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Quote: Originally posted by daveyhairbear on 28/8/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by foxylady2 on 22/6/2008

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hi i think i might be thick but could someone please tell me if my son needs topass another test to tow a trailer tent.  He passed his test after 1997 as he is only 22.

Thanks for taking the time to help

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As I understand it, as he passed after Jan 1st 1997 he'll needs to take a test if he intends towing anything over 750kg with a "normal" car.

If he's towing a trailer tent under 750kg he won't need to take a test (providing the car/TT combination is less than 3.5T.)

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Dave, I have already answered foxylady's question. You have now confused the issue.

Papa, I am sorry but but Dave is not correct.

Post 1/1/97 licence holders can tow any trailer up to 750 Kgs with any vehicle providing the total MAM doesn't exceed 3,500 Kgs - BUT:

THEY CAN ALSO TOW ANY COMBINATION WHERE THE TRAILER'S GROSS WEIGHT IS LESS THAN THE KERBWEIGHT OF THE CAR AND THE TOTAL TRAIN WEIGHT IS BELOW 3,500KGS.

DVLA's own website confirms that many normal cars towing a single axle caravan will not exceed the limits.

Note that any trailer over 750Kgs must be braked.

 

Quote: Originally posted by daveyhairbear on 28/8/2008

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Hmmm...just had a look at the sample questions. When they ask things like "how do you check your horn is working?" and "how  do you check your doors are secure?" you wonder whether these candidates should be on the ROAD let alone towing a trailer!

I mean, what next? Perhaps they'll take you into a car park to see a selection of vehicles and you have to point out which one is a trailer??

"Sorry, Mr Jones. That's a shopping trolley. You have failed your towing test." 

(All joking aside, I think a towing test is an excellent idea, just that they are seting the "pass" bar far too low.)

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The "pass" bar is not set low - ask anyone who has taken the test.

The "Show Me, Tell Me" questions were introduced to all practical tests due to a requirement of an EC directive, they are admittedly not rocket science but are just designed to ensure that the candidate has some knowledge of safety requirements and vehicle maintenance, prior to their demonstrating their practical skills. 

Quote: Originally posted by bordercaz on 01/5/2008

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Small trailers are much harder to reverse than big ones because they react very quickly to the slightest steering input.

If it starts to jacknife then pull forward a bit to straighten it, then go back again. As soon as it's heading in the direction you want it to go, quickly straighten your steering so the car follows it rather than pushing it round too far.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Dang me if I know why. Try nipping up to your nearest industrial estate in the evenings when it's quiet and practise.

I'm still learning to reverse although I've been towing for 16 years.

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Quote: Originally posted by archerypete03 on 04/4/2009

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Well said TrickyWoo i have been an HGV driver for 31 years and find it much easier to reverse a 45ft trailer than my 26ft caravan.

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lowest I can find on google are:
gross vehicle - 1570
gross train - 2500

Max tow braked 1200 (driver only)
max tow unbraked 535 (driver only)

Those are the figures quoted for the smallest engine, could not find any solely for the clio Van

I assume that would make the gross vehicle and 850kg van within the limit for a post 97 driver, hope that is correct Caz! (-; Still trying to get my head around this one as there are so many contradictions on various sites including the motoring org ones!

The Gross train weight is the combined weight of the tow vehicle and trailer.

Have a look here for Vehicle weights explained

the gross train weight of your van and the caravan you mentioned is 2050kg, from my understanding of the definition on the directgov website would allow you to use this combination if you passed your test after 1st january 1979.

see here

I suspect that would be too heavy - but without knowing the definate weights I cannot be sure.

The MTPLM (aka MAW, MAM) of the caravan must not be more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and it is recommended that it is only up to 85%. What is the unladen weight of the van? For a caravan of 1200 Kgs you would need a tow vehicle with an unladen weight of at least 1200 Kgs, but you would be towing at 100% which whilst legal is definately not recommended. An unladen weight of 1412 Kgs would give an 85% match.

Also, you must not exceed the gross train weight. If the figures quoted by Papa Pip are correct for your van, the van is 1570 and the max train weight is 2500, which only leaves a difference of 930Kgs for the caravan.

How does 930Kgs compare to the unladen weight of the van?

Sorry Khanny but you are incorrect. The facts are as I stated. If you refer to the first post of this thread in which Papa Pip quotes the Law, you will see: