dodeer Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 Has anyone here had to do a trailer test to tow a horse box or livestock trailer? If so what did it invlove and what was the timescale? Also what is the penelty if you are caught towing without the relevant qualifications needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Yes I have done it so I could tow a car trailer behind my Disco 3. You need to be able to hitch and unhitch the trailer in the correct sequence - it needs to be done safely. Inspect the trailer for road worthiness before using it. Reverse in an S shape and in to a parking bay without making more than one "shunt" (where you pull forward and realign) Complete a 1hr road test with the trailer. I found the reversing, inspection and hitching of the trailer easy, but having driven cars and vans for 8 years getting my general driving up to "test standard" took a while. I had 5 hours of towing/reversing/hitching lessons and then spent 2 weeks trying to drive sensibly in my own time. I passed the test with 3 minors. cost £400 all in. As far as I am aware, the penalties for not having the towing license will be: Driving without a licence and driving without insurance. Pulling a trailer without the correct licence is no different to riding a motorbike or driving a lorry without a licence. If you drive a vehicle without having the correct licence, you insurance won't cover you. With all the ANPR around it is very easy for the police to see who you are and what licence you hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Sorry to jump in on this one, all this is very new to me. I have been towing horse boxes and trailers for the last 20 years, are they expecting everyone to take a £400.00 test to carry on doing what i have been doing for years. If so they can blow it out their ar%$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 (edited) It applies to people who passed their test after Jan 1st 1997, who wish to tow a trailer with a gross weight more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and where the complete outfit exceeds 3500KG. Edited February 3, 2011 by J@mes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Thank goodness for that. To old for another test. Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 A couple of lads I know are finding the test a struggle, 1 failed 3 times, another just failed second test this week! Both are young keepers and both strangely failed on the driving and found that the trailer stuff was easy - so look for a trainer with a good track record. I'm an adi - so I'm going to take them out in the car (no trailer) and drill them - worth a couple of days shooting next year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfletch Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 It just sounds like another money making job the government have started, They try every little trick dont they, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 It just sounds like another money making job the government have started, They try every little trick dont they, realistically its not, it takes a little skill to tow a heavy trailer safely you only have to look at every single summer bank holiday weekend to see what happens when enough caravans hit the road its carnage. Then you get girls towing horseboxes and they definitely all need a test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfletch Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 realistically its not, it takes a little skill to tow a heavy trailer safely you only have to look at every single summer bank holiday weekend to see what happens when enough caravans hit the road its carnage. Then you get girls towing horseboxes and they definitely all need a test Yes but £400 come on its a bit expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Yes but £400 come on its a bit expensive thats not the cost of the test though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 thats not the cost of the test though Exactly If you are already comfortable with a trailer, just book a few driving lessons, get a good book on the subject, and a mate to drive it to the testing center - You could in theory do it for under £200 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Daft question I know as i passed my test after 97 i cant tow a trailer over GVW and limited GTW (i thought it was 4,250kg) 3500kg but i also cant drive 7.5t which is a pain are there any other options i.e. if you pass for 7.5t can you tow a trialer? or do you need full HGV class1 44t test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 (edited) No passing the 7.5T test doesn't allow you to tow a trailer, as it is all to do with the articulation of the vehicle - they come in different catagories. If you pass the C+E then you can, but you need to pass the C first before you can take the C+E, which makes it expensive as each catagory costs between £1000-1500 to take. But you can take the C without taking the C1 which is the 7.5T The test was £130 last March I think, but you need to hire a trailer/towing vehicle which meets the regulations if you don't have one yourself and a few lessons (mine were £40 an hour but got to use a Disco 3 which is nice) will always help. Like I said, hardest bit is learning to drive to test standard again. Although I did pass my B+E and my C last year, both with 3 minor faults, so I must be pretty good Edited February 3, 2011 by J@mes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masterzone2 Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 This old one I've know people who failed the B+E (car and trailer) then left it and went on to do the class 2 HGV (cat C) then walked the HGV class 1 (cat C+E) This then filters down to ALL other driving licences so you would just be given the B+E. It is said to be easier to do the class one than do the B+E. the other loop hole is that BY LAW anything hitched to your car becomes part of your car. So in my case a Hilux had the gross weight of 2515 kgs so I could tow another 985kgs gross weight as the two would be equal (or less) than 3500kgs. Its legal and I have had it confirmed by DVLA and local traffic police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 yeh that's right. But what you couldn't do is tow a trailer that had a gross weight of 1000KG or more, no matter how much you are actually towing at the time as the maximum permissible weight would be more than 3500KG. Its all to do with plated weights, max permissible weights. A bit like driving a minibus. Younger drivers can't drive a 12 seater minibus, whether it has 12 people in it or not. Even when empty, the vehicle has the ability to carry 12 passengers so you don't have the licence to drive it, whether it is loaded or not. Reversing a C+E is easier as the trailer doesn't snap around - it's much more forgiving and easier to correct. The road test in a C+E and the cost are a bit harder to swallow though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564 http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022521 http://www.ntta.co.uk/ A bit of reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimmyG21 Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 I did my B+E about 6 months ago now, i found it pretty easy, only got 3minors. All in all it did cost around £450 mark. I have an assesment to start with, then half a days driving/lessons, then a lesson before the test and then the test. I have to hire the truck and trailer so that cost £120 just for the test, plus the cost of the test itself. It could defo be done for a lot cheaper though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 A Tailgate and a front ladder rack on a trailer are essential aids to reversing a small trailer with a Landrover, otherwise you cannot see what it's doing. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST3V3 Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 on the upside it there shouldnt be as many caravans on the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 on the upside it there shouldnt be as many caravans on the road I can see the caravan club trying to get around it somehow in the next few years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenix Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 I can see the caravan club trying to get around it somehow in the next few years! I think they are cashing in and offering training and tests Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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