SiC wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:30 amI thought the max capacity on a trailer, even if unloaded, had to be under the max towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
No. Actual weights apply in this case.
Because granddad rights and I have category CE on my licence anyway, I don't have to worry about the
licence weight rules. I just have to concern myself with
vehicle weight rules.
By way of example, I've just cleaned* up the plate on the eurovan.
- IMG_20191022_223149_9_resize_31.jpg (135.47 KiB) Viewed 4463 times
GVW/MAM (gross vehicle weight/maximum authorised mass) = 2360kg
GCW/GTW (gross combination weight/gross train weight) = 3660kg
1 axle (front axle max weight) = 1225kg
2 axle (rear axle max weight) = 1300kg
Unladen weight is quoted as 1565kg, so there is plenty of margin (795kg) for carrying 7 fat bastards.
Consider the post-97 licence rules for category B. For licencing theoretical MAM applies.
(i) You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM with up to 8 passenger seats (with a trailer up to 750kg*).
(ii) You can also tow heavier trailers* if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not more than 3,500kg.
(*Trailers 750kg and under are type approval category O1. Trailers 751kg to 3500kg are O2.)
Under a B licence, you could drive the Citroen with a O1 trailer OR and O2 trailer up to MAM 1140kg.
Let's look at the Indespension CT27147 trailer plate.
- IMG_20191018_214852_5_resize_47.jpg (118.09 KiB) Viewed 4463 times
GVW/MAM = 2700kg
(Axle) 1 = 1400kg
(Axle) 2 = 1400kg
(Nose weight max) = 150kg
Unladen weight is quoted as 672kg
From that MAM of car plus MAM of trailer is 6060kg. Way more than a B (3500kg), but less that a granddad B (8250kg) and less that a BE (7000kg)
So having passed the licence hurdle, I can consider actual vehicle weights and the towing capacity of the Citroen is (3660-2360) = 1300kg. Less the unladen weight of trailer gives me a payload of 628kg. Handy enough for a c. 450kg tricycle and a handful of very light vehicles.
Note in Section 4 here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... he-trailer
"Unlike the situation in section 1 above, driving licence entitlement is calculated on potential weight - Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) - rather than actual weight."