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[albitz]

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 ?

[o-meg-a]

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).

[Entwood]

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

[Hannah Judes Dad]

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

[albitz]

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. :-/

[o-meg-a]

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.

[Hannah Judes Dad]

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

[albitz]

Thanks for the answers chaps, legalities look a bit daunting.
Its an Omega elite - might look into having it delivered, rather than me collecting.

[o-meg-a]

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.

[Entwood]

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 .....

[albitz]

Got BE on my licence. Thinking I might be able to borrow a Movano from work to tow with ? :-/

[o-meg-a]

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)

[Lazydocker]

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

[hoofing it]

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 
try and get a L200 they can tow 3500kg

[Seth]

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 ........