Welcome to HHO Towing Clinic

[Bustalot]

Another question.

Say tow vehicle has max tow weight of 2100kilos. Can I still tow an ifor Williams trailer which has a MAM higher than that? I will not be towing anywhere near the MAM of the trailer or anywhere near the max tow weight of the vehicle. But have heard the cars max tow weight should be higher than the MAM of the trailer. True or false? Towing on b+e license.

 

[ROG]

Another question.

Say tow vehicle has max tow weight of 2100kilos. Can I still tow an ifor Williams trailer which has a MAM higher than that? I will not be towing anywhere near the MAM of the trailer or anywhere near the max tow weight of the vehicle. But have heard the cars max tow weight should be higher than the MAM of the trailer. True or false? Towing on b+e license.

That is an internet myth

There is no law or rule which states the trailer plated MAM (law) cannot be more than the manufacturers recommended towing capacity (not law)

 

[Bustalot]

Great thanks for confirming Rog. come new year transport should be good to go... Can't wait

 

[ROG]

This thread has gone fairly quiet lately so perhaps thats a good thing as it might mean everyones issues have been sorted

 

[HBBambee]

Can you help with mine please ROG
Nissan navara twin cab gross weight 2860
cant find kerb weight
Ifor williams 505
400kg pony
Thanks

 

[ROG]

Can you help with mine please ROG
Nissan navara twin cab gross weight 2860
cant find kerb weight
Ifor williams 505
400kg pony
Thanks

I found this info which may be your vehicle
Gross Train Weight 5860
Gross Vehicle Weight 2860
Max. Towing Weight - Braked 3000
Minimum Kerbweight 1790

On a B+E licence you are easily legal weight wise

 

[JenHunt]

right.... think the fourtrak has died and need to set about researching the best towing vehicle for my needs....

trailer is monstrously heavy (1200kg unladen, but braked) and will mostly be towing 2 600kg horses....

there used to be a website that would point you in the direction of the right vehicle but can I 'eckaslike find it.... looks like I'll be trawling through this thread...

 

[ROG]

right.... think the fourtrak has died and need to set about researching the best towing vehicle for my needs....

trailer is monstrously heavy (1200kg unladen, but braked) and will mostly be towing 2 600kg horses....

there used to be a website that would point you in the direction of the right vehicle but can I 'eckaslike find it.... looks like I'll be trawling through this thread...

http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_vehicles.htm
Put in the weight you want to tow and click search
That will give you a few ideas

 

[perfect11s]

right.... think the fourtrak has died and need to set about researching the best towing vehicle for my needs....

trailer is monstrously heavy (1200kg unladen, but braked) and will mostly be towing 2 600kg horses....

there used to be a website that would point you in the direction of the right vehicle but can I 'eckaslike find it.... looks like I'll be trawling through this thread...

You would be looking at a discovery , shogun ,landcruiser Ie the bigger class of 4x4 2.5 liter or bigger or a pick up like an isuzu, ranger or L200 older hiluxs are only rated to tow 2250, I would look for about 2600+ kg tow capacity..

 

[silverstar2013]

Hi, I'm new to the forums so please be gentle with me!

Looking for advice regarding single trailer and vehicle. I want to check if I would be legal with the following please:

* I have a B licence (passed driving test 1999)
* Trailer is an Ifor Williams 401
* Vehicle (that I'm looking to purchase) is Land Rover Freelander 2.0 XE Di Station Wagon 5dr Diesel 1998

As I have not yet purchased the towing vehicle I am open minded about what I could buy that would safely do the towing job, any guidance would be much appreciated, thank you

 

[ROG]

Hi, I'm new to the forums so please be gentle with me!

Looking for advice regarding single trailer and vehicle. I want to check if I would be legal with the following please:

* I have a B licence (passed driving test 1999)
* Trailer is an Ifor Williams 401
* Vehicle (that I'm looking to purchase) is Land Rover Freelander 2.0 XE Di Station Wagon 5dr Diesel 1998

As I have not yet purchased the towing vehicle I am open minded about what I could buy that would safely do the towing job, any guidance would be much appreciated, thank you

WELCOME

THIS VEHICLE?
GVW 2005
Kerb 1525
Towing 2000

HB 401
Unladen 770
MAM 1600 but will need downplating to 1495 maximum to conform to B licence towing rules - contact Ifor Williams

If downplated to 1495 then the max load/horse will be 725 kgs

 

[silverstar2013]

Thank you ROG for such a swift reply, very much appreciated. Yes, that is the vehicle.

Would I have to downplate to be legal? I've had different advice from 2 different Ifor Williams approved dealers this morning and it's all very confusing

 

[ROG]

Thank you ROG for such a swift reply, very much appreciated. Yes, that is the vehicle.

Would I have to downplate to be legal? I've had different advice from 2 different Ifor Williams approved dealers this morning and it's all very confusing

The rules for B licence towing are ....

The vehicle GVW (2005 in this case) added to the trailer plated MAM must not exceed 3500 kgs so 3500 minus 2005 = 1495 max MAM for trailer

The trailer plated MAM must not be more than the vehicle kerbweight (1525 in this case)

 

[silverstar2013]

Thank you for clarifying ROG. One dealership told me that weights and vehicle etc didn't matter as long as my trailer and pony doesn't exceed the towing capacity of the car and the other dealership told me that laws had changed and that they "don't really need to downplate now" (both dealerships were made aware that I have a B licence only)

I just want peace of mind that what I'm towing is both legal and safe so I shall follow your advice and if I buy the car I will find someone who will downplate for me, thanks so much for your time and effort to help and explain it all ROG

 

[ROG]

Thank you for clarifying ROG. One dealership told me that weights and vehicle etc didn't matter as long as my trailer and pony doesn't exceed the towing capacity of the car and the other dealership told me that laws had changed and that they "don't really need to downplate now" (both dealerships were made aware that I have a B licence only)

I just want peace of mind that what I'm towing is both legal and safe so I shall follow your advice and if I buy the car I will find someone who will downplate for me, thanks so much for your time and effort to help and explain it all ROG

Looks like a couple of dealers need some training on the laws

PS - only the manufacturer can downplate the trailer

 

[silverstar2013]

Looks like a couple of dealers need some training on the laws

PS - only the manufacturer can downplate the trailer

Indeed they do need training on the laws. It's frightening to think that this is the "advice" they are dishing out and that many people could well be on the roads illegally and unsafely.

If only the manufacturer can downplate does this mean I will have to take my trailer to Ifor head office?

 

[ROG]

If only the manufacturer can downplate does this mean I will have to take my trailer to Ifor head office?

NO - LOL

You need to contact the manufacturer who will then put you onto their local dealer for the new plate to be fitted at little or no cost

 

[silverstar2013]

You need to contact the manufacturer who will then put you onto their local dealer for the new plate to be fitted at little or no cost

That'll be the dealer who told me that "because laws have changed you don't really need to downplate now"

 

[ROG]

That'll be the dealer who told me that "because laws have changed you don't really need to downplate now"

Does not matter - the dealer will be receiving instructions from the manufacturer to do it

I wish you named the dealer because I would like to have a chat with them !!

 

[silverstar2013]

I don't want to name the dealers on a public website, however I will speak to them again when I take my trailer in and depending on the response I may well name them at that point.

Thanks so much for the advice ROG, if I can't get my hands on that Freelander I will be back for advice and calculations on another alternative vehicle if you don't mind

 

[edgedem]

Daihatsu fourtrak (lwb)

Gross vehicle weight 2510 kg
Max load weight 730 kg
Max towing weight Braked 3500 kg
Min kerb weight 1780 kg

towing a bahill trailer of 700KG bahill trailer


So will this work on a B lisence with my one horse of 450kg?

sorry YET again to ask!

 

[ROG]

Daihatsu fourtrak (lwb)

Gross vehicle weight 2510 kg
Max load weight 730 kg
Max towing weight Braked 3500 kg
Min kerb weight 1780 kg

towing a bahill trailer of 700KG bahill trailer


So will this work on a B lisence with my one horse of 450kg?

sorry YET again to ask!

The maximum trailer plated MAM for that vehicle on a B licence is 990 kgs because 2510+990=3500

As your trailer seems to weight 700 kgs unladen then if it was plated to a max of 990 it could only carry 290 kgs

you keep mentioning the 700 unladen weight of the trailer but the important figure is the plated MAM weight - Without the plated MAM weight of the trailer I cannot give you definitive answers but only give you possible senarios

 

[edgedem]

Hi I say 700 cus there is no mam plate!! Only a serial number. Looked everywhere

 

[ROG]

Hi I say 700 cus there is no mam plate!! Only a serial number. Looked everywhere

Without a MAM plate the total of all the tyre load ratings are used and that will be well above what you are allowed for B licence towing

As Bahill are not in business any more then there is no chance of having it downplated and even if there was it would not be of any use to you with that vehicle

 

[ROG]

What you need is a vehicle with a GVW of not more than about 2200 kgs so you can have a trailer of about 1300 MAM and a max of 800 unladen so it can carry a 500 horse

 

[NeverSayNever]

ROG I have a question if you dont mind, it isnt horse trailer related though.

I am about to purchase a new caravan to tow with my toyota hilux and I have B+E so all good there. However the one I like is 7.2M long. That is the 'shipping length' but I cant see any other length in the spec, other than internal.

Ive read this on www.gov.uk
The maximum trailer width for any towing vehicle is 2.55 metres. The maximum length is 7 metres for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3.5 tonnes (3,500 kilograms).

furthermore it seems to be what is in my vehicle insurance policy doc.

How can this be when so many caravans are over 7m

Help please! Thankie!

 

[ROG]

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/dimensions.aspx

Maximum Trailer Dimensions

Towing vehicle up to 3500kg GVW

Length (excluding the coupling and drawbar): 7.0m

 

[NeverSayNever]

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/dimensions.aspx

Maximum Trailer Dimensions

Towing vehicle up to 3500kg GVW

Length (excluding the coupling and drawbar): 7.0m

thank you! this seems to cause confusion with insurance companies from what ive found when googling. Do you have any advice? say I buy this caravan and then ring my insurance company, they are going to ask what the length is and on the spec it says 7.2m, there is no official length without the coupling

 

[ROG]

thank you! this seems to cause confusion with insurance companies from what ive found when googling. Do you have any advice? say I buy this caravan and then ring my insurance company, they are going to ask what the length is and on the spec it says 7.2m, there is no official length without the coupling

Tell insurer that is with coupling and then tell them what it is without it = simple

Invite them to come and measure it if they do not believe you or get them to call the manufacturer

 

[EmmaB]

Hi ROG, I only have my B licence but was wondering if I could find a combination to legally tow 1 horse. I've looked for a single trailer but they are just too expensive and hard to find! So I'm trying to figure out something with a double trailer downplated?

This is for a diesel 2.0 Freelander and an Ifor HB505

GVW of the towing vehicle 2080kg
GTW and/or towing capacity of the towing vehicle 1800kg
Plated MAM of the trailer 2340kg
Unladen/empty weight of the trailer 905kg

So what weight would I need to get it downplated to? 1420kg? Would that then leave me just over 500kg for my horse?