Towing a caravan

[sebandbay]

I am 24 years old with a full UK driving license. I do not have 7.5 tonne, class 1 or 2.

Can I legally tow a caravan?

[ugly_bob]

Depends when you got your license I think.

Can't remember when they changed.

You'll have to have a look on your license for B+E - Car + Trailer - you don't need 7.5 or HGV.

I don't know whether this was taken off along with minibusses and 7.5 tonnes when they changed the rules - Think that was Jan '97 which will be before you took your test

[SaxyJag]

Don't know if this helps:

My son passed his test about seven years ago, at the age of 18 and has a couple of points for speeding (which I think have expired now). He was towing trailers at the age of 23/24.

[spaced]

D1 (minibus catergory) was removed in 1997. To tow a caravan you must have D1 (i believe is the correct catergory) - check here: -

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/dl_towing_trail ers.htm

[ugly_bob]

Having looked at the link fromspaced, you won't be entitled to tow a trailer, since you won't have had your licence before 1/1/97 and B+E was removed then - You need to do an additional test

[ugly_bob]

Hang on, just read it again...

You can tow a trailer (caravan included) on category B provided:-

The trailer is not heavier than the car

AND

The total weight is not over 3.5 tonnes

[Paul22118]

Ugly Bob is right the second time around.

Basically if you have a full licence, at your age you may tow a caravan on an ordinary EU driving licence. The limitation is that the weight is not excessive (3.5 metic tonnes +). What they want to stop is drivers without licences for larger traffic eg PCV HGV etc, driving heavy combinations.

Thus a Mondeo towing a sensible caravan is OK - a Fiesta towing an expensive heavy job would not be OK.

So calculate the weight of your car and check the weight of the van, do a small addition sum and if that is not over three and a half tonnes. You are sorted.

PS learn to tow and learn to load, the biggest mistakes you can make towing a van.

[dannyl123456]

hi this is danny and your answer is yes you can

[sebandbay]

Thanks all, thats a great help.

[markja]

sebandbay, do a caravan towing course. camping & caravan club can tell you who do them. it will more than likely be very helpfull and may even save you from some thing horide happening. what ever you do, enjoy the freedom!