Trailer towing B and B+E licence rules explained

[outnumbered]

http://www.caravantalk.co.uk/communi...in-a-defender/

[R0G]

Originally Posted by Chesh740R

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.

You can forget the 3500 MAM max rule as that is for B licence towing

You have a B+E so if towing capacity is 3500 and trailer is 2000 MAM then 2000 is the limit

[R0G]

Originally Posted by outnumbered

http://www.caravantalk.co.uk/communi...in-a-defender/

MY POST ON THAT THREAD

[volvorocks]

Just found this.

New rules for towing as from 2013

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...sing/DG_201202

Thought this was the current regulation in so far as new drivers could not tow anything that would be heavy enough to take car and trailer over 3500kg without B+E

It says older drivers with B+E will retain their entitlement that they gained when passing their test years ago..so if you can tow more than 3500kg combined...nothing changes.

Yet it goes on to say even older drivers that wish to tow more than 3500kg combined may no longer do so...???

This seems contradictory, as in one breath it says nothing has changed for older drivers, yet in the next breath it says you have to pass another test?

Anyone know what is actually different with these 'new' regulations compared to the current regulations?

Am I missing something?

Cheers

[SonyVaio]

Originally Posted by volvorocks

Just found this.

New rules for towing as from 2013

Am I missing something?

Cheers

VR,

Just had a look and it is not too clear is it?

The way I read it though is that existing B & B+E drivers will be able to continue with their current entitlement (that existed when they passed their test) with the exception for heavier trailers >3,500kg (trailer only weight) where even existing trailer drivers will require C1+E entitlement on your license.

This will catch out a lot of horse pullers and perhaps those people with vehicle trailers pulling large cars or 4x4's.

Rules for new drivers from 19th Jan 2013:

If you pass your test to drive cars or small vehicles up to 3,500 kilograms (kg) (category B) from 19 January 2013, you’ll be able to tow:

•light trailers weighing no more than 750 kg

•trailers weighing more than 750 kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle (car or small vehicle) and the trailer is not more than 3,500 kg

To begin with it sounds like complete contradiction that new drivers can only tow trailers UPTO 750kg then the very next point says trailers OVER 750kg!!!

The only word difference is 'LIGHT' trailers upto 750kg then means heavy trailers over 750kg but overall weight of vehicle and trailer not exceeding >3,500kg.

I get it but it is not clear nor laid out very well.

I think they should just cut the entitlement across the board for EVERYONE!

Cat B - Vehicle ONLY! (After all this is all you've passed a test for).
Cat B+E - Vehicle & Trailer <3,500kg max combined weight (seperate test)
Cat C1+E - Vehicle & Trailer >3,500kg

Surely that would make it easier to understand for all??

[gillberry]

Just looked at the new rule and it is a bit confusing at first . What it appears is going to happen is that those of us who passed our test in certain years will now lose an entitlement we have and have to take a test to reaquire said entitlement .
I think it is a great idea for new drivers to take a test on towing but for those of us who have towed for years retaking a test is never easy .

[outnumbered]

Originally Posted by gillberry

Just looked at the new rule and it is a bit confusing at first . What it appears is going to happen is that those of us who passed our test in certain years will now lose an entitlement we have and have to take a test to reaquire said entitlement .
I think it is a great idea for new drivers to take a test on towing but for those of us who have towed for years retaking a test is never easy .

show me a caravan that weighs more than 3500
To tow heavier trailers after 19 January 2013, you'll need to follow the rules for new drivers, below.
To tow a trailer weighing more than 3,500 kg with a car or small vehicle (category B), you’ll need to pass a test for category C1E.

mike

[outnumbered]

Originally Posted by gillberry

Just looked at the new rule and it is a bit confusing at first . What it appears is going to happen is that those of us who passed our test in certain years will now lose an entitlement we have and have to take a test to reaquire said entitlement .
I think it is a great idea for new drivers to take a test on towing but for those of us who have towed for years retaking a test is never easy .

you will not have to take another test unless you trailer weighs above 3500kg not the combined weight the rest stays the same.
mike

[gillberry]

Originally Posted by outnumbered

show me a caravan that weighs more than 3500
To tow heavier trailers after 19 January 2013, you'll need to follow the rules for new drivers, below.
To tow a trailer weighing more than 3,500 kg with a car or small vehicle (category B), you’ll need to pass a test for category C1E.

mike

We have looked at some older caravans that are rather heavy so we could actually show these but that would be pedantic and your point is taken on board for that .

[gillberry]

Originally Posted by outnumbered

you will not have to take another test unless you trailer weighs above 3500kg not the combined weight the rest stays the same.
mike

The combined weight part is of interest as currently our licences say we can have a train weight of 8250kg and although that is highley unlikely there are times when we are towing a trailer with a car on that means the outfit will have a combined weight of between 4000kg and 6000kg and it was this area that was our main concern .