Towing trailers

[november-whiskey]

Evening all, wee query with regards towing trailers on service vehicles.

If I want to tow a trailer less than 750kg on a service vehicle is my normal license sufficient (it permits me to do this) or would I be required to have the full +E category on it?

 

[busby1971]

You'll need it adding to your 600

Any misunderstandings above caused by predictive texf

 

[bigtrev952]

Depends what service vehicle you are towing it behind and what is also on your dvla licence including when you passed your test as that affects what dvla give you.

Back to my old mt days ! It would need to be added to your 600, the trailer category that is.

Dvla wise if you have a 107 restriction on your driving licence, that means maximum train weight of 8250kg, difficult to exceed with a land rover and trailer, but say a land rover and hydraulic rig you would be getting there weight wise, especially behind a towing tractor.

The weight that restricts your categories is the plated / design train weight, not what it ways at the time, so it's what it can carry, not what it weighs.

On a car licence thats 8250kg. Same with cat c&e with a 107 restriction.

 

[Ex Tg3]

Because you don't have the BE on your licence already means you passed after Jan '97. Your Max Auth Mass (MAM) is 4250kgs. For arguments sake your trailer limit is 750kgs (gross inc load) plated weight.

I'm sure the 800 and MTIs state you must be licenced, in which case you are, however my recent experience with MT sections is they don't know their arse from their elbow and you need to present the rules to them, or demand they provide a driver.

As has been said you need to be familiarisation trained on the trailer too which MTT&L should be able to sort ;-)

 

[Big Jock]

I assume by "normal licence" you mean your Cat B.
Taken from https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories :

Category B
You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg).
You can also tow heavier trailers if the total weight of vehicle and trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg. The fully loaded trailer can’t weigh more than the unladen vehicle (this only applies to licences issued before 19 January 2013).

Category B+E
You can drive a category B vehicle with a trailer when they have a combined weight over 3,500kg.

As has already been said you will have to have been familiarised by MTTT&L and the trailer added to your FMT600.

 

[november-whiskey]

Thanks for the responses guys.

My main thought had been that I would need a '+E' cat to tow any trailer although from what you've all said that's not an issue. I'd be towing it behind a car and the trailer's plated at 750kg.

Ex TG3 I'll keep your recent experience in mind and go politely armed with the facts just in case (would JSP 800 be the place to look?).

 

[Ex Tg3]

800 refers to the MoD assuming responsibily for insurance when towing a privately owned trailer behind a Service vehicle, just as your private car insurance covers trailer 3rd party. There is an MT instruction (don't have leaflet ref to hand) which describes which private trailers are towed and how they should be maintained. In summary, if privately owned, must be operated within design parameters (not overweight) and in a roadworthy condition.

Ultimately it is the drivers responsibility to ensure the vehicle and load is in a roadworthy condition. You will still need the towing vehicle and the trailer on your 600 though.