Will my outfit be safe and legal ?

[darren_374314556]

Hi all

I wonder if you guys can help me determine whether my new caravan and towing vehicle will be legal and a safe combination.

I currently have a Vauxhall vivaro van that is 3 years old and we have had 3 extra seats installed so we can use it for every day use as well as for our self employment.

The model is Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9DTi 2700 swb 100Body Type: Panel and its kerb weight info is

Gross Vehicle Weight(Kg): 2700

Kerb Weight(Kg): 1677

Towing Limit(Kg): 2000

We are intending to pull a new Baileys Senator series 6 Indiana which we are told we wont receive until early November time if we purchase one. Its essential weights and guides are

Mtplm 1500 kg

Mro 1264 kg

I had a caravan approx 5 years ago and pulled it with a different vehicle (vauxhall vectra estate and avante 505) with no probs and passed my test for a normal car approx 11 years ago (not sure if this makes any difference)but have noticed when doing a search on the net that i may need to follow the "O" licence rules for hgv as my total weight of vehicle towing and caravan will exceed 3.5 ton.

This is where i get confused and wonder what different rules will apply to me with the outfit we will have if we go ahead and buy the Baileys caravan we want and will i need to have a different licence to go ahead and tow the above.

Im hoping someone can give me some help and advice and clear this up before we go ahead and buy the suggested caravan and then find for some reason we are not legal and safe.

Many thanks in advance for your help and look forward to your replies and suggestions.

Daz

 

[Damian]

Car licences held before 1 January 1997

All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. They also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.

Taken from the Govt website.

If you passed your car test BEFORE 1st Jan 1997, then you will be legal, if not, you will have to take the tests to increase your entitlement.

A further point to consider is that some sites do not allow "commercial vehicles" on the site, so you may have problems at times.

 

[darren_374314556]

Car licences held before 1 January 1997

All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. They also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.

Taken from the Govt website.

If you passed your car test BEFORE 1st Jan 1997, then you will be legal, if not, you will have to take the tests to increase your entitlement.

A further point to consider is that some sites do not allow "commercial vehicles" on the site, so you may have problems at times.

Hi Damien

Thank you for taking the time too reply and give your help.

Luckily i passed my test on 29 June 2006, just 3 days before the new theory test started so under the rules you posted i will be fine.

My wife is delighted that we will be able to go ahead with our purchase of the new caravan and didnt want to have too incurr the extra expense of buying another vehicle just too tow it around.

Cheers

Daz