Towing rulesand regs

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Towing rulesand regs
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RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 12 2:35 pm Post subject:
You will need a tow vehicle that is capable of towing about 5000kg+ by the time you have put your stuff in it. So that rules out all cars, pickups & vans. It also rules out 7500kg lorries if you have a pre 97 licence as you are limited to about 8250kg train weight. So that leaves people with a proper lorry & lorry licence (hgv / lgv) only.

lorrayne

Joined: 17 Dec 2004
Posts: 239
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 12 4:55 pm Post subject:
Thank you Richard

three ravens

Joined: 12 Oct 2011
Posts: 35
Location: aberaeron wales

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 12 8:58 pm Post subject:
it all depends on the weight, it says its bolted to a 9000lb trailer but dosn't give an unladened weight for the compleate unit. some 4x4 can tow upto 3.5 ton with normal brakes or 4 ton with coupled brakes but the best way would be to put it on a mini 5th wheel call it a camper,its a grey area no vehicle weight limits and a normal mot on a car licence

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 12 9:22 pm Post subject:
Tow it with a tractor on a car license, sorted

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4591
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 12 9:29 pm Post subject:
See, I'm just seeing "big, heavy, not aerodynamic"

three ravens

Joined: 12 Oct 2011
Posts: 35
Location: aberaeron wales

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 12 11:21 pm Post subject:
if your not in a hurry go with robs idea, cheap tax & insurance and you can run it on red diesel !!!

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 12 11:26 pm Post subject:
You can't run it on red, unless you pay the extra duty, only certain uses are ok on red and I am pretty sure this isn't one that you'd get away with.

stumbling goat

Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1990

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 12 6:44 am Post subject:
Why would you need an LGV/HGV category on your licence? sg

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 12 1:45 pm Post subject:

Because you cant have a max train plated weight of over 8250kg on a car licence even with a pre 97 or post 97 with trailer test.

As there are no sub 3250 cars that can legally tow 5000kg trailers you will need a HGV/LGV licence.

Even if the trailer & house do not weigh the full amount the trailer will still be plated at 9000lb which is still over the 4000kg (4090kg) you can do with a Landrover (the only ones that I know can do 4000kg) with active brakes.

You could get the trailer max weight reduced if the house part & contents are not to heavy.

stumbling goat

Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1990

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 12 3:49 pm Post subject:
I thought that was only if you carried goods for hire or reward? Otherwise it becomes a heavy motor vehicle. I seem to recall an issue with some showmen who did not require an HGV category on a licence. I will need to check, it has been a while since I read up on it. Similarly with mobile cranes. sg

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 12 4:48 pm Post subject:
https://www.transportsfriend.org/hours/hgv.html

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 12 10:25 pm Post subject:

The most you can have on a car licence (excluding tractors, cranes ect) is 7500kg for pre 97 & 8250kg inc trailer, post 97 cat B licence its 3500kg plus 750kg trailer or 3500kg inc trailer if trailer is over 750kg.

Nick that link is just about tacho & driver hours not what you can & cant drive of different licences.

Showmans is a special case.

If you took your c1+e after 97 you can drive a combination that is up to 12000kg.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 12 7:25 am Post subject:
Sorry, cnp the wrong link! Yeah, there's a showman's exemption for various bits. Not entirely sure it passes as a big top. Fun House, maybe?

County4x4

Joined: 18 Dec 2008
Posts: 80
Location: Carnforth, Lancashire

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 12 6:50 am Post subject:
Tricky without knowing the weight of the unit AND the dimensions. The 9000lb referred to is likely to be the max weight the trailer can run at - which is just over 4 tonnes. That doesn't mean of course that the house is going to weigh that much - but really I'd have expected the manufacturer to give some more details on that sort of thing. Why not drop them a line and ask? Andy

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4591
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 12 5:40 pm Post subject:

County4x4 wrote:

Tricky without knowing the weight of the unit AND the dimensions. The 9000lb referred to is likely to be the max weight the trailer can run at - which is just over 4 tonnes. That doesn't mean of course that the house is going to weigh that much - but really I'd have expected the manufacturer to give some more details on that sort of thing. Why not drop them a line and ask?

Andy

As far as I know, you must be permitted (on your licence) to tow the maximum "labelled" weight of the trailer even if the trailer doesn't actually weigh that much on the day.So it doesn't matter what the house weighs in that case.

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