Car Trailer Transporter - Hire

[stephen01]

Most car trailers are plated to at least 2200KG so are not only over what you can legally tow on a B only licence but also beyond the limits of what most normal saloon cars can legally tow.

 

Still see plenty of them doing it though.

 

 

The gross train weight is the weight of the fully-loaded car plus fully-loaded trailer and must not be exceeded.: Taken from gov web site. this reads like as long as the ACTUAL weight is less than 3500kg then your ok, however it also states tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg . This reads like the mam of car and trailer, REGARDLESS of actual weight, should not be over 3500kg. ie a 2.5tonn car pulling a empty trailer with a mam of 2 ton is over the limit. even though the actual weight with an empty trailer would be around the 3 ton mark.  

 

and they wonder why people get confused about the rules.

[colnerov]

The gross train weight is the weight of the fully-loaded car plus fully-loaded trailer and must not be exceeded.: Taken from gov web site. this reads like as long as the ACTUAL weight is less than 3500kg then your ok, however it also states tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg . This reads like the mam of car and trailer, REGARDLESS of actual weight, should not be over 3500kg. ie a 2.5tonn car pulling a empty trailer with a mam of 2 ton is over the limit. even though the actual weight with an empty trailer would be around the 3 ton mark.  

 

and they wonder why people get confused about the rules.

 

 Hi, They did apply that for a while, but they've gone to what the actual combination weighs now. Which is why DVSA nearly always stop you at or near weighbridges. If you are over weight they won't let you proceed any further until it's corrected, "oh and have a fine, thank you".

 

 Colin

[Captain Furious]

They really need to come out with a more definitive answer, because it's a nightmare trying to make head nor tale of it.

 

I think there is yet another set of restrictions now on people who passed in the last year or so

[stephen01]

 Hi, They did apply that for a while, but they've gone to what the actual combination weighs now. Which is why DVSA nearly always stop you at or near weighbridges. If you are over weight they won't let you proceed any further until it's corrected, "oh and have a fine, thank you".

 

 Colin

 

fairy nuff. like I say im normally just under the 3.5tonn, I've just done france  taking building gear over, I even weighed everything I put in the trailer with a list next to me so if I did get pulled I could show that i'd taken appropriate steps to comply with the law.

 

my last trip I was at 3400kg, assuming the car was fully loaded. so was probably under by a bit more anyway..

[Timewaster]

I'm sure I read the following phone conversation written here by someone....

 

Punter: Do you rent out car transporters?

 

Hire Company: No I'm afraid we don't sir.

 

Punter: .......short silence..... Do you rent out Transit Tippers?

 

Hire Company: Yes we do, and NO YOU CANT!

[AMC Rebel]

I need to move a couple of cars - one is a journey of 30 miles, where the average Shiply quote is £150.

 

HUNNITFIDDY BUCKS!

 

I'm genuinely thinking of getting a trailer and earning from it if that's the going rate.  Over £200 to get the Sierra from Cambridge to Southend!

 

I think a Beaver would be best (fnar fnar) but I can only haul 3.5 metric tonnes of ass on my licence - so it'll need to be a little one.  Or I rope in my FIL.

 

Thanks. I'mma keep you updated yo.

 

I think (not surprisingly) there's a whole load more red tape if you start doing it (officially) for money if you want to stay legal.  A bloke on the Disco  forum reckons he had to get a tachograph fitted to do car deliveries with his Disco and trailer setup (I reserve the right to be mistaken and/or talking bollocks - two things I specialise in)

[worldofceri]

Yep, that's right.  Van plus trailer also requires an Operator's Licence.

 

 Hi, They did apply that for a while, but they've gone to what the actual combination weighs now. 

 

Are you sure?  Just checked gov.uk and it still says the restriction for category B is based on MAM, not actual weight.

 

To expand on the example previously, a 2t gross car + 2t gross trailer half loaded to 3.5t actual combined weight is legal for a B+E licence, but not for B.

[groovylee]

not sure where you are, but i have used GT towing in potters bar/hatfield area before, they were pretty good.

 

if i'm not too far from you (im in shefford, beds) and i'm free, i dont mind towing a trailer for you (have tow car and B+E) for petrol money.

 

not sure if that helps at all, but the offer is there

 

Lee

[bub2006]

I've never understood this towing lark. Only that I'm good if under 3500kg and not exceeded car tow weight. What I will be stumped with is if the vin plate states car and trailer can exceed 3500kg maximum (my dads Mondeo for example) and car and van still weigh less than 3500. Would I be OK or is it what is stated on plate? I can't find a definitive answer.

[BorniteIdentity]

not sure where you are, but i have used GT towing in potters bar/hatfield area before, they were pretty good.

 

if i'm not too far from you (im in shefford, beds) and i'm free, i dont mind towing a trailer for you (have tow car and B+E) for petrol money.

 

not sure if that helps at all, but the offer is there

 

Lee

Thanks mate. I've found someone with a truck to move one car to Rushden for £40. Cheapest Shiply was £109.

 

I will remember you for future endeavours if that's ok? I have another car in mind already!

[groovylee]

I've never understood this towing lark. Only that I'm good if under 3500kg and not exceeded car tow weight. What I will be stumped with is if the vin plate states car and trailer can exceed 3500kg maximum (my dads Mondeo for example) and car and van still weigh less than 3500. Would I be OK or is it what is stated on plate? I can't find a definitive answer.

REALLY simply put - if the car and trailer combination CAN weigh over 3500kg legally, you cant tow it. eg, 1500kg car with a MAM of 2000kg and a 500kg trailer with a MAM of 4000kg.  real life weight empty = 2000kg. All good as under 3500kg. BUT theoretical weight for the purpose of your licence = 6000kg. so you cant do it.

 

it sucks, but that's how it is unfortunately.

 

chatting to my examiner when i did my B+E, he said that you would be ok with sensible loads in day to day driving. for example, my caravan in running order is 1410kg. my car is about 2000kg.  happy days, and most of the time i wouldn't even warrant a second glance from plod or vosa. But it only takes one checkpoint and a pissed off VOSA guy, and you're screwed that's why i did my B+E.

[groovylee]

Thanks mate. I've found someone with a truck to move one car to Rushden for £40. Cheapest Shiply was £109.

 

I will remember you for future endeavours if that's ok? I have another car in mind already!

 

no worries mate.  i'm usually busy right when i'm needed for more fun stuff than work, but you are always welcome to ask

 

Lee

[bub2006]

REALLY simply put - if the car and trailer combination CAN weigh over 3500kg legally, you cant tow it. eg, 1500kg car with a MAM of 2000kg and a 500kg trailer with a MAM of 4000kg. real life weight empty = 2000kg. All good as under 3500kg. BUT theoretical weight for the purpose of your licence = 6000kg. so you cant do it.

 

it sucks, but that's how it is unfortunately.

 

chatting to my examiner when i did my B+E, he said that you would be ok with sensible loads in day to day driving. for example, my caravan in running order is 1410kg. my car is about 2000kg. happy days, and most of the time i wouldn't even warrant a second glance from plod or vosa. But it only takes one checkpoint and a pissed off VOSA guy, and you're screwed that's why i did my B+E.

So providing the car total and van total is less than 3500 I'm good. For example my dads Mondeo vin states car and load 2200 and can tow 1800 which is 3600 so I can't tow a van with a plated weight of 1800 but I could in theory drive his car with my van which is plated 980 mam so would be 3150 Maximum?

[pompei]

I looked at this a week or so ago when I needed to shift my Fiat Coupe.  In the end I got Shipley to do it for a load less hassle.