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turboextreme

Member Since: 03 Nov 2012
Location: devon
Posts: 362

2014 Freelander 2 TD4 XS Manual Loire Blue

towing trailers advice as catagorys confusing.

My wife wants to use the Freelander to tow a trailer over the weekend how ever she passed her driving test in September 1997 so she only has a category B licence.
I have just looked up dvla who states this:

you can Drive a vehicle that weight If you passed your driving test after 1st January 1997 and hold a normal category B licence (car licences up to 3.5 tonnes (or 3,500kg if you prefer a metric measurement) MAM towing a trailer that weighs up to 750kg MAM
Tow a more than 750kg MAM if the combined weight of the trailer and vehicle that is towing is under 3,500kg trailer weighing
Should you be wanting to tow anything heavier, you will need to take and pass a category B+E driving test.

This is confusing what is the maximum weight of trailer etc can she tow as the Freelander kerb weight 1770 kg , gross weight 2505 kg , towing limit 2000 kg

29th Jan 2016 9:56 pm

turboextreme

Member Since: 03 Nov 2012
Location: devon
Posts: 362

I looks like I will be towing tomorrow as I recon she can only tow a 750 kg trailer with the Freelander 2.
My braked trailer weighs just over 1200 kg unloaded. 3500 kg maximum - 2505 kg Freelander = 995 kg.

29th Jan 2016 10:26 pm

choccymonster

Member Since: 27 Sep 2013
Location: Chichester, West Sussex
Posts: 513

2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Manual Tambora Flame

Correct - based on the figures you've given.

The wording on the DVLA website isn't the best.

As far as I interpret it, she can tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, as long as the combined weight of the entire "rig" doesn't exceed 3500kg. In your case, given the trailer weighs 1200kg, and she's driving a FL2, shes stuffed I'm afraid.

Someone asked the same question back in 2008 --> http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic2042.html

29th Jan 2016 11:12 pm

Rimini HSE

Member Since: 18 Jan 2016
Location: North East
Posts: 101

2010 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Manual Rimini Red

turboextreme wrote:
I looks like I will be towing tomorrow as I recon she can only tow a 750 kg trailer with the Freelander 2.
My braked trailer weighs just over 1200 kg unloaded. 3500 kg maximum - 2505 kg Freelander = 995 kg.

It is the trailer maximum authorised mass (MAM) you need for the calculation not the unladen weight, (1200kg) if your MAM is 3500kg your freelander is too small (legally) to tow your trailer, regardless whether you have B + E licence.

Weight are based on MAM of the car/trailer not the actual weight towed. (you can get your trailer down plated to 2000kg via the manufacturer e.g. ifor, costs a small fee and the spec plate is swapped (restrict s the trailer though. obviously) unless you need the 3.5t and have another heavier vehicle. (800kg payload ain't much)

My father use to run a driving school, it was nearly ten years after the licence changes in '97 that people started to asked for training regularly!!

Last edited by Rimini HSE on 30th Jan 2016 8:51 am. Edited 1 time in total

30th Jan 2016 7:47 am

Navigator

Member Since: 29 Dec 2010
Location: Within reach of the coffee machine
Posts: 492

Re: towing trailers advice as catagorys confusing.

turboextreme wrote:
3.5 tonnes (or 3,500kg if you prefer a metric measurement)

3.5 tonnes IS a metric measurement. It woulds be 3.5 tons in Imperial. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

30th Jan 2016 8:40 am

Dartman the one

Member Since: 04 Apr 2013
Location: Seville, Spain
Posts: 1690

There are two different circumstances towing, one is the licence, that is based on plated weights, for a B licence the total of the MAM of the car + the plated MAM of the trailer must not exceed 3500KG, nor is the driver licensed to drive a vehicle whose MAM exceeds 3500KG.
Regarding towing loads with any licence, the total mass must not exceed the the Gross Train Weight, the GTW of the FL2 is Vehicle MAM + 2000Kg i.e 4505Kg, the LR maximum towed weight is not a legal weight , so in effect if ( and I do mean if) your mass in service is 1800Kg you can tow a trailer weighing 2205KG irrespective of its plated weight, providing the trailer MAM is above that weight. The gross tow ball weight of the FL is 150Kg so if you use that to the maximum the actual towed weight is 2055Kg( the vertical load is not counted as towed weight) but all must always be within the GTV.
I would suggest that 50KG would not be counted as overloading and is probably within the limits of tolerance of the weighing devices. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

30th Jan 2016 12:15 pm

choccymonster

Member Since: 27 Sep 2013
Location: Chichester, West Sussex
Posts: 513

BOOM!!

"<GASP> What was that??!?"

"That, my friends, is what we call 'a minefield'....."

30th Jan 2016 3:19 pm

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