Vehicle towing legality

[jamesy]

Can anyone offer a definitive answer?

Been hearing locally of a few folk being penalised by traffic cops for towing a trailer with a max gross weight of 3.5t with a vehicle that’s capacity is 3t, even though the actual gross weight of trailer & contents was under 3t. Police told driver that trailer should be re-plated to reflect towing vehicles capacity.

I’d of thought it was ok as long as the towing capacity of vehicle wasn’t exceeded.

Hope the above makes sense!

 

[oil barron]

#islandproblems

 

[JP1]

Can anyone offer a definitive answer?

Been hearing locally of a few folk being penalised by traffic cops for towing a trailer with a max gross weight of 3.5t with a vehicle that’s capacity is 3t, even though the actual gross weight of trailer & contents was under 3t. Police told driver that trailer should be re-plated to reflect towing vehicles capacity.

I’d of thought it was ok as long as the towing capacity of vehicle wasn’t exceeded.

Hope the above makes sense!

Needs to be challenged

My vehicle has a maximum towing weight of 1500kg and my trailer has a maximum gross weight of 2000kg. Can I still tow this trailer? » My vehicle has a maximum towing weight of 1500kg and my trailer has a maximum gross weight of 2000kg. Can I still to

Questions and answers on towing trailers and related laws for trailers up to 3500kg.

www.iwt.co.uk

 

[JP1]

Are you sure it's not a 3000kg older design plated trailer with a farmer towing at 3500kg (not that you'd ever find a farmer considering that mind)

 

[Exfarmer]

I am certain that Ifor Williams had something on their website about this. Their is no doubt at all, provided you are towing within the correct weight limits for your vehicle and trailer, the plated weight has nothing to do with what you can tow.
there have been other threads on here about it.

 

[Highland Mule]

There’s something about plates weights being important for those on a restricted licence. Are they all of the younger type?

 

[jamesy]

#islandproblems

Aye, they’re near as bad as furryboots issues!

 

[Highland Mule]

There’s something about plates weights being important for those on a restricted licence. Are they all of the younger type?

Answering my own question. Without a trailer test, you can still tow a small trailer if less than 750kg gross weight, or a larger one provided it is plated such that the combined plated weight of trailer and towing vehicle is less than 3500kg. Could that be the issue?

 

[jamesy]

Answering my own question. Without a trailer test, you can still tow a small trailer if less than 750kg gross weight, or a larger one provided it is plated such that the combined plated weight of trailer and towing vehicle is less than 3500kg. Could that be the issue?

Could be, person was adamant it was as I previously said.

 

[Serup]

Answering my own question. Without a trailer test, you can still tow a small trailer if less than 750kg gross weight, or a larger one provided it is plated such that the combined plated weight of trailer and towing vehicle is less than 3500kg. Could that be the issue?

Maybe irrelevant as i live elsewhere, but that is how it is here. Max gross weight combined without trailer licens is 3500 kg.

 

[Highland Mule]

Maybe irrelevant as i live elsewhere, but that is how it is here. Max gross weight combined without trailer licens is 3500 kg.

No - gross weight here means actual weight. This law is based on Maximum Allowable - ie the plated weights.

 

[roscoe erf]

Can anyone offer a definitive answer?

Been hearing locally of a few folk being penalised by traffic cops for towing a trailer with a max gross weight of 3.5t with a vehicle that’s capacity is 3t, even though the actual gross weight of trailer & contents was under 3t. Police told driver that trailer should be re-plated to reflect towing vehicles capacity.

I’d of thought it was ok as long as the towing capacity of vehicle wasn’t exceeded.

Hope the above makes sense!

that's wrong and needs to be taken to court assuming he has the correct licence

 

[Campbell]

As Exfarmer says Ifor Williams challenged this ruling and won. But I notice that ye are north of the border, different rules may apply..............

 

[Serup]

No - gross weight here means actual weight. This law is based on Maximum Allowable - ie the plated weights.

Thats what i meant. Sorry for the confusion. Max legal weight (plate weight) of towing wehicle and trailer combined can’t exceed 3500 kg without a trailer licens. Actual weight is irrelevant is this matter here.

 

[Highland Mule]

Thats what i meant. Sorry for the confusion. Max legal weight (plate weight) of towing wehicle and trailer combined can’t exceed 3500 kg without a trailer licens. Actual weight is irrelevant is this matter here.

Same as the UK then.

 

[jamesy]

As Exfarmer says Ifor Williams challenged this ruling and won. But I notice that ye are north of the border, different rules may apply..............

I wouldn’t have thought so

 

[fermerboy]

Can anyone offer a definitive answer?

Been hearing locally of a few folk being penalised by traffic cops for towing a trailer with a max gross weight of 3.5t with a vehicle that’s capacity is 3t, even though the actual gross weight of trailer & contents was under 3t. Police told driver that trailer should be re-plated to reflect towing vehicles capacity.

I’d of thought it was ok as long as the towing capacity of vehicle wasn’t exceeded.

Hope the above makes sense!

Well there are a hellava lot of folk up for the high jump if they make that stick, myself included., regularly pull 3.5ton max trailers with my Hilux which is 2.7ton rated I think.

I like the other posts here believe as long as long are actually pulling less than the maximum allowed towing weight for the vehicle, and the gross train weight for the same there is no issue.
Coppers have no excuse, they should know the law they are applying.
Hope your man gets it sorted.

 

[Cowabunga]

Years ago VOSA used to visit local livestock marts and book people for this. It was totally wrong and I believe they knew this but did it anyway. It was eventually challenged in Court and the obvious position was made absolutely clear. As long as the maximum gross weight allowed by license, towing vehicle or trailer, whichever was lowest, was not exceeded, then all is fine. Common sense of course, but plod and VOSA are not known for having much of that. We have a particularly officious police patrol officer in this area that will go out of his way to find any excuse to book anyone. He has been known to go around marts checking breakaway cables and even measuring the towball diameter on towing vehicles. In a way I kind of agree with him that maintenance standards of many farm vehicles and farmer's ability to work within rules needs sharpening up considerably, but the way he went about it was appalling. The lack of respect and attitude shown by some people in uniform is a disgrace and no wonder that many people would not pish on them if they were on fire.

 

[d williams]

Can anyone offer a definitive answer?

Been hearing locally of a few folk being penalised by traffic cops for towing a trailer with a max gross weight of 3.5t with a vehicle that’s capacity is 3t, even though the actual gross weight of trailer & contents was under 3t. Police told driver that trailer should be re-plated to reflect towing vehicles capacity.

I’d of thought it was ok as long as the towing capacity of vehicle wasn’t exceeded.

Hope the above makes sense!

local hire company had to change their plates on trailers to suit the vehicles towing them
Because if the plate states a weight then driver could be confused and break the law as to the towing capacity of vehicle

 

[Cowabunga]

local hire company had to change their plates on trailers to suit the vehicles towing them
Because if the plate states a weight then driver could be confused and break the law as to the towing capacity of vehicle

This was quite wrong. What they should have done is provide a warning on the hire document or stuck on the trailer something like this...

WARNING obey maximum load regulations. Do not exceed towing mass allowed by truck, trailer or combined mass, whichever is lowest. Follow all relevant regulations.