19 replies to this topic

[LESTA MINI]

hey guys,

in the haynes it says the maximum towing weights for a mini saloon is 404kg but the maximum tow hitch load is 45kg, whast the difference between the MTW and the MTHL?

cheers

dan

[lrostoke]

Its the weight pressing down on the towball.

If you unhitched and put a stick under the tow hitch and got the tow hitch end resting on some bathroom scales then it shouldn't read more than 45kg, I say using a stick because you can get the trialer sitting at the right height. Or you could use some sort of pull scales . If it does and your overall weight of trailer and loads is less than 404kg then just move some of the weight further back in the trailer.

You'll probably find that if you can lift the tow hitch end up on your own with out struggling to much its going to be OK. 45kg is 100lb

Edited by lrostoke, 22 March 2010 - 06:20 PM.

[Sprocket]

Becareful, as the 404kg is for a braked trailer. an unbraked trailer should be no more than 50% of the kerb weight of the towing vehicle, with the average mini weighs 750kg. Also be aware that from 1989 onwards, Rover dropped the towing capacities from thier owner manuals, which, if you eventualy get pulled over and inspected can cause all sorts of problems if your vehicle is not pre 1989. VOSA are particularly harsh.

[LESTA MINI]

yer its a 1985 mayfair, ive gotta pull a 75kg load on a 125kg light weight trailer so should i be ok?

[lrostoke]

As mentioned the towing vehicle when pulling an unbraked trailer must have a kerbside weight twice as much as the trailer.

A mini's kerbside weight (salon rubber springs) is 638kg so your well within with a 200kg total weight trailer.

http://www.dft.gov.u...sfrequently4577

Edited by lrostoke, 22 March 2010 - 08:08 PM.

[Punts]

45kg is maybe the maximum, but really your looking for about 25kg on the towball.

[Sprocket]

2/3rds max hitch weight is what I aim for on any trailer/ tow car combination. Most modern estata cars has a max 75kg nose weight therefore I aim for 50kg. with the mini with a max 45kg I aim for 30kg. You need the weight on the hitch to reduce the likelyhood of the trailer and load, tugging upwards on the hitch.

These are general rules of thumb, and should be used as a guide. There is plenty information on the internet about general rules for towing trailers, but it is up to you to ensure that your train weights satisfy the law. LIke I said before, VOSA are harsh, and if you are going to get pulled towing a trailer, its going to be in a Mini, as its not a common sight. If it looks right, that in itself might be the difference between getting pulled or not.

[LESTA MINI]

yer, i probs will get pulled a few times,


is there any length restrictions on a trailer for a mini?

[adam_93rio]

a little side note (not knowing how old you are or when you passed your test) - check that on your driving licence you are allowed to pull trailers, i know i have to take another test to enable me to tow a trailer. but not sure of the full details

[miRon]

i tow a STX-R 1200 jet ski with my pickup no problems.....

[LESTA MINI]

yer im 18, passed it last year. i know that theres a weight restriction on my lisence but i should be well within it, jujst need to know if i have a length restriction.

[MiniBonkerz]

a little side note (not knowing how old you are or when you passed your test) - check that on your driving licence you are allowed to pull trailers, i know i have to take another test to enable me to tow a trailer. but not sure of the full details

Maximum authorised mass (MAM)

Category B: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to eight passenger seats
Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.

For example:

a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
Whereas

the same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle's handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of the trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne would be well within the new category B threshold.
Towing caravans
As for towing caravans, existing general guidance recommends that the laden weight of the caravan does not exceed 85% of the unladen weight of the car. In the majority of cases, caravans and small trailers towed by cars should be within the new category B threshold.

An exemption from the driver licensing trailer limit allows a category B licence holder to tow a broken down vehicle from a position where it would otherwise cause danger or obstruction to other road users.

By passing a category B test national categories F (tractor), K (pedestrian controlled vehicle) and P (moped) continue to be added automatically.
Category B+E: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM towing trailers over 750kgs MAM
Category B+E allows vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM to be combined with trailers in excess of 750kgs MAM. In order to gain this entitlement new category B licence holders have to pass a further practical test for category B+E. There is no category B+E theory test. For driver licensing purposes there are no vehicle/trailer weight ratio limits for category B+E.





Car licences held before 1 January 1997
All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. They also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.

Drivers who hold subcategory C1+E - limited to 8.25 tonnes MAM, may apply for provisional entitlement to the new subcategory C1+E, in order to take and pass the test which will increase their combined vehicle and trailer entitlement to 12 tonnes MAM. It is not necessary to gain subcategory C1 entitlement first but drivers have to meet higher medical standards, and pass both the category C theory test and the subcategory C1+E practical test.



Car driving licence first obtained since 1 January 1997
Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles. In addition to the new driving tests, drivers of vehicles which fall within subcategories C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E also have to meet higher medical standards.




Upgrading entitlement for trailers
In general, an additional driving test is required for each category or subcategory of entitlement. But there are certain exceptions to this where drivers have already passed one test which involves trailer entitlement for a larger or equivalent sized vehicle.

This means that passing a test for subcategory C1+E or D1+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E. A test pass for subcategory C1+E upgrades subcategory D1, if held, to D1+E. But a test pass for subcategory D1+E does not upgrade subcategory C1 to C1+E because the trailer size required for a subcategory D1+E test is smaller than that required for a subcategory C1+E test.

Passing a test for category C+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E and also confers entitlement to subcategory C1 and C1+E and, if category D or subcategory D1 is held, these are upgraded to category D+E or subcategory D1+E. A test passed for category D+E upgrades category B and subcategory D1 to category B+E and subcategory D1+E respectively. But it does not upgrade category C or subcategory C1 entitlements because the trailer size required for a category D+E test is smaller than that required for a category C+E or subcategory C1+E test.
Provisional trailer entitlement
Since 1 January 1997 drivers are no longer able to sit a test in a heavy vehicle/trailer combination (eg category C+E or D+E) unless they have first passed a test and obtained a full licence in the corresponding rigid vehicle (eg category C or D).

This means that although drivers may have been driving a vehicle and trailer combination legitimately, under ‘L’ plates, they are not permitted to sit a trailer test using such a combination until a test has been passed in a rigid vehicle and a full licence obtained for that category.

This information is not intended to be a definitive statement of law.

Edited by MiniBonkerz, 23 March 2010 - 10:42 AM.

[LESTA MINI]

ok, after reading that im more confused,

so basically if ive understood that right

998cc mini mayfair 1984

with tow bar

I CAN to a 14 ft boat weighing no more than 220kg unbraked trailer on my caterogory B and B1 lisence?

although i may get pulled

[daemonchild]

although i may get pulled

Which is, after all, what every young man wants....

[adam_93rio]

although i may get pulled

Which is, after all, what every young man wants GETS....

fixed that^^

so i can actually tow a trailer on my licence so long as its within those comnfusing guidelines, basically my trailer cannot exceed 750kg
(which on a mini it wont)