Am I allowed to tow a caravan?

louisaL

Hi Please could someone confirm my understanding of towing a caravan after 1997, thank you

i am allowed to tow a caravan as long as my car (with me, passengers and luggage), and a ladened caravan doesnt exceed 3,500kg?

benham3160

You need to remember it's the MAM (maximum authorised mass) not the physical amount it all weighs, I've been caught out here.

So need the maximum both vehicles can weigh to do the calculations.

Regards,
Andy

optimus_primera

thought it was max 750 kgs ???

optimus_primera

louisaL wrote: »

Hi Please could someone confirm my understanding of towing a caravan after 1997, thank you

i am allowed to tow a caravan as long as my car (with me, passengers and luggage), and a ladened caravan doesnt exceed 3,500kg?

3500kg ??? what you towing it with ?

benham3160

optimus_primera wrote: »

thought it was max 750 kgs ???

Maximum train weight is 3500kg.

This can be in any combination, providing the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the MAM of the towing vehicle. (Ie. you can't tow tail heavy without taking a test)

The 750kg excludes this rule, you (passing after 1997) are free to tow any >750kg trailer regardless of balancing.

However, how many cars weigh under 750kg fully laden?

Regards,
Andy

optimus_primera

I lose track these days, luckily passing my test in 1990 means i don't have to worry anyways .....

benham3160

optimus_primera wrote: »

I lose track these days, luckily passing my test in 1990 means i don't have to worry anyways .....

You'll just have to keep everything within the maximum weights then, (ie. not overload, or tow a 3tonne caravan with a Mini etc...)

New rules are very complicated, luckily few people understand them, including the Police, so they rarely challenge it.

VOSA roadside on the other hand........

Regards,
Andy

optimus_primera

I know all about Vosa ... i drive A 7.5T and going to start on my class 2 licence lessons soon .......
Having had Land Rovers for a number of yrs, never had to worry about what i pulled,not with a limit of 3500kg.

forgotmyname

The maximum weight of the caravan or trailer must not exceed the empty unladen weight of the towcar.

The combined max must also be under 3500kg .

If they say you need a B+E thats rubbish, You are towing under category B rules.

Problem buying a van is lots of people use the caravans unladen weight when selling, It makes it
more appealing to buyers with smaller cars. It is not until they speak to someone who knows
better when they can find out its an illegal match.

louisaL

thank you for all your advice!

Still confused lol but at least i know i dont neccessarily need to do another test.

Hammyman

Actually, you're all wrong. The combined maximum must be both under the 3500kg limit, the car manufacturers specified towing weight limit and the car manufacturers specified gross train weight. The trailers loaded weight cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. In addition to that, none of the axles can exceed the manufacturers (both car and trailer) specified axle weights. This is particularly important with the rear axle of the car doing the towing. Many many people are overloading their rear axles by poor weight distribution of the trailer/forgetting the 300kg of rear seat passengers and luggage, and the fine and points are exactly the same as being over the gross train weight.