Towing With A 2B

[Knock-on]

I know some people have done it so decided to buy myself a little puck for nights away. At 450kg it seems the kiddie for the job.

 

However, while inspecting my V5 so I can wave a copy at any helpful police officers that inquire, I noticed an absence of towing weights etc on the document.

 

Any ideas chaps?

[richyb66]

Maximium laden weight for an unbraked trailer is 750 KG or half the car's kerb weight - whichever is the lower.

 

A 450kg puck is probably going to be more than 50% of your kerb weight.

[richyb66]

"If your VIN plate doesn’t list a train weight, you should not use your vehicle for towing."

 

So that excludes pretty well anything registered before about 1998??? This seems more helpful:

 

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/quick-guide-to-towing-small-trailers

 

and confirms 50% of kerb weight for unbraked trailers.

Edited October 28, 2014 by richyb66

[Longboarder]

"If your VIN plate doesn’t list a train weight, you should not use your vehicle for towing."

Use of the word 'should' shows it is not prohibited, just inadvisable and the gov don't want you to do it.

 

All vehicles with an effective registration date after 1st Aug 1998 need to use an EEC type approved tow bar marked with details of cars it is suitable for.

That's a major problem.

 

Weights can be complied with. The important ones (in the absence of a Gross Train Weight) is the Gross Vehicle Weight (Max design weight used for IVA) and the max design axle weights, not the actual weight of the car. This is the weight used to determine what weight trailer you may tow.

 

Legislation is seldom retrospective. So if your vehicle is older than 1.8.98 you can tow an unbraked trailer up to half the GVW of the car. If it's newer than 1.8.98 you cant tow because you can't get an approved towbar.

 

Nigel

 

This is all gleaned from reading selected rules which are incomplete and probably deliberately obscure on gov websites. Even the experts at the caravan club can't work out definitive rules. I'm probably wrong on most everything.

[Bob Tucker]

probably deliberately obscure on gov websites

 

You're not wrong on that one Nigel.

[speedtripledan]

Your towbar needs to be CE approved. If it all goes wrong then i think the trouble would start.

[richardm6994]

Your towbar needs to be CE approved.

 

Just like the towbar on Dan's Stylus

Edited October 28, 2014 by steamer

[Knock-on]

Blimey.

 

Think I'll get the Puck on the scales and work out the curbsite weight then do the same with the 2B.

 

I haven't gotten around to sorting the VIN plate out yet but sure it will all work out correctly

[Graham385]

If you're talking about an Eriba Puck caravan then I'm sure you will find that it has brakes. If so you can tow more than 50% of your kerb weight. The recommendation for novice towers is up to 85% of your kerb weight, so about 645 kgs. The Eriba puck has an unladen weight of about 500kgs so you have a fair load margin.

Your towbar will need to be sturdy for this and no one makes one commercially so CE or Type Approval cannot be claimed.

[speedtripledan]

 

 

Just like the towbar on Dan's Stylus

and is now removed for the above reasons...... no insurance in the event of crash changed my mind somewhat

[Guest Gargoil]

According to the NTTA only those cars that are European whole vehicle type approved need to use the approved tow bars. Looks to me like there is a back door.

[Knock-on]

TOWING A TRAILER WITH A CAR OR VAN - THE BASICS

 

The weight and size of trailer that you can tow depends on at least 7 key factors. Any maximum weight specified under any of these cannot be exceeded - even if other criteria seem to permit a higher weight. Technical terms in bold italics are explained overleaf.

 

1. The capability of the towing vehicle

The chassis plate on the vehicle (see diagram overleaf) states the maximum weights allowed - the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and the Gross Combination Weight (GCW).

The vehicle handbook will either repeat what is on the chassis plate, or for convenience, might directly specify the maximum weight of trailer (e.g. 750kg) which is allowed to be towed. The V5C registration certificate often shows this too, under sections O1 and O2 (depending on whether trailer has brakes or not). Exceeding any of the above weights is likely to be construed as using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Where the sum of the maximum plated weights of the towing vehicle and of the trailer added together exceed the plated GCW of the towing vehicle, this is not a problem as long as the “actual” weights of the vehicle and trailer (which may not be fully laden at the time) do not exceed the plated GCW.

Similarly, the stated towing capacity of a vehicle may be lower than the maximum plated weight of a trailer, but that trailer can be towed, as long as it is not loaded above the towing capacity.

 

2. The weight capacity of the trailer

A trailer manufacturer must decide the maximum weight the trailer can be loaded to, the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of the trailer, and mark it on the trailer chassis plate. This cannot be exceeded. Sometimes the maximum axle weights are quoted instead and these must not be exceeded.

 

3. The brakes on the trailer.

This depends on the weight capacity of the trailer.

A trailer with a GVW of 750kg or lower, is not required to have brakes, but if brakes are fitted they must be in full working order.

A trailer with a GVW from 751kg up to 3500kg is required to have brakes, normally over-run (inertia) brakes that operate automatically are fitted.

 

4. Driving licence entitlement

You are not allowed to exceed the entitlement to tow trailers given on your driving licence, even if the vehicle you are driving has the capability. Your entitlement varies depending on when the licence was granted - if you passed a standard car test (category after 1 Jan 1997 your entitlement is more restricted than for persons who took a car test before that date. https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

For more info refer to the documentation supplied with your driving licence.

 

Unlike the situation in section 1 above, driving licence entitlement is calculated on potential weight - Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) - rather than actual weight. So if your entitlement allows you to tow a trailer with MAM 1000kg, you cannot tow a trailer with GVW of 2000kg that is unladen, and so weighs 800kg, when it is towed. You can only tow a trailer with GVW 1000kg.

 

6. Gross weight of towing vehicle and size of trailer

A towing vehicle with GVW of 3500kg or lower is restricted as to the size of trailer it may tow. The trailer can be a maximum of 7m long by 2.55 m wide. A heavier vehicle can tow a trailer of maximum 12m long by 2.55m wide.

 

7. Drivers Hours/ Tachograph and Operators licence – GCW over 3500kg

The towing vehicle for combinations with a GCW above 3500kg may require a tachograph if used for commercial purposes and the driver must obey Drivers Hours regulations. Similarly Operator licensing may apply. For information see

https://www.gov.uk/g...es-and-guidance

https://www.gov.uk/g...nsing_Guide.pdf

 

Technical terms used above

 

Chassis plate - plate or sticker affixed by the manufacturer specifying the maximum weights allowed. It is often found on a front door sill. For HGVs, the maximum weights will be specified on the Ministry Plate (or Plating Certificate VTG) issued by VOSA/DVSA.

 

Information displayed on a typical chassis plate on a car, and what it means:

 

Ford Manufacturer

 

e11*2001/116*0045 Type approval number

 

WAE123DEFGH123456 VIN (vehicle identification number)

 

2235 Gross Vehicle Weight - GVW

 

4235 Gross Combination Weight - GCW

 

1050 Front axle - maximum load

 

1230 Rear axle - maximum load

 

 

GVW - Gross Vehicle Weight. This is specified by the manufacturer and it means the maximum permitted weight of the vehicle or trailer when fully laden. It is the unladen weight of a vehicle plus the maximum permitted payload. Also known as Maximum Permissible Mass, item F1 on the V5C.

 

GCW - Gross Combination Weight. This is specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle and it means the maximum weight of the combination which can be towed (i.e. towing vehicle and trailer). Also known as Gross Train Weight (GTW). To help find the maximum weight of trailer that can be towed, you could subtract the GVW of the towing vehicle from the GCW. (in this example a 2000kg trailer would be permitted). However if the towing vehicle is not fully laden, any spare weight capacity can be used by the trailer, so long as the GCW and trailer GVW are not exceeded.

 

Payload - the maximum weight of the load that can be carried on a vehicle. (Can be calculated: GVW minus the unladen weight of a vehicle).

Edited October 31, 2014 by Knock-on

[Knock-on]

If you're talking about an Eriba Puck caravan then I'm sure you will find that it has brakes. If so you can tow more than 50% of your kerb weight. The recommendation for novice towers is up to 85% of your kerb weight, so about 645 kgs. The Eriba puck has an unladen weight of about 500kgs so you have a fair load margin.

Your towbar will need to be sturdy for this and no one makes one commercially so CE or Type Approval cannot be claimed.

 

I bought one of the early eighties one as it's a bit lighter at 450 KG.

[Guest Ian & Carole]

Just to add to this debate

 

Where do we all stand with "home made " trailers ?.

 

We all have, or borrow one from time to time!!

[speedtripledan]

I think it's all well and good till accidents happen. Then you will find out how the law applies or dosent.