Welcome to HHO Towing Clinic

[billylula]

And you need someone who has their b and e sitting with you - so no taking the ponies out and just sticking L plates on unfortunately.

 

[ROG]

Sorry! Phone and small children! Luckilotti asked if she could tow with L plates while learning - you cannot tow with a live load and L plates.

Oh yes you can


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

 

[billylula]

According to my instructor that only applies to static loads not live loads. Confused.com!

 

[ROG]

According to my instructor that only applies to static loads not live loads. Confused.com!

Ask your instructor where that law is but do not expect an answer because there is not one

 

[cattysmith]

So, so confused.

I passed ten years ago. I missed passing before 1st Jan when I could have because I couldn't afford it. So as far as I know I've never been allowed to tow.

Now it seems there is some kind of change in the law where people passing now can tow.

This leaves the fifteen year gap of people who can't tow which is extremely unfair. That's ten years of experience in driving, with NO claims or accidents I have on someone passing today, yet they are allowed to tow and I am not. Is this correct?

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/in...r-caravans-with-vehicles-up-to-3-5-tonnes.htm

 

[cattysmith]

Sorry! Forgot to say, that's Northern Ireland. BUT this confuses it further for the rest of he uk!

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/driving-licence-rules-and-what-you-can-tow

 

[perfect11s]

Sorry! Forgot to say, that's Northern Ireland. BUT this confuses it further for the rest of he uk!

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/driving-licence-rules-and-what-you-can-tow

No the law has changed to can only tow up to750kg where as your post 97 "B" licence allows you to tow a combination up to 3500kg so with the right choice of car and trailer you could tow one horse ... just!!!
this change to post jan 2013 is good less confusing and sensible, and anyone wanting to tow a horse trailer will have to take the test which is a good road safety improvement ...

 

[ROG]

In reply to the last two posters ....


The laws are the same for UK and NI

Before 1997 those passing the car test got a free B+E as well as some other categories

From jan 1997 those free categories were stopped due to EU laws

B licence holders have always and can still tow under these rules which did not change on 19 jan 2013
The GVW of the towing vehicle added to the trailer MAM must not be more than 3500 kgs
The trailer MAM must not be more than the towing vehicle kerbweight

The only change to B+E is for those passing B and B+E after 19/01/2013 as they will be limited to trailers of 3500 MAM and that is likely to affect a minute amount of drivers, if any !!


So to conclude -
No changes at all to B licences
3500 kg MAM trailer limit for B+E if both B and B+E passed after 19 Jan 2013

 

[bex1984]

No lower limit but they will recommend you do not lower it to a point it becomes useless to carry a reasonable load

my guess would be a low limit of about 1300 to allow for a 500 horse

I did a bit of googling which suggested that the lower limit might be set by the coupling on the two axels...

soooo....when I checked out the 401 I have now bought (wooohoooo! ) the coupling gave a range between 1300 and 1600...so I guess this might suggest a lower limit of 1300kg. Thought this might be useful info for others who are looking into this

 

[asif]

Hello... just following from my Prev post...

1.6 vectra + Older trailer its twin axle, But im unsure to the make as its not ON the trailer .

i have Full c +e licence... (ex army so i have everything. )

so as stated the car will probley be a bit Pants..
so what is the suggested car.... im on low end of the budget so i do need to keep that in mind.. no 4x4s...

 

[ROG]

Hello... just following from my Prev post...

1.6 vectra + Older trailer its twin axle, But im unsure to the make as its not ON the trailer .

i have Full c +e licence... (ex army so i have everything. )

so as stated the car will probley be a bit Pants..
so what is the suggested car.... im on low end of the budget so i do need to keep that in mind.. no 4x4s...

Give me more info on the Vectra please

 

[asif]

Give me more info on the Vectra please

its a 1999/2000 plate.. 5door

 

[ROG]

its a 1999/2000 plate.. 5door

THIS ONE ?
If it is then the max towing capacity is only 1150 kgs

That means the weight of the unladen trailer plus whatever you put in it should be no more than that

You got no issues licence wise with C+E and B+E

One car that tows well and has a towing capacity of 1800 kgs is the Ford Mondeo and the older ones can usually be picked up cheaply
ONE EXAMPLE - MONDEO ESTATE 2001

 

[asif]

THIS ONE ?
If it is then the max towing capacity is only 1150 kgs

That means the weight of the unladen trailer plus whatever you put in it should be no more than that

You got no issues licence wise with C+E and B+E

One car that tows well and has a towing capacity of 1800 kgs is the Ford Mondeo and the older ones can usually be picked up cheaply
ONE EXAMPLE - MONDEO ESTATE 2001

Thanks.. and thats a Nice moter that.. deffo do me for the dogs too. . Thank you..

 

[zoon]

1 - currently b licence
2 - 2008 Mazda 6 2.0D S min 1530kg
3 - GVW 2075
4 - GTW 1800kg
5 - Plated MAM of the trailer I am unsure of, but know it needs downplating to make it legal
6 - 1993 rice europa - 734kg unladen

 

[ROG]

1 - currently b licence
2 - 2008 Mazda 6 2.0D S min 1530kg
3 - GVW 2075
4 - GTW 1800kg
5 - Plated MAM of the trailer I am unsure of, but know it needs downplating to make it legal
6 - 1993 rice europa - 734kg unladen

RICE EUROPA TRAILER
unladen 980 kgs
MAM 2300
According to the link but if you know yours is lighter then I will go by your unladen weight of 734

Maximum trailer plated MAM of 1425 for B licence towing
1425 - 734 = 691 kgs for the load/horse

 

[zoon]

RICE EUROPA TRAILER
unladen 980 kgs
MAM 2300
According to the link but if you know yours is lighter then I will go by your unladen weight of 734

Maximum trailer plated MAM of 1425 for B licence towing
1425 - 734 = 691 kgs for the load/horse

Definitely that weight - plate on front of vehicle. Plan to remove giant heavy partition too as will only be able to tow one, so weight will be 600 and something. Is it possible once partition is out and new full length breast bar in to get that plate changed with new weight or is that jot necessary? My horses only weigh about 500kg each (and obviously can only travel one of them) so that'll be ok? Hay net about 5kg on top of that

 

[ROG]

Definitely that weight - plate on front of vehicle. Plan to remove giant heavy partition too as will only be able to tow one, so weight will be 600 and something. Is it possible once partition is out and new full length breast bar in to get that plate changed with new weight or is that jot necessary? My horses only weigh about 500kg each (and obviously can only travel one of them) so that'll be ok? Hay net about 5kg on top of that

Never trust the plates for unladen weight unless new as things can get changed over the years - always best to go and weight it empty at a public weighbridge to be sure

Just google - public weighbridge with the name of your town for the nearest one

 

[zoon]

There is one down the road from us, but this trailer is as new - even has the original 1993 floor! (That is obviously being replaced)

Any idea how much weight bridges are to use?

 

[ROG]

Any idea how much weight bridges are to use?

From what I hear .....
£10 for a ticket
£5 cash - no ticket - say no more ......

 

[zoon]

Cheap then, that's no issue. If it weighs less with huge solid wood partition out (obviously it will, but a decent amount less) that'll increase the load I can take - would I need to get the plate on front changed? Or should that simply be removed...

 

[ROG]

would I need to get the plate on front changed? Or should that simply be removed...

To downplate
contact trailer manufacturer
They put you in touch with their local agent
Local agent sorts it out with you

 

[zoon]

That changes the mam for the trailer, but does it also change the unladen weight?

 

[ROG]

That changes the mam for the trailer, but does it also change the unladen weight?

I am having a little titter to myself because you have not thought that question through

 

[zoon]

I don't get it!

 

[ROG]

I don't get it!

An empty trailer weighs X kgs so how would changing the numbers on a little metal plate change that fact ?

 

[zoon]

So that weight is without the partitions, breast bars etc? The partition is a full height solid wood partition of approx 100kg

 

[zoon]

I figured that weight was trailer as it was produced (partition and all) without what the purchaser is going to put inside (horses, water etc). This full height solid hardwood partition (remember this is a 20yr old trailer) is going to be removed if we're only going to be able to travel 1, so I figured my unladen weight was going to drop by about 100kg (it's a guess, but takes 3 of us to manoeuvre it, so it is a significant weight whatever it is!)

 

[ROG]

I figured that weight was trailer as it was produced (partition and all) without what the purchaser is going to put inside (horses, water etc). This full height solid hardwood partition (remember this is a 20yr old trailer) is going to be removed if we're only going to be able to travel 1, so I figured my unladen weight was going to drop by about 100kg (it's a guess, but takes 3 of us to manoeuvre it, so it is a significant weight whatever it is!)

You could make it lighter and then go to a weighbridge for an oficial ticket which you could present when downplating the MAM if you want to

That could be useful for resale in the future and you would then know how much you can load into it

 

[LovesCobs]

What do you know of the new Hyundai Santa Fe?
I have a cheval trailer (750kg) currently tow with a rav 4 (1 horse) I'd like to tow 2 and would like to change the trailer to an ifor at some point,but need the car for everyday use as well. I have a pre- 97 licence