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[STMO999]

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 8.25 tonnes.

[hoofing it]

Do all classes stay the same from an old (Pink) licence to the new green one for all us oldie that have to upgrade to a new photo licece.  i,e. the 7,5 tonne capacity and the bigger mini bus (seats) capacity.

You should get the same entitlement - but check, because they have been known to craftily remove them.

FWIW, towing an Omega with another Omega will always exceed the towing limits of the towing vehicle so it's irrelevant what license you have IMHO. The Police would generally turn a blind eye to this as towing a disabled vehicle to safety is not the same as deliberately setting out to tow an unsafe load.

The new entitlement is counter productive, IMHO, because it encourages newer drivers to tow with lighter cars. Madness. I guess it was done to "bring us in line" with Europe.

Kevin

Anyone who passed there test before the 1997 restrictions have grandfather rights.
Tunnie your best bet is to do the class2 then class1 not much point one wasting money on the car and caravan towing bit on the license.
Its not cheap prices vary from £800-£1200 plus you've got a hgv to fall back on should you need it.
The dss is putting my mate through his hgv2 jammy sod.

[hoofing it]

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 8.25 tonnes.

oooooh bitchy

[tunnie]

Do all classes stay the same from an old (Pink) licence to the new green one for all us oldie that have to upgrade to a new photo licece.  i,e. the 7,5 tonne capacity and the bigger mini bus (seats) capacity.

You should get the same entitlement - but check, because they have been known to craftily remove them.

FWIW, towing an Omega with another Omega will always exceed the towing limits of the towing vehicle so it's irrelevant what license you have IMHO. The Police would generally turn a blind eye to this as towing a disabled vehicle to safety is not the same as deliberately setting out to tow an unsafe load.

The new entitlement is counter productive, IMHO, because it encourages newer drivers to tow with lighter cars. Madness. I guess it was done to "bring us in line" with Europe.

Kevin

Anyone who passed there test before the 1997 restrictions have grandfather rights.
Tunnie your best bet is to do the class2 then class1 not much point one wasting money on the car and caravan towing bit on the license.
Its not cheap prices vary from £800-£1200 plus you've got a hgv to fall back on should you need it.
The dss is putting my mate through his hgv2 jammy sod.

Thats what i thought, be couple hundred quid just to do that, might as well make most of it and go all out.

I am considering it, as i could afford it now easily, but who knows what next 20 years will bring, ability to drive anything on road may come in handy.

[Welung666]

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 8.25 tonnes.

oooooh bitchy

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 44 tonnes

Tun, if you're seriously thinking of doing your class C, you'll have to do an NVQ as well to keep your C license and you'll have to have proven driving time on a tacho (digital or analogue) with no break longer than 5 years or your class C will be voided. The 7.5 license doesn't require the NVQ or the proven driving record.

[Mr Skrunts]

Omega towing an Omega

Assume all cars for the rest of the post are Omega's

Car pulling car via rope
Car pulling car via towing rod.
Car pulling car on A Frame
Car pulling car on car trailer.

Having just read Kevin’s post I would certainly agree that the police generally turn a blind eye when a car is being towed to safety, but that sadly is not always the case.

But surely there are 4 methods above can be reordered safety wise.  A rope is only as good as the driver in the stricken car, if he is a numpty then you have problems, the other 3 generally you would not have this equipment at hand in an emergency unless you were a professional.

So then you get into the lightest less powerful variant of the Mig pulling the heaviest on a trailer obviously then you have to pay more attention to towing limits.

But the question is, what weight are you actually towing using the various methods.

The rope, it has tension, then it hasn’t, then the second driver is braking to have more tension.

Fixed metal tow rod, car at ground level, 2nd vehicle braked not as important as braking with a tow rope but never the less braking still important on both cars.(Never been involved with the use of fixed bar towing but am open to education)

A Frame, all braking dependant on car 1, I believe no driver required in car 2, but the vehicle being towed is now at 2 different heights.

Car trailer (generally has 4 wheels and is fooking heavy)  have used on many occasions and dead easy to use if you have a good trailer but attention to speed/bends is a must as the 2nd car is now up in the air


Now although the towed vehicle weight is what the police would focus on, surely it would feel a completely different setup with all 4 variations making it harder/easier for the lead car.


Remember the story with the adult/child on the see saw, child right at the end, adult nearly in the middle to make the saw saw work with ease.

Overall I reckon it has to be the fixed bar scenario, Not much danger of a collision between to 2, and if the engine was running on tick over then the best of all as there is added steering and brakes.  No engine running then in theory the 1st 2 are a nightmare to tow with power steering anyway

[hoofing it]

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 8.25 tonnes.

oooooh bitchy

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 44 tonnes

Tun, if you're seriously thinking of doing your class C, you'll have to do an NVQ as well to keep your C license and you'll have to have proven driving time on a tacho (digital or analogue) with no break longer than 5 years or your class C will be voided. The 7.5 license doesn't require the NVQ or the proven driving record.

My work sent us on a coarse to learn the dam thing took 4 hours and I still get paper work out to refresh myself.
We got a hire truck (scanny totaly different tacho :-? :-? bloody swedes).
Is there not a new ruling coming out in 2015 that all lgv drivers will need a cpc :-/ more bloody money

[Welung666]

On a towing rod all the braking is on the front car also. All the occupant/driver of the towed vehicle needs to do is steer. Most towing rods are designed to drop in half if the rear vehicle brakes as a safety feature.

[tunnie]

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 8.25 tonnes.

oooooh bitchy

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 44 tonnes

Tun, if you're seriously thinking of doing your class C, you'll have to do an NVQ as well to keep your C license and you'll have to have proven driving time on a tacho (digital or analogue) with no break longer than 5 years or your class C will be voided. The 7.5 license doesn't require the NVQ or the proven driving record.

No really worth it then given my career direction!

Shame 7.5 does not cover the B+E

[Welung666]

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 8.25 tonnes.

oooooh bitchy

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 44 tonnes

Tun, if you're seriously thinking of doing your class C, you'll have to do an NVQ as well to keep your C license and you'll have to have proven driving time on a tacho (digital or analogue) with no break longer than 5 years or your class C will be voided. The 7.5 license doesn't require the NVQ or the proven driving record.

My work sent us on a coarse to learn the dam thing took 4 hours and I still get paper work out to refresh myself.
We got a hire truck (scanny totaly different tacho :-? :-? bloody swedes).
Is there not a new ruling coming out in 2015 that all lgv drivers will need a cpc :-/ more bloody money

Yes Euro has decided all drivers have to be CPC'd. I came off the road 5 years ago now but still do a provable week of driving a year just to keep my license current. Luckily that's on an analogue tacho, never used a digital as you can't get away with a fart in the cab without the card inserted!

[hoofing it]

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 8.25 tonnes.

oooooh bitchy

I can tow anything with a combined weight up to 44 tonnes

Tun, if you're seriously thinking of doing your class C, you'll have to do an NVQ as well to keep your C license and you'll have to have proven driving time on a tacho (digital or analogue) with no break longer than 5 years or your class C will be voided. The 7.5 license doesn't require the NVQ or the proven driving record.

My work sent us on a coarse to learn the dam thing took 4 hours and I still get paper work out to refresh myself.
We got a hire truck (scanny totaly different tacho :-? :-? bloody swedes).
Is there not a new ruling coming out in 2015 that all lgv drivers will need a cpc :-/ more bloody money

Yes Euro has decided all drivers have to be CPC'd. I came off the road 5 years ago now but still do a provable week of driving a year just to keep my license current. Luckily that's on an analogue tacho, never used a digital as you can't get away with a fart in the cab without the card inserted!

You can get a fine for not having enough paper.
Some Irish truckers us a p.c. to bypass new digi via diagnostics plug;D

[Psychoca]

I have the government paying for my c and c+e 

Unfortunately due to me being made redundant a year ago...

[Entwood]

Easiest way to check is to read the VIN plates of the 2 vehicles.

(1) Towed vehicle : Obtain the Gross Vehicle Weight    this is the "towed weight"

(2) Towing Vehicle : Obtain Gross vehicle Weight add to "towed weight" from (1) gives the "train weight"

(3) Towing vehicle : Obtain Gross towing weight rating" (3) compare to answer from 2) If greater (3) than (2) .. legal to tow.....  If (3) less than (2) .. illegal to tow.


Those figures have NOTHING to do with your licence .. they are "Construction and Use" legislation figures.

I can do a similar for licences if you wish ..