Caravan on B driver's licence?

David and Joy
David and Joy Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited April 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

An owner of a KIA sportage3 (2016) and with a B class only drivers' licence, could you please suggest a used/pre-owned caravan that would meet the legal requirements of said drivers' licence.  There is an interest in a Bailey Pageant Champagne but I understand that this caravan does not meet the legal requireents for a KIA Sportage GT line.  Does it meet the legal requirements for a KIA Sportage 3?  I cannot find the required gross vehicle weight in the handbook.  Your assistance would be very much appreciated.

Thank you

Moderator Comment - Moved from Ask the Expert section.

Comments

  • Dan0308
    Dan0308 Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited April 2017 #2

    Hi davjoy,

    I would be happy to have a look for you and see what you would be likely to tow. Having a quick look at Kia sportage 3, there are a couple of engine variants which will have an impact on what you would be able to tow.

    Please let me know what size engine, fuel type and transmission your can has. All these factors affect the kerbweight of the vehicle and what It can tow.

     

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited April 2017 #3

    Have a look at the car VIN plate that will give you the GVW, deduct that from 3,500kg and that is what you can tow on a 'B' licence.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2017 #4

    Kerbweight is irrelevant for the purpose of checking legality on a B licence. ChrisRogers has the right answer.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #5

    As above.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #6

    Not necessarily, depends when you passed your driving test pre or post 1997!

    peedee

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #7

    OP says only a B licence.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #8

    Still applies ET check out the Government web site. What you can tow is all down to when you took your car driving test and the OP has not made that clear.

    peedee

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #9

    Probably correct PD I assumed as ref made to B entitlement itvwas recent. Maybe not

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2017 #10

    But there hasn't been any change to B licence entitlement that would be affected by the date of passing the test. A B licence is a B licence, whenever one passed the test.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #11

    Cars
    Category B - if you passed your test before 1 January 1997
    You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.

    You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.

    Category B - if you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997
    You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg).

    You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg.

  • Fozzie
    Fozzie Club Member Posts: 550 ✭
    500 Comments
    edited April 2017 #12

    Peedee

    you have just beaten me to it.I was trying to copy and paste from Gov.uk.website.

    I get so confused with all of this as I had a family member who spent over £650 for a trailer towing course and test for her new van.

    Now looking further into it she had no need to spend that sort of money.

    Their unit was a large Vauxhall towing a small lightweight Sprite van.Well within the 3500kg GVW limit.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #13

    Unfortunately people think that you need a 'towing licence' to pull any trailer/caravan. At least your relative now tow (almost) anything she wants smile

  • Dan0308
    Dan0308 Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited April 2017 #14

    GVW assumes maximum load of the vehicle to the manufactures maximum recommended payload, this includes all passengers, maximum load, fuel.

    Stating that kerbweight is irrelevant is not the case. it depends on how the OP wants to calculate the weight.

    Kerbweight of the vehicle generally assumes 'minimum weight' of the vehicle with running fluids, some fuel, and driver'. This means that the weight of the vehicle can only ever be heavier than this.

    GVW is the maximum possible weight of the vehicle laden. This does give you the maximum weight of the vehicle but does mean than unless the vehicle is always loaded, the weight will be less.

    I understand what your saying about taking the max weight from 3500 kg but the OP needs to consider both weights, especially when matching the outfit, as it could be we well under 3500 GVW but over the kerbweight of the tow vehicle.

    Just a thought!

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2017 #15

    That may be if you passed your test before 1 January 1997, but it wouldn't correspond to a category B licence.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2017 #16

    There is no need to calculate any weights when determing what one's driving licence allows one to tow. Only plated weights count. Anything else applies to technical limits only, but not to the licence.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #17

    If you have the B licence then you should be limited to a gross train weight of 3,500 kg. In simple terms look at the maximum laden weight of the toe car and then deduct that from 3,500. The difference is the maximum MTPLM of anything you tow.

    You do also have to be within the manufacturers towing limit so check this and from the safety aspect do not tow anything heavier than the cars kerb weight although you can add 75 kg for the driver. As a newcomer something considerably lighter than the car is advised, the club suggest no more than 85%, although the Sportage should be safe a bit higher than this.

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