CAR and trailer v tractor and trailer law?

Car99

I want to tow a trailer and I'm told I need to add another category to my licence and do a test is that true. My 16 year old nephew is driving a rather large tractor and trailer 14hrs a day for the summer and he only has a provisional. Do I have to do a test?

shane b

Depends on the size of the trailer and the load you intend carrying.

https://www.ndls.ie/about/cars-and-trailers.html#can-i-tow-a-trailer-on-a-car-licence

Whocare

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058300441/car-and-trailer-v-tractor-and-trailer-law

Stop talking rubbish we all know the category w licence that can be got at 16 is tractor licence and he can tow whatever he wants. Nephew must be responsible enough as owner of tractor wouldn't let him drive it if he was fool . And if you in car want pull a trailer depending on weight will need to do other driving test Google RSA trailer licence for the information ect

Alkers

Your normal licence covers you up to a combined weight of car and trailer of 3500kg and small trailers of up to 750kg aren't even counted towards that limit.

mickdw

Small trailer up to 750kg doesn't require licence. Everything else does.

I get the feeling that this thread is started more to get at the tractor driving laws than genuinely querying car trailer licences

FishOnABike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120703253#Comment_120703253

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120703298#Comment_120703298

Remember those numbers are DGVW - the Design Gross Vehicle Weight i.e. the weight of a vehicle including the maximum load the vehicle itself can carry according to manufacturer’s specifications (for both car and trailer).

The towing vehicle DGVW + trailer DGVW should also not exceed the lower of 3500kg or the Design Gross Combination Weight of the towing vehicle.

zg3409

The actual maximum you can tow is the lower of cars limit, towbars limit, trailer limit etc.

Some set ups are exempt from a special licence but beware there is some skill to towing with a trailer in particular reversing and allowing for the extra width and length. Visibility can be very obstructed when towing say a caravan and the width is typically very wide for country roads. Even unhitching and hitching up can be dangerous if trailer or caravan moves and be 100% sure trailer is locked on to the towing ball as it's very easy to end up with trailer just sitting on the ball. You also need to educate yourself on emergency chain or emergency brake off wire if required depending on design of trailer.

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120708584#Comment_120708584

They are limited to 60KPH though. Can’t go on motorways and their range is limited by virtue of using a tractor. You’ll hardly drive Malin to Mizen in a tractor.

There is only so much weight and types of loads you can tow and be insured to tow with a tractor.

There are numerous more differences too.