Would I need a BE (trailer) license ?

josephsoap

Maybe someone familiar with rules could confirm.

At the moment a haulier does all my cattle transport.

I only have a wee 8 x 4 double axel car trailer, which is used to tow approx. 1 tonne at most, of either fertiliser or meal.

My car is rated to tow 1300kg and I have a full B license.

Assuming my trailer weights 300kg and I've 800kg of meal loaded, would I need a BE licence for this ?

My car weights 1200kg.

Cran

Yes I believe as gross trailer weight is over 700kg, car weight is irrelevant but there will someone else thats states something else around towing rules. I would say get the EB license anyway it gives a great sense comfort to have it...

djmc

It depends on what the trailer is rated to tow
You could possibly tow 1200 or 1300 kg if you have a braked trailer that is rated to tow that.
Basically if your car is rated to tow 1300kg and your trailer is stamped rated to tow 1300kg the total weight added together is 2600kg on breaked trailer which is the max for your car.
The max allowed for b license is 3500kg braked once your car is rated to pull it example car rated for 2000kg and trailer rated 1500 is 3500.
Your problem is most twin axle trailers and cow boxes are rated to carry more than this but there are some out there
Check stamp on trailer if it has one then if its over 1300kg either do test change trailer or use tractor to tow trailer
I have chosen the later 2

djmc

http://www.leronitrailers.ie/trailers/general-duty-trailers/lider-33480.html
If you look at the specs of the above trailer for example it is 1300 kg which is the max your car can tow
The max weight you can put in is 950 because the trailer weights 350 so 1300kg total.

_Brian

The majority of the twin axle 8x4's will be Unplated which brings us into a very grey area.
The rules are based on the DEsign Gross Vehicle Weight of the trailer, but who knows what the design was for these trailers ??

So if stopped can I say that the DGVW of my home made trailer is 1500kgs ??

In reality I'd say it's more like 2000kg but it's not plated nor made by anyone who can say.

It's a very grey area. I've reduced my usage of the 8x4 as much as possible but do still use it an odd time.
Have a smaller 5x3 single that I use, I feel it falls within the 750kg DGVW limit and so no lisence needed.

djmc

_Brian wrote: »

The majority of the twin axle 8x4's will be Unplated which brings us into a very grey area.
The rules are based on the DEsign Gross Vehicle Weight of the trailer, but who knows what the design was for these trailers ??

So if stopped can I say that the DGVW of my home made trailer is 1500kgs ??

In reality I'd say it's more like 2000kg but it's not plated nor made by anyone who can say.

It's a very grey area. I've reduced my usage of the 8x4 as much as possible but do still use it an odd time.
Have a smaller 5x3 single that I use, I feel it falls within the 750kg DGVW limit and so no lisence needed.

It is indeed a very area I couldn't get an answer from anyone about home made trailers RSA or garda could not tell me
I brought a cheap 6x4x4 single axle homemade large dog box for 250 euro
I can squeeze 5 calves into it and it still weights less than 750kg fully loaded
For larger cattle I fitted a removable ball hitch on the tractor for the 12x6 cow box or hire local guy with truck.

Tony Beetroot

The RSA have a section on their website where they explain home made un plated trailers I thought.

Luckysasha

Nothing to do with the trailer or the vehicles weight limits I'm afraid. The law states that on a B license you can only tow a MAX of 750KG. That includes the weight of the trailer. So in theory if your trailer is 300KG your payload can only be 450KG max

Tony Beetroot

Luckysasha wrote: »

Nothing to do with the trailer or the vehicles weight limits I'm afraid. The law states that on a B license you can only tow a MAX of 750KG. That includes the weight of the trailer. So in theory if your trailer is 300KG your payload can only be 450KG max

Your post is all wrong.

dzer2

Tony Beetroot wrote: »

Your post is all wrong.

The driver is only in trouble if the weight of the towed load is over 750 kgs any car is capable of towing up to this amount. Over this amount and you then go into the regs on the vehicle and trailer and licences.

_Brian

Luckysasha wrote: »

Nothing to do with the trailer or the vehicles weight limits I'm afraid. The law states that on a B license you can only tow a MAX of 750KG. That includes the weight of the trailer. So in theory if your trailer is 300KG your payload can only be 450KG max

Definitely wrong.

Tony Beetroot

dzer2 wrote: »

The driver is only in trouble if the weight of the towed load is over 750 kgs any car is capable of towing up to this amount. Over this amount and you then go into the regs on the vehicle and trailer and licences.

Wrong also.

dzer2

The rules around the weight of a trailer that a car may draw will depend on a number of factors. A person holding a car licence, category B, can draw a small trailer provided that the trailer has a design gross vehicle weight (DGVW) no greater than 750 kg, and in some cases a heavier trailer,
provided the car and trailer combined is not heavier than 3,500kg DGVW. DGVW means the designed gross weight which the trailer is designed by the manufacturer not to exceed, including the load on it. If you exceed this, you will be required to get a category BE driving licence.
A driver with a car and trailer licence, category BE can draw a trailer where the MAM of the vehicle and trailer combination is greater than 3500kg but less than 7000kg.
A car with a towing capacity of 2000kg can draw a trailer with a plated MAM of 3500kg PROVIDED the combination of the weight of the trailer and any load does not exceed the towing capacity of the car
e.g. 2,000kg.

dzer2

Tony Beetroot wrote: »

Wrong also.

Abovre regs from rsa

Western Pomise

Slightly off topic but if you have a B license,what is the cost of doing Trailer license and how many lessons if any do you have to do before going for it?

Often wondered how many people actually have done the trailer license,say if there was a straw poll at a busy mart.

dzer2

Western Pomise wrote: »

Slightly off topic but if you have a B license,what is the cost of doing Trailer license and how many lessons if any do you have to do before going for it?

Often wondered how many people actually have done the trailer license,say if there was a straw poll at a busy mart.

Have one never done the test

josephsoap

_Brian wrote: »

The majority of the twin axle 8x4's will be Unplated which brings us into a very grey area.
The rules are based on the DEsign Gross Vehicle Weight of the trailer, but who knows what the design was for these trailers ??

So if stopped can I say that the DGVW of my home made trailer is 1500kgs ??

In reality I'd say it's more like 2000kg but it's not plated nor made by anyone who can say.

It's a very grey area. I've reduced my usage of the 8x4 as much as possible but do still use it an odd time.
Have a smaller 5x3 single that I use, I feel it falls within the 750kg DGVW limit and so no lisence needed.

I bought a new 8 x 4 in January this year from a reputable machinery dealer and the trailer is not stamped....like you say it's a very grey area.

Western Pomise

dzer2 wrote: »

Have one never done the test

How does that work,was it just stamped on your license?....

Grueller

Theory test €55 iirc
New provisional €35 ish iirc
Test fee €80
2 lessons pre test €80
3 L plates €4
Adding a category to full licence €32 again iirc
Say €50 diesel etc
Thats €336 in total using my own jeep and 12 x 6 cattle box.

dzer2

Western Pomise wrote: »

How does that work,was it just stamped on your license?....

It came on the licence when I past the b test along with tractor, Ec1 and motorbike that was the norm way back then

_Brian

Western Pomise wrote: »

Slightly off topic but if you have a B license,what is the cost of doing Trailer license and how many lessons if any do you have to do before going for it?

Often wondered how many people actually have done the trailer license,say if there was a straw poll at a busy mart.

Chap that works for just done his. €700

_Brian

josephsoap wrote: »

I bought a new 8 x 4 in January this year from a reputable machinery dealer and the trailer is not stamped....like you say it's a very grey area.

Was wondering of just Getting a blank plate and stamping "DGVW 1500kgs", I mean, it was made in some blokes garage, not designed or engineered.

Who could say I was wrong ??

dzer2

_Brian wrote: »

Was wondering of just Getting a blank plate and stamping "DGVW 1500kgs", I mean, it was made in some blokes garage, not designed or engineered.

Who could say I was wrong ??

Basically any stamp is worthless as it depends on the way the trailer is loaded. What they stamp is the safe working weight of the axles but if you dont put on proper tyresor wheels thenthe stamp means nothing.

Western Pomise

Grueller wrote: »

Theory test €55 iirc
New provisional €35 ish iirc
Test fee €80
2 lessons pre test €80
3 L plates €4
Adding a category to full licence €32 again iirc
Say €50 diesel etc
Thats €336 in total using my own jeep and 12 x 6 cattle box.

Thanks Grueller,lot of lads don't have it done and all is fine until you are involved in an accident,as far as I know your insurance can be declared null and void then.