Trailer/caravan towing

AdrianC

forgotmyname wrote: »

As the trailer is 575kg i presume unbraked.

No, the trailer's 1800kg MAM, 575kg unladen. It's braked. It has to be braked.

Iceweasel

iolanthe07 wrote: »

I have just had a new driving licence as my 70th birthday approaches. All my previous 'grandfather' rights have been removed. I could have kept them, but it would have needed a visit to a doctor and a long involved application. Since my towing days are long over and I can't afford a large motorcaravan I don't really mind losing all the categories, but it is something your friend might want to look into as he approaches 70.

Thanks for that iolanthe07.

But could you just confirm that you do mean all of them?

I would have expected the C1 and C1E for trucks up to 7.5 tonne to go, and the D1 and D1E for minibuses to go, but I would be very surprised and disappointed if you have lost BE for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes with a 3.5 tonne trailer too

That would mean that anyone over 70 might well have to either give up caravanning or sit a trailer test.

Silver-Surfer_2

Iceweasel wrote: »

Thanks for that iolanthe07.

But could you just confirm that you do mean all of them?

I would have expected the C1 and C1E for trucks up to 7.5 tonne to go, and the D1 and D1E for minibuses to go, but I would be very surprised and disappointed if you have lost BE for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes with a 3.5 tonne trailer too

That would mean that anyone over 70 might well have to either give up caravanning or sit a trailer test.

Or see their GP when reapplying.

Iceweasel

He just texted me the car weights.

According to the handbook the kerb weight of the car is 1615Kg,
the max load in the car is 475kg, so a total of 2090kg.

They also give a max towing weight of 1800kg with a 75kg towbar loading.

The label on the driver's door gives

Gross vehicle weight: 2090kg

Gross train weight: 3965kg

So it looks like the car can be fully loaded and still have a trailer totaling 1800kg.

forgotmyname

What car is it? My Mondeo has a gross train weight which is less than the cars max weight and max tow weight, So i can load the car less and tow more or load the car and tow less.

What car is he going to collect? The weight of the car and the trailer is going to be the main figure. If the trailer weighs 650kg then thats a fair chunk out of the 1800kg allowed.

Trailers unladen weight may exclude spare wheels and the winch etc.

Iceweasel

Thanks again for the info.

All these numbers are starting to make clearer sense to me.

The difference between the gross train weight and the gross vehicle weight is 1875kg - which to me is the max trailer weight plus the 75kg tow-ball loading.

The car is a BMW 3 series which many motor racing enthusiasts seem to be using to take competition cars on trailers to events in the UK. Perhaps a 5 series would be more appropriate but there we have it.

Of course racing cars are usually pretty lightweight as opposed to what some heavier vintage/veteran/classic might be.

The car he is thinking to bring from Germany is as yet a hobby dream - but it seems that there are loads of 'non-runners' from the 60's and 70's that appear for sale regularly.

Now he knows that the max he can carry on the trailer is 1225kg (1800 - 575) and he may have to actually down-plate the trailer and have a 'max 1800kg' label on it.

AdrianC

Iceweasel wrote: »

The difference between the gross train weight and the gross vehicle weight is 1875kg - which to me is the max trailer weight plus the 75kg tow-ball loading.

The 75kg nose weight is separate.

The trailer is exerting a maximum 1,800kg of weight across all points of contact with the ground. Put all road wheels plus jockey wheel on scales, and add all the numbers up - 1,800kg max.

The nose weight is the maximum OF THAT 1,800kg which can be loaded onto the car's suspension through the towbar. So you need to load the trailer fairly evenly to put most of the weight - 1725kg minimum at maximum load - through the trailer's wheels. That noseweight can't be negative, either - because you've got more weight behind the trailer axles than in front. It should, ideally, be about 50-75kg.

AdrianC

Iceweasel wrote: »

The difference between the gross train weight and the gross vehicle weight is 1875kg - which to me is the max trailer weight plus the 75kg tow-ball loading.

The 75kg nose weight is separate.

The car can tow a trailer which is exerting a maximum 1,800kg of weight across all points of contact with the ground. Put all road wheels plus jockey wheel on scales, and add all the numbers up - 1,800kg max.

The nose weight is the maximum OF THAT 1,800kg which can be loaded onto the car's suspension through the towbar. So you need to load the trailer fairly evenly to put most of the weight - 1725kg minimum at maximum load - through the trailer's wheels. That noseweight can't be negative, either - because you've got more weight behind the trailer axles than in front. It should, ideally, be about 50-75kg.

forgotmyname

whats the 575? The trailer weight? Is that including the winch, corner stands, jockey wheel and any spare wheels?

Iceweasel

forgotmyname wrote: »

whats the 575? The trailer weight? Is that including the winch, corner stands, jockey wheel and any spare wheels?

As far as I'm led to believe 575kg is the 'on the road, ready to go' weight.

I'll be visiting him this weekend so will have a chance to clarify everything then.

Thanks to everyone for their useful assistance.