having spoken several times to dvla and driver standards agency it apears that you will keep the b+e that allows any weight trailer so long as you dont break the train weight of the towing vehicle. b+e allows that this very moment and you dont lose it. there is no weight restriction on b+e only that the towing vehicle as a gvw at or below 3,500kg. i suggest if you dont believe me contact dvla or dsa. i agree it may not suit a vehicle to pull 3or 4 times its weight on a normal towball .but it is allowed and does not break any laws . i also have suggested that a mini artic or fifth wheel caravan is the way forward . artic is safer as it super imposes load on the the towing vehicle. most fifth wheel caravans dont actually impose very much and are not artics in the construction and use definitions. young drivers (post 97) can take a seperate b+e test allowing the same no vehicle/trailer weight ratio limits for category b+e. have a look on direct gov site .towing trailers or caravans with a vehicle up to 3,500kg. its right at the bottom its quite plain to understand. cheers alan.
snowy and the op. you are assuming you would be driving on c1+e ,that as the weight restriction of 7,500 +750 .or 8,250 kg trainweight. the idea is to drive on your b+e entitlement. its always been like this since the rules changed you voluntary down plate a light vehicle (as in kerb weight )to 3,500kg then use b+e to tow the original train weight stays ,it does not get a lower train weight just because you lower the gvw.
or use a modern transit .it as a train weight of 6.500kg. (can have ).and be driven on b+e. you must understand the catagories to get the way it works. i have said before i can down plate my 6,300kg gvw to 3,500kg . it weighs 2,700kg . it keeps its original train weight of 9,600kg .and can be driven on b+e. if you need more info give me a call 07971962361. i spent hours over the years finding out all this and asking the questions you are asking . it really doesnt seem correct i know but it is. cheers alan.
So, would OH still be able to tow our caravan after he is 70 if he just renewed his licence? (which isn't for 8 years anyway) 3.2 Shogun Field and Sterling Elite Overlander twin axle assuming we still have them or similar but I'm no good with weights. I think this is what we all need to know rather than a lot of technical info. (with apologies to the techies).
it all depends on the train weight of the towing unit . and the weight of the caravan. if the towing unit i under 3,500kg laden gvw then so long as you dont break the train weight yes carry on. the b+e never changes.
its confusing because most never study the b+e .. pre 97 licence holders get a fixation for 8.250kg but that only applies to the c1+e part of the licence. give me a call if you need to . cheers alan.
i need the trainweight of your vehicle .the gvw and the gvw of the trailer/caravan you want to pull. if you cant tell me the weights then i cant help you as we need to know the weights .you cant just guess .
It's not so much how DVLA interprets it, but how the man from VOSA interprets it or the police officer that stops you interprets it, ultimately it is how the courts interpret it.
For peace of mind a medical might be worth it
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
I didn't think you needed the (expensive) medical unless you wanted to keep the "c" bit that will let you drive the larger motorhomes?
What you DO need to do (mimimum) is keep a photocopy of your licence before you send it in for renewal, and TELL THEM that you wish to retain the b + e entitlement. There have been reports that it will be removed otherwise.
If you have motorbike entitlement too, you need to ask to keep it also.
Iv'e just checked the Govt web site about licences. You need to renew your licence at age 70, and when you do so as far as I can see the provisions for the BE category (which I assume you have) remains the same. Categories C1 and D1 are not automatically renewed so you have to re-apply for those separately.
i just spoke to the department of transport in london. on 0300 3303000. they are going to send me a written explanation so they say .hopefully it will be on their headed note paper and i will try to get it posted for you to make a copy . or make your own enquirey on tts.enquires at dft.gsi.gov.uk hopefully we shall have a definative answer in the near future.
Thanks vwalan. i look foreward to seeing the response.It should help. There are conflicting but well argued contrbutions here. (big als excepted).My own interest is that I will be 70 in March and have just ordered a new van(about 1600kg) to tow with a Land Cruiser whic is about 2800 I think.Well over 3500 if this relates to combined weight.
Follow simple rule B + E towing car
must not exed 3.5 tons. Trailer must not exed tow car Wight. And it must not exed tow cars train Wight if less than tow car plate wight
*if you have held full category BE before 19th January 2013, there is no upper weight limit for the trailer, however we would recommend you contact Transport Technology and Standards on 0300 330 3000 to establish what weight you can safely tow.
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https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/towing-trailers-or-caravans-vehicles-35-tonnes
another govt site read down about drivers with a b+e before january 2013.
I reached the 70 mark eighteen months ago; to ensure I did not lose any groups in the "renewal" process, I photocopied my "old" licence - having passed motorcycle test in late 60's and car test in 1982, my old groups were A,D & E. My new licence covers categories AM, A, B1, B & BE (plus fklnpg subject to codes 01.118)....
Work it out from there....
Gram
------------- What's the difference between a chicken?
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Topic: 70yrs old Towing limits. Are they Right?
