towing rules and classics

[3crispies]

Thinking of towing of 70s beetle ocassionally, now from research it weighs 800kgs but obviously cant be ecu braked, whereas if we converted wifes Aygo it could be except the Aygo would be £2500+. What are the rules as struggling to find it obviously its not classed as broken down so an old style A frame is not supposed to be used, the newer sort wont fit due to chassis layout and dont want a trailor just not sure where we stand with towing. It would only be ocassional where site is remote. Would take bikes but we have a large dog before it get mentioned.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Cant answer your towing question but if you don’t get the answer you need then I saw a nice BMW and side car unit with a lovely great big German Shepard sat in it.

 

[Carpmart]

If it were under 750kg it wouldn’t need to be braked. Are you certain on the weight of the Beetle?

 

[Lenny HB]

If it were under 750kg it wouldn’t need to be braked. Are you certain on the weight of the Beetle?

The 750 kg applies to Gross plated weight not the actual weight.

 

[Carpmart]

The 750 kg applies to Gross plated weight not the actual weight.

Good point…

Is this another grey area then when flat towing? I’ve only got a licence for a train weight of 8250kg.

The little Aygo we flat tow (it becomes a trailer at this point) is around 900kg actual weight as we tow it, when added to the actual weight of the MH, this is within 8250kg. If you apply gross vehicle weight of 1240kg for the Aygo, I’m probably, on occasion running overweight for my licence (well under for vehicle train weight)

The reality would be that I was neither over the vehicle plated weight, the axle weight or the total 8250kg if it were actually weighed…

So would a roadside VOSA check work off actual or plated? I’ve been assuming actual as it’s a braked trailer and they would measure the actual weight of my whole train to determine I was complying with my 8250 licence conditions?

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[dunnah01]

Any check would work off plated weights and you'd need to have C1E rights to tow up to combined MAM of 12,000kg. These were grandfather rights for pre 97 oldies but you sound like one of them young 'uns or really old 'uns if you only have Cat B

 

[Carpmart]

Any check would work off plated weights and you'd need to have C1E rights to tow up to combined MAM of 12,000kg. These were grandfather rights for pre 97 oldies but you sound like one of them young 'uns or really old 'uns if you only have Cat B

Where do you get 12,000kg form? C1E is up to 8250kg combined, see below!

TBH I am still unclear… As a TOAD is actually being towed and no longer a vehicle in its own right, is it the Gross Vehicle (trailer) weight which is used in a VOSA roadside check, or the actual weight of the braked trailer (the car in this case)

 

[jongood]

Where do you get 12,000kg form? C1E is up to 8250kg combined, see below!

View attachment 649977

TBH I am still unclear… As a TOAD is actually being towed and no longer a vehicle in its own right, is it the Gross Vehicle (trailer) weight which is used in a VOSA roadside check, or the actual weight of the braked trailer (the car in this case)

As long as it doesnt look dangerous I don't think they would bother, it would be too complicated. There is separate legislation for towed vehicles that are incapable of carrying a load. They re much more interested in overloaded CV's or serious defects.

 

[dunnah01]

Where do you get 12,000kg form? C1E is up to 8250kg combined, see below!

View attachment 649977

TBH I am still unclear… As a TOAD is actually being towed and no longer a vehicle in its own right, is it the Gross Vehicle (trailer) weight which is used in a VOSA roadside check, or the actual weight of the braked trailer (the car in this case)

From Gov.uk web site

Medium-sized vehicles​

Category C1​

You can drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg MAM (with a trailer up to 750kg).

Category C1E​

You can drive C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.

The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000kg.

No mention of the pre 97 restriction that I can see on there although never got anywhere near it being a problem for me so haven't looked too hard.

 

[62272]

Where do you get 12,000kg form? C1E is up to 8250kg combined, see below!

View attachment 649977

TBH I am still unclear… As a TOAD is actually being towed and no longer a vehicle in its own right, is it the Gross Vehicle (trailer) weight which is used in a VOSA roadside check, or the actual weight of the braked trailer (the car in this case)

The authorities would have regard to the plated gross vehicle weight (and train weight if relevant) stamped/printed on the manufacturers’ plates for these purposes (also referred to as the Maximum Authorised Mass). This is regardless of the actual weight of the vehicle or trailer itself. That is why many will have vehicles re-plated (down plated) but that would affect how much you would be permitted to carry.

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[3crispies]

If it were under 750kg it wouldn’t need to be braked. Are you certain on the weight of the Beetle?

Will try and get it weighed, if I can get it under 750kgs could I get something like

this ?

Engine Location :	Rear
Drive Type :	Rear Wheel
Production Years for Series :	1938 - 1980
Price :	$2,300-$3,100
Weight :	1740 lbs | 789.251 kg

 

[Speve]

Will try and get it weighed, if I can get it under 750kgs could I get something like View attachment 649981 this ?

Engine Location :	Rear
Drive Type :	Rear Wheel
Production Years for Series :	1938 - 1980
Price :	$2,300-$3,100
Weight :	1740 lbs | 789.251 kg

You could but the A frame would have to be added to car weight it would be easier to get a trailer you don’t mention what vehicle you are using to tow with and it’s GVW & GVTW?

 

[62272]

It does get a bit confusing when trying to decipher what legislation refers to what.

for the purposes of driving licence authorisation then the GVW/GTW (MAM) are relevant for the drawing vehicle and separately the trailer (combined).

For the purpose of drawing an unbraked trailer, then according to the Construction and Use regulations 1986 :

Trailers of which the sum of the axle weights—
7	does not exceed 750 kg.	O1

I would suggest this would include the drawbar (A frame kit attached), as that is how it would be as a trailer.

 

[phil1946]

AND > > > > >

Even if under 750Kg any wheel fitted with brakes must contribute to the braking.

 

[3crispies]

You could but the A frame would have to be added to car weight it would be easier to get a trailer you don’t mention what vehicle you are using to tow with and it’s GVW & GVTW?

apologies Weinsberg compact and max load about 700kg and 2000kg towing.

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[3crispies]

AND > > > >

Even if under 750Kg any wheel fitted with brakes must contribute to the braking.

aaaaahhh, been spoilt with previous as had T6 camper so went anywhere and parked in car parks now looking at options in the UK as to whether to have a towbar fitted and pull our bug to site as we all know about parking in the UK.

 

[3crispies]

Last night on the Costas defo couldn't do this in MH and UK is not much better

 

[olley]

From Gov.uk web site

Medium-sized vehicles​

Category C1​

You can drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg MAM (with a trailer up to 750kg).

Category C1E​

You can drive C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg.

The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000kg.

No mention of the pre 97 restriction that I can see on there although never got anywhere near it being a problem for me so haven't looked too hard.

If you look on your licence you should have 107 at the end of the C1E list, this restricts you to a max weight of 750kgs if the vehicle weighs 7.5t. This is for grandfather rights guys like us, if you actually took a 7.5t test then you can go to 12t, if you don't have 107 then your golden.

Driving licence codes

Codes that DVLA places on your driving licence, and their explanations

www.gov.uk