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[aaronjb]

I know some here do recovery (like Nick, I think) and I passed a recovery vehicle this morning that got me wondering..

It was a relatively new Mercedes Sprinter single-cab recovery truck with a new BMW 320d on the back, towing a trailer with a new BMW X5M on the back.. that's ~1500Kg of 3 series and ~2300Kg of X5 so about 3800Kg of payload plus probably another 800Kg of trailer (which was a replica of the truck bed).

What's the GTW on one of those? I figured it would be fairly low given I know people have said you can't recover an Omega on the back of a Transit based recovery truck..

[Nick W]

It depends on the Sprinter, as some are rated as more than 3.5ton. You'd need to see the model designation and plate to be sure as they look like ordinary Sprinters. Driver entitlement, Tachometer and O-licence rules apply to them just like any other small commercial.

But there's a very good chance you were looking at an illegal combination.

[minifreek]

Could the combination not be covered by a full HGV licensed driver...?

OR

Does it depend on the overall combination and the capability of the towing vehicle..?

[Nick W]

Could the combination not be covered by a full HGV licensed driver...?

OR

Does it depend on the overall combination and the capability of the towing vehicle..?

It's the vehicle that's important. Most large Transit sized vans have a gross vehicle weight of 3.5tons. That's gross, so it is the combined weight of the vehicle, fuel, passengers, load and the passenger's lunch etc.
It is very easy to overload such a van.

It is possible to buy vans like Sprinters, Dailies etc which look the same but have higher GVW. These are subject to the LGV restrictions on use and drivers.