Welcome to HHO Towing Clinic

[avthechav]

Thanks ROG :-D

 

[ROG]

Thanks ROG :-D

I can give you a more definitive answer if you can give me these weights =

Vehicle (please check carefully on V5 form, plate on car or in handbook)
GVW =
Kerb =
Towing capacity =

Trailer
unladen =905
MAM = 2300

Weight of horse/load =

 

[Princess P]

ROG please can I pick your brains once again?

I have just bought a new trailer, a 2006 equi trek show trekka L. I have a mitsubishi shogun sport.

When my old trailer (cheval liberte) was hitched the whole outfit looked level, but when the equi trek is hitched it looks like the tow bar is too low.

The tow bar can be raised a couple of inches as there is a drop plate type thing and it could go up a hole, but only 2 or so inches and I'm not sure if that's enough.

So my question is: how do I know the correct height for the towbar? Is it just so the trailer is level? Will is impact suspension etc or more importantly safety towing if tow bar too low?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[ROG]

ROG please can I pick your brains once again?

I have just bought a new trailer, a 2006 equi trek show trekka L. I have a mitsubishi shogun sport.

When my old trailer (cheval liberte) was hitched the whole outfit looked level, but when the equi trek is hitched it looks like the tow bar is too low.

The tow bar can be raised a couple of inches as there is a drop plate type thing and it could go up a hole, but only 2 or so inches and I'm not sure if that's enough.

So my question is: how do I know the correct height for the towbar? Is it just so the trailer is level? Will is impact suspension etc or more importantly safety towing if tow bar too low?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Not my area of expertise so I recommend that you take it to a nearby trailer dealer or find another nearby who really knows their stuff on this issue

 

[Princess P]

Ok Thanks Rog

 

[ROG]

I'm wondering if I can safely (and legaly) tow my Bahill pony box (braked trailer, unladen weight 550kg) with a Skoda Octavia hatchback?

Would be carrying one pony, 14hh, approximately 475kg I think. I would also remove the central partition in trailer which would bring the weight down further.

I don't have a towing license yet. Would aim to get one but would prefer the chance to practice lots first so being able tow legally with this combo would be great for me.

thanks

There are so many models of skoda octavia that I need more info to determine which it is or if you have the V5 registered keeprs form then the weights on that will do

I also need to know the plated MAM of the trailer

 

[ROG]

I passed my driving test well before 1997 but am I right in thinking that the only Ifor Williams trailer I can safely tow is their mare and foal one, the HB403? My CRV is a 2005 2L petrol automatic and I know not ideal for towing. I have one 15 hand horse and only ever want to carry her. A friend of mine tows a Ifor 505 with one horse with the same car, but I dont want to be unsafe or illegal! Perhaps this is one for ROG. Would be grateful if anyone can help. Thanks

From my research that particular model has a towing capacity of 1500 kgs

That means the unladen/empty weight of the trailer added to the horse/load should not exceed a total of 1500 kgs

I think the HB505 is 905 unladen so that leaves 595 for the horse/load

 

[Bustalot]

Hi Rog

Can you help me calculate this to beable to tow on a B license please?

Vehicle Ford Mondeo Zetec 2L diesel (62 plate)
GVW 1575 (i think)
Kerb not sure
Towing capacity 2000kilos

Looking at a single ifor williams trailer
Unladen 770 kilos
With horse 1370 kilos

Not sure of the MAM of the trailer. I will have to down plate it i guess? But not sure what to

Thanks

 

[ROG]

Hi Rog

Can you help me calculate this to beable to tow on a B license please?

Vehicle Ford Mondeo Zetec 2L diesel (62 plate)
GVW 1575 (i think)
Kerb not sure
Towing capacity 2000kilos

Looking at a single ifor williams trailer
Unladen 770 kilos
With horse 1370 kilos

Not sure of the MAM of the trailer. I will have to down plate it i guess? But not sure what to

Thanks

IS THIS CLOSE TO YOUR MODEL ?
GVW 2180
KERB 1557
TOWING 2000

HB401
UNLADEN 770
MAM 1600

HORSE/LOAD 600


ASSUMING this is your current set up then the max trailer plated MAM can be 1320 because 1320+2180=3500 which is the max for B licence towing

770+600=1370 which is more than 1320 by 50 so it would not work out

Please try and get the V5 registered keepers form so you can post the exact weights for your car and then I will recalculate in the hope that it might work especially if the GVW is not more than 2100

 

[Bustalot]

IS THIS CLOSE TO YOUR MODEL ?
GVW 2180
KERB 1557
TOWING 2000

HB401
UNLADEN 770
MAM 1600

HORSE/LOAD 600


ASSUMING this is your current set up then the max trailer plated MAM can be 1320 because 1320+2180=3500 which is the max for B licence towing

770+600=1370 which is more than 1320 by 50 so it would not work out

Please try and get the V5 registered keepers form so you can post the exact weights for your car and then I will recalculate in the hope that it might work especially if the GVW is not more than 2100

Yes, thats the car. Oh well will have to take my towing test or re-think the set up.

So based on trailer and horse weighing in at 1370 kilos. I would need a car which weighs less than 2130 kilos to tow on B license? Is that correct? Can you recommend any?
Thank you

 

[ROG]

How about a lighter trailer such as the Cheval Liberte GT1 which weighs 655 unladen and has a plated MAM of 1400 as standard and an internal height of 7'5"

655+600=1255

 

[ROG]

THIS CAR WITH THIS TRAILER downplated to 1320 max and you are sorted

 

[Bustalot]

Great, thanks rog

 

[EAD]

Tried to figure this out myself but the more I read the more confused I get

I have a VW Passat Estate 2L petrol.....not 100% sure if the box I can use is a 505 or 510 but will it make much difference anyway.

I have a B & E licence.

From the cars manual.....

Weights
Permissable GVW 1980
Unladen Weight 1417
Permissable front axle load 1020
Permissable rear axle load 1070

Trailer Weights
with brakes grads up to 12% 1400
with brakes grads up to 8% 1600
without brakes grads up to 12% 650

What I would be carrying would be a 14.2 (ish) pony at maybe about 400kg.

From those details can you tell me if my car is capable of towing?

Thanks

 

[ROG]

Tried to figure this out myself but the more I read the more confused I get

I have a VW Passat Estate 2L petrol.....not 100% sure if the box I can use is a 505 or 510 but will it make much difference anyway.

I have a B & E licence.

From the cars manual.....

Weights
Permissable GVW 1980
Unladen Weight 1417

Trailer Weights
with brakes grads up to 12% 1400
with brakes grads up to 8% 1600


What I would be carrying would be a 14.2 (ish) pony at maybe about 400kg.

From those details can you tell me if my car is capable of towing?

Thanks

Trailer unladen would be around 920 kgs (MAM over 2000)
pony around 400 kgs
Towing capacity 1400 kgs (using lowest option)

920+400=1320 so under 1400 = all fine on a B+E licence

 

[EAD]

Thank you for very speedy reply

 

[ROG]

Thank you for very speedy reply

You're welcome

Other considerations - although this may have the capacity to tow the weight will you be needing a vehicle that can cope with all sorts of terrain and conditions?

If the design towing capacity states it will pull that weight then it SHOULD and if it does not then the manufacturers need a kick up the backside !!

What can also make a difference is the WAY in which the towing vehicle handles when towing for example a short vehicle towing a long trailer will handle very differently from a long vehicle towing a short trailer etc etc

A higher vehicle such as a 4x4 will mean there is less wind drag on the trailer especially on a high trailer like a horsebox

The type of ground to be driven over is another issue which might need to be taken into consideration

To conclude -

Taking out neddy in a horsebox trailer for a few miles in good conditions over tarmac using a 2wd car will be safe enough

Taking out neddy for many miles over all sort of terrain in all sorts of conditions will be much safer using something with 4wd and more stability

 

[EAD]

Hmmmm I had my doubts as to whether the Passat could tow box + horse and if it would have enough umphhhh but to start of with I would only be towing a couple of miles along the road to a riding school, not a great distance and not up and down hills

 

[ROG]

Hmmmm I had my doubts as to whether the Passat could tow box + horse and if it would have enough umphhhh but to start of with I would only be towing a couple of miles along the road to a riding school, not a great distance and not up and down hills

I cannot see any safety issues in doing that with that vehicle

I brought up the issue because others on this site have quite rightly raised concerns over what may be perfectly legal but may be not as safe as it could be when using non 4x4 type vehicles to tow horsebox trailers

 

[EAD]

Totally understand

Can I just ask also is there a specific towbar that should be bought or are they all much of a muchness?

 

[ROG]

Totally understand

Can I just ask also is there a specific towbar that should be bought or are they all much of a muchness?

Not my field of expertise

 

[EAD]

Alrighty, thanks

 

[Filippa]

I have just bought a BMW X5 (2004) to tow with and hope this will be legal! I currently have just the B licence but am planning to do the B+E test this winter.

I will be looking to tow a Bateson Ascot with my horse who weighs approx 600 kg. There may be another horse (max 600kg) in there with him on the odd occasion.

Looking up all the info:-

Car Kerbweight - 2100 kg
Gross Weight - 2700 kg
Max Towing Weight (braked) - 2700 kg

Unladen weight of trailer - 925 kg
Gross weight of trailer - 2300 kg

Is this all the info you need? I am so confused by all these regulations but think my car is more than legal to tow what i need. Are you able to confirm?

Thanks!

 

[ROG]

I have just bought a BMW X5 (2004) to tow with and hope this will be legal! I currently have just the B licence but am planning to do the B+E test this winter.

I will be looking to tow a Bateson Ascot with my horse who weighs approx 600 kg. There may be another horse (max 600kg) in there with him on the odd occasion.

Looking up all the info:-

Car Kerbweight - 2100 kg
Gross Weight - 2700 kg
Max Towing Weight (braked) - 2700 kg

Unladen weight of trailer - 925 kg
Gross weight of trailer - 2300 kg

Is this all the info you need? I am so confused by all these regulations but think my car is more than legal to tow what i need. Are you able to confirm?

Thanks!

WELCOME

That would definitely need to be under B+E licence or B+E provisional towing rules

925+600+600=2125 which leaves 175 kgs spare (2300-2125=175)


This info may also be useful -

SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER
In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.
They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.
All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.
The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -
The supervising driver must be aged over 21
The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years
L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer
Correct insurance for a B+E learner

The B+E test
No medical or theory test required
Read a number plate from a certain distance
VIDEO - Show Me Tell Me Questions - usually 5
The next three can be in any order:-
VIDEO - Reversing Exercise - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
VIDEO - Uncouple/couple up - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
One hour road drive - includes the independent drive and is done virtually the same as the basic car test

DISCLAIMER - I have no connection to any companies which may be featured in those videos

 

[Jools1234]

Help,

I am getting very frustrated with looking for a new car, I cannot justify the cost of running a 4 wheel drive, but need something that will tow 1600-1700kg legally. it will only be for local stuff if we go further i cab use a fourtrak.

must be either an estate or hatchback due to the dogs,

is there anywhere that i can get a comprehensive list of vehicles that would fullfill this criteria for upto £3,500?

i was thinking of a peugeot 407 sw 2.2, or a mondeo (but they are ugly),

thaks in advance

 

[ROG]

Help,

I am getting very frustrated with looking for a new car, I cannot justify the cost of running a 4 wheel drive, but need something that will tow 1600-1700kg legally. it will only be for local stuff if we go further i cab use a fourtrak.

must be either an estate or hatchback due to the dogs,

is there anywhere that i can get a comprehensive list of vehicles that would fullfill this criteria for upto £3,500?

i was thinking of a peugeot 407 sw 2.2, or a mondeo (but they are ugly),

thaks in advance

There is no such list anywhere
All you can do is to try and google for towing capacities of say 1700 kgs and see what comes up or trawl through a site which lists towing capacites as part of their info such as The cuddles site

What you want to do will require the driver to have a B+E licence or to be under B+E provisional rules

 

[Jools1234]

thanx ROG

will have a look when home from work

did my test in 89 so have full liscence regards towing

 

[Filippa]

Thanks very much for the swift reply Rog.

Much appreaciated!

Great to know you can drive a trailer with supervision on the roads. really good to practice in before the big test!!

Also didnt realise it was an hour drive on the test - jeepers! it'll be like the driving test all over again!

 

[ROG]

Also didnt realise it was an hour drive on the test - jeepers! it'll be like the driving test all over again!

But this time you are already a driver and not a novice

The DSA will still expect the mirrors (plural) and blind spot procedures to be followed but the rest of the driving should be relatively easy for you with the extra bit being out a little further on tight turns to accomodate the trailer

If you get private practice first before taking lessons then it will all be so easy

You could then be one of those who does the lot in one day - practise with a trainer in the morning and then test in the afternoon with the trainers set up

 

[ROG]

I'm looking at a Kia sportage details are : max kerb weight 1502, GVW 1830 so what could I pull with it ?

KIA Sportage 2010 Technical Data 1.6 GDi 2WD 5dr
Kerb Weight 1502 kg
Gross Weight 1830 kg
Maximum towing weight 1200 kg
The lightest horse trailer I know of is 655 kgs and 1400 MAM so that would mean a max horse/load weight of 545 kgs

That could be legally towed on a B or B+E licence