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Below is a summary of the essential points to consider. Always consult your fleet manager before using your company car for towing.
Maximum trailer dimensions
Towing a vehicle up to 3500kg Gross Vehicle Weight
- Length (excluding the coupling and drawbar) 7.0 m
- Width Maximum 2.3 m
Towing vehicle over 3500kg GVW
- Length (excluding the coupling and drawbar) 12m (min 4 wheels)
- Width Maximum 2.55m
- Length of towing vehicle and trailer combined 18m
- Maximum overhang of load from rear of trailer 3.05 m
Marking of rear overhang
- Between 1m and 2m, ensure the end is clearly visible by attaching a piece of cloth or similar
- Between 2m and 3.05m, a marker board must be fitted and illuminated at night
- If the overhang is more than 3.05m, an attendant must be carried and the police must be notified 2 days before commencing the journey.
"Long Vehicle" marker plate:
- Not required for light trailers
- These are a legal requirement only for trailers over 3,500kg or where the towing vehicle is over 7,500kg gross weight. When they are required, different plates are needed depending on the length of the vehicle.
- Loads must not project more than 305mm either side of the trailer, up to a maximum width of 2.9m
- Loads over 2.9m in width are classed as abnormal loads and the police must be notified two days before a journey commences.
Recommended maximum height:
- 3.0m high or 1.7 times the wheel track. (horizontal distance between centre lines of tyre treads).
- There is no legal requirement, but this is an accepted guideline.
- If however the height does exceed 3.0m then a notice giving the height details must be displayed in the cab of the towing vehicle.
Trailer maximum weights
Type 01: unbraked trailers - max. 750kg gross trailer weight or half the towing vehicle's kerb weight - whichever is less.
Type 02: trailers on overrun brakes - max. 3500kg gross trailer weight
1982 regulations demand that all trailers, including unbraked ones, must be clearly marked with their maximum gross weight in kilogrammes. This may be checked at any time by the police at a weighbridge. Since January 1, 1997, all unbraked trailer plates must show the year of manufacture.
To comply with the Department for Transport Code of Practice for the recall of defective trailers less than 3,500kg gross vehicle weight it is desirable that a trailer should carry a manufacturer's plate clearly showing:
- Manufacturers name and address chassis or serial number and model number
- Number of axles
- Maximum weight per axle maximum
- Nose weight of coupling
- Maximum gross weight (G.V.W.)
- Date of manufacture
Driving licences
You must hold a full driving licence to tow anything. Most drivers who passed their test before January 1, 1997 have licence categories allowing them to drive vehicle and trailer combinations weighing up to 8.25 tonnes.
With effect from January 1, 1997 the second EC Directive on Driving Licences (91/439/EEC) came into effect, affecting new drivers passing their test after that date.
The result is that new drivers will only be allowed to drive and tow the following combinations:
- Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (category B) with a 750kg trailer (4.25 tonnes total Maximum Authorised Mass).
- Category B vehicles with larger trailers i.e. more than 750kg, provided that the combined MAM does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and the gross MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. To be able to tow combinations outside this ruling requires the passing of an additional test.
Detail of the Regulation
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 SI 1990 No 842 classifies vehicles according to either:
"Maximum authorised mass" (permitted maximum weight). Vehicles over 3,500kg MAM are classified as large goods vehicles (LGV's).
Vehicle categories
The main non - LGV (unified) licence categories are:
Category A: Motor cycles (with or without a sidecar), including tricycles and mopeds.
Category B: Motor vehicles with:
- A maximum authorised mass (MAM) not over 3,500kg
- A maximum of 8 seats (not including the driver's seat)
Trailers being towed by vehicles in this category must either:
- Be not more than 750kg MAM - making a maximum authorised Train Weight of 4,250kg
- Have a MAM which does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle
- Have a MAM which does not have a train weight exceeding 3,500kg
Drivers of vehicles in this category wishing to tow trailers which do not comply with either of the above conditions must have a B + E entitlement.
(Source: The National Trailer and Towing Association) Attaching the trailer to your company car
- Become methodical about hitching up and unhitching so that you do not forget anything. If your towcar's mirrors do not give a good view past the trailer you should fit towing mirrors.
- Apply the trailer handbrake, remove any towball and electrical socket dust covers and security devices then wind the jockey wheel to the required height. Check the towball is lightly oiled (not greased).
- Get a helper to stand with their hands showing you where the hitch is (place a broom against it if you are alone) and reverse slowly back. Your helper indicates if you are off line.
- Raise the front of the trailer by means of the jockey wheel assembly to the required height, roll trailer up to the rear of the towing vehicle.
- If the trailer has tandem axles, raise sufficiently to raise the front wheels clear of the ground to aid maneuverability.
Do not attempt to lift the front of the trailer. Lower the trailer by means of the jockey wheel assembly onto the towball of the vehicle.
Over the last foot or so, your helper should use their hands to show you the actual distance between towball and coupling head.
- If you have to stop a few inches short, judge how far back you are going by comparing the front wheels' movement to something on the ground.
- Wind the jockey wheel down to lower the coupling head onto the towball.
- Some coupling heads have a locking handle which stays up then automatically locks onto the ball, others have to be held up and may have an indicator to show when the ball is in place.
- Once the coupling head appears locked on, lower the jockey wheel a few turns to lift the back of the vehicle to prove the coupling head is on properly, then fully raise the wheel before unclamping it and, finally, securely locking it fully raised. Check that the wheel in the position you have locked it is not interfering with the operation of the coupling overrun mechanism.
- Attach safety breakaway cable(s) to the rear of vehicle. This cable will apply the hand brake if for any reason the trailer becomes detached whilst towing (clip the breakaway cable onto the special rings some towbars have or loop it around the bar, making sure it cannot foul the coupling head. Do not loop it round the towball neck unless you can find no alternative). Check that the breakaway and lighting cables have enough slack for cornering but will not touch the ground.
- Plug in the lighting plug, and check all lights and indicators. The electrical plug only fits one way, so line up its cut-out with the lug on the bottom edge of the socket. Some cars have two sockets - use the one with the black cover flap because the one with the white flap is for caravan supplementary electrical systems.
- It is your responsibility as the driver to ensure all lights work. Turn on the car lights and check the trailer's lights. With the ignition on, make sure the correct indicators are working - car and trailer indicators not matching is a common fault - then get someone to see if the trailer brake lights work. If you are alone, use a short stick between the pedal and the seat to hold down the brake pedal.
- Adjust both external mirrors so that a view down both sides of the trailer can be obtained. If this cannot be achieved extension mirrors should be fitted.
- When loading a trailer ensure the weight is distributed appropriately. Nose weight is a very important factor in making your vehicle and trailer combination stale during towing. Inadequate nose weight can cause snaking problems. Too much nose weight causes other problems.
- Noseweight should be at least 50kg when the outfit is stationary. Refer to the recommendations of you vehicle and trailer manufacturers.
- It is your responsibility, as the driver, to ensure your vehicle or trailer is not overloaded.
- If the trailer has an eye coupling, after attaching the trailer, make sure the safety locking catch on the towing pin is properly applied and that the safety pin or clip is fitted. If this is not fitted, the trailer could become unhitched.
- Lift up and lock the jockey wheel assembly. If this is not done, the jockey wheel will become damaged.