 685kg
Pony - on a weight bridge 506kg
Licence - B

What a great post with a picture as well as all the required information for towing on a B licence

 

[EmmaLou]

Thank you for your advice ROG!

 

[Cherylx]

Great, thank you very much!!

 

[sidsmum]

Hello,
Getting myself confused here! I have my B&E entitlement on my licence and have been happily towing an ifor 505 with two horses (weighing just over 1000kg together) with no problem.

However, my trusty tow car (Hyundai Terracan) is becoming less and less, well, trusty and is costing more and more money. It has to go to the garage today as the turbo is not kicking in.

I can't afford to replace it with another big 4x4. Can't afford the outlay and can't afford to run it as my main car. (At the moment my mum drives it but she no longer works etc so cannot afford it either).

Otto, one of my horses has just been retired to a light hack and the only solution I can see so far is to replace the car with a smaller 4x4 like a Grand Vitara or something (or x trail or similar if vitara is too small) and only tow one horse at 520kg.

My ifor is an old pre '97 trailer with an aluminium floor and I would probably take the partition out as Bria travels better without it when on her own.


Would this work and would I need to downplate my trailer?

I was under the impression that it was the car's towing capacity and the fully laden weight of the trailer that had to be taken into account but after googling a little I am finding lots of conflicting advice, particularly in this thread here>>> https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/...&t=1019747&i=0

If anyone can help shed light I would be most grateful!
If my trailer is too heavy then are other makes lighter i.e. Bateson. I'm not keen on single trailers, and a quick look on horsemart only returned 2 in my area, so I'm not sure that would be a solution.

Many thanks!
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...sed-re-towing-and-weights#jiSsRLdMePUMK8GU.99

 

[ROG]

There is no law or rule which requires you to down plate a trailer so it can be within the towing capacity of a vehicle

Down plating is only needed to keep the total of the plated weights under 3500kg for B licence towing or for keeping under EU tacho regs

This is legal on a B+E licence -

Vehicle Towing limit 1600

Trailer plated MAM 2340
Trailer empty 1000
Trailer load 550

That leaves 50 spare to load into trailer

 

[sidsmum]

Thank you, that makes it clearer! One less thing to worry about!

 

[Sheep]

Thankyou . Our first trip out was somewhat of a disaster. Horse went over the breech bar while loaded up ready for the return journey . Horrifying . Thankfully some girls were on hand to help release the bars . Horse has never ever went over so it was very unexpected , but serves as a warning to us all . Be prepared for the worst when towing . He is fine thankfully , despite the fact I was a jibbering wreck. We were at a venue that I'd usually ride to , around 20 mins ride away . Thought a little familiar trip would be best for our maiden voyage. Trailer back to dealers Thursday to have internal breech bar holder replaced and a new tie up ring installed . Lots of empty trailer trips out for me to try and rebuild my confidence .

Congrats on passing henmother! Funny, I was wondering how you were getting on recently, glad to see you are still very much in the saddle!

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

Morning, going looking at a towing veh later but want to make sure i can tow with it.

1 - What licence they hold - B&E
2 - Unladen/empty weight of the*towing*vehicle = 1415
3 - GVW of the*towing*vehicle = unsure - it is a Volvo v70 tdi, 2.5L, W reg - I have googled but can't find the GVW?
4 -*towing*capacity of the*towing*vehicle = 1800
5 - Plated MAM of the trailer = 2700
6 - Unladen/empty weight of the trailer = 1000

I'm going looking this afternoon if anyone can assist! Thank you

 

[ROG]

Morning, going looking at a towing veh later but want to make sure i can tow with it.

1 - What licence they hold - B&E
2 - Unladen/empty weight of the*towing*vehicle = 1415
3 - GVW of the*towing*vehicle = unsure - it is a Volvo v70 tdi, 2.5L, W reg - I have googled but can't find the GVW?
4 -*towing*capacity of the*towing*vehicle = 1800
5 - Plated MAM of the trailer = 2700
6 - Unladen/empty weight of the trailer = 1000

I'm going looking this afternoon if anyone can assist! Thank you

With B+E you do not need to be concerned with GVW so no problem there with not knowing figure

Max actual weight which can be towed = 1800
Empty trailer = 1000
Max load to put in trailer = 800

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

Fabulous, thank you. It's my dad who will be driving with the b&e. I am on a B, how would I find out the gvw to know if I could tow? Thank you again!

 

[ROG]

Fabulous, thank you. It's my dad who will be driving with the b&e. I am on a B, how would I find out the gvw to know if I could tow? Thank you again!

Trailer MAM of 2700 is too high for you to tow on a B licence but you can - and I strongly suggest this - tow under B+E provisional rules with DAD sitting in passenger seat all the time - that way DAD does not need to be insured on public roads = saving money and you get loads of practice

GVW =
V5 keepers doc listed as max authorised mass
Weight plate usually hidden under bonnet or in a door frame - top figure of the 4 listed on it

GVW ??? + Trailer MAM 2700 cannot total more than 3500 for towing alone on a B licence

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

Good to know, thank you

 

[Lolabug]

Hello, I am looking to swap my car so I can tow (already have B&E licence) my horse is around 560kg and 15.2hh. Trailer i was looking to buy was a ifor 505 or bateson. My question is can anyone recommend a good towing car which doubles up as an everyday car? Thanks

 

[ROG]

Hello, I am looking to swap my car so I can tow (already have B&E licence) my horse is around 560kg and 15.2hh. Trailer i was looking to buy was a ifor 505 or bateson. My question is can anyone recommend a good towing car which doubles up as an everyday car? Thanks

4X4 Skoda Octavia seems to be good all rounder according to many on here

 

[Leo Walker]

Not a horse trailer towing question exactly and probably a fairly stupid question, but I have literally no idea about towing!

I've got a horse and carriage that I need to transport. Can I tow one of these on a B licence?

http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/117029686/trailer.html?link=/classifieds/trailers?page=4

I cant seem to find out the weight of them anywhere, the carriage would be 250kgs at the most. Would a standard sort of estate car pull that?

If I was to eventually get a 3.5ton horsebox could I tow it with that? I assume that would need a trailer test?

EDITED to say I think the weight of that size trailer should be about 200kgs