Tractor Unit - Licencing Requirements ?

[dtmpower]

Provided you didn't want to do paid for work and there was no requirement to add a trailer, what licence would you need in the UK to drive say, a Renault Magnum.

If you buy a 90s tractor unit, could it make a viable weekend/hobby transport - or would it be too expensive to maintain/run.

Would it be possible to park it on the road in a residential road, or would it be limited to being kept in a commercial/off road parking area ?

[Cyberprog]

You'd register it as a private HGV, and I think you may be able to down-plate it, remove the 5th Wheel and drive it on a 7.5T license (C1). Dunno about parking on a residential road, think it's legal, but you won't be popular with your neighbours!

[R0G]

With or without fifth wheel plate makes no difference to the licencing laws

It is the GVW on the plate that determines what licence is required

It is possible to down plate a unit but only to a certain point

If the unit weighs over 7.5 tonnes empty then its deffo gonna need a LGV C licence too drive it because it cannot be down plated to lower than its actual weight plus about 300 kgs (guessing on the 300)

[dtmpower]

How much would a mid 90s Renault Magnum 4x2 weigh ?

[pja]

dtmpower said:

How much would a mid 90s Renault Magnum 4x2 weigh ?

Around 7t, they are quite light for the size of the cab!

http://fplreflib.findlay.co.uk/articles/21416/squa...

[martin mrt]

Why on earth you'd want to buy a mid 90s Magnum baffles me, but each to their own.

The 2008 one I spent an hour in was enough, overrated French junk!!

[dtmpower]

martin mrt said:

Why on earth you'd want to buy a mid 90s Magnum baffles me, but each to their own.

The 2008 one I spent an hour in was enough, overrated French junk!!

What would you buy ?

[martin mrt]

I'm perhaps biased, but it would have a Scania badge on its grille.

[truck71]

R0G said:

With or without fifth wheel plate makes no difference to the licencing laws

It is the GVW on the plate that determines what licence is required

It is possible to down plate a unit but only to a certain point

If the unit weighs over 7.5 tonnes empty then its deffo gonna need a LGV C licence too drive it because it cannot be down plated to lower than its actual weight plus about 300 kgs (guessing on the 300)

I think the key thing is whether the vehicle is registered an HGV or PLGV. If you register it as a PLG the weight/plating cert become redundant. The vehicle then becomes a big car and you drive it on your car licence. Removing the 5th wheel hopefully discourages VOSA having much interest if they see it on the road. Rules may have changed since I did my CPC so the above could be incorrect.

Edited by truck71 on Tuesday 9th April 18:37

[Chrisgr31]

truck71 said:

I think the key thing is whether the vehicle is registered an HGV or PLGV. If you register it as a PLG the weight/plating cert become redundant. The vehicle then becomes a big car and you drive it on your car licence. Removing the 5th wheel hopefully encourages VOSA having much interest if they see it on the road. Rules may have changed since I did my CPC so the above could be incorrect.

DidChris Eubank have an American tractor unit which was downplated?

[truck71]

He drove one but not sure how he organised it, suspect as a PLG.

[R0G]

truck71 said:

I think the key thing is whether the vehicle is registered an HGV or PLGV. If you register it as a PLG the weight/plating cert become redundant. The vehicle then becomes a big car and you drive it on your car licence. Removing the 5th wheel hopefully encourages VOSA having much interest if they see it on the road. Rules may have changed since I did my CPC so the above could be incorrect.

Changed since then - its the GVW that counts .... or the number of seats
http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/magazine/articles/mo...

[truck71]

R0G said:

truck71 said:

I think the key thing is whether the vehicle is registered an HGV or PLGV. If you register it as a PLG the weight/plating cert become redundant. The vehicle then becomes a big car and you drive it on your car licence. Removing the 5th wheel hopefully encourages VOSA having much interest if they see it on the road. Rules may have changed since I did my CPC so the above could be incorrect.

Changed since then - its the GVW that counts .... or the number of seats
http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/magazine/articles/mo...

Ah, I stand corrected.