Some good news for those youngsters who want to tow a tin tent

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-...utumn-2021 Andrew

It’s rare for the government, any government, to reduce regulation but this is indeed excellent.

A common sense change, but common sense is rare when it comes to legislation.

Under the old rules you could tow a 1,500kg trailer with a 1,500kg car. But only a 750kg trailer with a Discovery 4.

Strange that it doesn't give an actual date for implementation - just autunm

Nice spot though - thanks Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

...But only a 750kg trailer with a Discovery 4.
Wasn't 750kg the limit for unbraked trailers only? Jules

Taken from the regs:_

*a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
*a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg

The Disco 4 kerb weight = 2,570kg. carrying capacity = 690kg so Gross Vehicle weight (MAM) = 3,260kg.

So rule 2 gives 3,500 - 3,260 = 240kg.
but rule 1 allows 750kg as the combined weight of 750kg + 3,260kg is 4,010kg which is below 4,250kg

totally senseless as the Disco 4 is rated to tow 3,500kg and 750kg unbraked. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Interestingly, on continental Europe there is also a category B+ licence that permits towing a trailer with a MAM of over 750kg provided the maximum MAM of car and trailer doesn’t exceed 4250kg. Not of much help with a Disco 4, but it would allow a driver without a category BE licence to use an FL2 to tow a trailer with a MAM of 1745kg. For some reason the U.K. never signed up for this although if you had a B+ licence from continental Europe you could exchange it for a U.K. B+ licence! You don’t have to take a trailer test - it’s sufficient to have taken an appropriate training course. All moot now, of course, although we’ve yet to have confirmation of when the change will come into effect in Norn Iron.

Also, these figures of maximum authorised mass are primarily for driver licensing purposes. The limitations that Andy quotes above for a Disco 4 only apply if the driver has a Category B licence. With a Category BE licence, the driver can use the full towing capacity of the vehicle.

Andy131 wrote:

Taken from the regs:_

*a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
*a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg

The Disco 4 kerb weight = 2,570kg. carrying capacity = 690kg so Gross Vehicle weight (MAM) = 3,260kg.

So rule 2 gives 3,500 - 3,260 = 240kg.
but rule 1 allows 750kg as the combined weight of 750kg + 3,260kg is 4,010kg which is below 4,250kg

totally senseless as the Disco 4 is rated to tow 3,500kg and 750kg unbraked.

I beg to disagree, chaps. What would be bonkers would be buying a Disco 4 and only having a B licence and then thinking you could tow anything substantial with it . Don’t confuse licence towing entitlement with physical towing entitlement.