Trailer towing B and B+E licence rules explained

[outnumbered]

Originally Posted by R0G

Good question

The answer is because it has been designed to do just that

Sort of makes a big mockery of the caravanning 85% safety rules doesn't it?

its not a rule

[volvorocks]

Originally Posted by outnumbered

its not a rule

Nah its a rule of ...lol

Regards

[R0G]

Bad choice of wording by me - should have said - the 85% safety towing advice

[outnumbered]

not trying to trip you up but the caravan club is a bit out of sorts with this now to be honest.
mike

[60041]

The 85% rule goes back many years to the days when many cars were underpowered and suspension, steering and brakes were not as good as they are today.
If you think of a typical 1970's towcar it might be a Ford Cortina weighing about 1200kg with a power output of 73 bhp.
It is still good advice for the unexperienced driver, you can definitely feel the difference in the behaviour of a caravan as you get past the 90% mark and approach 100%. This is much more noticable with a caravan than a trailer because of the wind resistance is higher.
The towing limits published by many manufacturers are not meant as a guide to what is actually to be towed, they are in fact theroretical figures based on the ability of a particular vehicle to be able to complete a series of hill starts on a 1:8 gradient and may or may not be legal in thiscountry.

[Jameshow]

This really does need to be on the front page of the UKIP manifesto!!!
That's to the EU we are hamperd by these rules which are in fact dangerous.
Post 97 drivers with families will look around for the biggest van they can find for their cars weight and drive at 100%. Which is more dangerous than letting the rule go and allowing us to pull anything up to 7t.

if you need a good sized van then the s60 or a Passat or A4 are the way to go.
how about a Lunar 615 (1450kg)on the back of a passat (1500kg) sound - legal but lunacy!!!
The v70 has too high a All up weight of 2150kg.

Moan over.

James

[Chesh740R]

Ok I'll give you the info i know i have, be interested to know what i'm allowed to have on the back of the trailer legally should i ever run into a police man that doesnt know the rules.

I've been stopped before but only because the trailer numberplate had gone awol whilst towing. I dont think the officers knew towing rules, they were more interested in getting there breathalyser testing targets.

LICENCE
B+E Passed my test September 1996

VEHICLE Jeep Grand Cherokee
Unladen/kerb = 1735kg According to handbook
GVW =
GTW = 3500kg According to handbook.
Towing capacity =

TRAILER
Unladen = 500kg weighed on a weighbridge
MAM = Homebuilt twin axle trailer, so no plates on it.

[Jameshow]

Hi you willto know the MAM of car and trailer,
Car will be in region of 2500kg,
As thetrailer has no MAm plate thy will go by the load rating on the tyres.
I doubt it will come under 3500kg
What are you carrying?
Yours James

[R0G]

Originally Posted by Chesh740R

LICENCE
B+E Passed my test September 1996

VEHICLE Jeep Grand Cherokee
Unladen/kerb = 1735kg According to handbook
GVW =
GTW = 3500kg According to handbook.
Towing capacity =

TRAILER
Unladen = 500kg weighed on a weighbridge
MAM = Homebuilt twin axle trailer, so no plates on it.

Tyre load ratings added up to determine trailer MAM
On a B+E licence follow 2 rules - do not exceed the trailer MAM and do not exceed the 3500 towing capacity

The jeep GC has a towing capacity of 3500 and not a GTW of 3500

[Chesh740R]

Originally Posted by R0G

Tyre load ratings added up to determine trailer MAM
On a B+E licence follow 2 rules - do not exceed the trailer MAM and do not exceed the 3500 towing capacity

The jeep GC has a towing capacity of 3500 and not a GTW of 3500

Ahh i see thanks, so as each tyre on the trailer is rated at 500kg, then i guess i can have a total trailer weight of 2000kg.

Its a car trailer, so as long as the car is under 1500kg i'd be ok.

Thought i was legal, the handbook just stated that it could tow trailers with a Gross Trailer Weight of 3500kg, i think this is where someone got confused as they said i'd be over the total Gross Train Weight if i was towing 2000kg worth of trailer.