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[tunnie]

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

I passed my test in 2001, I thought I had to take the extended test to tow anything?

Looks like I can tow anything up to 750kgs? (including trailer weight?)

[Gaffers]

Nothing has changed.  B allows you to tow a trailer upto 750kg, above which you need B+E.
 (unless you have grandfather rights  )

[Entwood]

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

I passed my test in 2001, I thought I had to take the extended test to tow anything?

Looks like I can tow anything up to 750kgs? (including trailer weight?)

sort of ... you can tow a trailer up to 750kgs - including the trailer weight ...if the car weighs up to 3500 kgs giving a total mas of 4250 kgs ....


If the trailer weighs MORE than 750 kgs then PROVIDING the total mass is less than 3500 kgs you can still tow  ...

so if you call an omega 2000 kgs .. you can tow  trailer with an a max authorised mass of 3500-2000 = 1500 kgs

However, you CANNOT exceed the Max authorised Mass of the unit ... which is on the VIN plate

No problems with the omega as the MAM is 4075


EDIT my original post was the latest 2013 licence .. yours is actually controlled by the 1997 rules which are slightly more flexible .. in that the TOTAL mass is also considered

[tunnie]

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

I passed my test in 2001, I thought I had to take the extended test to tow anything?

Looks like I can tow anything up to 750kgs? (including trailer weight?)

sort of ... you can tow a trailer up to 750kgs - including the trailer weight ... PROVIDING the total weight of your "unit" is less than 3500 kgs...  so if the towtruck weighs in at 3000 kgs your "trailer+load" can only weigh 500kgs .. if the towtruck is only 2000 kgs then you are still limited to 750 kgs "trailer +load"    (the trailer +load is the Max Authorised Mass of the trailer).

So towing with an Omega ....  750 Kgs

That's what I thought, so I've got 750kg to play with. (minus trailer weight first)

Nothing has changed.  B allows you to tow a trailer upto 750kg, above which you need B+E.
 (unless you have grandfather rights  )

Just need a shin breaker then.

Not getting a burger van for those wondering 

MrsT's folks have a spare Sofa that would go well in our Conservatory, comparing costs of a UBid type parcel service, vs van hire, vs trailer.

Nice surprise seeing I can haul something 

[Nick W]

In that case don't mess about, hire the van.

[tunnie]

In that case don't mess about, hire the van.

Not quite so simple.

Return trip is around 300 miles, at Transit MPG that's not great. + Hire cost...

[Jimbob]

I would have thought any sofa would go in an omega estate with the seats down.

Ive carried some pretty large ones before

[Entwood]

Tunnie .. the info I gave was slightly incorrect as I read your date wrongly ... you have a tad more than 750 kgs to play with, depending on what you use to tow the trailer with .. if using an omega you have "about" 1300 kgs to play with ... 

You have 3500kgs - MAM of towcar (top line of VIN plate)

[tunnie]

I would have thought any sofa would go in an omega estate with the seats down.

Ive carried some pretty large ones before

When moving into my flat, a 3 seater did go in our Estate no problem. However the drivers seat had to go forward a fair way, too far for a long drive.

That said, it was a big 3 seater, should measure this other one. But I suspect cost of going to get Estate, then twisty country route in 3.0 will not be far off Transit MPG 

Plus Estate is 75 miles in the wrong direction to collect first 

[tunnie]

Tunnie .. the info I gave was slightly incorrect as I read your date wrongly ... you have a tad more than 750 kgs to play with, depending on what you use to tow the trailer with .. if using an omega you have "about" 1300 kgs to play with ... 

You have 3500kgs - MAM of towcar (top line of VIN plate)

Oo, Cheers for that. 

I'm quite surprised really, I thought I could not do anything. 

My thoughts are for the cost of hiring a van, I could get a shin breaker fitted, so future moving of stuff would be a lot cheaper and easier.

As 3 hours on the M4 in an Omega with cruise on, is a lot better to consider than 3 hours in a transit   

[Andy B]

Nothing has changed.  B allows you to tow a trailer upto 750kg, above which you need B+E.
 (unless you have grandfather rights  )

It's amazing how often this disinformation is quoted 

[Gaffers]

Nothing has changed.  B allows you to tow a trailer upto 750kg, above which you need B+E.
 (unless you have grandfather rights  )

It's amazing how often this disinformation is quoted 

 

[Andy B]

Nothing has changed.  B allows you to tow a trailer upto 750kg, above which you need B+E.
 (unless you have grandfather rights  )

It's amazing how often this disinformation is quoted 

 

I was pulling your leg ..... hence the use of 

You're not the first to say that a 'new driver' can only tow 750kg .......... I very much doubt you'll be the last   

The most stupid thing about these regs is that someone like Tunnie would be allowed to tow my caravan with an Omega, but he'd not be able to use my Merc, even though its extra weight makes it a far better/safer tow car, because the gross train weight would be over 3500kg.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Licences issued from 19 January 2013

From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:

small trailers weighing no more than 750kg
trailers weighing more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500kg, you’ll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence.

You’ll then be able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg.

Licences held from 1 January 1997
If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B (car) licence, you can:

drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg
For anything heavier you need to take a category B+E driving test.

Licences held before 1 January 1997
If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM.

This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.

You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.

[tunnie]

Thanks everyone, it's the addition of the 2013 rules that confused me. To be honest I never really looked into it, just thought I had to take an extra test as all licenses post 1997 were crippled