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Topic: B+E driving test

Sophiegeoff16

30/3/2016 at 8:32pm
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Hi, I need to do my B+E driving test as I am buying a caravan which I would like to tow with my work van and it's almost a ton over my legal towing limit, I have been looking everywhere but not really sure where to start.

1. Do I really need to pay £500+ for training when I can get my father in law to sit in with me whilst I tow why I am learning?

2. Is there places that will hire me their car & trailer to do the test once ready or would I need to do it in my own vehicle with my own trailer? I haven't seen anywhere saying I can do it in my car with a caravan instead of trailer so I am assuming that's a no go.

3. 2030kg-3030kg are the 2 numbers on my car plate the caravan is 1300kg unladen and 1700kg laden I know I can tow upto a combined weight of 3500kg but don't know how to work it out as my car isn't 2030kg it's closer towards 1500kg so what do these figures mean?

Thanks in advance for any replies and any further advice would be greatly appreciated.

Rob and Tina

30/3/2016 at 9:19pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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Hi, I can't help with the first two questions so I'll start on number three.

I presume that 2030 and 3030 are the third and fourth figures on the weight plate. If so then 2030 is the max weight of the car and 3030 is the max gross train weight. The gross train weight is the combined maximums of car and trailer added together and must not be exceeded. I expect your car has a kerbweight of around 1500kg. It's not a Renault is it?

The caravan appears to have a very large payload so I presume that it may be a German caravan. Some sites are not very keen on certain makes of caravan and also outfits towed by commercial vehicles so it's something else to consider when booking sites.

Rob

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Sophiegeoff16

30/3/2016 at 9:41pm
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Hi, thanks for your reply the car is a vauxhall vectra and the caravan is a Hymer Nova. I think the best thing to do is to get it weighed on a weigh bridge to remove any doubt and hopefully the weight doesn't go over 3030kg.

Rob and Tina

30/3/2016 at 9:59pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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Hymer Nova is a lovely van, we looked at one but the weights made things difficult for us.

I thought a Vectra was heavier than that and to get under the GTW you are going to be able to carry very little in the car or caravan, you may have to leave your passengers at home!

Rob

Jesscar

30/3/2016 at 10:17pm
Location: Leicester
Outfit: Avondale Argente 650-6

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The test is about a lot more than just the towing, you will be taking your driving test all over again, with a trailer. Bad habits picked up from years of normal driving are often the biggest reason for failing.

For B+E training, I can highly recommend Data Academy in Leicester, they provide the vehicle, the trailer, and access to practice manouvres on the HGV test area.

Sophiegeoff16

31/3/2016 at 8:48am
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Sorry I rechecked this morning and the second figure is 3630 not 3030 so really need the car to come in around 1700-1800kg in which case the caravan is 1700kg fully loaded I can move things around to get the 85% or as close to in which case the vectra would be fine to use but I would still need the b+e to tow with the van.

Francophile1947

31/3/2016 at 4:08pm
Location: Norwich
Outfit: Citroen Relay Campervan

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As Rob and Tina said, you may have difficulty finding suitable sites for a works van and large caravan.
Also, does the work's van insurance cover you for towing a caravan?

-------------
Cheers
John

Sophiegeoff16

03/4/2016 at 9:37am
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I have been in touch with the caravan club and every site they advertise accept commercial vehicles and have no problem with any foreign caravan being on site, maybe they used to have a problem with it but realised they were being petty, after all my van is a lot better and safer to tow with that my car that is barely heavier than the thing it would be towing.

Thanks for all your replys it's very much appreciated, I have booked my B+E test for the princly sum of £613 including a full days tuition and 2 hours before the test plus car and trailer hire which seemed the going rate or there abouts.

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