The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: graham-j on May 16, 2013, 08:37:45 am
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Hi,I looking at buying a 4tonne agricultural tipper trailer.The only problem is it's nearly 60 miles away,how do I get it back to my holding.
I was thinking about towing it back with my land rover,with a light board fitted to the back of the trailer.
Would it be legal to do this,obviously the trailer would be unbraked,what other problems are there likely to be.
Graham.
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I'm pretty sure this wouldn't be legal - think for combined vehicle/trailer weights over 3500kg you need a tacho (as it's over 50km away) and a Land Rover can only tow 3500kg anyway (or is 4 tonnes the capacity of the trailer, not the empty weight?)
The towing laws in this country are frankly ridiculous - if you passed your test after 1997, as I did, you can legally tow more with a Mazda MX5 than with a Land Rover... Even towing a little Sankey trailer behind a 110 is unlawful without a specific trailer test (or older licence) - you can barely feel the effects of towing one... I could rant for a while longer :)
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Hi,the 4tonns is the carrying capacity of the trailer.I would imagine it goes about 1/2 to 3/4 of a tonne empty.
Graham.
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I think it goes on the Maximum Gross Weight i.e what the weight of the vehicle and trailer would be both fully loaded rather than what it actually weighs on the day - sorry :o(
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No it doesn't anymore. The rules have recently been changed to the effect that it's the actual weight of the trailer, not the plated weight as it used to be. I would imagine the nose weight of an agricultural trailer would be way too much to be towed by a Landy. Plus having that much weight hanging off the back with no brakes would be asking for trouble.
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Hi,surely it would be no different than towing a 750kg gross weight trailer fully laden.A standard single axal car trailer is 750kg GW they are un braked.
Graham.
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I've towed a 3 1/2 tonne tipping trailer behind my fourtrak and my ldv. I'm not sure how legal it was but it pulled fine and looked ok. I was worried that it would have to much nose weight but it seemed ok.
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Hi,was that a single or double axal.
Graham.
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Although your Landy would practically do this task no problem you would be illegal and uninsured on a number of counts
Incompatible towing eyes
Nose weight too heavy
Unsprung axle limited to 20mph
Can you borrow a low loader trailer Ivor Williams or similar
People advertise on ebay. Search on vintage tractor transport or similar about 1 or 2 £ per mile
Otherwise approach local hauliers
I have towed both a muck spreader and a baler home with my disco, but I was younger and dafter then, and it was only 20 miles, 60 is pushing it a bit .
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No it doesn't anymore. The rules have recently been changed to the effect that it's the actual weight of the trailer, not the plated weight as it used to be
I've been unable to find any evidence of this, can you post a link?
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No it doesn't anymore. The rules have recently been changed to the effect that it's the actual weight of the trailer, not the plated weight as it used to be
I've been unable to find any evidence of this, can you post a link?
It is definitely the actual weight.
Here's some official confirmation of this : this is the VOSA guide for horse box and horse trailer owners. Take a look at page 18. I also have it confirmed in an email sent from VOSA to a horse trailer owner who specifically asked this question. This also means that only time anyone would need to consider downplating a trailer is if their driving licence limits the weight they as a person can tow, it is not required otherwise, it is the actual load that counts.http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Horsebox%20Guide%20low%20res.pdf (http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Horsebox%20Guide%20low%20res.pdf)
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Thanks for that
"It is perfectly acceptable for a goods vehicle to be used with a maximum plated train weight of less than the combined plated gross weights of the vehicle and trailer, as long as the trailer isn’t actually loaded to the extent that its actual weight would exceed the maximum threshold of the towing vehicle’s maximum plated train weight"
I'm limited to a B licence anyway so can barely tow anything
I made this graph a while ago, think it's still relevant
(http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk76/richardspandit/Picture2-2.png)
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I presume you have a tractor, why not fetch it with that?? the distance isnt that far.
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Hi,I have a John Deere 2040,I think it dose about 20 mph,the trailer is 60 miles away.3 or 4 hour's there and the same back,thats 7 to 8 hrs solid road driving.As you say its do able,but would be pretty painful by the end, better in the landy. How much Diesel would a tractor use over that sort of distance.
Graham.
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We used to work on a gallon an hour for similar sized tractors working reasonably hard. Never actually measured it, but used to lead silage all day with 12 hrs. Massey. 135/165. Etc. and your didn't need to stop to fill up. A 135 tank is about 8 gallons I think, not sure about 165.
I guess what I'm trying to say is you'll do it on a tank full no bother, but frankly I'd rather pat a haulier, or hire a low loader trailer, you must know someone whose palm you could cross with silver. Otherwise it's leave at 5 am, you'll be home for lunch !
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Hi,I have a John Deere 2040,I think it dose about 20 mph,the trailer is 60 miles away.3 or 4 hour's there and the same back,thats 7 to 8 hrs solid road driving.As you say its do able,but would be pretty painful by the end, better in the landy. How much Diesel would a tractor use over that sort of distance.
Graham.
grief, I wouldn't even consider it with the tractor.... a transporter with their modern kit will be able to get it up to you for probably not that much more (when you count your time as well) as your costs. Some farmers Ive known might do the kind of journey you are thinking of with the Landy, probably in the wee small hours of a Sunday morning on a bank holiday weekend...:-) if you do it, make sure electrics and lighting board etc are all in perfect order, so you don't get stopped on that pretext.
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You would probably get away with it using your Landy so long as the whole rig looks right, ie your Landy isn't dragging the towbar along the ground with the front wheels barely on the road! Your average Plod wouldn't know the rules anyway and if you stick to quiet roads and a quiet time of day? I would want to find out the actual weight of the trailer and some idea of it's nose weight before making a decision.
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Accident. Injure someone, Invalid insurance, paying for the rest of your life.
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Hi thanks for the replys,I think as long as what I'm towing doesn't weigh over 3/4 of a tonne it doesn't need to be braked.So as long as this is the case and the nose weight doesn't over load my back axal,I've got a light board and proper no.plt and the trailer has good tires.
What law could I possibly be breaking.
Graham.
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If it's a 4 tonne gross weight trailer I would imagine it will weigh over a tonne empty. Can't see any chance of it being under 750kg.
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Get a haulier to collect it. If not for the reasons above then do it for your back.
I once travelled in a land rover towing empty 6 tonne grain trailer and it was probably the most uncomfortable journey I have ever been on.