Towing

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Isn't that what articulated lorries do

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In the case of an artic a lot of the trailer weight is on the back wheels of the tractor. Not the same at all . .
 
Funnily enough I have just answered a very similar question for one of our readers:

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Britannia Rescue. Trailer covered as standard up to 8m and even longer if you tell them before the poilcy commences. No other restrictions, so as long as it's legal, it's covered.
 
I have towed upto six dinghies with a diesel workboat on the Thames from Tower Bridge down to the Medway on many an occasion. With masts up. Sometimes tricky and sometimes a doddle. A drogue or bucket on the last boat is essential. A separat tow line, not painter, attached to masts or thwarts lead through a fairlead. Have heard it's easier with masts down or towed backwards but never tried it.
 
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...modern cars have defined limits which the Police refer to, and will prosecute if you exceed them: 1st is the maximum permissible trailer weight. Next is the maximum allowable mass: that is the all up weight of the car, the trailer, the gear and the occupants. So its no good putting all the 'heavies' in the boot to get round it.

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I think those first two are the wrong way round.

All modern cars (built in the last 20 years or so) will have 4 weights marked on their chassis plates. The first is the maximum permitted weight for the fully laden car itself. The second (largest number) is the Maximum Train Weight - which is the maximum permissible weight of the car PLUS whatever it is towing. The third will be the maximum permitted front axle weight and the fourth is the maximum prmitted rear axle weight. These are the weights that "plod" will do you for exceeding if he takes you to a weighbridge. In addition, for cars type approved after 1996, towbars need to be type approved too. they will have an "e" mark on them - a lower case "e" followed by a series of numbers and asterisks. There should also be a maximum trailer nose weight listed on the towbar. I've heard that in France, the police are very keen to dish out on-the-spot fines for exceeding this - they have portable scales with them and drop the jockey wheel on to check.

You can tow more weight by reducing the weight in the car (legally) but this isn't a good idea - keep as much of the weight in the car as possible without exceeding any of its plated weights. The 85% rule (as has been said) is really an empirical one rather than a legal requirement these days. Before cars had those weights marked on them, it used to have some legal standing.

Other observations:

1. When launching and recovering lift-keel yachts remember to pull the log transducer up!

2. When recovering in an onshore breeze, we sometime used to drop the kedge anchor astern and use the warp to control the progress of the boat onto the trailer.

3. Unless you're in crystal clear water docking poles either side of the trailer are worth their weight in gold!

4. There are some very good "anti-snake" products on the market these days.
 
Not mentioned here yet, but I used to make trailers and therefore often towed empty ones. Make sure there is something visible at eye hight. After being hit twice by people who `went for the gap´ I always put a stick and some tape up to define the length. These were small dinghy trailers, the cruser ones had high props so were visible.
As you mentioned France. I often see cars towing similar cars on trailers, which must put them well over the GTW. But then the ´Flics´ arn´t too active here, except on the M ways.
Andrew
 
You are probably right Avocet - but an overloaded trailer is I am told, the one they always look for first as it is the easiest to spot on the road. If the trailer appears OTT then off you go the weighbridge to check the rest of it. Local Plod have a field day round the S Coast every so often stopping caravanners and boats on the A/M27 for spot checks. Its worrying how many are found to have serious faults, from dangerous tyres and suspension to overloading.

Plod can (and do) issue a 'stop' notice roadside if they think your set up is dangerous. That means you cannot go any further, and may even have to arrange to have everything lifted on to a lorry or low loader to get it off the road. Apart from the fines, expensive!
 
Hi again,

Wow, great response, thanks very much everyone, some interesting stories and experiences, and that link to the UK Towing laws is also very handy...

Cheers,
Dan
 
They can only do you for an overloaded trailer if it's a relatively modern one with a plate on it that gives a maximum allowable weight. My trailer is way too old for that so they wouldn't have a clue what it could carry - other than by looking at the tyre sidewalls. The only information they're (virtually!) guaranteed to have is the plate on the car.
 
I don't see how I can avoid getting the brakes a bit wet with this:


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(BTW, I didn't tow it with the Volvo, nor do I intend launching with it. It's just the angle of the photo makes it look as if it were hitched.)
 
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