Train weight !

[confused.com]

Any advice here is appreciated.

Looking to buy a motorhome 3.5 T but with something that has an overall train weight north of 6 tonne.

Unfortunately I have the new style cornflake licence.

 

[DandG5515]

Train weight is vehicle + trailer, hence you can only drive at train weight 3.5t

 

[confused.com]

Incorrect

It is the accumulated mass of the unladen weight of your vehicle + the payload capacity of your vehicle + the unladen weight of any trailer being towed as well as the maximum payload capacity of that trailer.

 

[RandallC]

Sorry, your licence says 3.5T hence that’s all you can drive including car/motorhome & caravan/trailer.

to do what you want you will need to upgrade you licence.

 

[2657]

Sorry, your licence says 3.5T hence that’s all you can drive including car/motorhome & caravan/trailer.

to do what you want you will need to upgrade you licence.

Completely wrong

Towing with a car

Towing trailers, caravans and horseboxes with a car, including the weight and size limits, and what licence you need to have

www.gov.uk

Driving licence categories

Driving licence categories - entitlements on your licence and what vehicles you can drive - cars, motorcycles, mopeds, medium and large lorries, minibuses and buses.

www.gov.uk

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[Speve]

Sorry, your licence says 3.5T hence that’s all you can drive including car/motorhome & caravan/trailer.

to do what you want you will need to upgrade you licence.

I think you will find he can tow an unbraked trailer up to max gvw 750kg with a 3500 kg van

 

[Jamesh]

I think you will find he can tow an unbraked trailer up to max gvw 750kg with a 3500 kg van

Correct.

If he has b+e he can tow 3500kg + 3500kg trailer dependant upon the towing vehicle. Most likely a pvc.

C+e can tow 7500kg + 3500kg I think.

Cheers James

 

[Stoosal]

Any advice here is appreciated.

Looking to buy a motorhome 3.5 T but with something that has an overall train weight north of 6 tonne.

Unfortunately I have the new style cornflake licence.

Can you just confirm what categories you actually have on your license.....I am assuming you hold only a B car license obtained post 1997......? No B+E or C1E etc......?

 

[Speve]

Correct.

If he has b+e he can tow 3500kg + 3500kg trailer dependant upon the towing vehicle. Most likely a pvc.

C+e can tow 7500kg + 3500kg I think.

Cheers James

Your quote is not quite correct.

Category B - if you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997​

You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg).

You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not more than 3,500kg.

Basically your towing vehicle can be lighter and trailer heavier but not exceed max 3500kg

 

[Grummyb]

The OP is looking to buy a 3500kg van with a train weight in excess of 6 tonne which pretty sure he can drive without any problems he doesn't mention anywhere that he wants to actually tow with it

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[RandallC]

Completely wrong

Towing with a car

Towing trailers, caravans and horseboxes with a car, including the weight and size limits, and what licence you need to have

www.gov.uk

Driving licence categories

Driving licence categories - entitlements on your licence and what vehicles you can drive - cars, motorcycles, mopeds, medium and large lorries, minibuses and buses.

www.gov.uk

Shall check tomorrow but think your wrong.

 

[2657]

Shall check tomorrow but think your wrong.

Several posts above show the quotes from the links that I put up showing a cat B licence holder can tow a trailer up to 750k, giving a max possible train weight of 4250k ........or........a heavier trailer but the combination's train weight must not be more than 3500k

 

[Grummyb]

Several posts above show the quotes from the links that I put up showing a cat B licence holder can tow a trailer up to 750k, giving a max possible train weight of 4250k ........or........a heavier trailer but the combination's train weight must not be more than 3500k

I think the combinations train weight can be 4250 kgs otherwise you wouldn't be able to drive a 3500kg van with a 750kg trailer

 

[jongood]

Its a long time since Ive seen so many inaccuracies in one thread.

C+e can tow 7500kg + 3500kg I think.

Cheers James

This one takes the prize though - In simple terms C + E is an Artic Licence

 

[jongood]

Any advice here is appreciated.

Looking to buy a motorhome 3.5 T but with something that has an overall train weight north of 6 tonne.

Unfortunately I have the new style cornflake licence.

Practically - Most 3500kgs motorhomes with a 2500kgs trailer behind would be a bit of a nightmare to drive, if you are looking to tow a big heavy trailer you either need a bigger Mh with twin RWD or a 4x4.

It might help if you stated the purpose, is it a race car or similar?

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[Jamesh]

Its a long time since Ive seen so many inaccuracies in one thread.

This one takes the prize though - In simple terms C + E is an Artic Licence

Thanks I'm glad I got the wooden spoon!

What class is 7.5t then?

Edited C1 then - but cannot tow 3.5t only 750kg.

Cheers James

 

[2657]

I think the combinations train weight can be 4250 kgs otherwise you wouldn't be able to drive a 3500kg van with a 750kg trailer

That is what I said in my post!
I also said that it is also possible to tow a trailer heavier than 750k on a Cat B licence as long as the combination weight is no more than 3500k, I will add for clarity, and the weight of the trailer is within the legal capabilities of the towing vehicle.

 

[pappajohn]

I think you will find he can tow an unbraked trailer up to max gvw 750kg with a 3500 kg van

Very unlikely to happen in the motorhome world.

Licences issued from 1 January 1997​

If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997 you can:

• drive a car or van up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
• tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg

 

[glenn2926]

Correct.

If he has b+e he can tow 3500kg + 3500kg trailer dependant upon the towing vehicle. Most likely a pvc.

C+e can tow 7500kg + 3500kg I think.

Cheers James

C+E is 44tonne artic, wagon and drag etc. STGO is even heavier.

 

[pappajohn]

Thanks I'm glad I got the wooden spoon!

What class is 7.5t then?

Edited C1 then - but cannot tow 3.5t only 750kg.

Cheers James

Unless you have C1+E then it's down to train weight.

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[fesuvious]

If it's a post 97 standard license,

Maximum trailer weight 750kg no matter what you tow it with.

Maximum gross weight of the vehicle you can drive is 3500kg.

If you want to tow something heavier you'll need to get a trailer test done.

If you go do your HGV then you'll get Category C and also C1, and indeed C1E. It is C1E that'll let you tow the train weight you ask about

C1E is max train weight of 12T. In the real world this'll be 7500kg towing 3500kg (gross weight).

To tow any trailer heavier than 3500kg you'll need an artic license (C&E)

 

[jongood]

If it's a post 97 standard license,

Maximum trailer weight 750kg no matter what you tow it with.

Maximum gross weight of the vehicle you can drive is 3500kg.

If you want to tow something heavier you'll need to get a trailer test done.

If you go do your HGV then you'll get Category C and also C1, and indeed C1E. It is C1E that'll let you tow the train weight you ask about

C1E is max train weight of 12T. In the real world this'll be 7500kg towing 3500kg (gross weight).

To tow any trailer heavier than 3500kg you'll need an artic license (C&E)

I'm pretty sure C1 +E would enable you to tow any trailer behind a 7500kgs, as long as you don't exceed the train weight. The 3500kgs trailer limit would only apply if on overrun brakes, over this you would need linked (i.e air) brakes.

 

[tacr2man]

From the horses mouth

Driving licence categories

Driving licence categories - entitlements on your licence and what vehicles you can drive - cars, motorcycles, mopeds, medium and large lorries, minibuses and buses.

www.gov.uk

 

[2657]

confused.com it's no wonder you are confused, you have two threads with the same title running at the same time

 

[2657]

From the horses mouth

Driving licence categories

Driving licence categories - entitlements on your licence and what vehicles you can drive - cars, motorcycles, mopeds, medium and large lorries, minibuses and buses.

www.gov.uk

Bit slow out of the traps there see post#5

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[fesuvious]

I'm pretty sure C1 +E would enable you to tow any trailer behind a 7500kgs, as long as you don't exceed the train weight. The 3500kgs trailer limit would only apply if on overrun brakes, over this you would need linked (i.e air) brakes.

Yes&No. C1E is max train weight of 12tonne.
But, given that the max you can tow on this is 3.5T it automatically means 7.5T is the max weight of the tow vehicle

Category C1 is for vehicles up to 7.5T
E is towing,

Max towing without 'C' (Big boy HGV - rigid vehicle) is 3500kg.

Hence C1E is 7500kg max rigid vehicle with a trailer up to your maximum authorised limit of 3500kg.

12000kg train.

I have all categories......

 

[jongood]

Yes&No. C1E is max train weight of 12tonne.
But, given that the max you can tow on this is 3.5T it automatically means 7.5T is the max weight of the tow vehicle

Category C1 is for vehicles up to 7.5T
E is towing,

Max towing without 'C' (Big boy HGV - rigid vehicle) is 3500kg.

Hence C1E is 7500kg max rigid vehicle with a trailer up to your maximum authorised limit of 3500kg.

12000kg train.

I have all categories......

I know exactly what the categories mean Ive had C & E for 30 years. In a previous business one of the trucks I used to operate was a 7500kgs rigid with a 3500kgs trailer behind it, and I'm pretty sure we could have gone a bit heavier but it meant going to air brakes and a heavier trailer. In fact I'm pretty sure some operators used to run 7500 rigids with disproportionally large trailer behind them that I think were heavier than the prime mover, but hey rules change.

But why would you have a train of 12 tonnes if you cant use it?

 

[Jamesh]

If it's a post 97 standard license,

Maximum trailer weight 750kg no matter what you tow it with.

Maximum gross weight of the vehicle you can drive is 3500kg.

If you want to tow something heavier you'll need to get a trailer test done.

If you go do your HGV then you'll get Category C and also C1, and indeed C1E. It is C1E that'll let you tow the train weight you ask about

C1E is max train weight of 12T. In the real world this'll be 7500kg towing 3500kg (gross weight).

To tow any trailer heavier than 3500kg you'll need an artic license (C&E)

Not true on a B license you can tow upto 3.5t gtw where the max vehicle mass + trailer mass is 3.5t or less.

Or you can tow up to 750kg unbraked.

Cheers James

 

[RandallC]

Very unlikely to happen in the motorhome world.

Licences issued from 1 January 1997​

If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997 you can:

• drive a car or van up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
• tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg

Pappajohn.

Beat me to it.

I was not quite right with the gross train weight limit of 3500kg. Had been assuming max was 3500 but hadn't realised that a 750kg trailer could be added. As you also say if the trailer (toad, caravan, motorbike etc) is over 750kg then the 3500kg limit applies to the sum of both.

Could be interesting to see how many thought they could have a van up to 3500 and stick a Toad on the back or have already done so and been driving around with an invalid licence and therefore insurance.

Which raises a similar issue in that recent insurance search and T&Cs reviews has highlighted that you may not be insured if you drive with a train weight over your licence entitlement.

 

[2657]

If it's a post 97 standard license,

Maximum trailer weight 750kg no matter what you tow it with.

Maximum gross weight of the vehicle you can drive is 3500kg.

If you want to tow something heavier you'll need to get a trailer test done.

If you go do your HGV then you'll get Category C and also C1, and indeed C1E. It is C1E that'll let you tow the train weight you ask about

C1E is max train weight of 12T. In the real world this'll be 7500kg towing 3500kg (gross weight).

To tow any trailer heavier than 3500kg you'll need an artic license (C&E)

Your first two sentences are simply incorrect.
There are several posts with links and pasted quotes saying that heavier trailers can be towed on a post'97 Cat B licence as long as the combination train weight does not exceed 3500 k.