Re plating my trailer from 1300kg to 1200kg

[Ian.s]

My motorhomes MAM is 7000kg and trailer MAM is 1300kg. This makes my weight 100kg over the legal limit. I will never need the full 1300kg capacity. Anybody know how to change the plates legally

 

[pappajohn]

You don't need to alter it and there's no way except maybe contact the manufacture and request a new plate. .
I've been under the impression for years it was the gross trailer weight taken into account but evidently it isn't. It's the actual weight when loaded which applies and nothing to do with train weights.
The plated weight is simply the maximum weight for the trailer and shouldn't be exceeded.
If you really want to change it just buy a blank plate of ebay and engrave it then stick it on the trailer.

 

[Ian.s]

You don't need to alter it and there's no way except maybe contact the manufacture and request a new plate. .
I've been under the impression for years it was the gross trailer weight taken into account but evidently it isn't. It's the actual weight when loaded which applies and nothing to do with train weights.
The plated weight is simply the maximum weight for the trailer and shouldn't be exceeded.
If you really want to change it just buy a blank plate of ebay and engrave it then stick it on the trailer.

I appreciate the reply however its the MAM combined according to a conversation with the DVLA today. I could drive the trailer and the motorhome completely empty but the two combined MAM weights are the ones that count.

 

[Ian.s]

I appreciate the reply however its the MAM combined according to a conversation with the DVLA today. I could drive the trailer and the motorhome completely empty but the two combined MAM weights are the ones that count.

Friday not today

 

[busbuddy]

I appreciate the reply however its the MAM combined according to a conversation with the DVLA today. I could drive the trailer and the motorhome completely empty but the two combined MAM weights are the ones that count.

News to me, and a lot of other people I'm thinking

If your motorhome is 5t and your trailer is 2t then as long as no maximum weights are exceeded it's fine even if the trailer (for arguments sake) has a mam of 10t your 7.5t licence is ok
Young people with the 3.5t limit on their licence can have a 2t car with a trailer weighing 1.5t and be ok even if the trailer has a mam of 4t
Not heard of any change recently
Commercially you can tow a trailer behind a 7.5t truck as long as the combined weight is not more than 8250t even if the trailer has a mam of 5t

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[Ian.s]

News to me, and a lot of other people I'm thinking
As long as your licence category allows the weight then mam dont count
If your motorhome is 5t and your trailer is 2t then as long as no maximum weights are exceeded it's fine even if the trailer (for arguments sake) has a mam of 10t your 7.5t licence is ok
Young people with the 3.5t limit on their licence can have a 2t car with a trailer weighing 1.5t and be ok even if the trailer has a mam of 4t

Unfortunately thats wrong, I needed my son to take the trailer for me with his car. He can only tow 750kg. We contacted the local boys in blue and asked if this was possible as it would be empty. They said no. You have to go by the maximum authorised mass. This stops them having to weigh every vehicle they stop.

 

[busbuddy]

News to me, and a lot of other people I'm thinking
As long as your licence category allows the weight then mam dont count
If your motorhome is 5t and your trailer is 2t then as long as no maximum weights are exceeded it's fine even if the trailer (for arguments sake) has a mam of 10t your 7.5t licence is ok
Young people with the 3.5t limit on their licence can have a 2t car with a trailer weighing 1.5t and be ok even if the trailer has a mam of 4t

Unfortunately thats wrong, I needed my son to take the trailer for me with his car. He can only tow 750kg. We contacted the local boys in blue and asked if this was possible as it would be empty. They said no. You have to go by the maximum authorised mass. This stops them having to weigh every vehicle they stop.

My partners son tows a 1.5t trailer for work on a 3.5t young persons licence, like I said ........news to me

 

[busbuddy]

So I cant be as dramatic as 5t mam trailer but if it's a 2t car with 1.5t trailer the youngsters are fine

 

[Grummyb]

It is definitely the combined mam of the vehicle and trailer and on an old styme ordinary car licence with 7.5 tonne entitlement you can drive a max train weight of 8250kgs

 

[Ian.s]

My partners son tows a 1.5t trailer for work on a 3.5t young persons licence, like I said ........news to me

I hope you're right. Both the DVLA and the police have confirmed this with me.... as they say every days a school day. My original post was to find out how to re plate. Im squared away with law, I do however thank you for your help

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[Grummyb]

I think but probably best to ask DVLA you can do a voluntary downplate on your tow vehicle without having to do anything other than fill in and submit the vtg form and you only have to loose 50kgs to get to the legal limit

 

[busbuddy]

Not done commercial towing for a while so I will hold my hand up and admit I'm wrong on that

 

[Ian.s]

It is definitely the combined mam of the vehicle and trailer and on an old styme ordinary car licence with 7.5 tonne entitlement you can drive a max train weight of 8250kgs

So if the max is 8250kg and my MH is 7000 mam and the trailer 1300kg Im only fifty kg over. still need to re plate

 

[busbuddy]

I hope you're right. Both the DVLA and the police have confirmed this with me.... as they say every days a school day. My original post was to find out how to re plate. Im squared away with law, I do however thank you for your help

The link is straight from dvla website, the youngsters can tow a trailer over 750kg if the combined mam is not over their 3.5t limit

 

[Ian.s]

The link is straight from dvla website, the youngsters can tow a trailer over 750kg if the combined mam is not over their 3.5t limit

Indeed he can but the 1300 would have taken him over the max of 3500

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[busbuddy]

The trailer manufacturer should be able to sort you a new plate as long as you not going up in weight, ifor definitely do it

 

[busbuddy]

My brain dont work as fast as my finger
Apologies for talking s****

 

[Grummyb]

I think but probably best to ask DVLA you can do a voluntary downplate on your tow vehicle without having to do anything other than fill in and submit the vtg form and you only ave to loose 50kgs to get to the legal limit

 

[Ian.s]

I think but probably best to ask DVLA you can do a voluntary downplate on your tow vehicle without having to do anything other than fill in and submit the vtg form and you only ave to loose 50kgs to get to the legal limit

ill try thats, thank you

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

As trailers are not registered or tested you only have to clearly mark the lower gross weight to achieve your aim when reducing the maximum. Increasing is far more difficult as the manufacturers would need to be involved.

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[Boris7]

Read the bit above drivers licience

Any manufacturer will issue a new down graded plate for a small fee.