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Subject Topic: How do I get a caravan? Post Reply Post New Topic
Janis1
06/8/2010 at 7:23am
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Not as easy as just going out and buying one in my case.  I passed my driving test in 99 so I'm not qualified to tow anything above a small trailer.  How do I get the training required to get the necessary added to my license?  I did ask the police instructors when I went to a Driver Training Day last year and they didn't know either!!!


Personsnowy747
06/8/2010 at 7:28am
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Oh yes you are!

There is one major exemption which needs to be properly understood: A driver without a B+E licence can tow heavy trailers providing the gross weight of the trailer is less than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and the whole combination weighs less than 3500 kgs. This means that a post 97 licence holder can
tow a trailer with a gross weight of around 1.5 tonnes, providing the towing vehicle and trailer are carefully matched. The combination needs to be very carefully matched however, because if the driver gets it wrong and the exemption is not fully complied with, it will fail, and the driver is then unlicensed, and uninsured.


So there you go, make sure you get your maths right and you too can have a caravan!

Ali


Janis1
06/8/2010 at 7:31am
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Oooh....and I have a MPV so it's pretty heavy.  Thanks for that....

*off to look at caravans and drool*


Personsnowy747
06/8/2010 at 7:35am
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and this one taken from Direct.Gov


Category B: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to eight passenger seats

Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.

For example:

    * a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle

Whereas

    * the same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
    * Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle's handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of the trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne would be well within the new category B threshold.


Just be sure you know the MAM of your MPV because it is likely to be quite heavy which will restrict the size of the caravan. So, lets say the MAM of the MPV is 2200 kg then you only have 1300 kg left for the MAM of the caravan. Make sure you read the definition of MAM carefully because it is nothing to do with kerbweights etc but to do with maximum weights.

Ali


Personalan29
06/8/2010 at 1:16pm
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Do a towing course - it really is worth while. We did ours with the C&CC. Great instructors, you do it over and over until you are totally confident.


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Personfirebird
06/8/2010 at 1:25pm
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Would one of those lightweight caravans sneak in under the radar for the legislation- Freedom, JNC, and I think there is now an Elddis lightweight caravan that's a bit bigger???

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A CLOSED MOUTH GATHERS NO FEET


PersonMrs Mop
06/8/2010 at 3:00pm
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If you want to take the extra test, I think the Caravan Club can help with all the information, otherwise just google it.


Personjanus
06/8/2010 at 4:13pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Janis1 on 06/8/2010

Oooh....and I have a MPV so it's pretty heavy.  Thanks for that....

*off to look at caravans and drool*

That in itself could restrict what you tow, for someone with your licence ideally to give you the widest choice of caravans you need a car with a kerbweight of about 1500kg that has a maximum laden weight of about 2050kg, that way  you could legally tow a caravan that weighs up to 1450kg which gives you an enormous choice. The heavier the car is in the first place the higher its maximum laden mass will be and so you have to reduce the weight of the caravan so as to keep the outfit having a maximum permitted mass of less than 3500kg.

 



-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


Personjhsw
06/8/2010 at 9:15pm
 Location: Lanarkshire
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Hi jJanis1, you could also look at the folding caravans,solid van folds down to trailer, and 900/ 1000kg max loaded, so there is a few vans out there that you can tow. good luck with the search.

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If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.



John



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