13 replies to this topic

[chrisandsarah]

Ive got a cat B licence, got it in 2005.

What can I tow without an additional licence?

Also, if it is over a tonne - will my 1991 mini with a very good nick rear subframe be up to towing a lightweight trailer with a totally bare mini shell, no engine or running gear etc?

Thanks guys + ladies!

Edited by chrisandsarah, 24 June 2011 - 09:08 PM.

[sonikk4]

Description Category B Minimum Age 17

Motor vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. Combinations of towing vehicles in category B and a trailer, where the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle.

Looks like you will be ok.

This is from the Directgov website

Category B
Description
Minimum age 17
B
Motor vehicles with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg, no more than eight passenger seats, with or without a trailer - weighing no more than 750 kg

B
As category B but with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg. The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg. The weight of the trailer, when fully loaded, can’t weigh more than the unladen weight of the vehicle

As for towing a trailer with a bare shell i would think would be borderline. You would need to calculate the all up weight of both items against the all up weight of your car.

Edited by sonikk4, 24 June 2011 - 09:15 PM.

[Sprocket]

Max a mini can tow is 450kg with a braked trailer. There is no stated fugure for an un braked trailer. However, using a general rule of thumbthe tow vehicle cannot tow any more than 50% of its unladen weight. so for the average mini, you cannot tow any more than 350kg where the trailer has no brakes.

[chrisandsarah]

Max a mini can tow is 450kg with a braked trailer. There is no stated fugure for an un braked trailer. However, using a general rule of thumbthe tow vehicle cannot tow any more than 50% of its unladen weight. so for the average mini, you cannot tow any more than 350kg where the trailer has no brakes.

That does make a lot of sense, looks like the Discovery will be a better idea

sooooooo how much does a mini shell weigh :S

[sonikk4]

When Erm was being painted (as bare a shell as you could possibly get) myself and Scott could comfortably pick him up but neither of us are light weights so i would guess somewhere around 200 kilos

[Carlos W]

A totally bare shell, no subframes, doors, glass etc must be under 200kg as 2 people can lift it! (me and my mate can lift mine)

[chrisandsarah]

When Erm was being painted (as bare a shell as you could possibly get) myself and Scott could comfortably pick him up but neither of us are light weights so i would guess somewhere around 200 kilos

A totally bare shell, no subframes, doors, glass etc must be under 200kg as 2 people can lift it! (me and my mate can lift mine)

Reallllyyyyyy hmmmmmmm - so a trailer of say 100kg would be a deal breaker... hmmm dont actually think we have a trailer that small on our farm if we do it will be too small :S

[Dan]

However, using a general rule of thumbthe tow vehicle cannot tow any more than 50% of its unladen weight.

That rule of thumb regading unbraked trailers is actually law incidentally.

[MRA]

However, using a general rule of thumbthe tow vehicle cannot tow any more than 50% of its unladen weight.

That rule of thumb regading unbraked trailers is actually law incidentally.

Scratching my head here a little..... if this is the case how is it that I can tow 3500kg behind my discovery which weighs in at 1800kg ?

What dictates the difference, ie 3500 / 1800 = 1.9 times vehicle mass against 450 / 685 = 0.66 times Mini mass ??

Is there something that states Minis specifically can only tow 450kg ?

Edited by mra-minis.co.uk, 25 June 2011 - 08:30 AM.

[Msmith3327]

Now dont quote me on this MRA but I am sure the fact that a landrover can tow more than its own weight has something to do with the clissification of the vehicle.

[MRA]

before anyone says it no it's not in the agricultural section......

May be can you explain the classification system ?

[Burnard]

kinda of a shame, i wanted to tow my bini behind my mini guess ill be towing the mini


If i cant tow anything weighing more than 750kg with the clubman (new BMW one) then i would also need a trailer under 100kg to put the mini on, or can i use an A frame?

[Sprocket]

However, using a general rule of thumbthe tow vehicle cannot tow any more than 50% of its unladen weight.

That rule of thumb regading unbraked trailers is actually law incidentally.

Scratching my head here a little..... if this is the case how is it that I can tow 3500kg behind my discovery which weighs in at 1800kg ?

What dictates the difference, ie 3500 / 1800 = 1.9 times vehicle mass against 450 / 685 = 0.66 times Mini mass ??

Is there something that states Minis specifically can only tow 450kg ?

If you have catagory B+E entitlement then the towing rules are different. Not everyone has this entitlement, and is subject to a practical test. You cannot tow a trailer thats maximum allowable mass is greater than the unladen weight of the tow vehicle with a cat B licence, so in your example, you are breaking the law if you do and only have a cat B licence.

Taken from DVLA>>>

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.



Austin/ Rover only ever published a towing capacity for the Mini stated as 450kg with a braked trailer. Seeing as this is published data, if Mr VOSA wish to investigate the towing capacities of your Mini/trailer combination, that is the figure they will go by, since that is the towing capacity the manufacturer deemed safe at the time of manufacture and published.

[MRA]

That explains it nicely