Towing weight
- Thread starter Danmac203
- Start date
Barclay-89
Member
That's fine to tow as long as you don't exceed the maximum your van can tow.
ive got lorry trailers that are capable of carrying 16ton but the vehicle has a MAM of 32ton and with a trailer 44ton MAM....as long as together the full weight is no more than 44t then it's fine.
If it wasn't then Brian James would be making 1000 different weight capacity trailers to suit every car lol
ive got lorry trailers that are capable of carrying 16ton but the vehicle has a MAM of 32ton and with a trailer 44ton MAM....as long as together the full weight is no more than 44t then it's fine.
If it wasn't then Brian James would be making 1000 different weight capacity trailers to suit every car lol
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Barclay-89
Member
"Where the sum of the maximum plated weights of the towing vehicle and of the trailer added together exceed the plated GCW of the towing vehicle, this is not a problem as long as the ‘actual’ weights of the vehicle and trailer (which may not be fully laden at the time) do not exceed the plated GCW."
Taken from https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...e-basics#the-capability-of-the-towing-vehicle
Taken from https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...e-basics#the-capability-of-the-towing-vehicle
eddie_r32
Member
I may be wrong here but isn't gcw different to towing capacity? I just had to do my animal transport certificate for all this and was told that the trailer plate is what they will go off not everyone carries weigh scales so if your vehicle has 2.8t towing capacity and the trailer is rated to 3.5t they can do you for weight.
Nutter
Member
Basic principles of this convo
Trailer weight empty + Weight being loaded onto trailer = total weight to be towed.
Total weight being towed..... is that greater than the plated tow weight on the van? If so its illegal.
For example
Tow Car Capacity 2t
Trailer empty weight 1t
Weight to be carried on the trailer 1.5t
Total weight your trying to tow is 2.5t. Your van isn't plated to be able to tow 2.5t. It is only allowed to tow 2t.
Also note your trailer will be plated to carry a certain weight and this must be adhered to or else VOSA will not be happy.
If you need any more help drop me a pm.
Trailer weight empty + Weight being loaded onto trailer = total weight to be towed.
Total weight being towed..... is that greater than the plated tow weight on the van? If so its illegal.
For example
Tow Car Capacity 2t
Trailer empty weight 1t
Weight to be carried on the trailer 1.5t
Total weight your trying to tow is 2.5t. Your van isn't plated to be able to tow 2.5t. It is only allowed to tow 2t.
Also note your trailer will be plated to carry a certain weight and this must be adhered to or else VOSA will not be happy.
If you need any more help drop me a pm.
eddie_r32
Member
NTTA - Trailer Law - Matching the Trailer with the Towing Vehicle
That link is linked from the .Gov website, the third point says:
"Check that the Trailer Gross Weight does not exceed the Towing Capacity of the Towing vehicle."
if that is law or advisory it does not say, but seeing as you a professional driver i wouldn't want to risk it, just in case!
Think you can replate trailers with a lower MGW? may be worth a call to the manufacturer
That link is linked from the .Gov website, the third point says:
"Check that the Trailer Gross Weight does not exceed the Towing Capacity of the Towing vehicle."
if that is law or advisory it does not say, but seeing as you a professional driver i wouldn't want to risk it, just in case!
Think you can replate trailers with a lower MGW? may be worth a call to the manufacturer
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Is the important bit of missing data here the weight of the trailer?
The van can tow: 2000kg
Train weight: 3500kg
Van weight: ???
Trailer Weight: ???
Car weight: 1250kg
Assuming the van, when loaded and towing, is less than 1500kg (check this), that leaves you the full 2 tonne trailer + load weight
So, as long as the full weight of trailer + whats on the trailer is less than 2 tonne AND your van is less than 1.5 tonne, then you should be fine.
Long and short of it:
Everything together must be less than 3500kg
Trailer + trailer load must be less than 2000kg
Unless someone disagrees? Or im misunderstanding
The van can tow: 2000kg
Train weight: 3500kg
Van weight: ???
Trailer Weight: ???
Car weight: 1250kg
Assuming the van, when loaded and towing, is less than 1500kg (check this), that leaves you the full 2 tonne trailer + load weight
So, as long as the full weight of trailer + whats on the trailer is less than 2 tonne AND your van is less than 1.5 tonne, then you should be fine.
Long and short of it:
Everything together must be less than 3500kg
Trailer + trailer load must be less than 2000kg
Unless someone disagrees? Or im misunderstanding
eddie_r32
Member
The issue is the trailer has a max weight of 3.5t, but the van can tow 2t, so as not all police carry scales they have to assume that the trailer is at its max weight, it's a stupid law and a lot of the time common sense will come into it, but if you get a new plate downgrading the trailer to 2t then everything is alright
Is that actually in the law Eddie? Thats mental if it is. Surely if they didnt have scales but suspected it was over they would have to get you to go to a weigh station. Otherwise they have no actual evidence that you are overweight.
It seems like not risking it is what to do anyway! Im just intrigued
It seems like not risking it is what to do anyway! Im just intrigued
