peter2407
Well-Known Member
I intend to tow a speed boat weighing c. 800 Kg with an Audi A6 estate weighing c. 1800 kg. AFAIK the trailer is unbraked. Any issues?
TIA
TIA
Towing question
- Thread starter peter2407
- Start date
jdc
Well-Known Member
Yes, it would be illegal (albeit not by very much).
What's the maximum weight I can carry in my trailer?
Trailer has no brakes (Unbraked Trailer):
Maximum 750kg gross trailer weight or half the towing vehicle's kerb weight - whichever is less.
Trailer has brakes (Braked Trailer):
Maximum 3500kg gross trailer weight.
What's the maximum weight I can carry in my trailer?
Trailer has no brakes (Unbraked Trailer):
Maximum 750kg gross trailer weight or half the towing vehicle's kerb weight - whichever is less.
Trailer has brakes (Braked Trailer):
Maximum 3500kg gross trailer weight.
TimBennet
Well-Known Member
Yes, that's completely illegal.
Max gross trailer weight in the UK is 750kg.
Max gross trailer weight in the UK is 750kg.
VicS
Well-Known Member
May be I misunderstand.
If the boat is 800kg but the max gross weight for an unbraked trailer is 750kg surely it is going to exceed the limit by 50kg plus the weight of the unloaded trailer!
neale
Well-Known Member
If the boat weighs 800kgs, the trailer will add another 200kgs so you'll be towing around 1000kg. Unbraked is maximum 750kg. You need a braked trailer with at least 1000kg GVW, possibly more. Your A6 should be fine for this but I don't have its rated tow weight to hand. My Mondeo saloon is rated to 1800kg.
Nigel_Ward
Well-Known Member
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...1965/quick-guide-to-towing-small-trailers.pdf
This VOSA leaflet confirm the 750kgs or half the kerbweight, but I dont undertand why they do not put the kerbweight on the vehicle weight plate.
This VOSA leaflet confirm the 750kgs or half the kerbweight, but I dont undertand why they do not put the kerbweight on the vehicle weight plate.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Your car (if it is the 2.0 litre) can tow 2000 Kgs with a braked trailer. Other models can tow 2100kgs
It can tow 750kgs with an unbraked trailer (not all cars can and some are homologated with a much lower weights than you would expect)
These weights refer to the all-up weight including trailer and any cargo.
If your boat really weighs 800 kgs you have to have a braked trailer.
As others have said.
It can tow 750kgs with an unbraked trailer (not all cars can and some are homologated with a much lower weights than you would expect)
These weights refer to the all-up weight including trailer and any cargo.
If your boat really weighs 800 kgs you have to have a braked trailer.
As others have said.
Stork_III
Well-Known Member
On your vehicle plate there will be either 3 or 4 weights
1. Vehicle max weight
2. Gross Train Weight (if shown)
3. Front axle max
4. Rear Axle max
2 -1 = max towing weight.
Jim@sea
Well-Known Member
As I understand it,
As we go more into the European way of doing things where trailers are concerned it wont be long before all trailers above 750kg will have their own Registration Number and MOT as they do in France etc. Which immediately tells the Police that a trailer without a Registration Number is only allowed to carry 750kg.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Depend if you intend to keep the Audi on a mooring or in a marina berth
Do you intend to drive it single handed or with a crew?
peter2407
Well-Known Member
Clearly I cant single hand this thing as i need to drive both the car and the boat ... That said, i did try and get my old VW up an icy hill, failed so towed the (empty) VW with my land rover that also couldnt get up the hill, and slid back ...
My Audi is the 2.7 quattro.
My Audi is the 2.7 quattro.
Pump-Out
Well-Known Member
Jim, as far as I am aware this was looked at (for some time) by DVLA, but the plan has been quietly dropped.
PO
Jim@sea
Well-Known Member
Until Labour get in and it will appear on the agenda again.
Avocet
Well-Known Member
Not necessarily. The 4 weights are correct, but "1" is the maximum weight the car is allowed to be (i.e. fully laden). "2" is the most that the car and trailer (combined) can weigh. You might be able to tow a bit more if the car isn't fully laden. The only way to be sure will be to look in the handbook or (if you have it) on the EC Certificate of Conformity.
stu9000
Well-Known Member
I dont quite have an idea of how big this boat is but if it is close to the legal limit using unbraked would make me nervous. You need that feature to stop wearing out your car brakes and to help manage those nasty snaking moments on long down hills. Then there is all the boat gear. Is the outboard included in the weight? I have loaded up some of my cars to a ridiculous degree but ive always been glad of a braked trailer . annoying to have to find one and spend money but I probably worth it.
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Stork_III
Well-Known Member
OK but the vehicle manufacturer will also specify a MBTM, maximum braked trailer mass, which is normally 1-2. This is your legal towing limit.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
....and beware. Lots of older trailers advertised with brakes are rubbish. The brakes need complete refurbishment. The coupling equipment may not be legal (retrospectively OK, but it depends on the age of the trailer. How do you know that?) and I often see trailer advertised for sale with four wheels but only brakes on two wheels, which is is illegal. That is, it doesn't qualify as a braked trailer.
Andy61
Well-Known Member
Peter, it seems to me the major issue has been ignored. How far and how frequently are you going to tow it? If a great distance and often then sensibly use a braked trailer. If only a short distance of a few miles over easy quiet roads for a one off journey then the risks are minimal and I think an unbraked trailer would suffice.
colingr
Well-Known Member
If you want to avoid situations like this I would stringly suggest not towing an 800Kg boat on an unbraked trailer
Apart from the possibility of plod stopping you an even a short journey.
Apart from the possibility of plod stopping you an even a short journey.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Apart from the fact it is not legal. What if there is a problem, an accident, the insurance won't want to pay out.
What are the tyres on the un-braked trailer rated at?