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Subject Topic: Right Royally Peed Off!!
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28/9/2012 at 9:26pm
 Location: South Yorkshire
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 586 2017
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Ok, so I bought my first caravan. It's an Elddis Vogue 4 birth, MIRO 984kg, MAW 1200kg, I drive a Seat Alhambra with a kerb weight of 1800kg. So with myself, partner, 3 kids, 6 dogs and a bit of luggage car would weigh approx 2100 kg, making total weight 3300kg including caravan and payload. BUT because my car is capable of going up to 2500kg MAX weight I'm not allowed to tow as I passed my test in 1998. At these calculations I am 200kg under weight but as my car is CAPABLE I'm not allowed!!!!! ARGHHHHHHHH

just to clarify, we did look in to all this before purchasing. My partner passed before 1997 so not a huge problem but it just annoys me! My car being capable does not make me any better driver but nor does it make me a worse driver than those driving a smaller car who incidentally have a higher tow ratio than myself making it more risky!

There are some weekends where I could go with the children and my partner follow a day later if I could tow but that puts the stoppers on that until I get to take my B+E test.

RANT OVER


28/9/2012 at 11:32pm
 Location: Rochdale
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc
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Just put a set of L plates on and you can tow it as long as your wife is in the car.


-------------
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


29/9/2012 at 2:06am
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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It was mentioned recently, Dont forget to inform your insurance if your learning to tow.

Other option get a smaller car?

Your a caravanner, No matter what you tow with your a menace on the road

Join the club and enjoy.



29/9/2012 at 7:45am
 Location: South Yorkshire
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 586 2017
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Janus, I am the wife So where do I put the L plates, on the car or the van?

Grampian, I don't really have the option of getting a smaller car, with 3 kids and a boot full of dogs. I know we will have to upgrade the van too in a year or so as the kids grow, it's just that we picked up the van, awning, a couple of aquarolls, waste, alko hitch etc for £700, so was affordable for us to snap up. It was through a friend who has had the van for years and has maintained it fantastically.

Looking forward to being a menace, already planning to go down to Cornwall next August, and we camp in the back garden of Chatsworth house every year for the country fair. Hope we can get a few local weekend breaks in too


29/9/2012 at 10:13am
 Location: Rochdale
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc
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On the front of the car and rear of the van presumably, your b licence acts as a provisional licence for other groups. Sorry about the Mis identification, note to self read the names before you reply.

-------------
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


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29/9/2012 at 10:33am
 Location: South Yorkshire
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 586 2017
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Thanks, looks like that's the action plan then. Get some practice in and put in for the test


30/9/2012 at 8:17pm
 Location: South Gloucestershire
 Outfit: Sterling Excel 550 - Honda CR-V Mk4
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Quote: Originally posted by shelleybobs on 29/9/2012
Thanks, looks like that's the action plan then. Get some practice in and put in for the test


And that will make you more qualified than the rest of us!

Good luck!

 

Mr UM



30/9/2012 at 8:56pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4
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Want the good news you can tow its a combined weight of 3500, anything over that and you have to pass the towing test, go on to the DVLA web site and look for towing weights, to reduce the weight in the car put the luggage in the van or for piece of mind load the car and go to a weigh bridge and I bet you will find that your under.

In fact here it is with the details

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_10013073



Post last edited on 30/09/2012 21:03:30


01/10/2012 at 10:02am
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford
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Look at you V5C log sheet at F.1 and you will find max weight.Add that to to your van of 1200kg and i think you will find it is over, as most model Alhambras are 2430kg making a total of 3630kg.


01/10/2012 at 11:39am
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Quote: Originally posted by janus on 28/9/2012
Just put a set of L plates on and you can tow it as long as your wife is in the car.




As long as you don`t go on a motorway...........


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01/10/2012 at 11:40am
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Plod will nail you, but VOSA will let you carry on. Police will look at weight plates and issue a fine, however if you can prove you are under 3500kg no issue. VOSA will weigh you and then issue a ticket. Either way, better not to take the chance and have the hassles and simpler to get B+E.


01/10/2012 at 12:37pm
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Vosa would only be concerned about vehicle legality issues, driving licences are outside their remit. Unless things have changed since my truck driving days police are usually present at Vosa checks & check licences anyway. Anybody towing without correct licence entitlement would have more to fear from the insurance assessor after an accident than the enforcement authorities as checks are rare.

I'm guessing as with overlength caravans many caravanners have no knowledge of this this law & unless they are actually stopped in a caravan check it is unlikely to be enforced.


01/10/2012 at 12:40pm
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I wonder if any one has been convicted for towing over 3500kg with a B+E driving licence. Insurance does not come into the picture at all. If you are uncertain about this, check with your insurance company as a caravan does not have to be insured to be on the road.


01/10/2012 at 12:46pm
 Location: Hamilton Lanarkshire
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Quote: Originally posted by Angus1215 on 01/10/2012
Quote: Originally posted by janus on 28/9/2012Just put a set of L plates on and you can tow it as long as your wife is in the car.




As long as you don`t go on a motorway...........




You CAN drive on the motorway with "L" plates on......you already have a full (Cat B) licence.

The B+E test uses motorways as part of the test route (where practical)


01/10/2012 at 1:20pm
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Quote: Originally posted by ANDYN on 01/10/2012
Quote: Originally posted by Angus1215 on 01/10/2012
Quote: Originally posted by janus on 28/9/2012Just put a set of L plates on and you can tow it as long as your wife is in the car.


As long as you don`t go on a motorway...........




You CAN drive on the motorway with "L" plates on......you already have a full (Cat B) licence.

The B+E test uses motorways as part of the test route (where practical)




Not so....

the OP may well have a Cat "B" licence, but your driving licence makes clear that for other classes to which you are not entitled it serves as a provisional licence. As the OP would be driving in accordance with the requirements of a "B+E" licence for which she is not entitled, her licence would only be "provisional" for that class. As such, she would be prohibited from driving on the motorway.

The government did bring in some legislation last year which took effect in 2012 aimed at making motorway driving safer which permits "L" drivers (which the OP would be if driving the outfit as described) to drive on motorways
under the supervision of qualified instructors, which is why authorised trainers can take B+E students on motorways. Unless the OPs partner is a qualified instructor, she would be breaking the law driving the outfit on a motorway and would not have insurance.


01/10/2012 at 1:58pm
 Location: South Yorkshire
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 586 2017
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Hi Skodabob, thanks, I had a little woop for joy myself when I was looking into it last week. But then as you read in to all the stuff, I do actually need to take my test. It's all so very confusing. With the, to motorway or not to motorway, kerb weights, maximum allowed weights, towing percentages etc etc part of me is wondering whether to just carry on tenting.

But hey, no pain no gain. And we got the van at such a steal, the price of a years storage, towbar, insurance and possibly even the cost of the test could be offset against a van of similar age, spec and accessories. I think that's the way I've got to look at it.

To everyone else, thank you for all the input, it's better to be forewarned about these things. I'm sure there are so many people who know nothing of all the regs and are driving round illegally. I was certainly not told what I could and couldn't drive when I passed my test. My parents had no idea about all this and many people I speak to don't either. All quite scary really



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