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 Topic: towing with vaxuhall zafira 2.0 dti
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11/6/2015 at 5:00pm
Location: Redditch
Outfit: Changes almost daily!!
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Our LEGAL ability to tow, in any given situation will depend on two main factors:
1. Our own legal limits, based, primarily, on the date we passed our driving test, and;
2. The physical and legal capabilities of the towing vehicle, as stated by the manufacturer (in your case, apparently, 1,095kg)
These are the ONLY legal limits that determine what we can tow. Much is made of the guidelines quoted by the main camping organisations, based on a percentage of the towing vehicles kerb weight but this is just a guide, not a legal limit. Whilst these may be sound advice, it is important to realise that these are just recommendations. In the majority of cases, you can legally tow more than this, but, with some vehicles, the legal limit is less, so it is always best to be clear on exactly what your car is allowed to tow.
Driver Restrictions
The weight and nature of trailer you can tow, will, ultimately, depend on the date on which you first
passed your driving test, as follows:
Licences Held Before 1 January 1997
If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. (Maximum Authorised Mass). This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.
You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750 kg
Licences held from 1 January 1997
If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B (car) licence, you can:
(1) Drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes (or 3,500 kg) MAM towing a trailer of up to 750 kg MAM
(2) Tow a trailer over 750 kg MAM as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500 kg
For anything heavier you need to take a category B+E driving test.
OK, very confusing, so what does that actually mean?
The key thing here is the weight of the trailer. If the MAM of the trailer is less than 750 kg, then a combined MAM of 4,250 kg is permitted (3,500 kg vehicle, and 750 kg trailer). If the trailer exceeds 750 kg, then the combined MAM is reduced to 3,500 kg (in line with the maximum 'actual' weight allowed).
For example; if your vehicle has an MAM of 3,200 kg, and you trailer has an MAM of 600kg (total: 3,800 kg MAM) that IS legal, provided, of course, the actual, physical weight of the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg.
On the other hand, if your vehicle has an MAM of 3,000 kg, and your trailer has one of 800 kg, that is NOT legal, even though they have the same combined MAM.
The distinction is that the MAM of the trailer is over 750 kg.
Licences issued from 19 January 2013
From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:
(1) small trailers weighing no more than 750 kg
(2) tow a trailer over 750 kg as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750 kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500 kg, you’ll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence. You’ll then be able to tow trailers up to 3,500 kg.
Post last edited on 11/06/2015 17:45:20
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The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
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11/6/2015 at 5:03pm
Location: Redditch
Outfit: Changes almost daily!!
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In a nutshell, what that litle lot means is that, I suspect you are misunderstanding the law. If you passed after 1 January 1997, then you can tow up to 750kg unbraked. As long as the trailer has its own braking system, then you can tow it on your standard licence, as long as it doesn't exceed the 1,095kg limit (which I'm taking to be correct, not having checked it) and so long as the combined weight of the car and trailer don't exceed 3,500kg. In other words, you can tow pretty much any trailer tent or folding camper on the market, although you may find it a bit of a struggle uphill with some of the larger ones.
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The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
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