Towing a Trailer????

[bigbellytom]

Hello people!

Towing a Trailer....!! I have been Towing a boat for 2 years and thought i was doing so legally! It has been brought to my attention that i was infact not legal if the trailer is over 750kg - as i passed my test after 1997?! So just to clarify my Dad can tow legally (having never towed in his life but i who has been towing for years cannot!! Typical British goverment!!

So anyway i know i need to do my catogory B+E practical test... but how??? I am from Gloucestershire and i dont mind travelling!! I need to do the 3day course (or how ever many days it is) and the test but i cannot find out how to book it. The reason i want to do the course is although i can tow there are always little rules and regs you have to follow (10-2 on the steering wheel)

So has anyone got any ideas on where i can do this??

Any help welcome... Thanks
Tom

[7mike]

Are you certain that you need a B+E licence for the combination you have been driving? You can tow trailers more than 750kg where the total weight does not exceed 3,500kg.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...

As for training, you should be able to find a local ADI or LGV/PCV training centre who can provide training & test prep.

[bigbellytom]

hi there,
Thanx for the reply...

ye im sure i need to pass it, i should have stated ive bought a new wakeboard boat now and its about 1400kg. and im looking at towing with a navara or L200 so if im not on the weight limit im VERY close to. id rather be 100% legal as my licence is my job..

ill check out the hgv training centre tho.. thanks

[The Moose]

I have the exact same issue...except I tow arace car!!!

google J Coates. Am doimg my assesment with them this week.

Cheers

The Moose

[fadeaway]

bigbellytom said:

So just to clarify my Dad can tow legally (having never towed in his life but i who has been towing for years cannot!! Typical British goverment!!

I know it must be annoying for you, and am sure there's a debate there about whether people should have take a test before pulling a trailer ... but lets not complain about the government NOT applying this retrospectively. Unless you wanted them to ban everyone from towing a trailing until they took an extra test - including those who had been legally towing trailers for decades (as opposed to you, who had been towing for 2 years when you maybe shouldn't (depending, as you say, on weights))

So less "typical British government". That situation is actually sensible - so untypical British government!

Yes, ok, so I passed before 1997!

[BenElliottRacing]

I did this test in january. You need to drive to the same standards as the L test and also complete the reversing and rehitch procedures.

Having started my training to be a road instructor I did a couple of trailor lessons and passed with one minor on rehitch.

Please note that your dad can accompany you with L plates on for practice but I beleive that will change as of april next year. after that you need to be accompanied by someone who has passed the test, not just got the right to drive on their license.

[Engineer1]

fadeaway said:

bigbellytom said:

So just to clarify my Dad can tow legally (having never towed in his life but i who has been towing for years cannot!! Typical British goverment!!

I know it must be annoying for you, and am sure there's a debate there about whether people should have take a test before pulling a trailer ... but lets not complain about the government NOT applying this retrospectively. Unless you wanted them to ban everyone from towing a trailing until they took an extra test - including those who had been legally towing trailers for decades (as opposed to you, who had been towing for 2 years when you maybe shouldn't (depending, as you say, on weights))

So less "typical British government". That situation is actually sensible - so untypical British government!

Yes, ok, so I passed before 1997!

If they had made it retrospective they would have made business very difficult, as no companies would have had anyone who could have towed a trailor, the test centers would have been swamped, live with it there is a benifit in being old .