Towing weights

Alshymer

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Hello
Can someone settle a disagreement I have with a friend?
He has a 3500kg motorhome but because he tows a trailer, he thinks that the trailer is part of the gross weight of the vehicle and therefore, as he is over 70, every 3 years he has a £120 medical to keep his 7.5 ton license!!
Surely you can tow a trailer up to the permitted towing weight that the motorhome allows without an upgrade in license?
Please tell us which of us is wrong.
Regards
 

Category BE​

You can drive a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500kg with a trailer.

The size of the trailer depends on the BE ‘valid from’ date shown on your licence. If the date is:

  • before 19 January 2013, you can tow any size trailer within the towing limits of the vehicle
  • on or after 19 January 2013, you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500kg within the towing limits of the vehicle
 
Nope, he needs to look at the gross train weight (on the slam panel) and if it is OVER 3.5t with the trailer he needs the medical etc
 
Are you saying that you think that you can’t tow anything behind a 3.5tonne motorhome after 70 without a medical?
Regards
 

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Alshymer said:
Are you saying that you think that you can’t tow anything behind a 3.5tonne motorhome after 70 without a medical?
Regards
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No, nothing to do with the plated weight, it's the physical weight, if the 3.5t plated weight is actually (unlikely) only say 2t then in theory if his licence allows he can tow up to 1.5t
 
I'll be another who thinks he is wrong.

My understanding would be. You can drive a vehicle with max 3500GVW + a trailer up to the vehicle GTW, but no more than 8.25 tonnes.
Most 3500 kg vehicles (certainly not the ones many MH's are based on) wouldn't a GTW as high as 8250 KG though.
 
That’s my understanding but Pudsey seems to think it is just a total train weight of 3500kgs. I am quite confused!!😩😩
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Nope, he needs to look at the gross train weight (on the slam panel) and if it is OVER 3.5t with the trailer he needs the medical etc
Click to expand...

I disagree with you.

I agree with @yeoblade

yeoblade said:

Category BE​

You can drive a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500kg with a trailer.
The size of the trailer depends on the BE ‘valid from’ date shown on your licence. If the date is:
  • before 19 January 2013, you can tow any size trailer within the towing limits of the vehicle
  • on or after 19 January 2013, you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500kg within the towing limits of the vehicle
Click to expand...

The only thing he missed is that for unbraked trailers the trailer MAM is 750 kg irrespective of your licence date.

I gave up my C1 when I started injecting Insulin.

My MoHO is MAM 3500 / GTW 5000, my unbraked trailer 500kg
 
As I said (I think) it depends on his licence if he doesn't keep it he will be limited I let mine go but if I had kept it my GTW would be 7.5t with a 4 wheel braked trailer, or was when I drove a 3.5t sprinter with a 4 wheel braked trailer almost every day, maybe it's upped now.
 
mark61 said:
Until I see something that changes my mind, my money is on it is Pudsey being confused. :) :p :LOL:
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Who moi, meh could be, it's all on the data plate what the vehicle can do regardless of anything else and what he can do depends on his licence.

Just another thing I have had two "3.5t" vans that were actually only 3.3t so make sure of that too
 
Pudsey Bear said:
As I said (I think) it depends on his licence if he doesn't keep it he will be limited I let mine go but if I had kept it my GTW would be 7.5t with a 4 wheel braked trailer, or was when I drove a 3.5t sprinter with a 4 wheel braked trailer almost every day, maybe it's upped now.
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I'm guessing what you let go where your C1 & D1 entitlements?
That doesn't mean you can't tow with a 3.5 tonne vehicle.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Who moi, meh could be, it's all on the data plate what the vehicle can do regardless of anything else and what he can do depends on his licence.

Just another thing I have had two "3.5t" vans that were actually only 3.3t so make sure of that too
Click to expand...
Yes, you can't always tell GVW by the model number, so checking plate is important.

A Sprinter 313 for eg, could be 3300GVW, 3500GVW, 3800GVW, maybe a couple of other weights too.
 
mark61 said:
Yes, you can't always tell GVW by the model number, so checking plate is important.

A Sprinter 313 for eg, could be 3300GVW, 3500GVW, 3800GVW, maybe a couple of other weights too.
Click to expand...
I got pulled on the A1 into a weighing station up near Scocth Corner yonks, I was 180 kilos over so they nicked me, they said I should know my weights and I do, however I didn't check the plate when I bought this van , it was only 3,3t and neither did the company I bought it from, I got a letter from them and the company I was carrying for and I got off with £70 costs, lesson learned.
 
"Category BE
You can drive a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500kg with a trailer.

The size of the trailer depends on the BE ‘valid from’ date shown on your licence. If the date is:

  • before 19 January 2013, you can tow any size trailer within the towing limits of the vehicle
  • on or after 19 January 2013, you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500kg within the towing limits of the vehicle"
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 www.gov.uk

"Towing weight and width limits
Most cars have a maximum weight they can tow. It’s usually listed in the handbook or specification sheet.
Alternatively the vehicle’s ‘gross train weight’ may be listed on the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate on the car. This is normally under the bonnet or inside the driver’s door.
The gross train weight is the weight of the fully-loaded car plus fully-loaded trailer and must not be exceeded.
If your VIN plate does not list a train weight, you should not use your vehicle for towing.

Maximum width​

The maximum trailer width for any towing vehicle is 2.55 metres.

Maximum length​

If your vehicle’s maximum authorised mass (MAM) is 3,500kg or less, you cannot tow a trailer that’s longer than 7 metres."

www.gov.uk

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 www.gov.uk
 
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