Trailer towing B and B+E licence rules explained

[outnumbered]

Originally Posted by gillberry

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 .

yes i understand your concern but that is my take on it. if i have missread i do appologise but it states that if your trailer weighs more than 3500 kg then you will need to do the additional test unless you have the class 1 .
mike

[outnumbered]

Originally Posted by gillberry

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 .

yes i have left myself open on that one.
mike

[gillberry]

Originally Posted by outnumbered

yes i understand your concern but that is my take on it. if i have missread i do appologise but it states that if your trailer weighs more than 3500 kg then you will need to do the additional test unless you have the class 1 .
mike

Highly unlikely that the combined weight of car and trailer will be over 3500kg but in the past with spares thrown in said cars then we must have been pretty close .

[SonyVaio]

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

Not quite accurate Mike,

If a new driver wants to use a Landrover Discovery to pull a modest horse trailer for 1 or 2 horses then straight away this will be over a combined weight of 3,500kg thus needing a full B+E license.

If a new driver wished to use a heavy vehicle (4x4) to pull a vehicle trailer with another 4x4 on it then this would almost definitely put the rear trailer over the the 3,500kg (trailer alone) thus it would require a C1+E license.

There are a lot of caravans out there that weigh 1500 to 2000kg this would then cause any modest car big enought to even pull that caravan in the first place to be heavy too. This combined figure causes the need for a B+E license and in most cases will even push it above and into needing C1+E too.

In fact most heavy 4x4 vehicles with just the 'Light' 750kg trailer will border on the need for B+E and not just a simple B license.

[outnumbered]

yes you are quiet correct. my response was to Gillbery question if he had to take another test.

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 .



mike

[outnumbered]

very interesting i have class 1, next year i can either have a medical or not and let it expire.
my car and van will weigh a combined weight of 3700 kg plated.
so what that is saying is i keep the B+e but will have to take this other test because the combined weight is over 3500 kg.
mike

[SonyVaio]

Originally Posted by outnumbered

very interesting i have class 1, next year i can either have a medical or not and let it expire.
my car and van will weigh a combined weight of 3700 kg plated.
so what that is saying is i keep the B+e but will have to take this other test because the combined weight is over 3500 kg.
mike

Mmm. Think I'd go the medical route and keep the C+E if it were me. Never know when you're going to need it.

I've got full C+E and D+E but unfortunately my ADR has now lapsed (long ago). It does seem a strange position to find yourself in where, if you do let your C+E lapse then you may need another test just be be able to pull a heavy trailer with your car. One that is 10 steps down from a C+E.

[outnumbered]

my sentiments exactly

[volvorocks]

I have a licence that covers me for everything apart from an HGV and the 3500kg combined rule has never been an issue as it doesn’t apply to me as I passed my test long long before 97..so I am in the 8250kg category and have generally driven anything that my licence permits.

Not things I do regularly but I have towed a Land Rover Freelander on a trailer with a Land Rover Discovery so that would be a combined weight of over 5000 kg. All ok on the licence front. Have also towed a caravan with a Discovery ,combined weight around 4000kg , so all ok again on the licence front.

So, as from January 2013 is it ok to say tow a boat weighing 1800kg with a car weighing 2000kg making a combined weight of 3800kg on my age old licence B+E? I assume it would.

Would I have to take a test if I ever happened to be towing a Discovery on a trailer with a Defender if the weight of what I was towing exceeded 3500kg? Not that this will probably ever be an issue for me, as its unlikely to happen, but what about you guys that tow ‘an over 3500kg weight’ as part of your business and have done so for 30 years without having had the need to take a test?

Cheers

[cumbrianmale]

Have a look at your license, I have the older grandad rights, upto 7500 vehicle. My license clearly shows categories B, BE, C1, C1E, D1, and D1E so therefore I am already covered. It was the later licenses which didn't get C1, D1, C1E, and D1E entitlements.