Towing a mini digger

[zafturbo]

Can anyone confirm this for me .so a friend is buying a 2.8ton mini digger and is looking to tow it about .firstly the Max is 3,500 kgs to tow on a car license is that correct?so my thinking is how is this possible when you add trailer ,jeep into the equation .Am I wrong totally in saying he can’t do it.The place selling it says he is fine .could you explain the correct way of this.What can tow this also ,he said it’s fine on a transit ?? ,I’m confused .i have my class one so I know I’m going to get lumbered with the moving of it as he won’t be covered .,thanks in advance

 

[richie_mck]

The 3.5t refers to the weight of the trailer + the load. So providing the unlaiden weight of the trailer isn't any more than 700kg and braked he will be able to tow with a B&E license provided the vehicle is also rated to pull 3.5t.

That's my understanding anyway but the trailer laws are a bit confusing at times.

 

[Coog]

The towing capacity of most vans is rubbish. Unless it's one of the RWD transits.

He won't be able to tow that on a standard car license, will need B&E assuming he passed his test after 1997. If before that he should be OK provided the transit can actually tow it.

 

[southsky sunrise]

All depends on when he passed his test as Coog says pre 97 & it’s and open book.

 

[zafturbo]

He is like 50 and only passed his test last year after loosing it like 20 years ago for being a twit.so he will need to do his car and trailer test then ,that will be fun

 

[Coog]

He might actually have all the higher categories already despite only passing the car test recently. As far as I know you only need to do B to get the B&E again if you had it previously. Same with any other higher categories (if he has them).

 

[Nicky]

He is like 50 and only passed his test last year after loosing it like 20 years ago for being a twit.so he will need to do his car and trailer test then ,that will be fun

If he first passed his test before 01/01/1997 then he should have retained all of the categories when he redone his test, though a quick look at his licence will confirm what he is actually covered for.

He would need to watch the GTW of his Transit as a lot of them were rated to tow up to 3500kg, but had a Gross Train Weight (weight of everything including the van + contents and the trailer + contents) of 5750kg. That means if the van was loaded up with some stuff in the back and weighed 3000kg before a trailer was added, he can only tow a maximum of 2750kg which will be inclusive of trailer and load.

Most vans have a very poor towing capacity as Coog said, and the amount of variations across engine sizes, year of manufacture for the same model of van etc all made a big difference to what each could carry and tow. Best to check the ID plate on his own van for verification.

 

[chris_b]

I’d be more concerned about the 700kg trailer with a 2800kg load on it won’t be much of a trailer !
As said also short of a big transit, full size Iveco or sprinter he’s not got many towing options and if he tries with a fwd van he’ll pull the clutch out of it in no time.
I was 7440 train weight last week with a twin wheeled Iveco with a RT6 and a race car with spares in the van.

 

[zafturbo]

If he first passed his test before 01/01/1997 then he should have retained all of the categories when he redone his test, though a quick look at his licence will confirm what he is actually covered for.

He would need to watch the GTW of his Transit as a lot of them were rated to tow up to 3500kg, but had a Gross Train Weight (weight of everything including the van + contents and the trailer + contents) of 5750kg. That means if the van was loaded up with some stuff in the back and weighed 3000kg before a trailer was added, he can only tow a maximum of 2750kg which will be inclusive of trailer and load.

Most vans have a very poor towing capacity as Coog said, and the amount of variations across engine sizes, year of manufacture for the same model of van etc all made a big difference to what each could carry and tow. Best to check the ID plate on his own van for verification.

I spoke with him today but he said to call and have a look at his van n license ect for him .its really only to get the digger from the showroom and to his site and then the odd trip about but you know what it’s like when you do a little job for someone ,then everyone wants a favour .he is building a log cabin up in the country in amongst trees so I had said to him that it might be worthwhile buying a cheap 4x4 to do him for a couple of years as well as the van as he has over 500 specialist trees to plant also so that’s were the wee digger comes into playb.Thanks for the reply .

 

[zafturbo]

I’d be more concerned about the 700kg trailer with a 2800kg load on it won’t be much of a trailer !
As said also short of a big transit, full size Iveco or sprinter he’s not got many towing options and if he tries with a fwd van he’ll pull the clutch out of it in no time.
I was 7440 train weight last week with a twin wheeled Iveco with a RT6 and a race car with spares in the van.

I was thinking that earlier lol.first bump he hits the whole lot will be laying in a heap at the side of the road

 

[Rob]

Been towing a 2.8 ton Kubota on an Ifor Williams for the best part of 15 years no problem behind Landcruiser, Amarok, Discovery.. wouldn't want to be on the road every day with it but fine for occasional use. Probably slightly over weight though

/hijack. recently upgraded the trailer (digger also now chopped in for an 8 ton Cat)

 

[zafturbo]

Been towing a 2.8 ton Kubota on an Ifor Williams for the best part of 15 years no problem behind Landcruiser, Amarok, Discovery.. wouldn't want to be on the road every day with it but fine for occasional use. Probably slightly over weight though

/hijack. recently upgraded the trailer (digger also now chopped in for an 8 ton Cat)

View attachment 239562

What you had there would of done him perfect.could of done a deal with you for that.

 

[m00k]

 

[Coog]

I thought the rules changed in the past couple of years and they were no longer as concerned with MAM.

 

[BobSpounge]

If he plans a route with a few ATM's local I'll move it for him for free.

 

[Graham]

I thought the rules changed in the past couple of years and they were no longer as concerned with MAM.

Not the case, it is all to do with MAM rather than actual weight.

So if someone pulls an empty 3500kg car transporter behind a Passat, a few year old L200 or most vans with a few tools aboard, it's illegal.

 

[Artoir]

Not the case, it is all to do with MAM rather than actual weight.

So if someone pulls an empty 3500kg car transporter behind a Passat, a few year old L200 or most vans with a few tools aboard, it's illegal.

And the other way around, a 2800kg Range Rover pulling over 700kg is illegal too?

 

[swansty]

And the other way around, a 2800kg Range Rover pulling over 700kg is illegal too?

Technically I think it is without B+E as the GTW is over 3,500kgs. Although I would check that out as I might be wrong. That was the basis I did my B+E anyway

 

[Graham]

And the other way around, a 2800kg Range Rover pulling over 700kg is illegal too?

Valid question, but I'd doubt it.

 

[Artoir]

Sorry yea I meant without B+E. I know they’re good to tow 3500kg but I imagine that needs the full license.

 

[Coog]

You'll be able to tow 750kg MAM with a Land Rover with a standard license. You won't be able to tow anything more.

 

[Daviddunlop83]

I’d be more concerned about the 700kg trailer with a 2800kg load on it won’t be much of a trailer !
As said also short of a big transit, full size Iveco or sprinter he’s not got many towing options and if he tries with a fwd van he’ll pull the clutch out of it in no time.
I was 7440 train weight last week with a twin wheeled Iveco with a RT6 and a race car with spares in the van.

Ifor plant trailers are around 700kg and can take 3500 gross.

The tippers are similar at 8-900kg can take 3500kg

 

[chris_b]

Ifor plant trailers are around 700kg and can take 3500 gross.

The tippers are similar at 8-900kg can take 3500kg


View attachment 239637

Wouldn’t imagine you would want to travel to far with it though

 

[swansty]

Wouldn’t imagine you would want to travel to far with it though

Why not? It’s what they are designed to do.

 

[Daviddunlop83]

Wouldn’t imagine you would want to travel to far with it though

As above, exactly what it’s been designed for