28 replies to this topic

[jack_marshall]

Righto, after looking at Binges trailer project, it has inspired me, as a little project to maybe make one after I have finished the Mini resto.

I thought it would be sence to look up the laws, but a quick search revealed little... I came across this on the DVLA site...

http://www.dvla.gov......0JANUARY 1997

Now I've read through it but cant make much sence.

Based on... 17 year old, driving a 998 mini, pulling a "Mini" trailer, which wont weight much, where do I stand?

Any help would be great!

Cheers.

[minidaves]

i dont think u can till you have had 2 yrs driving experiance

dave

[Cookie Monster]

Basically as long as the combined weight of car and trailer (fully laden) does not exceed 3.5 tonnes you are ok. Therefore a mini plus trailer would be well within the law.

[minislapper]

Basically as long as the combined weight of car and trailer (fully laden) does not exceed 3.5 tonnes you are ok. Therefore a mini plus trailer would be well within the law.

DVLA blurb

If you passed your test after 1997 (which is obvious), the weight limit of the combination is 3500kg.

[jack_marshall]

So I should be ok then... yey!

Cheers!

[mini1976]

Hang on a sec. Im sure that the following is the case if you past your test after 97,

The maximum you are allowed to tow as an unbreaked trailer is upto half the kirb weight of the car. The kirb weight on newer cars is normally given by the manufacture (but as a general rule of thumb it is the car with the driver and i think 3/4 of a tank of fuel). For everything you put into the car (like passangers) you must take these off your kirb weight before you half it. So if a mini weights about 600kg kirb weight then you can tow and unbraked trailer of a weight upto 300kg (if you have no passangers, luggage etc). This goes upto a maximum trailer weight of 750kg if you have a car which weights 1500kg for people who passed after 97.

If the trailer is a breaked trailer you may tow upto the kirb weight of the vehicle upto a maximum combined weight of 3500kg (so if you get pulled and taken to a weigh bridge when you park on it the whole lot must weight less than 3500kg). The kirb weight is worked out as above and must still be reduced for additional luggage or passangers.

[jack_marshall]

Okily dokily.

Anyone think the back end of a Mini with a tubular towing hitch, no roof and luggage such as tent, sleeping bags, general camping stuff will exceed 300kg?

[mini1976]

Ive got no idea how much the back end would weigh, but would you retain the rear subframe? and if you did couldnt you make it a breaked trailer pretty easily and then you can tow upto 600kg (if that is the kirb weight of a mini). Also you could only put 300kg in the trailer if your mini was empty and if the mini is empty then why would you be taking the trailer?

To be totally honest as long as you arent silly about how much you tow I wouldnt worry about it too much. Yes the law states half the kirb weight unbreaked and less then the weight of the car breaked but i dont know anyone who has even been stopped for towing too much (and i know quite a few people who do tow too much).

[jack_marshall]

Yes I would keep the subframe for ease of build really.

I dont think I would go down the braked route, because I wont be carrying anything heavy at all. I think it should be fine.

Thanks everyone for the help!

[biggav]

if in doubt, why do some training and take the B + E test? at least you'll be sure, and won't have any embaracing jack knifes and smashed lights etc etc etc

[Jake Blues]

If you got your B Category (car) licence after 1st January 1997 then you MUST take an additional test to be allowed to tow a trailer.

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

[mini1976]

If you got your B Category (car) licence after 1st January 1997 then you MUST take an additional test to be allowed to tow a trailer.

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

Thats not true, you are allowed to tow a trailer but only upto what is pecified below. If you wish to tow more than this then you need to do additional tests.

"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."

I believe that even if you have done these entitelments you still couldnt tow any more with a mini as you would still only be able to tow upto the weight of the car, the extra test would only be benifical if you have a heavy vehicle as then you could tow more than 3500kg total weight of vehical and trailer.

[Jake Blues]

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

Thats not true,

How's it not true? I cut and pasted it from the DVLA link above!!

We had a major issue with this when I was in the Army when this law came into force. Before we could just take the relevant test, Cat B - Land Rover or Cat C HGV 3 for example and then just hitch up a trailer to the vehicle and off we go to war. Suddenly we had to get all the new drivers post Jan 97 to take an extra test. In fact we put everyone through a full driving course with tests from B to C then C+E (because it was easier and more cost effective. Fortunately the Armed Forces are exempt the age restriction on HGV so it wasn't a problem for the under 21s.)

I thought that everyone knew about this? It has been in force for more than nine years and anyone passing a test since then would have been told about it surely?

The weight limits refer to what you are allowed to tow ONCE you have the entitlement. The link above is very clear if you read it all (3 or 4 times in my case!)

[jack_marshall]

"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."

That to me says, If I want to trailor more than 750kg I need to take an additional test. The trailor will no way weigh that amount.

I think I shall e-mail them.

EDIT- Emailed!

[Jake Blues]

Yes, but, and if I'm understanding it right, the weight limit only applies once you've got the entitlement to drive.
I'll post the quote again:

2. 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.
Category B:
Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to 8 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.