Understanding weights on data plate

[harpoonlouis]

Just looking at maximum towing weights for my Terrano II and found the plate in the engine compartment but it lists 4 weights without descriptions.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what these 4 weights are?

2580 Kg
4280 Kg
1160 Kg
1460 Kg

Thanks

I am towing a Bateson Ascot horse box with two modest sized ponies but I get asked to move larger horse occassionally and would like to be sure what my limit is.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

Just looking at maximum towing weights for my Terrano II and found the plate in the engine compartment but it lists 4 weights without descriptions.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what these 4 weights are?

2580 Kg
4280 Kg
1160 Kg
1460 Kg

Thanks

I am towing a Bateson Ascot horse box with two modest sized ponies but I get asked to move larger horse occassionally and would like to be sure what my limit is.

1, gross vehicle weight
2, train weight
3, front axle gross weight
4, rear axle gross weight

max towing capacity is #2 #1 = 1700 kg

I assume yours is an auto then?

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

If it is an auto it may well not be suitable for towing your ponies! a manual gearbox has a towing capacity of around 2800 kilos!

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

these are the specs for your Bateson Ascot:

Max gross weight
2300 kg
Unlaiden weight
925.00 kg
Weight capacity
1375 kg

If your T2 is an auto it is, strictly speaking, not legal to tow this trailer at all! not even empty!

I hope I am wrong or your data plate weights are wrong! :nenau

 

[harpoonlouis]

these are the specs for your Bateson Ascot:

Max gross weight
2300 kg
Unlaiden weight
925.00 kg
Weight capacity
1375 kg

If your T2 is an auto it is, strictly speaking, not legal to tow this trailer at all! not even empty!

I hope I am wrong or your data plate weights are wrong! :nenau

Hmmm, interesting!

The weights I have quoted from the plate are correct.

So are you suggesting that the 1700 weight limit is lower on an auto than a manual?

Also why would an auto with a 1700 Kg not be legal to haul an empty Ascot?

I think I need to get my head around this!

 

[cncfabs]

Hmmm, interesting!

The weights I have quoted from the plate are correct.

So are you suggesting that the 1700 weight limit is lower on an auto than a manual?

Also why would an auto with a 1700 Kg not be legal to haul an empty Ascot?

I think I need to get my head around this!

All vehicle weights are based on gross weight so even if your trailer weighed nothing you couldnt tow it if it was capable of carrying more than 1700kg gross

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

yes, the gross weight of your trailer must be less than the gross towing capacity of the towing vehicle and an auto has a much lower towing capacity, hence me knowing it was an auto from the weights you gave :thumb2

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

don't forget B+E on your driving licence too :thumb2

 

[harpoonlouis]

Thanks for your help so far, been talking to a couple of people locally and one had a different problem based on plate weights rather than actual weights when his son was pulled over and charged when his total came to over 3500 even though the trailer was empty and nowhere near 3.5 tonnes.

Found a few references to lower weights for auto ( but one the other way around for US Mavericks) but no consensus as to why. Seems that manufacturers may plate autos lower based on fear that transmissions may get hotter on autos under very heavy conditions but some also offer additional transmission cooler but don't then offer a higher plating.

All seems a bit shot through with inconsistencies

 

[Barrbeast]

Hi folks, having a foot in the farming community for once this is actually something that I know for sure!

The rules of "Trailer Max Capacity vs Vehicle Towing Capacity" have been changed so that as long as you are not towing more than your vehicle's towing capacity then you are within the law even if the trailer can itself take a higher load.

What used to happen was that folk would get the trailers re-plated to their towing vehicles max capacity so that they stayed within the law but the powers that be have now seen sense so that isn't required anymore.

Unfortunately the problem is some Traffic Cops/VOSA Officials etc don't actually know that things have changed and so some of them will still pull you over but you will be able to argue it/appeal etc

Re autos having a lower plating, you're right on the money harpoonlouis! It's to do with fears that the transmission could overheat on heavy towing.

 

[Banshee]

don't forget B+E on your driving licence too :thumb2

Say what?? What's the heaviest you can tow on a standard license?
And what additional quals do you need?

Can you tow a caravan with a standard license?

 

[theron]

It doesn't really matter why the auto has a lower tow weight limit. The police and VOSA will use the numbers on the plate and Nissan aren't going to up the figures on the plate for you.

You might be able to get your trailer manufacturer to 'downplate' the trailer to 1700Kg. This way you'll be legal to tow it with up to 775Kg (1700Kg-925kg) of pony on board.

 

[Fez_uk]

Say what?? What's the heaviest you can tow on a standard license?
And what additional quals do you need?

Can you tow a caravan with a standard license?

Google is your friend...

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/driving-licence-rules-and-what-you-can-tow

 

[Barrbeast]

It doesn't really matter why the auto has a lower tow weight limit. The police and VOSA will use the numbers on the plate and Nissan aren't going to up the figures on the plate for you.

You might be able to get your trailer manufacturer to 'downplate' the trailer to 1700Kg. This way you'll be legal to tow it with up to 775Kg (1700Kg-925kg) of pony on board.

Hi theron, see my post above, no legal need to down-plate a trailer provided you don't exceed the towing vehicle's capacity.

Have a gander at this post from the British Farming Forum (no taking the mickey now:augie)
http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?2122-Towing-vehicle&highlight=towing+weight

Ifor Williams also confirm the situation
http://www.iwt.co.uk/customer-care/faq-categories/towing-laws/1763

 

[Fez_uk]

Ifor Williams also confirm the situation
http://www.iwt.co.uk/customer-care/faq-categories/towing-laws/1763

But it says in the above link:

Drivers must also possess the appropriate driving licence with B+E category for towing this particular trailer combination

Don't you need a trailer license or license before 1997 to have B+E. So aslong as the trailer does not exceed 750kg in total you can tow it without?

 

[Barrbeast]

Don't you need a trailer license or license before 1997 to have B+E. So aslong as the trailer does not exceed 750kg in total you can tow it without?

Basically, yes, but for there's a calculation you need to do based on the towing vehicle's max weight. (iirc it's on the Ifor Williams site)

For lighter vehicles the rule is "not exceed 750kg" but for heavier vehicles like "Foxy" (she weighs around 2.3t) the max towing weight on a post 1997 B license is a bit less. Either way you don't need to down-plate, just don't exceed the vehicle's max towing weight depending on your license.

Which is why I intend to sit my trailer test this year! (even though I've been driving tractors with 14t trailers for years *grumble* )

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

It doesn't really matter why the auto has a lower tow weight limit. The police and VOSA will use the numbers on the plate and Nissan aren't going to up the figures on the plate for you.

You might be able to get your trailer manufacturer to 'downplate' the trailer to 1700Kg. This way you'll be legal to tow it with up to 775Kg (1700Kg-925kg) of pony on board.

Bang on, no point debating why! it just is lower! :thumb2

I first came across this on grey import mistrals and wondered if it was just Japanese law, maybe they aren't a nation of trailer towers? anyway whichever way you look at it the answerer is the same :thumb2

Having said all that, I have towed a large rice trailer with 2 15hh cobs using a grand Vitara with a towing capacity of 1850k no problems, not legal, but no problems.

at the end of the day the 'risk' is down to you :augie

 

[melissachels]

Say what?? What's the heaviest you can tow on a standard license?
And what additional quals do you need?

Can you tow a caravan with a standard license?

On a standard license issued BEFORE 1 January 1997 the limits are still 7.5t gross weight allowance in otherwards you can drive a car say pug 406

gross vehicle weight :- 1497kg
train weight :- 3100kg

3100-1497= 1603kg left

so a trailer weighing 750kg + 1 pony weighing 400kg = 1150

and then 3100-(1150+1497)=453kg left to account for your own weight & any other item your taking i.e. hay, tack ect.

As long as your towing vehicle has a gross weight less than the pulling vehicle

terrano :1800kg
trailer: 750kg
your good:thumb2

Any Licence issued AFTER 1 jan 1997 has a max tow limit of 3.5t total weight.
so only if your over these weights do you require b+e license. I have checked this out with dvla & transport & regular police to be fact. tho they would rather people just didn't know bout it & took the test.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Which is why I intend to sit my trailer test this year! (even though I've been driving tractors with 14t trailers for years *grumble* )

I always thought that was a strange loop hole, at 14, I could drive a rear wheel steering Climax or Manatou Fork Truck, with 2 x 4 wheel, front boggied trailers, each trailer having 7.5 tones of sweet corn on them, along the notorious Thanet Way, on my own, and be totally legal. But I could not legally sit in the passenger seat of a car on my own with the keys left in the ignition...

If you want a puzzle, try reversing two, front wheel steering coupled trailers, with a rear wheel steering fork truck, I did it so often, it became second nature to me.:lol

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

This new B+E law, and the trailer weight with an auto question: has anyone actually been in any bother with the law etc. for doing this? and i don't mean hearsay or my mate's, mate. Has anyone personally ever had trouble? :nenau