Towing with diabetes

[Andy_374319445]

I have Type 1 Insulin dependent diabetes which means I am on a three year driving license, which had meant I have lost my grandfather rights to drive anything up to 7.5 tonnes. Where do I stand with regard to towing a caravan?. My outfit is a Land Rover Discovery 3 and an Elddis Avante 544.

Thanks Andy

 

[JasonR_374341560]

All I can say is that my wife has been insulin dependent for nearly 11 years, she had to give up driving a mini bus that she drove to help a local kids swimming class. Not allowed to drive anything with 8 or more seats!

She shares towing duties with me and license renewal is routine as she has never had any problems. Our tow car is 4.2TDI towing Senator.

 

[eckiew]

Hi Andy

A person with insulin dependant diabetes (type 1 or type 2)can not drive class C1 vehicles i.e. lorries or light vans between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes although the regulations were changed in 2001 but the medical checks are yearly and quite stringent.

What you can drive:-

A car up to 3.5 tonnes.

Tow a caravan, boat, horse box or broken down car.

Drive a minibus of less than 9 seats.

I have been insulin dependant for many years and drive a Nissan Pathfinder and tow a Swift conqueror twin axle.

The important thing to remember is not what you drive but how you control your diabetes.

Good luck

Alex

 

[emmitdb]

Greetings,

I have just been onto the DVLA website and it would appear from the below quote that those of you with diabetes who have had your "grandads" rights removed may not be able to tow what you currently use.

This is a straight lift from the above site.

"Motor vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more than eight passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. Combinations of towing vehicles in category B and a trailer, where the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle"

I would imagine that a large 4x4 plus a trailer would have a MAM well in excess of 3500kgs and therefore an illegal combination.

 

[emmitdb]

Hi Andy

A person with insulin dependant diabetes (type 1 or type 2)can not drive class C1 vehicles i.e. lorries or light vans between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes although the regulations were changed in 2001 but the medical checks are yearly and quite stringent.

What you can drive:-

A car up to 3.5 tonnes.

Tow a caravan, boat, horse box or broken down car.

Drive a minibus of less than 9 seats.

I have been insulin dependant for many years and drive a Nissan Pathfinder and tow a Swift conqueror twin axle.

The important thing to remember is not what you drive but how you control your diabetes.

Good luck

Alex

Alexander,

Please see below. Surely your combination is wAAAAAAAy over 3500kgs

Regards

 

[eckiew]

Apologies to all if I have given the wrong info but that is what I have in my medical file re regs 1998.

I have contacted the medical unit at the DVLA and they are to send me the latest regs.

I will get back to the forum on receipt of this.

Thanks Del for pointing this out. You are correct in pointing outthat large outfits will be over the 3.5 tonnes,mine is so i may have to take a yearly medical to allow me to continue to have a large outfit.

 

[emmitdb]

Andy,

Please see my entry further down the thread.

What is the Maximum authorised mass for your outfit.

The Disco must be way over 2000kgs. (The MAM is basically the Gross Max weight of the vehicle ie. kerb weight plus the max you can put into it.) and the MAM of the caravan is basically the MTPLM. I'm fairly certain that you are over the 3500kgs permitted.

This was highlighted by a member of the CC who came to me with the same problem as yourself while on a rally. He was using a Mondeo and wanted to have a van with a fixed bed. His choice was VERY limited indeed.

Sorry to be the provider of bad news

 

[emmitdb]

All I can say is that my wife has been insulin dependent for nearly 11 years, she had to give up driving a mini bus that she drove to help a local kids swimming class. Not allowed to drive anything with 8 or more seats!

She shares towing duties with me and license renewal is routine as she has never had any problems. Our tow car is 4.2TDI towing Senator.

Jason,

See my comments (below) and get those weights checked.!!!

 

[eckiew]

Straight from DVLA. If you hold a restricted driving licence with the category BE on it you can drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes and tow a trailer exceeding 750 Kgs. (sigh of relief)

Alex