Tricky-Ricky Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Anyone know what the ins & outs of towing a vehicle on a trailer are? IE the insurance cover needed and by who? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin-mkiv Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 The tow car must have insurance for towing a trailer intended for the transportation of vehicles. Its up to the owner of the car that is being moved to decide as to whether he insures his own car or not. But if anything happens to it while its on the trailer then its the tow cars responsibility, unless theres a contract to the contrary. Also, legally, the weight of the trailer and vehicle being carried must not exceed the weight of the vehicle doing the towing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubersonic Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Also if you have a newer photocard style licence its unlikely you will be allowed to tow such a trailer without doing an additional test category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin-mkiv Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 I have a photocard licence but I passed my test before the changes came in, so I still retain that category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 I have a photocard licence but I passed my test before the changes came in, so I still retain that category. Unfair, I passed mine in 2003 and I was effected, what year did they come in?, me old one allowed my drive loads now I can only drive a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 The license side of things is not an issue, just worried about what insurance cover is needed, a family member has HGV up to 11 ton, however he can borrow a transit and four wheel trailer, however ifs it borrowed then he would only have TPFT and so i cannot see how that would cover, so probably not worth the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Just one further question, if the vehicle being towed is covered by it own FC insurance, is it still in force, or is it voided or overridden because its on a trailer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 The only way to be sure is to ring up the insurance company and ask as all insurance companies have different policies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedrosixfour Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 a family member has HGV up to 11 ton, however he can borrow a transit and four wheel trailer You may need to investigate this further too mate. As wel as a B or car license I have a C license which covers me up to 32 ton GVW, ie, a 4 axle rigid. However I'm still not entitled to tow a trailer with more than one axle or a total weight of more than 750kg, in this country. In order to be licensed legally I need to complete a test towing a suitable trailer in whatever vehicle I want to be legal in. So I'm just going to get my EC or articulated license which will cover me to tow a trailer on any other type of vehicle except a public service vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 The tow car must have insurance for towing a trailer intended for the transportation of vehicles. Its up to the owner of the car that is being moved to decide as to whether he insures his own car or not. But if anything happens to it while its on the trailer then its the tow cars responsibility, unless theres a contract to the contrary. Also, legally, the weight of the trailer and vehicle being carried must not exceed the weight of the vehicle doing the towing. Thats not totally correct, a vehicle will have a towing capacity which can be a lot more than how much the towing vehicle on its own weighs. For example a Landcruiser Amazon weighs 2380 kgs but can tow 3500 kgs, http://www.uktow.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robzki Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 For example a Landcruiser Amazon weighs 2380 kgs but can tow 3500 kgs, http://www.uktow.com And all landrovers are plated to tow 3500kg except the freelander iirc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin-mkiv Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Yeah, true, but I work on the towcar being heavier as it just feels safer to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Yeah, true, but I work on the towcar being heavier as it just feels safer to me. I used to do plenty of towing with my Amazon and even maxed out it was fine, best vehicle i've ever towed with. It worries me when you see something like a Mondeo towing a similar sized car on a trailer. I did this once years ago helping a mate out and never again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin-mkiv Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I used to do plenty of towing with my Amazon and even maxed out it was fine, best vehicle i've ever towed with. It worries me when you see something like a Mondeo towing a similar sized car on a trailer. I did this once years ago helping a mate out and never again. Yeah....a proper 4x4 is the only way to go when towing...I always used Shogun 2.8's or Hilux surf 3.0's.. I noticed the difference even with a SWB 2.8 Paj, it was horrible. I moved a Supra years ago for Jurgen on the back of one of my 2.8 LWB paj's. Took it about 400 miles and never felt so secure towing a car on a trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robzki Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Yeah....a proper 4x4 is the only way to go when towing...I always used Shogun 2.8's or Hilux surf 3.0's.. I noticed the difference even with a SWB 2.8 Paj, it was horrible. I moved a Supra years ago for Jurgen on the back of one of my 2.8 LWB paj's. Took it about 400 miles and never felt so secure towing a car on a trailer. I've had the opposite experience, I Tow 3000kg on a regular basis and have found the SWB Pajero better than the LWB and the Disco. although this is obviously on closed roads and mainly on a test track My other 4x4 is rated to 22000kg but at 40kmh it takes me a while to get anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 22000 kg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robzki Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 22000 kg And its only 85hp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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