towing licence !

[defenderjack]

hay peeps , can anyone shed any light on the legal requirements regarding towing a trailer as im suppose to be picking up a sankey trailer at the end of the month and didnt realise i know need a eperate licence to tow a trailer as i passed my test after 1997 ,
I phoned the D.S.A thismorning and after 25 minute on hold they said it would cost 105 pounds and you need to bring your own trailer ???? doh but if i havnt got a licence how do i tow it there ?? she was extremly unhelpfull and then the phone cut out:frown2: , so i then went on to phone another company in plumpton area near lewes who then told me i would need to pay 30 pounds for an assesment followed by two 4 hour sesions at 165 pounds a pop and then 105 pound for the test ! bringing it to a total 465 pounds witch to me seems completly ridiculas , i can apreciate there are certain saftey checks ect they may come in usefull but that cost is 200 quid more expensive than my actuall driving test ???:confused:

[Satancom]

You can tow upto 750 kg's So depending on the weight of the sanky you should be able to pick it up without any problem.. course when you strat putting stuff in it you may get in da poo!

[defenderjack]

not much use then is it ! the fine would probably be cheaper than the test !!:rolleyes: its just sodding well fustrating that my mate can without any problem at all because he passed his test 1 year earlyer than i did but still has no experiance of towing , what happened after 1997 ? did we suddenly all turn into towing retards:banging:

[jozg44]

The limit is a GROSS WEIGHT of 750kg (weight of trailer + cargo), which effectively limits those of us on a post-1997 license to those little camping trailers you get in Halfords and very small caravans.

BUT you can tow trailers up to 3500kg to the trailer test and back (you have to have a suitably large trailer for the test, and how would you get it there otherwise?). It's like the MOT test- you don't need an MOT to go to the garage providing you're on the way to a pre-booked test.

I looked at the possibility of towing a 3/4-ton Sankey on my standard license under the system that allows towing trailers over 750kg GW providing the GW of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen weight of towing vehicle and the GW of the vehicle and trailer doesn't exceed 3500kg. Sadly a 3/4-ton Sankey is 11kg too heavy.

Jack

[defenderjack]

so basically shut up my moaning ang take the test:frown2:

[Laninlandy]

Yep :D

[Ben_J85JTY]

You can tow upto 750 kg's So depending on the weight of the sanky you should be able to pick it up without any problem.. course when you strat putting stuff in it you may get in da poo!

I am in the same position, but there is more than just "you can only tow 750kgs"

The law is that you can tow 750kgs, or any trailer provided that a) the trailer is unbraked and b) the total weight of car and trailer is less that 3500kgs.

If you have a 90 that means you can tow upto 1000kgs provided the trailer is unbraked. a 110 means that you are limited to the 750kgs.

Its a real pain the the neck with the various loop holes and exemptions.

[toppa]

Personally i think it is a damn good idea to make peeps do a seperate trailer test, the amount of morons you see towing a trailer at 70mph, or with tiny little wheels loaded to the rim and on the motorway........

Cheers

[JayHoe]

If you are going to do the test, you need to do the training. Speak to an LGV driver training centre, I think they often do trailer training.

[bananahead]

If you choose to get a trailer and just book the test bear this in mind...
The trailer cant be a flatbed or grill sides, you have to have a box trailer you cant see through. There are a couple of uncoupling/coupling exercises where you have to apparantly never have seen the trailer and check everything (doors properly secure, lights etc).

You need to do a 45 minute test, most of it driving, some of it on the motorway. Its the same route as class 1, as its at the commercial test centre.

There is a 200 yard (or something) reverse exercise where you reverse back and across a bit and get through some cones (3 shunts allowed).

You might be the best trailer guy in the world but its probably best to find an instructor who is self employed and get a one day course. I did a two day but the guy said i should have just done a day. (dont go with a bigger company with "assessment" or whatever they rip you off.)


Reason to go with the instructor route is basically he will tell you all the small details (particularly hitching/unhitching) which they look for.

I passed 1st time and would recommend the trailer instructor guy any day of the week.


Good luck.

[Roger Whittle]

not much use then is it ! the fine would probably be cheaper than the test !!:rolleyes: its just sodding well fustrating that my mate can without any problem at all because he passed his test 1 year earlyer than i did but still has no experiance of towing , what happened after 1997 ? did we suddenly all turn into towing retards:banging:

Don't get me started on frustration Jack. I have been towing all sorts of trailers for twenty-five or more years, I even have my own 'personal trailer' - a one ton, single axle, braked Daxara - that gets used all the time. But come December the 7th 2016, I loose my trailer entitlement and I shall have to requalify to tow my own trailer. :Bloodymad

Roger.

[Rich_P]

Is a caravan suitable for the trailer test? It is a box on wheels after all...

[Roger Whittle]

Is a caravan suitable for the trailer test? It is a box on wheels after all...


Good point Rich. The answer is 'probably'. It is, after all, a 'towing test' not a trailer test and you sure as hell can't see through a caravan. They are a bit wide though, so you are giving yourself a harder task, with all those horrible mirror extensions.

Our 1.5t Conway two axle is the ideal trailer for the test. It is a roller shutter door box, almost exactly the same width as the Disco. :D

Roger.

[Rich_P]

I've been able to shift the caravan fine while behind the wheel of the Merc, that's why I decided to ask. :) Downside is the Merc is a full auto and I doubt the LR nor Caravan would like being attached to each other. :rolleyes:

[Roger Whittle]

Auto's were designed for towing. :D (And off roading actually. :D)

Roger.

[bananahead]

Is a caravan suitable for the trailer test? It is a box on wheels after all...


The cargo compartment of the trailer must consist of a closed box body which is at least as wide and as high as the towing vehicle; the view to the rear should only be possible by use of the external rear-view mirrors of the towing vehicle.

[Rich_P]

So because it has windows in it, it cannot be used?

[Roger Whittle]

So because it has windows in it, it cannot be used?


Close the curtains Rich. :biggrin:

Roger.

[bananahead]

Don't get me started on frustration Jack. I have been towing all sorts of trailers for twenty-five or more years, I even have my own 'personal trailer' - a one ton, single axle, braked Daxara - that gets used all the time. But come December the 7th 2016, I loose my trailer entitlement and I shall have to requalify to tow my own trailer. :Bloodymad

Roger.

It is stupid. You can most likely handle a trailer loads better than me, and others who didnt have to do their test. Although i think the b+e test for new drivers is a good thing (as mentioned, trailer people @ 70mph on motorway are most likely just ignorant to the fact they are breaking the law), i think it is ridiculous that you, and my father will lose their entitlement! It just seems like money making on the part of the government to me.

[bananahead]

So because it has windows in it, it cannot be used?


No im sure if you close the curtains, therefore "the view to the rear should only be possible by use of the external rear-view mirrors of the towing vehicle."

it should be fine. And im sure the merc will be fine too.

[Rich_P]

Right, good. About the Merc, I understood it that it is treated like the driving test. So essentially, if you pass the towing/trailer test on an auto, you can only tow with an auto. Meanwhile if you pass with a manual you can tow with an auto and manual. Am I right?

[bananahead]

I dont know for sure but i dont think it works that way with b+e.

They are not judging how you operate the car as much as how you handle the trailer and the rules of the road.... it seems more about not hitting the kerb with the trailer and reading the road, not stopping with the trailer in "keep clear" parts etc. Youd have to find out for sure but im sure a test in an auto will give you b+e auto/manual.

[defenderjack]

yep definatly a government money maker , i can understand that there should be some sort of training course or a 1 day guide to towing a trailer covering all the aspect ,motorway speeds , reversing , weights etc but does every one that has done a driving test stick to the rules !!! NOPE so the next time you see someone driving seventy on the motorway with a trailer doesnt necesarily mean they havnt done a test ,!and dont know the rules.
the D.S.A should provide more information and helpfull training to anyone ,young or old and provide you with a certificate to say youve attended the course rather than a persific test , all i wana do i tow a sankey with logs in !!

[Dr Zed]

Im allowed to drive a 38 tonne truck but im not allowed to tow a car :rolleyes:

[Matt_300tdi90]

What's the law on towing a broken down car without the towing licence? Am i allowed to?

[bananahead]

yep definatly a government money maker , i can understand that there should be some sort of training course or a 1 day guide


strange you just reminded me it cost me less to go and be able to ride around on a 125 (and subsequently nearly kill myself) than it did to be able to tow a trailer around!!


matt:
An exemption from the driver licensing trailer limit allows a category B licence holder to tow a broken down vehicle from a position where it would otherwise cause danger or obstruction to other road users.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_10013073

[defenderjack]

you probably have to take a test for that too! and probably have to supply your own boken down car and weve in and out of cones all day and show someone how to put your hazard warning light and then after giving over a cheque for your months wages ! your allowed to remove his <A href="mailto:p@>"$%s">p@>"$%s from your A@!/e;) god im so bitter

[Matt_300tdi90]

matt:
An exemption from the driver licensing trailer limit allows a category B licence holder to tow a broken down vehicle from a position where it would otherwise cause danger or obstruction to other road users.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_10013073

That's good to know if i ever need to, Cheers


you probably have to take a test for that too! and probably have to supply your own boken down car and weve in and out of cones all day and show someone how to put your hazard warning light and then after giving over a cheque for your months wages ! your allowed to remove his <A href="mailto:p@>"$%s">p@>"$%s from your A@!/e;) god im so bitter

:D

[Rich_P]

I dont know for sure but i dont think it works that way with b+e.

They are not judging how you operate the car as much as how you handle the trailer and the rules of the road.... it seems more about not hitting the kerb with the trailer and reading the road, not stopping with the trailer in "keep clear" parts etc. Youd have to find out for sure but im sure a test in an auto will give you b+e auto/manual.

I think you're right. So far I haven't been able to find any reference to what I thought was the case.

[RKK]

Good point Rich. The answer is 'probably'. It is, after all, a 'towing test' not a trailer test and you sure as hell can't see through a caravan. They are a bit wide though, so you are giving yourself a harder task, with all those horrible mirror extensions.

Our 1.5t Conway two axle is the ideal trailer for the test. It is a roller shutter door box, almost exactly the same width as the Disco. :D

Roger.

Was that twin axle box trailer with the two rear doors on camp downe yours? shunting that at the start of the camp finished the clutch off on my Range Rover, no suprise site services left it to me to move!!!!:D

[Laninlandy]

Im allowed to drive a 38 tonne truck but im not allowed to tow a car :rolleyes:
Articulated ?
If so double check that .If need be amend licence.

[Roger Whittle]

Was that twin axle box trailer with the two rear doors on camp downe yours? shunting that at the start of the camp finished the clutch off on my Range Rover, no suprise site services left it to me to move!!!!:D


Yes. :D That's our big trailer. :D We plan to fit it out with racking so we can store most of our camping stuff in there. Then we won't have to keep shunting the stuff backwards and forwards. Mind you, we'll have to take the steel plate off the floor where the generator used to be. :rolleyes:

By the way, that's why you want an auto for towing - that is a big beast, well loaded and the hill at Downe is a brute. :D

Roger.

[Swingletree]

By the way, that's why you want an auto for towing - that is a big beast, well loaded and the hill at Downe is a brute. :D

Roger.

Erm Roger, isn't that what low box is used for? :D ;)

[Roger Whittle]

Erm Roger, isn't that what low box is used for? :D ;)

Ooer - I hadn't thought of that. :eek: :biggrin:

Roger.

[RKK]

I know it is, there is another one site, that I towed to Dorset with 3 tonne on board, thats was in the other Range Rover with an auto box, i managed to get 1 mpg on Reigate hill!!!
I think it was more a case of no one wanted to try and get it into the Glade it needed to be parked in, as the only option was to turn it round on the hill, which was interesting, luckily the trailer was empty!!!
I do prefer towing with auto boxes, but unfortunately both of my V8's are manuals so I just make sure I have heavy duty clutches!!