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I passed my test in 2001, I was told that I cannot tow a caravan over 1,000kg unless I passed before Jan 1997!  So is there a 4 berth caravan under that weight?   I know there's Airstream, Sterckeman, Eriba, Freedom and Going 350.  But they're so small for 3 children!  Anyway suggestion out there?!?  Please don't tell me I needs to take a test, as I cannot leave the kids for 3 days to take test!

Thanks

The rules are that you can tow a maximum of 3500 kg that is the car and caravan weights combined and that the caravan must not exceed the unladen weight of the car so whoever told you that has got it wrong somewhere along the way.

Ali

Licence gained after 1 January 1997
If you gained your licence on or after 1 January 1997, then you will be restricted to driving or towing with a car (or light commercial vehicle) with a maximum weight of 3500kg. Note this is not the actual weight as loaded, but the vehicle’s maximum allowable weight, or gross vehicle weight, as set by the manufacturers – you will find this in your car’s handbook.
You can tow a trailer or caravan with this licence, but its maximum weight must not exceed 750kg – giving a total possible maximum outfit weight of 4250kg. If you wish to pull a caravan weighing more than 750kg (in practice, this covers all conventional caravans), you must follow the restriction that the maximum allowed weight of the car-plus-caravan combination weighs no more than 3500kg, and that the caravan’s maximum weight does not exceed 100 percent of the car’s unladen weight (this is not the same as the car’s kerbweight – have a look at the panel on this page for a full explanation).
What makes this rule appear rather odd is that if you wish to tow a trailer that weighs over 750kg, you actually end up with a lower total limit for the car-plus-caravan outfit than you would if you were towing a trailer under 750kg, where the total can be 4250kg.
If you want to exceed any of the above limits, you need to take a further driving test. For post-1997 drivers, a B+E test (E refers to entitlement to tow trailers over 750kg) can be arranged to give you the same rights as the pre-1997 car driver. It is not a hard test for a seasoned caravanner, but a novice would need some instruction. Professional tuition is advisable but not compulsory, though you will need to do a lot of homework on the test details and minimum test vehicle requirements if you do this yourself. Some test details are available to view on the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) website (www.dsa.gov.uk – go to the Learners’ section) and on the Driving Instructors Association (DIA) (www.driving.org, which has a search facility for driving instructors by postcode).
Tests take place at Goods Vehicle Test Centres, but finding an instructor to help you practice may be hard. For advice on finding tuition and on arranging a test, your best bet would be to contact the DSA or DIA.
There are currently European Union (EU) proposals to change the maximum weight of trailers that can be towed by a car licence holder – at least so the regulations are easier to understand – so although existing rights will probably be preserved, future licence entitlements may well be different from those that currently exist. Concerned that any further changes will be a disincentive for young caravanners, the caravan industry in the UK is campaigning for ‘no change’, or at least only a minimal change, but as this article goes to press the outcome is still undecided.

Here's the precise response!  Good luck in your hunt.

Ali

I've a Ford Mondeo Est 2003 2.0 TCDI 130 BP  So how much does that weight?

I'm not bright with all those gooblegook languages.  So if my car weight something like 2000kg, then I could pull a 1500kg maxium?  I'm a woman after all!

Theres so much confusion because of this ruling. Alis report above is the official version which in a nutshell means:

Get the kerbweight of your car (in the handbook) add the MTPLM (total weight allowed) of the caravan you are buying. If the combined total is less than 3500kgs (which most combinations are) then you are ok.

Eg. My outfit, car 1648kgs + van 1500kgs = 3148kgs. Thats ok

If you aren't experienced in towing you should try and limit the weight ratio of the outfit to 85%. Looking at my example above. divide 1500kgs(van) by 1648kgs (car) = 91% and I'm comfortable with that because of my experience.

harryb

Quote: Originally posted by Chloe23 on 19/8/2007

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I've a Ford Mondeo Est 2003 2.0 TCDI 130 BP  So how much does that weight?

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Car is 1547kgs so you could tow a van up to 1315kgs fully laden. Thats the van plus what you put in it.

harryb

It is the unladen weight of the car, not the kerbweight, that must be used to make sure you don't exceed the weight of caravan not exceeding the weight of the car rule.

Ali

As far as I'm aware all caravan organisations and caravan dealers use the kerbweight to define the caravan/towcar weight ratio. The difference between unladen weight and kerbweight will have a bearing on the outcome. Kerbweight is found in the car handbook and it is this figure that is used. The unladen weight, from the factory, could be up to 130 kg less than the kerbweight. It's minus the combined weight of fuel, oil, water, tools and driver. So in my example above my cars unladen weight would be 1518kg. This would give a weight ration of 99%. A big difference, which is nearly over the limit.

Surely it's about time that a simplified set of rules should apply in these circumstances.

harryb

and that the caravan’s maximum weight does not exceed 100 percent of the car’s unladen weight (this is not the same as the car’s kerbweight

As quoted above Harryb, yep it is time it was simplified it is amazing if we ever get it right with all the stuff we are meant to know huh!  You are right, they 85% calculation is normally based on kerbweight but the poster asked about post 1997 licences not the 85% rule and for some reason the legislation is as above and not based on kerbweight.

Ali

 Ali,

Confucious, he say many daft things and these rules could be one of them.  

Chloe, you have a good tow car. You will be well within the driving licence law and will not have to take another test. If you were experienced you could go to 100% of the Mondeos weight and would be still a lot less than the 3500kg limit 

harryb

Quote: Originally posted by HarryB on 19/8/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by Chloe23 on 19/8/2007

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I've a Ford Mondeo Est 2003 2.0 TCDI 130 BP  So how much does that weight?

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Car is 1547kgs so you could tow a van up to 1315kgs fully laden. Thats the van plus what you put in it.

harryb

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If the car's unladen weight is 1547kg then legally he can tow a caravan with a MTLM of 1547kg. Itis not to be recommended at that level but it is legal

There was a message posted on here yesterday that pointed out that the cars unladen weight is specified on the V5 document. With a locence that is dated 2001 the OP can tow a van with a MTPLM up to that level.

 

Harry was quoting the 85% figure Bill as you will see from his previous post where he was explaining his own outfit.

Ali