Does anybody know what the maximum legal towing weight is. A mate of mine popped around yesterday with his American Ford F 450 pickup. It’s a monster that is supposed to be rated to tow 21000 LBs . Question is can he use that capability in this country – we had a quick look on tinternet and are still non the wiser. Everything seems to stop at 3500kgs.
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clift_d
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Towing weights are determined both by the towing vehicle's capacity and by your driving license - see the link below:
http://www.raccars.co.uk/news/towing-capacity-guide
http://www.raccars.co.uk/news/towing-capacity-guide
21,000lb is about 9.5ton (metric ton)
won't be allowed to tow that much in the uk, america are much more generous with tow limits etc.
more to do with the brakes of the tow vehicle than anything else I think - which is why 4x4 have higher limits - engine breaking slows all 4 wheels
No its not a big pickup, it's an F-ing big pickup
8ob
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Where`s @Justme when you need him . If my addled brain serves me well the 3500kg is the maximum trailer weight for over run brakes, after that they need to be coupled. The yanks run this stupid electric trailer brake system which is not approved for the UK. So I believe the OP`s friend may well be able to tow the 3500kg trailer behind this beast if his licence covers the gross MAM of the combination.If its the truck I think it is it will need plating, most of the yanks seem to circumnavigate the plating by getting them registered as campers but you will be out on a limb if Vosa catch up with you.
Bob
. If my addled brain serves me well the 3500kg is the maximum trailer weight for over run brakes, after that they need to be coupled. The yanks run this stupid electric trailer brake system which is not approved for the UK. So I believe the OP`s friend may well be able to tow the 3500kg trailer behind this beast if his licence covers the gross MAM of the combination.If its the truck I think it is it will need plating, most of the yanks seem to circumnavigate the plating by getting them registered as campers but you will be out on a limb if Vosa catch up with you.Bob
Spark plug
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As said above, once you go past 3500kg you need coupled brakes and the trailer will require a plate in its own right
Gritineye
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I seem to remember that the max towing weight is partly determined by the vehicles ability to stop and re-start on a certain steepness of hill with fully loaded trailer, which 4x4s are pretty good at, may be wrong read that ages ago.
Also explains why my LR can tow 1.5 tons more than my heavier but front wheel drive Fiat Ducato
8ob
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I just had a quick look at specs which vary a lot on that model, its a four ton truck ( ish) empty and allowed to tow about nine tons of trailer so for over here that would need auxiliary air brakes . The Mericuns seem to go for the gooseneck trailers on fifth wheels rather than a tow hitch , I would imagine finding approved towbars that would run trailers at nine tons will be a challenge.
Bob
I will try & cover all the options as the OP has not replied.
All assuming that it is still plated for the USA market & has not been down plated for the UK market.
1, IF the pick up is 4 tonnes empty then you will either need to have passed your car test prior to 01-01-1997 or have taken your C1 test.
2, To tow with it you will need C1E.
3, If you passed your car test prior to the 01-01-97 & have not actually taken the C1E then the total GTW is limited to 8250kg. With a 4000kg kerb weight it will be about 5-6-7000kg MAM not leaving much for the trailer.
4, If you have taken the C1E test then you are limited to a 12000kg GTW & the trailer cant actually weigh more than the vehicle. So again the trailers max would be 6000kg but could be less. It would be allowed to be more IF it was a 5th wheel set up / mini artic.
IF the pickup has been down plated for the uk market to have a MAM under 3500kg to allow cat B licence holders to drive it then they would have also down rated the tow capacity. So I would need to see the weight plate / V5 to make any comment of value.
All assuming that it is still plated for the USA market & has not been down plated for the UK market.
1, IF the pick up is 4 tonnes empty then you will either need to have passed your car test prior to 01-01-1997 or have taken your C1 test.
2, To tow with it you will need C1E.
3, If you passed your car test prior to the 01-01-97 & have not actually taken the C1E then the total GTW is limited to 8250kg. With a 4000kg kerb weight it will be about 5-6-7000kg MAM not leaving much for the trailer.
4, If you have taken the C1E test then you are limited to a 12000kg GTW & the trailer cant actually weigh more than the vehicle. So again the trailers max would be 6000kg but could be less. It would be allowed to be more IF it was a 5th wheel set up / mini artic.
IF the pickup has been down plated for the uk market to have a MAM under 3500kg to allow cat B licence holders to drive it then they would have also down rated the tow capacity. So I would need to see the weight plate / V5 to make any comment of value.
galooph
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I had a quick look into this for my Hilux Surf, a Japanese import. There's no GTW information on the VIN plate, and even after numerous emails back and forth to Toyota UK and Japan, they were unable to give any weights. From what I understand, that puts towing into quite a grey area, and I've since removed the towbar anyway.
Interested to see what you find out!
Interested to see what you find out!
Nope not grey at all.
No GTW no towing.
You could go to a specialist company to get a new plate fitted after they check it over to see if it meets uk specs & or alter it. Lots use it to up grade the tow capacity of some pick ups that can only tow sub 3000kg to the full 3500kg.
Sorry chaps, I had to do my husbandly duties last night No not that, I had to take her around to the mothers
Thanks for the excellent reply from Justme, I think you covered all the bases. As for license, yes we are old farts and passed our test long before 1997. Question - Just a thought, as it weighs more than 3.5 ton does he need an operators license. He's away for a few days but I will ask him about the plate when he returns.
No not that, I had to take her around to the mothers Thanks for the excellent reply from Justme, I think you covered all the bases. As for license, yes we are old farts and passed our test long before 1997. Question - Just a thought, as it weighs more than 3.5 ton does he need an operators license. He's away for a few days but I will ask him about the plate when he returns.Sorry chaps, I had to do my husbandly duties last night
For business he would need a tacho and o licence dep if he meets any of the exemptions.
