Towing Regs

[Greenjacket]

Grateful if someone could advise on UK towing regs.

I have a 7.5 tons gross trailer which would indicate to me that if the trailer itself weighs in at aprox. 2 tons the payload is 5.5 tons. However the confusion arises in the regs for the tow vehicle. In theory one could tow the trailer with a "Blazer" and a suitably large engine. But I believe there is a regulation laying down the minimum weight of the tow vehicle otherwise the trailer could well dictate the route the towing vehicle takes !

What is this minimum weight as laid down in the regs. and does this in turn mean that one requires an HGV license as the Granny license only allows one a max of 7.5 tonnes.

Many thanks in advance for responses.

 

Regards

[Tony B]

As far as towing with a 7.5 ton vehicle. The catergory for a licence is C1+E. this allows the towing of a trailer over 750kg weight, if it is braked. As the vehicle can tow up to it's unladen weight. So your looking at about 3 ton towed.

If you are using a Blazer, you come under the catergory 'Decleared by manufacturer as a vehicle manufactured for towing'. such as Land rover Range rover Unimog etc. A normal vehicle trailer cannot exceed unladen weight of vehicle.

[YK55]

This is a difficult question to answer because goods vehicles and passenger vehicles have seperate regulations, however there is no law regarding the relative weights of towing vehicles and trailers, it's all covered under other legislation.

 

Depending how old it is the towing vehicle should have a stamped alloy plate showing the maximum axle weights and gross train weight. This may be a seperate plate or included on the VIN plate. UK goods vehicles over 3500kgs GVW also need to have a paper 'Ministry' plate, which will have slightly lower weights than the metal manufacturers plate and takes precedence in UK law. If your vehicle has neither of these plates then you could find the relevant weights from the manufacturer or vehicle handbook. You may come across several different terms for the same thing and it can become rather confusing :shake:

 

GVW - Gross Vehicle Weight, the maximum permitted weight of the vehicle (without a trailer) including load, fuel and driver etc. Also referred to as MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) and MPW (Maximum Permitted Weight)

 

GTW - Gross Train Weight, the maximum permitted weight of the vehicle and trailer including load, fuel and driver etc.

 

Trailers also have their own GVWs

 

 

[General Mayhem]

Indespension, The National Trailer people have all the legal regulations on their website. It's free, but you will have to register, their address is:

http://www.honeyfieldtrailers.co.uk/regulations.htm

[Greenjacket]

Thanks for all replies.

 

regards