B+E doesnot allow over 3500kg, grandfather rights or class 2/1 does that. If test passed after 1997 you do not have grandfather rights.
B+E is max train mass 3500kg and trailer cannot exceed weight of tow vehicle.

Xc90 comes in at near 2000kg any caravan over 1500kg MTPM and B+E will not cover it.

At 70 you loose grandfather rights unless you have a class 2 hgv medical. With an xc70 and landrover discovery towing a 1635kg van I'm seriously thinking of taking a class 2 test. If I have to have the medical I may as well have the licence and then there's no question of is it too heavy for my licence.

As for single or twin axil, I ve looked at twin axil but have always baught single. So much easier to manover in a storage yard especially with movers, caravan will pivot around axis if nessesary. Never had a problem towing a single axil, agreed they are slightly less stable but even overtaking a car transporter at motorway speed never caused a moment if set up properly.

Paul.

Thanks for the replies.

I did the 'trailer test' so have the BE on my licence.

I think this allows me to tow over the 3500kg combined limit.

I read the Gov rules relating to B+E and it says you can drive a vehicle with a 'Mam' up to 3500kgs and tow a trailer. The weight of the trailer after 2013 pass is limited to a 'mam' of 3500kgs. This seems to me to mean that the vehicle and the trailer are 2 separate things and both can weigh up to 3500kgs not as you suggest both together only 'mam' of 3500kgs. I stand to be corrected but if you stick to your way of both together being limited to 3500kgs then there would be no point in taking the B+E licence as a B licence gives you that right as well . Where does it say you lose your grandfather rights (BE on your licence)when you reach 70yrs old?.

I bow to your better knowlage, my reading was the other way but stand corrected thanks except the trailer cannot weigh more than the tow car in those limits.

The 70 rule I found out about from a lad with a winnebago that came in at near 7 tonnes, at 70 both he and his wife had to have medicals to retain their grandfather rights, at £150 a time he was intending to sell the bago and buy something sub 3500 kg.
It's not something I've seen but it seems from those I've spoken too your licence comes back with those entitlements removed and to regain them you have to undergo the medical each year.

With DVLA I always photocopy anything I'm sending them as they are adept at cutting classes, know a few that lost their motorbike entitlement upon renewal and had a fight to get it back.
Remember you must renew your licence at 70 as it expires.

Paul.

Yes the B+E allows you to drive a vehicle up to 3 500 kgs after 70 but now you need the C1 etc to drive a vehicle over this weight and to get that you need to apply to keep it on your licence and pass a medical as you say. The B +E will remain on your licence when you renew after 3 years.

The medical at 70 is £55 with an HGV doctor who does the eye test as well. About 20 minutes and no ecg or treadmill test.
This will retain your "grandfathers' rights" to a C1 licence for three years, you can retain your BE licence just by sending the form back, unless you have admitted to a serious condition, in which case the DVLA will insist on a full medical.

Many thanks. Can you point me where to look for this info please. Tried .Gov sites but eyes glaze over by page 3. Just trying to get to grips with tachograph law and breaks gave me a headache. Drive a 5 tonne vehicle under an exemption clause, company transport manager decided it was not nessesary for me to attend the course run for tachograph user's as my vehicle was exempt and he could tell me what went on, except he could not and untangling his biased interpretation was a nightmare. The working radius is another one he could not confirm if it was as crow flies or road miles traveled, transport of goods for others use and card needed, except not in his world, drop it off as you pass.

Thanks in advance
Paul.

Sorry to jump in on this topic, but in reply to the OPs question regarding single vs twin axle ‘vans, there are a few other things you might want to consider.

While a twin axle will be inherently more stable, a correctly loaded single axle should not be unstable and with a properly maintained stabiliser hitch you should have no stability issues with a correctly loaded van and sensible driving.

A twin axle van will likely also be significantly heavier, towing with the XC90 won’t give you any issues, in all likeliness, but if you don’t need a heavy van it’s a lot easier to make good progress with a lighter van - and you’ll get better fuel economy too :)

It’s also worth considering that a twin axle van will be more difficult to level correctly on site. I’ve just come off a site that was very hilly, it was hard enough to get the van laterally levelled for a single axle, I would have hated to have to level a twin axle on the same site.

That also touches on the subject of manoeuvring the van. Do you intend on having a motor mover fitted or do you hope to be able toise manpower? Single axles are far easier to manoeuvre and can rotate on their axis - something which is much harder on a twin axle van, although I have seen it done with enough brute force and ignorance.

Servicing costs will be higher on a twin axle van, too. Twice the brakes, tyres and associated bits and pieces. If you’re having a mover fitted then obviously a device that moves all four wheels will be significantly more expensive than a mover for a single axle van.

It probably seems like I hate twin axle vans but if I could have afforded an Avondale 630 when I replaced my van I would have had one without a second thought. Nicely built van with a great layout and all in at 1450kg fully loaded!

I agree they can be more spacious and offer some layouts that can’t be achieved with a single axle, though.

Some continental vans offer far better layouts than British vans, and they are better built to boot. That’s the route I went and I found a German van with fixed twin bunks at the rear and a fixed double at the front. Checkout Fendt, Knaus, TEC, LMC and other vans, they do make some massive T/As but they do some sensible smaller vans with great layouts too.

Hope this helps some.

Thanks for the reply.

I will be trying to get a motor mover, mainly to make getting it on and off my drive easier.

As it will be my first caravan I will probably get something that is a few years old to see how we get on with it.