Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: albitz on 13 March 2011, 17:24:49
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Ive never towed anything with my towbar, but in the next few days I need to hire a car trailer and go to East Sussex to pick up a car and bring it home.
A few things I need to check - speed limit while towing ? Would the trailer hire people normally include insurance in the cost of the hire ? do I need to tell my insurance company ? Any way of knowing my tow bar electrics are ok before going to collect the trailer ? Anything else I need to know ?
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I cant help on electrics check or anything, nor the speed limits (although i think its 60mph on motorway and 50 on dual? could be lying).
I can however ask you when you passed your test and if you are legally allowed to tow a trailer over 750kgs?
Trailer can be up to 750 before being braked i think, and anything after that you need to have a braked one. Especially for a car.
just things to check, more of an issue for me as i'm 22 and my license only covers up to 750 unless i take an extra test.
Same as me not being able to drive anything over 3500kgs total (including trailer) without taking a class C (7500kgs test).
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Speed limit - 50 Single carriage way, 60 dual carriage way. End of. ( a motorway is just a special dual carriage way)
Insurance .. your responsibility at all times. Hire company will not do it automaticaly but may arrange for a fee. Most fully comp insurance covers you whilst towing for 3rd party losses.
To check electrics go to a cravan servvice centre .. most of them have a plug in check board ... you may be able to blag a free check
As said ... unless you have "grandfather" rights or have taken a towing test you can only tow up to 750 Kgs .. and that includes the weight of the trailer. If you have BE on your licence you are OK .. if you don't .. its 750 Kg.
A car trailer I assume is to collect a car ... check the weights properly .. even if you have a BE licence it is illegal to tow above the max permitted weight for the car .. check the VIN plate, then check your trailer weight when loaded. If you exceed either max trailer weight OR the max train weight (car + loaded trailer) your are breaking the law and probably the conditions of insurance as well .. :(
HTH
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I cant help on electrics check or anything, nor the speed limits (although i think its 60mph on motorway and 50 on dual? could be lying).
I can however ask you when you passed your test and if you are legally allowed to tow a trailer over 750kgs?
Trailer can be up to 750 before being braked i think, and anything after that you need to have a braked one. Especially for a car.
Speed limits as set down in the Highway Code,I hope it helps
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Roadsafetyadvice/DG_178867
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I passed my test in 1978, so presume that will be ok. The trailer Im hoping to hire is a purpose built 4 wheel car trailer, so I presume it will be braked. :-/
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78' is fine lol
if its purpose built im sure it will be ok.
What car are yo collecting? because its weight will factor into the combined train weight of your car, the car trailer, and the car being carried.
This total has to be less the train weight set for the car.
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Speed limit - 50 Single carriage way, 60 dual carriage way. End of. ( a motorway is just a special dual carriage way)
Insurance .. your responsibility at all times. Hire company will not do it automaticaly but may arrange for a fee. Most fully comp insurance covers you whilst towing for 3rd party losses.
To check electrics go to a cravan servvice centre .. most of them have a plug in check board ... you may be able to blag a free check
As said ... unless you have "grandfather" rights or have taken a towing test you can only tow up to 750 Kgs .. and that includes the weight of the trailer. If you have BE on your licence you are OK .. if you don't .. its 750 Kg.
A car trailer I assume is to collect a car ... check the weights properly .. even if you have a BE licence it is illegal to tow above the max permitted weight for the car .. check the VIN plate, then check your trailer weight when loaded. If you exceed either max trailer weight OR the max train weight (car + loaded trailer) your are breaking the law and probably the conditions of insurance as well .. :(
HTH
You got there before me E
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Thanks for the answers chaps, legalities look a bit daunting.
Its an Omega elite - might look into having it delivered, rather than me collecting.
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http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/summary.aspx?model=985&page=2
here's the weight for various models, differs with engine and spec, so check.
But they are all within the 1640 to 1770kgs mark, So add this to the weight of the trailer and the weight of your car, and then check the plate under the bonnet, or the handbook and see.
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Thanks for the answers chaps, legalities look a bit daunting.
Its an Omega elite - might look into having it delivered, rather than me collecting.
An Omega elite on the back of another omega + trailer ... not a chance of being legal.. IMHO
I know several OOF members have done it, I did NOT say it can't be done ... all I'm saying is it is not legal or IMHO safe.
The law exists for a reason ... safety ... you may well state that "your" omega towed this weight without a problem .. it probably did becuse nothing "happened". The day the towed weight weighs more than the towcar anfd you have to stop in a hurry you will find out why the law is as it is. The "tail wagging the dog" that happens when the laws of physics and inertia decide to operate can and will frighten or kill you or others.
You are doing 30 .. a child steps off the kerb .. the trailer outweighs the car ..... you turn the wheel to miss the child and brake .....
pray tell me what happens next ??? ..... :(
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Got BE on my licence. Thinking I might be able to borrow a Movano from work to tow with ? :-/
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The train weight of my Omega 2.5td estate (greater towing allowance than petrol), is 3815kgs.
So breaking that down,
The car itself weighs 1560kgs, so say i doubled that....3120kgs, cars alone....
So for me the trailer would have to be less than 695kgs......
Not sure that it would be....but its possible.
(i wouldn't be allowed to do it because i'm limited to 3500 total)
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Your's is a CD IIRCC? Afraid there's no way you'll Legally be within the law towing an elite on a proper 4 wheel trailer :(
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Albs you will have C1E & D1E this covers you to tow.
Gross weight not exceeding 3500kg this includes the car doing the towing+trailor weight+the car on the trailor.
The car will have a max tow weight on the plate inside the drivers door this is the max you can tow UN BRAKED :y
try and get a L200 they can tow 3500kg
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Thanks for the answers chaps, legalities look a bit daunting.
Its an Omega elite - might look into having it delivered, rather than me collecting.
An Omega elite on the back of another omega + trailer ... not a chance of being legal.. IMHO
I know several OOF members have done it, I did NOT say it can't be done ... all I'm saying is it is not legal or IMHO safe.
The law exists for a reason ... safety ... you may well state that "your" omega towed this weight without a problem .. it probably did becuse nothing "happened". The day the towed weight weighs more than the towcar anfd you have to stop in a hurry you will find out why the law is as it is. The "tail wagging the dog" that happens when the laws of physics and inertia decide to operate can and will frighten or kill you or others.
You are doing 30 .. a child steps off the kerb .. the trailer outweighs the car ..... you turn the wheel to miss the child and brake .....
pray tell me what happens next ??? ..... :(
Absolutely illegal Nige - and unsafe too. ;)
As you rightly state: "Tail wagging the dog" and all that ........ :o
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I remember years ago one of the blokes from the pub towing a car trailer with a mark one Cavalier on it and using another Mark one Cavalier to tow it. All went swimmingly well until a slight downwards gradient on the motorway-the tail started to wag the dog and both Cavaliers ended up as write offs along with the car trailer. Luckily no one was injured but they sure did sink a few pints that night.
Steve
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i towed a v6 petrol with my 2.5 diesel on a 4 wheel trailer.now i have towed a lot of cars/caravans in my time so not a novice and i knew that i was over the towing limit.not a excuse but the car was only 20 miles away good roads that i knew and the car had no mot/tax so thought this was the lesser evil.the first proplem i had was there was so much wheight on the towbar the mudflaps where scraping the road.i removed them and started off,the car had to work very hard and i was very aware that the trailer was pushing on.this was a proper brian james 4 wheel braked trailer.I WOULD NOT DO THIS AGAIN OR RECOMMEND IT.
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L200 towing weight 2700kg not 3500kg popular misconception
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Albs... I have towed "Overweight" combinations many times in the past (Legally)... 32 Tonne Wrecker towing a 42 Tonne Artic, and I wouldn't recommend it.
I've also towed some questionable car/trailer combos too and that's even less pleasant. If you can borrow the van, excellent. If not, it probably wouldn't cost an awful lot more to have it delivered... Ring around some local companies and see if they can fit it in on a return trip from somewhere ;) ;)
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Just checked the van - its a new one and doesnt have a towbar. This is getting complicated.After reading the posts on here Im not going to collect it by trailer etc. I will have to try to pay to have it collected, if I can arrange it.
Added problem is that the seller hasnt yet told me where in E. Sussex he is, so I cant really arrange things until I know that. :(
Another complication is that I have to sort it before Friday as Im going away on Friday. ::)
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Another complication is that I have to sort it before Friday as Im going away on Friday. ::)
I know it's another potential grey area, but what about recovering it by A frame? I've towed another Omega miles on one with no problems. :y :y
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Ive never towed anything with my towbar, but in the next few days I need to hire a car trailer and go to East Sussex to pick up a car and bring it home.
A few things I need to check - speed limit while towing ? Would the trailer hire people normally include insurance in the cost of the hire ? do I need to tell my insurance company ? Any way of knowing my tow bar electrics are ok before going to collect the trailer ? Anything else I need to know ?
Albs if you are going to be towing with your omega, a trailer then another omega on the trailer you will be well over weight and Plod could have you over for it mate.
Get yourself someone with the proper lorry tompick it up may even be cheaper than you hiring a trailer plus putting yourself at risk of getting into trouble mate :y
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Yep - thats the plan now. I jumped in feet first, now got to try to get it organised properly. I think the car will be worth the hassle if I can get it home though. :y
Tbh a few years ago I would have been gung ho about it and not worried, but the world has changed and Im getting older..... ::)
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Albs if you are going to be towing with your omega, a trailer then another omega on the trailer you will be well over weight and Plod could have you over for it mate.
Get yourself someone with the proper lorry tompick it up may even be cheaper than you hiring a trailer plus putting yourself at risk of getting into trouble mate :y
Wise words! ;) ;)
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Albs if you are going to be towing with your omega, a trailer then another omega on the trailer you will be well over weight and Plod could have you over for it mate.
Get yourself someone with the proper lorry tompick it up may even be cheaper than you hiring a trailer plus putting yourself at risk of getting into trouble mate :y
Wise words! ;) ;)
rather Ace aren't I ;D ;D ;D ;D
Albs I have sent you a PM :-*
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Have read PM and Ive told you before - Im not doing THAT for you and theres no point keeping on about it. >:(
:D ;D ;D ;D
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Yep - thats the plan now. I jumped in feet first, now got to try to get it organised properly. I think the car will be worth the hassle if I can get it home though. :y
Tbh a few years ago I would have been gung ho about it and not worried, but the world has changed and Im getting older..... ::)
Listen.. you aint in the Emerald Isle where you can get away with it you know ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Well, I was last week actually, but not now. Used to get away with allsorts over there back in the day. Plod were too busy with other things. ::)
PM replied to - sorry about the caps lock being on,only realised after I pressed send ::)
I could also try the sister company of the company I used to work for. They have around 100 trucks, mostly with HIABS on them. They arent cheap, but I might get a favour if its a return which would have been empty otherwise. :-/
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Fellas...................done the maths before cos I was going to pick up a car too, and assuming a trailer weight of less than 650kgs, with a towcar that is an omega 3.0 elite estate, the biggest car you can put on said trailer and remain LEGAL is 625kgs......................just about a smart car................
SO, the answer is NO, you CANNOT tow a car trailer with any omega and pick up another car on a 4 wheel trailer on it. (except an old mini, an anglia or austin 1100, or a smart car.)
Sorry..................................... :-X
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Its a 3.2 Elite, so only a ton overweight. ::) ;D
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Fellas...................done the maths before cos I was going to pick up a car too, and assuming a trailer weight of less than 650kgs, with a towcar that is an omega 3.0 elite estate, the biggest car you can put on said trailer and remain LEGAL is 625kgs......................just about a smart car................
SO, the answer is NO, you CANNOT tow a car trailer with any omega and pick up another car on a 4 wheel trailer on it. (except an old mini, an anglia or austin 1100, or a smart car.)
Sorry..................................... :-X
You don't need to be Einstein to do that sort of calculation ;D ;D ;D :P :P :P
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Blimey..........you still awake, youth??
:D
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Blimey..........you still awake, youth??
:D
No! you are being silly tonight Wanna Be Tree Killer ;D ;D
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I'm in a good mood,actually!
Got from my place to north london on £22 of diesel instead of £35 petrol...............don't like the espace's drive, but liking the economy!!
AND it gets ALL my tools and kit in it without ruining the leather seats of my miggy too.
RESULT. :y
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I'm in a good mood,actually!
Got from my place to north london on £22 of diesel instead of £35 petrol...............don't like the espace's drive, but liking the economy!!
AND it gets ALL my tools and kit in it without ruining the leather seats of my miggy too.
RESULT. :y
As long as your happy in the "Window Licker Car" thats all that matters ;)
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Downsides...........
Its FRENCH, its diesel, its manual,it drives funny, its red, its noisy, and its FRENCH
Advantages..................
My snakess and ladders go inside it, ALL my tools and cables fit inside it, it still seats 5, its CHEAPER to run than miggy, and I get charged for a car instead of a van on toll roads.AND it enables me to take miggy off roading, I will fix/update/rebuild/fit LPG without losing business and transport.
No brainer really............................. :)
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Downsides...........
Its FRENCH, its diesel, its manual,it drives funny, its red, its noisy, and its FRENCH
Advantages..................
My snakess and ladders go inside it, ALL my tools and cables fit inside it, it still seats 5, its CHEAPER to run than miggy, and I get charged for a car instead of a van on toll roads.AND it enables me to take miggy off roading, I will fix/update/rebuild/fit LPG without losing business and transport.
No brainer really............................. :)
Glad you said that ;D ;D
Just wondering why you take Snakes & Ladders to work? Also take your Miggy Off Roading??
The "Window Licker Car" will be better on fuel if itsw on LPG!! :-?
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Give these guys a call pro driver (leicester) they have there own web page for the number they collect all over england and are a good price,can drive it for you or trailer it, :y :y
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Cant ring anyone for prices at the moment as I am still waiting for the seller to tell me whereabouts inj East Sussex he is. Which is a pita, as I need to get things sorted before Friday. :(
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is the car legal / drivable?
Maybe a train / lift to the car, collect it. Even if its not drivable, quick push around the corner and call the RAC? :)
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Nope - non runner, no tax or MOT.
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Well, I now know its in Hailsham, so I can hopefully start to get collection organised. :)
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I passed my test in 1978, so presume that will be ok. The trailer Im hoping to hire is a purpose built 4 wheel car trailer, so I presume it will be braked. :-/
You passed your test the year I was born..
Sorry.. couldn't help but make myself feel better by saying that ;D
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Dont take the p1$$ out of your elders sonny. :P :D
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Dont take the p1$$ out of your elders sonny. :P :D
Sorry granddad.. I mean.. Albs.
;D
I was only looking at my license to see if I had BE (I do, clearly 1995 is early enough to carry it) ;)
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For whoever mentioned the towing A frame.....
this is a legal grey area too.
Legally they are only to be used in emergencies...hence why the AA still carry them
But,
There are many arguements from both sides of the legal pitch.
If towed, the arguements are that the car may be classed as a 4 wheel trailer?, in which case it wouldn't need tax and test.....
However, if the towed car is seen as just that, a towed car, then it not having tax and MOT makes it illegal to have any wheels on the tarmac at all......
Too risky...
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For whoever mentioned the towing A frame.....
this is a legal grey area too.
Legally they are only to be used in emergencies...hence why the AA still carry them
But,
There are many arguements from both sides of the legal pitch.
If towed, the arguements are that the car may be classed as a 4 wheel trailer?, in which case it wouldn't need tax and test.....
However, if the towed car is seen as just that, a towed car, then it not having tax and MOT makes it illegal to have any wheels on the tarmac at all......
Too risky...
Yep, not to mention that they are 99% of the time unbraked. I wouldn't tow an 1850kg unbraked trailer, personally. Legally you're allowed a 750kg unbraked trailer.
I would be happier taking my chances with an overweight but braked and properly balanced twin axle trailer with a car on, but in the eyes of the law there is no legal way for an Omega to tow another Omega unless it's "to a place of safety", implying a very short journey conducted with great care.
Kevin
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I have a Transit van and there's a trailer hire place in town that I've used many times before, cover the costs and i'll get it for you mate....
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Sounds brilliant Paul. PM on its way. :y
The helpfulness of people here never ceases to amaze me.
I feel like I owe the forum as a whole a few favours or three.
Feel like Im taking more than Im giving, especially recently. :-[
Anyone with any ideas on that let me know. Apart from STMO, and DLK obviously. Nothings worth the kind of favours he wants. ::) :P ;D