Quote: Originally posted by Skoda Bob on 21/9/2015
Quote: Originally posted by janus on 20/9/2015The Mondeo mk4 hatchback has a max laden weight of 2150 kg so with your van at 1450kg you will be over the 3500kg so need a BE licence, the estate will be slightly heavier. So with either one you would need to take the test. Brilliant tow car though.
Since when do you load a vehicle to its max weight, putting all its components at max stress, so they wont need to take the test, if they stick up to 80% of the max tow weight of the vehicle,
the best tyres for all vehicles that tow are all season then you have that extra grip on all types of ground
Post last edited on 21/09/2015 09:39:07
Bob as a dealer you should know the law, and licensing law depends on the sum of the plated max weights. If that sum is more than 3500kg you need BE on your licence no exceptions, in the same way that if your tow vehicle has max of more than 3500kg you need one of the C groups on your licence.
------------- 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
I have a Chrysler 300C estate and I carry my whole awning, chairs, tables etc in the back with the rear seats folded down. Means if I stop for one night i don't have problems storing stuff!
I have a Mondeo, I carry my whole awning, table chairs large box of bits, cameras, telescope and tripod plus my aquaroll and waste master in the back with the rear seats up. The dog goes in the back. The ability to store stuff is not restricted terry large cars.
------------- 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
Thanks all for excellent advice. Thanks for clarifying the law - I thought it was the plated maximums. Thanks for recommending the mondeo too - good to hear others have good experience of it.
I have provisional B+E on my licence. If I failed to pass the test in time, is my husband who is a pre 97 licence holder able to supervise me and do I need L plates presumably? I hope to do it and pass but if I didn't get it in time I would hope to be able to relieve his fatigue as we found it very handy to swap often with just the folding camper. Here's hoping I can pass the thing. Such a nuisance. If my parents had been fair to me and paid for lessons at 17 like they did for my brother I'd have taken my test in 1992 frustratingly. Instead, because my mum favours my brother (not his fault - it hasn't spoiled my relationship with him) and because she wanted to belittle me and teach me a lesson, I had to save up and I took my test in 2000. I don't mind having had to save up myself. I think it's reasonable. But not reasonable my brother was given all of his lessons...sorry just had to vent that.
Anyway, with a positive viewpoint, doing the test means I will receive instruction on towing and then someone will evaluate my driving and towing and this has to be seen as a positive as hopefully I will increase my skills. And my husband will do one of the towing courses too.
I appreciate all your advice and help. Thank you.
------------- Have upgraded from folding camper to caravan - Sprite Major 6 TD
Does anyone know anyone who has been done or stopped from continuing there journey, or any case law of anyone being charged, ??
As long as your complete outfit doesn't go over the max permitted on your licence, they will let you continue.
Enforcement is mostly by camera these days, not by police stopping drivers. As there is no dvla registration of caravans & trailers it is difficult to enforce towing licence law as individual caravans/trailers cannot be identified by camera.
From this we can conclude that many drivers are towing without correct licence & with no knowledge of towing licence law. This would of course include builder's trucks towing trailers.
You husband has B+E on his licence so you can put L latest on the caravan and car and drive it whilst he is in the passenger seat. I am not sure how this applies on motorways though, as in some terms you are in that situation a learner driver,.
------------- 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