what are you allowed to tow weight wise

[arther dailey]

So looking to get a trailer for behind my 07 l200 , this has a tow weight of 2700kg , my question is can I legally tow a 3500kg capacity trailer as long as its not over all over my legal 2700 actual loaded weight ?whats the latest laws? I realise the later model l200 were rated at 3500 as long as it was tri axle..
this is for private use so not interested in tacho etc etc really , as yes I did have cpc previously , but now retired dont want to get into all that palaver. cheers

 

[knighty]

you're fine as long as the loaded trailer weight is 2700 or under


I think the stuff about the trailer plated weight being too high is some kind of urban legend, I remember a bit who-ha on the forum transit forum.... multiple screenshots of people's replies from VOSA telling them it's the actual weight that counts not the plated weight and people still didn't believe it

 

[Easywelder]

Not 100% but think the answer is yes you can tow any trailer as long as you are below your vehicle max towing gross weight. I think it used to be you couldn’t tow a trailer plated for more than your vehicle towing max weight.

 

[Gritineye]

you're fine as long as the loaded trailer weight is 2700 or under


I think the stuff about the trailer plated weight being too high is some kind of urban legend, I remember a bit who-ha on the forum transit forum.... multiple screenshots of people's replies from VOSA telling them it's the actual weight that counts not the plated weight and people still didn't believe it

Not a legend, it was true, many people were wrongly convicted, the regulations were amended to cure the problem.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I though the max legal towing weight was listed on the V5 - and this is what DVSA will use if you are stopped

 

[colnerov]

I though the max legal towing weight was listed on the V5 - and this is what DVSA will use if you are stopped

Which is also repeated on a plate on the vehicle. If there's not a plate, then that's a whole other issue.

 

[Mick Annick]

I though the max legal towing weight was listed on the V5 - and this is what DVSA will use if you are stopped

Correct, but I think they’re talking about the trailer max weight - you can use a higher rated trailer as long as the gross train weight is within the towing vehicle’s capacity. For instance, my VW can pull 1400kg, but I can pull a 3500kg rated trailer with it as long as the trailer and load don’t exceed 1400kg.

 

[Pete.]

Not a legend, it was true, many people were wrongly convicted, the regulations were amended to cure the problem.

View attachment 410255

This may be the case, but don't think that is applies to the max weight of the vehicle when going over weight restrictions etc. When going over a weight-restricted bridge they use the plated weight to determine what's legal and what's not.

Our company bought a load of new VW vans where the old model was plated at 3000kg and the new model 3200kg. There's a 3t weight limit bridge nearby and drivers got multiple fines in the post because they'd swapped to a newer model van and took the route they had always taken in the older model.

 

[mike os]

Maximum tow weight of the vehicle and max vehicle weight on your license for that class afaik

 

[Gritineye]

This may be the case, but don't think that is applies to the max weight of the vehicle when going over weight restrictions etc. When going over a weight-restricted bridge they use the plated weight to determine what's legal and what's not.

Our company bought a load of new VW vans where the old model was plated at 3000kg and the new model 3200kg. There's a 3t weight limit bridge nearby and drivers got multiple fines in the post because they'd swapped to a newer model van and took the route they had always taken in the older model.

Did they appeal?

 

[m_c]

The issue that causes the misunderstanding (prior to trailer test being abolished), is in terms of driving license, the legal requirements are based on plated weights. So if you didn't have a trailer license, you were limited to 3500kg GTW based on the vehicle and trailer plated GVWs. It's no different from not being able to drive a 7.5t lorry that only weighs 3t when empty on a cat B license.

Whereas in terms of vehicle towing capacity, that is done on actual (measured) weight.

Did they appeal?

Appeal on what grounds?
The bridge would be signed as having a 3t GTW/GVW limit, so if you drive a vehicle plated at 3.2T GVW over it, then you've broken the law.

 

[arther dailey]

Thanks everyone , yes previously I know some were getting pulled for the fact trailer had a capability of more weight than the tow truck was legally allowed ,even though not over truckplated weight, now its clear as long as you dont go over the vehicles plated weights and or trailer weights alls good.cheers