Hightower Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 The DirectGov site is just plain confusing, so can anybody clarify (fact, not guessing) whether I can tow a caravan? I passed my test in 2002 (so obviously after 1997 hehe), and I only have B, B1, f, k, p on my licence. Can I tow a caravan upto a certain weight already? Do I have to take a test? If I need to take a test, how much do they cost and what is required?
bodminman Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 The law states that if you have a driving license from before the 1st of January 1997 you can drive any vehicle and trailer combination as long as the combined weight of the vehicles does not exceed 8250kg Maximum Authorised Mass (M.A.M.).* And the towing vehicle’s weight must not exceed 7500kg. If you have a full driving license from after 1st January 1997 you may drive a car or lightweight commercial vehicle and tow a caravan but the combined weight must not exceed 4250kg. So the caravan’s weight must not be greater than 750kg, if the car weighs 3000kg. If you wish to tow a caravan above 750kg, you must follow the rule that the combined weight of the vehicle and caravan must not exceed 3500kg. In order to do this the caravan must not have a greater M.A.M. than the unladen weight of the vehicle towing.
Hightower Posted February 27, 2011 Author Posted February 27, 2011 That just sounds like you copied and pasted from the DirectGov site. I have my licence after 1997 (as my OP stated), and the towing vehicle will be an Astra. The carvan will be around 900kg (I believe, a little 2 berth van). Can I tow it on my licence or do I need to take a test?
witch Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 It looks like it depends on how heavy the Astra is?
Hightower Posted February 27, 2011 Author Posted February 27, 2011 Well, from what I can gather online: it has a kerbweight of 1205kgs and a towing capacity of 1150kgs And I think the average weight of a small caravan is between 800 and 1000 kgs
tech_guy Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 I don't recommend guessing as PC Plod can sometimes be a bit anal. An important thing to consider is the laden weight of the caravan. I tow a folding camper with an unladen weight of 450kgs and I was amazed when out of curiosity I took it to the local weigh-bridge fully laden to see how much it weighed with all our stuff in it and it was nearly 800kgs. I was expecting it to be around 550kgs. I think it must have been the beer.
bossman Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 @Hightower: I would say based on the criteria on the Gov site you should be able to tow your caravan based on the combined weights of both the car and the caravan. One thing, don't forget you have to count the weight of anything inside the caravan which you add, all your pots and pans and crockery etc etc it all adds weight. Happy caravanning @Hightower
bodminman Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 That just sounds like you copied and pasted from the DirectGov site. I have my licence after 1997 (as my OP stated), and the towing vehicle will be an Astra. The carvan will be around 900kg (I believe, a little 2 berth van). Can I tow it on my licence or do I need to take a test? Nope! Here is the source: What Weight of Caravan Can I Tow? | C4 Caravans Blog
plexer Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 Erm based on the kerbweight supplied the answer would be yes. Ben
rad Posted February 27, 2011 Posted February 27, 2011 Okey Dokey, here goes from someone who did the towing test on Tuesday in HT. If you intend on towing something, the kerbweight of the towed item must not exceed 85% of the towing vehicle, so on that your Astra cannot tow more than 1020kg, lets say 1 ton. That means the more you put in the caravan to tow, the smaller it will have to be, as said, gas, clothes, pots pans etc. So the options are you change to a bigger car or you tow a smaller vehicle. As to whether or not you need to do the test - If the towing vehicle weights 2500kg and the towed item is 1500kg that takes you to the 3500kg MAM (gross weight) of the combined so you will need to do the test. What does the test involve, as of Feb 2011 - 1) Eye test - number plate 2) Safety Questions - see here http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum.../dg_170485.pdf 3) Reverse S turn into a bay stopping the trailer within a 1mtr box section at rear of bay, not going over yellow lines. 4) 50 Minute drive around roads 5) Within drive - 10 minute independant drive to XX location signposted. 6) Return to Test station - Uncouple trailer, move vehicle alongside. 7) Check Trailer before recoupling and checking lights. Thats it, easy you say!! (you no longer do an emergency stop!) Then you gain B+E entitlement to tow up to 8 or so ton 3
3s-gtech Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 As stated, gross weight is key here, not kerb weight. Having passed in 2000, I cannot drive anything with a gross train weight of over 3500Kg. The gross weights of both car and caravan should be available fairly easily - the van will have it on the plate on the tow bar.
amyr Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Can I just point out that the 85% rule is not actually a law/rule it is an advisory? I passed my driving test in 2001, and have taken the towing test (B+E) as I have access to a large caravan and a large towing vehicle, as well as towing horses and horse trailers. So long as caravan mam does not exceed car mam, and both combined gross weight do not exceed 3500kg including all occupants and luggage then you will not need to take the additonal test. Best thing to do is take it down to your local public weighbridge to find out (I'd also take someone with you who passed their test before 1997 so they can drive back if it's over the 3500kg mark). Hope this helps.
rad Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Sorry agreed the 85% is advisary. This is a suitable video to highlight the issues....
jcollings Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Best thing to do is take it down to your local public weighbridge to find out (I'd also take someone with you who passed their test before 1997 so they can drive back if it's over the 3500kg mark). Hope this helps. I'd get the person to drive it there as well! You would still be breaking the law and get pulled if it was over the limit on the journey there.
amyr Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Good point and I'd also put everything in that you would take with you, so that you know for definite if you are over/under (eg bikes, watercarriers, food, bedding, clothes, plates etc). There is an art to loading a caravan as well so that it is balanced when on the road, i.e. don't overload the back end or the nose - ideally you want the majority of weight over the axle.
Hightower Posted February 28, 2011 Author Posted February 28, 2011 Apparently, my car has a kerb weight of 1360kgs. The caravan I've been looking at says it weighs 850kgs. 85% of 1360 is 1156, so does this mean I should be okay pulling a 850kgs caravan? It's less than the 3500kgs limit for my licence right?
kevbaz Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Cant pull anyhting whilst in an ashtray on a serious note, what cc is the car? does ithave enough oompf to pull a caravan about?
mac_shinobi Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 (edited) Thanks rad Think I asked something like this a number of months ago and the clarification ref the test etc is handy Edit Can someone post or upload the pdf that rad linked to, as this link appears to be dead / not working and would be good to see the safety questions Thanks Edited February 28, 2011 by mac_shinobi
Hightower Posted February 28, 2011 Author Posted February 28, 2011 Cant pull anyhting whilst in an ashtray on a serious note, what cc is the car? does ithave enough oompf to pull a caravan about? According to whattowcar.com, it should do just fine with a small 2 berth caravan. The car is a 1.7CDTi. I bought it off my brother who used to tow a small 2 berth van too - so it has caravan experience under the hood
rad Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 (edited) Sorry link was broken as I copied from another forum. If a MOD can edit the post, link is - http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_170485.pdf Questions are really obvious and basic but the examiner is asking for one or two words in the answer. I was asked to "demonstrate how your brake lights work", how you adjust your head rests (with seat covers on I told him) how you dimist the front screen. OH got asked to open the bonnet, check oil, test horn etc. Really daft but the questions relate to HGV and mini bus tests. Edited February 28, 2011 by rad
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