Towing

[blind dog]

can you not have a big american pick up as long as itsgot air brakes to conect to the trailer

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by timtap

Courtesy of Nigel Hook Racing :

Is that on US plates

[RockSteadyCrew]

Maximum Trailer Dimensions

Towing vehicle up to 3500kg GVW
Length (excluding the coupling and drawbar) 7.0 m
Width Maximum 2.3 m

Towing vehicle over 3500kg GVW
Length (excluding the coupling and drawbar) 12 m (min 4 wheels)
Width Maximum 2.55 m
Length of towing vehicle and trailer combined 18 m
Maximum overhang of load from rear of trailer 3.05 m

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/dimensions.htm

Bearing in mind that a range Range Rover has a GVW of 3100kg GVW, all it can legally tow on length alone, is 7 metres (approx 23 ft.) Although capable of towing a few thousand Kg, it cannot tow, say, a 25ft Phantom LEGALLY, and probably not even a 21 footer on it's trailer. The length does not include the drawbar - but that's only approx 12 inches on most boat trailers.

A sobering thought!!!

A certain proportion of powerboaters would seem to be using illegal outfits without knowing it.

[TomLinley]

trailer:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRAILERS-TRI-A...item19b75e8a40

coupled to http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SCANIA-144-460...item414a9ac7a9

or

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IVECO-EUROSTAR...item1c0dc799bc

[Jono]

Originally Posted by RockSteadyCrew

..., all it can legally tow on length alone, is 7 metres (approx 23 ft.).

Cobblers.....that's the trailer..not the load.

[RockSteadyCrew]

Originally Posted by Jono

Cobblers.....that's the trailer..not the load.

Yes - I have to say you are correct - but I still maintain that 'some' boat owners will be blissfully unaware that their outfit isn't strictly 'legal' length-wise.

A comment I have heard on several occasions: "my super-duper 4x4 V8 Efi Twin-Turbo/ Tdi / will tow anything, up steep hills and slipways". That may be so, but not legally on the Queens Highway!!

[motorvator]

MY super-duper 4x4 V8 Efi Twin-Turbo/ Tdi / will tow anything, up steep hills and slipways including 27 foot of revenger and still remains legal. It's to do with the what you term the drawbar.

Measure back to the start of the A frame or winch bar and you are OK.

I have however been pulled by some stupid tart with a peaked cap getting on the hovercraft years ago with the P18 and she pointed out with a tape measure that the overall length exceeded 40 foot because the lighting board arms constituted part of the trailer.

Took the board off and tied it on the boat, stuck the arms away, had a row about whether the bag was flourescent orange or red and told her to poke it much to the merriment of the blokes in peaked caps with the full brain cells who thought it was highly amusing.

[Burty]

that statement makes more or less every boat illegal rock steady dude!!!

[andymac]

can i tow my camping trailer legally

[Dozzer]

If I put air brakes onto my existing tri-axle trailer then how does that stack up with a towing vehicle?

[Dangerous]

How do the american motorhome laws work.? I have a 31ft motorhome and a 21 foot boat. Am i legal ?

[PerformanceDodge]

1, The first point is what license you have, if you have an old UK car license you will properly have C1E which will allow you to tow up to 12 tons. However if it has a 107 exception this restricts the weoght to 8259KG

"C1E - Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in subcategory C1 and its trailer has a M.A.M. of over 750kg provided that the M.A.M. of the combination thus formed does not exceed 12,000kg and the M.A.M. of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. (Code 107 - If you passed your category B test prior to 1.1.1997 you will be restricted to a total weight not more than 8,250kg)"

2, The maximum overall length of the vehicle and trailer should not exceed 54ft. Please remember importantly the draw bar of a trailer is not included in this measurement and it is accepted in the UK that the 'A' frame of a boat trailer is a draw bar.

I know the above because we researched it quite thoroughly as a friend of mine used a Mercedes 815 7.5 ton truck which has been adapted to full air trailer brakes and also a UN76 hitch and has a GTW of 18 tons making it easily capable of towing his 5 ton boat + trailer.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by freddy21

I know the above because we researched it quite thoroughly as a friend of mine used a Mercedes 815 7.5 ton truck which has been adapted to full air trailer brakes and also a UN76 hitch and has a GTW of 18 tons making it easily capable of towing his 5 ton boat + trailer.

Not legal on C1E licence... MAM of trailer exceeds unladen mass of 815 Merc about 3.5 tonnes.. need HGV CE....

[gar163y]

The maximum length allowed is 18.75m or 61.5ft. Here's a link to Dept. Of Transport requirements for trailers.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehi...ntsfortrailers

[PerformanceDodge]

Originally Posted by RockSteadyCrew

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/dimensions.htm

Bearing in mind that a range Range Rover has a GVW of 3100kg GVW, all it can legally tow on length alone, is 7 metres (approx 23 ft.) Although capable of towing a few thousand Kg, it cannot tow, say, a 25ft Phantom LEGALLY, and probably not even a 21 footer on it's trailer. The length does not include the drawbar - but that's only approx 12 inches on most boat trailers.

A sobering thought!!!

A certain proportion of powerboaters would seem to be using illegal outfits without knowing it.

Is it not accepted in the UK that the 'A' frame is the draw bar and the length of the trailer is actually measured where the parallel sections starts.

[baj666]

i took a crap this morning then let rip a good fart....going to check the internet now to see iff i broke the law as after reading this thread ime a little worried

[hunton69]

Originally Posted by Dangerous

How do the american motorhome laws work.? I have a 31ft motorhome and a 21 foot boat. Am i legal ?

So i understand it

Spoke to Vosa few years back as i run minibuses and own a 33foot motorhome

He said the max weight of Motorhome must not exceed 7.5t over that you need HGV

Combined weight with trailer 8.25 t

So example 6t motorhome 2.25t trailer

Max length 18 meters

A vehicle with gross weight under 3.5t can only tow max 7m trailer

Vehicle over 3.5t can tow 12m max overall lenght 18m max combined weight 8.25t

Big yank pick ups are over 3.5t gross and are capable of towing in excess of 5t and up to 12m in lenght in states but may not be approved over here

So i understand over 3.5t weight over here need air brakes.

Having said all that i know some guys running 10t motorhomes towing race cars on trailers never having a problem ( which should mean class 1 ) never having a problem. untill may be the dreaded accident

[Ben]

Originally Posted by baj666

i took a crap this morning then let rip a good fart....going to check the internet now to see iff i broke the law as after reading this thread ime a little worried

EU Directive 2006/39/EC on The Release and Control of Gaseous Emissions
A fart will not be specifcally required to precede a crap but if farting is present it must in no instance follow the aforementioned crap.

Sounds like you're in trouble.

[Cookee]

If I buy an Artic tractor unit, replace the fifth wheel with a flat bed and put a NATO hitch on the back what weight and size do you guys reckon I can pull then, and what licence would I need?

[hunton69]

Originally Posted by Cookee

what weight and size do you guys reckon I can pull then?

I thought you were recently married