Towing a trailer?!?

Gloomendoom

mikey72 wrote: »

Small 4wd have unladen weights that are too low.
Bigger 4wd have gross weights that are too high.

Some of the newer crossovers would fit the bill. AWD or FWD.

mikey72

marlot wrote: »

I'm sure there would be something that would do. But in general I agree. Which is why I recommended a mondeo.

What's the weights on a suitable Mondeo?
I found Gross weights are usually to high, over 2200kg normally.

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Some of the newer crossovers would fit the bill. AWD or FWD.

Which ones?

Suarez

forgotmyname wrote: »

Trailer is 1300kg max laden weight?

I presume you dont have the car or the trailer at present?

So the big question is what are you planning on towing? Its OK having a trailer downplated but that
may leave you with too little carrying capacity.

It's an event trailer so everything that I need is built into the trailer and makes up the weight of 800kg. The company that made the trailer said they can downgrade it to 1000kg so as long as I don't add anything else to it I should be fine.

Suarez

The reason I wanted a 4wd is because I thought it would be handy if I attend field events. A van could be another option but I think the gross weight would be higher?

Gloomendoom

mikey72 wrote: »

Which ones?

The Kia Sportage springs to mind. Although for the FWD, you would have to de-rate the trailer to 1200kg. The AWD models GVW max out at 2140kg.

Nilrem

I may be way off the mark, but doesn't adding a trailer to a car mean you need a B + E licence?

IIRC they stopped automatically giving that entitlement about a year after I passed my test in 96/97, so if the OP has a licence that is only 3 years old he might not have any entitlement for any trailers on his current licence?

[edit]
It looks like I may be getting my licence categories mixed up, E looks to be trailers over 750kg (I thought it was any trailer).

Gloomendoom

Nilrem wrote: »

I may be way off the mark, but doesn't adding a trailer to a car mean you need a B + E licence?

IIRC they stopped automatically giving that entitlement about a year after I passed my test in 96/97, so if the OP has a licence that is only 3 years old he might not have any entitlement for any trailers on his current licence?

[edit]
It looks like I may be getting my licence categories mixed up, E looks to be trailers over 750kg (I thought it was any trailer).

I think there has been recent clarification on the DVLA web site. You have always been able to tow trailers within the lower post 97 weight restrictions but the original wording was so confusing that many believed that an extra test was necessary.

Even trailers over 750kg are ok without B+E as long as the gross train weight doesn't exceed 3500 kg. Or so I believe.

Rover_Driver

Nilrem wrote: »

I may be way off the mark, but doesn't adding a trailer to a car mean you need a B + E licence?

IIRC they stopped automatically giving that entitlement about a year after I passed my test in 96/97, so if the OP has a licence that is only 3 years old he might not have any entitlement for any trailers on his current licence?

[edit]
It looks like I may be getting my licence categories mixed up, E looks to be trailers over 750kg (I thought it was any trailer).

To tow with a B licence
The MAM (maximum authorised weight) of the vehicle plus the MAM of the trailer must not exceed 3500kg, and the MAM of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the vehicle.

Nilrem

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I think there has been recent clarification on the DVLA web site. You have always been able to tow trailers within the lower post 97 weight restrictions but the original wording was so confusing that many believed that an extra test was necessary.

Even trailers over 750kg are ok without B+E as long as the gross train weight doesn't exceed 3500 kg. Or so I believe.

Cheers, I thought the wording had changed, as I remember looking after I passed my test (when my brother was looking at taking lessons), and reading it as you needed a separate test for any trailers (and being quite relieved that I had passed my test when I did as I was towing a small trailer almost immediately).

mikey72

Suarez wrote: »

It's an event trailer so everything that I need is built into the trailer and makes up the weight of 800kg. The company that made the trailer said they can downgrade it to 1000kg so as long as I don't add anything else to it I should be fine.

Event trailer suggests it's a business, not a private trailer.
You may well need a tachograph.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Quick%20guide%20to%20towing%20small%20trailers.pdf

(A van would have a gross weight in excess your limit, most are 3500kg)