Lakesailor
New member
Perhaps, in view of that, I should add that the buyer was in his late 50s and works as a vehicle recovery driver for the AA. So his licence will cover him as well. Glad that's all cleared up.
Thicky alert - trailer question
- Thread starter peter2407
- Start date
onesea
Well-known member
Body will hope they do not as they will just make a new business out of towing tests.
Age it's a mess but trying to sorry it out well probably only make it worse.
But to clarify for those of us with ye older licence. If we can drive it on our licence and it's within trailer and towing weight we can tow it, is as I understand...
So a laden Landover and 3.5 tons in tow is not a problem.
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
Agreed. It's a complete mess. What seems to have happened is that they started with the good idea of harmonising rules across Europe, then because every country insisted that its rules were perfect we have ended up with a superposition of all the existing rules rather than a simplification, with more and more groups, subgroups, endorsements, limits and critical dates.
Avocet
Well-known member
Yes, that's pretty much what has happened. Type approval rules are (for the most part!) now harmonised, but vehicle built in tiny numbers and individually approved are not. Registration rules are PARTLY harmonsied but for some reason, I still struggle to register a European type-approved FRENCH vehicle in France! Driving licence rules are (I think) more-or-less harmonised and tachograph rules are something else too. The thing is, the EU can't do right for doign wrong now because everyone just moans about "interference from Brussels" (not just in the UK either).
Avocet
Well-known member
I think so, (assuming the laden Landrover plus 3.5 tone trailer don't put the whole lot over it's Gross Train Weight) , but have a vague feeling there are other hidden nasties like needing a tachograph if the overall length of the pair exceeds something-or-other?
It will (even if all harmonised across the EU) probably always be incredibly complicated because rules for vehicles and rules for drivers are handled by completely different groups of people.
landlockedpirate
Active member
Yep, pre '97 test its legal to pull up to 3500kg assuming the car has the correct towing capacity such as a Landy.
Tacho only required if towing commercially or with a commercial vehicle.
As Lakey says, its all a complete mess. Up to now I have managed to avoid the post 97 regs, but my daughter has now passed her test and is making noises about taking the rib for a spin, guess I now need to work out if its legal.
Croak
New member
If the tow car is heavier (kerb weight) than the authorized mass of the rib trailer and both car trailer and rib don't add up to more than 3500kg you are OK If it is braked.
We are having this problem at the moment as son wants to tow his trails Suzuki SJ but can't, or can't afford to.
We are having this problem at the moment as son wants to tow his trails Suzuki SJ but can't, or can't afford to.
Egbod
Member
Hi
If you think you are covered to tow heavier trailers because of your date of driving test BEWARE.
When you renew your licence you will lose the entitlement to tow UNLESS you tick the relevant boxes on the new licence form.
You can apply within two years to have towing re-instated.
If you wait for over two years you must take the towing test.
If you think you are covered to tow heavier trailers because of your date of driving test BEWARE.
When you renew your licence you will lose the entitlement to tow UNLESS you tick the relevant boxes on the new licence form.
You can apply within two years to have towing re-instated.
If you wait for over two years you must take the towing test.
Croak
New member
Aha., a small piece of useful information.
http://www.barlowtrailers.com/PDF/VOSA-Trailer-Weights-Information.pdf
http://www.barlowtrailers.com/PDF/VOSA-Trailer-Weights-Information.pdf
Avocet
Well-known member
I'm not sure the rules are the same for passenger vehicles towing trailers though.
It's certainly true that as far as the TECHNICAL regulations go, you're fine as long as the Gross Train Weight isn't being exceeded at the time (so you can tow a 5 tonne plated trailer with very little in it, behind a car with a towing capacity of (say) 2 tonnes as long as the trailer has the appropriate brakes and weighs 2 tonnes or less at the time the plod stops you). Where it becomes messy is with the DRIVER licensing regulations (which also need to be complied with).
It's certainly true that as far as the TECHNICAL regulations go, you're fine as long as the Gross Train Weight isn't being exceeded at the time (so you can tow a 5 tonne plated trailer with very little in it, behind a car with a towing capacity of (say) 2 tonnes as long as the trailer has the appropriate brakes and weighs 2 tonnes or less at the time the plod stops you). Where it becomes messy is with the DRIVER licensing regulations (which also need to be complied with).