Who has taken their B+E trailer test? Experiences?

[tobiano1984]

Just wanted to hear from others who have taken the test, as I have just got a bigger vehicle so need to take it in order to be legal. A few people I know have spent £100s on lessons beforehand, which I'd rather avoid as I feel pretty competent on the roads and am happy with reversing etc.

Just wondering what you actually do in the test, and if it's that hard?! (for someone who has towed before) Seems a bit daunting but I'm sure it can't be as bad as a driving test as less to think about..!

Also whether it matters if you have an automatic or manual, and whether you use your own trailer. Any tips or pointers most welcome!

x

 

[Morgan123]

I did a 2.5 day course, but I practised reversing beforehand at my yard (I'm not very coordinated!). I had never towed on a road before, and probs only spent 3 hours or so practising reversing before the course.

I did a combined course+test with a fab company called Fairway, using their car (automatic) and trailer, and they were awesome. I somehow passed first time.

you can look up exactly what's involved, but basically you have to reverse an S shape, park in a box, hitch and unhitch, and then drive on roads and pull up safely a few times.

The most intimidating bit is reversing the S shape, as you're only allowed to pull forward twice (see youtube vids), but it's not as bad as it looks. On practice most of the test is about common sense and is therefore fairly reasonable I'd say. It's expensive but achievable. I found that the course+test combo worked well for me.

 

[PaulnasherryRocky]

I did a day and a half of training, with test, (manual) vehicle hire and trailer hire all included for £600

I would at least do half a days training before the test even if you are a competent trailer driver, as with most things these days there are certain things that make you pass the test.

Although I had my own vehicle and trailer anyway, it was easier to use theirs as my car would have required a few modifications in order to do the test in it- same for the trailer.

Test consists of:

-Unhitch, drive away, then drive back and hitch back up- they were very specific about the order you do things when it comes to hitching up etc

-Then the reverse an S bend

-The rest is like a normal driving test, they are aware that you can drive anyway- they are just looking to make sure you are safe.

I passed first time but don't think I would have if I didn't do the training- even though I was already very comfortable towing, I needed to know how to pass the test!

 

[popsdosh]

I would be wary of feeling complacent it is not uncommon for out and out beginners to pass more easily as you may have developed bad habits which may kick in when you dont want them to. I have a friend been driving 7.5 tonners for several years but they have now given up after 5 tests and training trying to get their LGV test as they cannot get the whole thing of driving with horses in the back out of their head so drive to defensively for the test!

 

[tobiano1984]

Thanks folks - I've just been having a look at the test breakdown and will definitely have a lesson first, just to get the order of doing things correct for one thing!

 

[taraj]

I done mine last week, cost £600 for 2 days training and test using their vehicle and trailer. I have my own truck and trailer and have lots of towing experience but decided to do the extra training as there are a lot of bad habits we get into with every day driving! Such as 2 hands on the steering wheel, observation and speed limits! Also its the order of things such as the coupling and uncoupling as for example in the real world I don't tend to use the handbrake much on my trailer and if I don't get the reversing spot on I tend to pull the trailer to the vehicle, unfortunately you cant do this in the test!. I was worried that I would drive too slowly as I was used to towing with horses on board but this was a bonus as it teaches us to drive "smoothly" and we tend to be more aware of the road ahead.
I wont say it was easy but I think this was mainly due to my nerves!

 

[ROG]

See post number 2000 of the HHO TOWING CLINIC thread - link below in signature


I used to be a B+E & LGV instructor

 

[Equi]

I find that its not about the trailer. Its about the car driving. Its basically your car test again but you happen to have a trailer on. I found it went exactly the same way as my car test too, failed first time in spectacular fashion, passed second time with flying colours. Definitely take a few lessons, its surprising how much you will have forgotten about "correct" driving.

 

[sarahann1]

Just wondering what you actually do in the test, and if it's that hard?! (for someone who has towed before) Seems a bit daunting but I'm sure it can't be as bad as a driving test as less to think about..!

x

It's every bit as hard as a driving test, it's a full on driving test with a trailer attatched, your difference is in the manoeuvres and that you don't have to do an emergency stop.

Having previously considered myself a slow and careful driver I did the training for towing thinking the towing would be the hard bit, I was wrong, very wrong! I found I drove far to fast up to junctions and roundabouts and I've had to slow down to what feels like embarrassingly slow speeds.

Failed miserably the first time, a series of unfortunate events preceding my test meant my already nervous self was a total mess and I made a stupid mistake less than 10mins into the drive. Then got another major at the end for the hitching and unhitching.

Safe to say I'm not overly hopeful my second attempt will go well

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I passed a couple of years ago but it took me 3 tests!
I had a 6 hour lesson the day before and a 3 hour lesson before the test but I hated my instructor and he'd made me so tense tht I just made a stupid mistake on the driving part of the test (dont even remember what it was now). I then booked another test and had a 3 hour lesson straight before that, the instructor was better and i was more confident but again on the drive part of my test I got a 'major' fault, although I tried to contest it as I felt the examiner had intervened too early and not given me a fair chance, needless to say he still failed me!
So, despite wanting to give up I decided to give it one more go and again booked a 3 hour lesson and the test. This time I got an amazing instructor who really helped to boost my confidence and put me at ease and get me in the right frame of mind for the test. Thankfully I passed, I was so happy I cried!!

The trailer part of the test didnt really present me any problems as although the s bend reverse wasnt pretty it was passable and the hitching up and questions are easy. What I struggled with was the road drive bit, mainly becasue I'd be driving happily for 10 years then to have someone critique your every move and judge you again was horrible. I knew I knew how to drive but under the pressure it was just soooo hard.

Before you do it get plenty of practice in and concentrate just as much on how you drive generally as you do on the hitching and reversing part.

Despite the ordeal of passing I am so glad I perservered. I regularly hitch up and just me and my gelding go out for the day on our own, it's so liberating not having to rely on other people.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

Failed miserably the first time, a series of unfortunate events preceding my test meant my already nervous self was a total mess and I made a stupid mistake less than 10mins into the drive. Then got another major at the end for the hitching and unhitching.

Safe to say I'm not overly hopeful my second attempt will go well

Don't lose hope, I had a very similar experience but did manage to pass.

 

[Equi]

It's every bit as hard as a driving test, it's a full on driving test with a trailer attatched, your difference is in the manoeuvres and that you don't have to do an emergency stop.

Having previously considered myself a slow and careful driver I did the training for towing thinking the towing would be the hard bit, I was wrong, very wrong! I found I drove far to fast up to junctions and roundabouts and I've had to slow down to what feels like embarrassingly slow speeds.

Failed miserably the first time, a series of unfortunate events preceding my test meant my already nervous self was a total mess and I made a stupid mistake less than 10mins into the drive. Then got another major at the end for the hitching and unhitching.

Safe to say I'm not overly hopeful my second attempt will go well

Dont feel bad, i failed before i left the car park!! Then went on to have 2 majors and enough minors to have failed without any majors. Tbf, my instructor said the tester was obviously being ridiculously harsh cause he knew i was already failed. One of my majors was not checking my rear view mirror enough, cause "someone could have walked inbetween the car and trailer at any point"

yup.

 

[Myboytwilight]

Before you do it get plenty of practice in and concentrate just as much on how you drive generally as you do on the hitching and reversing part.



This, also I did my test recently in Ireland and there is no S shaped trailer reversing in the test in ireland. Instead you reverse around a corner and stop close to the kerb. The cost in Ireland including theory test, provisional BE licence, test application fee, 2 lessons and hire of a test vehicle and trailer amounted to 500 euros. Happy to report I passed,( but I feel I was well prepared although hadn't done a driving test in over 20 years).

 

[chestnut cob]

It's much harder than the car test - I failed it twice despite £100s spent on lessons!!

 

[shiela 2]

Just completed mine, wow can now go anywhere with my baby when I want !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Antw23uk]

I plan to be doing mine soon .... Well lets put him in a trailer first and see how he feels before I spend all that money on new car, trailer and test! I plan to do a 2.5 day course hopefully but now thinking about it I wonder if it will be worth trying him in a trailer and then buying the car and trailer and practising (I manage a business park I can use all the roads here as its private land) and then doing the lessons/ test?

 

[PaulnasherryRocky]

Just completed mine, wow can now go anywhere with my baby when I want !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations- the freedom feels AMAZING doesn't it!?

I was certain I'd failed on a pull over to the side of the road and pull out again maneuver, so obviously cried silently for the rest of the test....

Then cried a WHOLE lot more when he told me i'd passed and only got a minor for the part where I thought i'd failed!

 

[ss_welly]

I'm planning on doing my test in the new year with some lessons beforehand with a recommended instructor.

I failed my car test 3 times (nerves more than anything) so I'm already nervous and I haven't even had single lesson!

 

[[59668]]

I did a 2 day course and took my test on the third morning. I was so, so nervous, but passed first time with few minors, despite literally never having towed/hitched up before the first day of the course.

I found the course very intense and stressful, and I got quite upset about it all and stressed out. Convinced myself I couldn't do it. I was physically sick on the day of the test. Shaking and had a cry. But still passed. I'm very glad I did it, but I think if I had failed I wouldn't have put myself through it again. But I am the type of person who gets very anxious and stressed about things.

The test itself...well....the manouvers are horrible and it's horrid being watched. Take your time out on the road, and if you are in doubt about whether or not you are making a correct decision about something, then commentate to the examiner, and let them know what you are thinking and why you are choosing to do what you are doing.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I found the course very intense and stressful, and I got quite upset about it all and stressed out. Convinced myself I couldn't do it. I was physically sick on the day of the test. Shaking and had a cry. But still passed. I'm very glad I did it, but I think if I had failed I wouldn't have put myself through it again. But I am the type of person who gets very anxious and stressed about things.

I agree with this it is very intense and if you are of a nervous disposition it can be a bit of an ordeal. I has similar issues to you with crying, being sick etc, and my first test was so stressful I was actually really poorly for the next two days while by body got over the trauma of it all. I'm amazed I ever went back for the second test. After failing that as well I was all for giving up but I was so desperate to be able to tow myself that I booked the third test without telling anyone and went for it. So glad I passed that one as it was going to be my last attempt.

If you are a nervous person or suffer with anxiety I really really recommend as much practice as possible just so you get comfortable with everything before the pressure of the actual test. For me the 9 hours lesson time before my first test wasnt enough for me to get over the stress of the situation (or the stress of the bad instructor!).

 

[ROG]

A little info for those that may not be aware - You can tow one horse on a B licence with the right vehicle and trailer

 

[CrazyMare]

By reading this, some people obviously find it difficult, but I found it really easy. The hardest bit was limiting the pressure i put on myself. Think only one of my friends didn't pass first time.

Have a few lessons, the hitch/unhitch has to be done a certain way for example.

 

[VikkiL]

I took mine this summer. I had been driving under b license rules for a few years so had practical towing experience, but wanted to upgrade my car so had to take test.

I had 4 two hour lessons and then my test, which I passed first time with 7 minors. so all in prob cost me about £350 total but was well worth it for freedom.

Found the manoeuvres part of test ok. Unhitching and hitching had to be done in certain way but found talking to myself the steps during it helped me remember each step.

The roads part was the hardest bit I found. Luckily I'm a professional driver and passed my adanced driving test last year so driving 'correctly' was still in my brain. At times during the test I thought I had failed for being too hesitant but it seems that's what they wanted.

Overall was better than expected and glad I did it!

 

[SuperH]

I've taken mine. Bearing in mind I drive a tractor and trailer for a living so towing was not new to me. If you are in Powys/Shropshire boarders I can tell you who I used, who I would steer well clear of for the following reasons.

I was pressured into booking my test before I had even met him as apparently the waiting list was long. This meant that I then felt committed to using him for my lessons and test as the date was booked. After our first lesson (in which he reduced me to tears) I should have changed instructor. All he did was shout bad advice at me. In the end I got some pointers from my husband who showed me that what the instructor was telling me was total rubbish. When the test day arrived he also gave me false information, which resulted in me failing before we left the test center. I didn't realise I had done anything wrong so it was a shock when he said fail. I asked why, he told me, I explained that my instructor had given me incorrect information and could I please redo the bit I failed now I knew differently but I wasn't allowed to and had to rebook the test (at great expense). It was made worse by the fact I only had 2 minors in the rest of the test so I would have passed easily had I been given correct information. My second test (that my instructor booked as he said I was't allowed) it turned out he hadn't booked it correctly so we wasted hours waiting for an examiner that never arrived. My third test I was barely on speaking terms with him but I passed with one minor.

Other things he did that I felt were unprofessional, he never had any fuel so we always had to fill up in my lesson time. He arrived without the trailer and we had to collect it from a nearby village, where it was always blocked in, again on my time. He always stopped for lunch, on my time. He also told me I could claim the VAT back (as my lessons were paid for by the business I work for), which turned out to be rubbish when I asked him for a VAT receipt and he wasn't VAT registered!

Moral of the story, if you don't feel confident or comfortable with the instructor please try another one, don't feel pressurised into staying with someone who is an idiot. It is however totally worth it to be able to do what you want with your horse! If I could do things differently I would have taken my test much sooner after learning to drive as they make it more complicated every year. Good luck!

 

[sarahann1]

Second time, *much* easier, was on more familiar ground this time, nice chattty examiner.

Check your mirrors, a lot, def do some training, get rid of bad habits.

Good luck OP!

 

[alainax]

Loved doing mine! It's a chance to show off that you are indeed a good driver! If that makes sense. Same with the bike test.

Did a few lessons, learned a lot with the safety of hitching and ensuring your trailier is safe, and learned a lot with the reversing. Thourougly enjoyed it, and very much recommend it!