JoelP
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 07:42 AM |
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big vans
thinking of getting a LWB sprinter, trouble is it seems to weigh in at 4.5 tonnes. Does this mean a better license is required (i passed after 97), if
so, what?! Cheers. 
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smart51
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 07:56 AM |
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Heavy vehciles have lower speed limits on British roads. Look at your highway code for the facts.
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Peter M
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 07:56 AM |
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Take a look at this page.
clicky
[Edited on 11/5/06 by Peter M]
my previous cars
my westfield build
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flak monkey
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 08:06 AM |
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The kerb weight of a LWB sprinter is 2125kg. So you can carry up to 1300kg before you reach the std limit of 3.5tonne.
Linky
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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smart51
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 08:06 AM |
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http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/09.htm
the national speed limit for goods vehicles upto 7.5 tonnes is 10 mph lower than a car on single and duel carriageways, but is the same on motorways.
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donut
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 08:12 AM |
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As far as i'm aware you can drive anything up to 7.5 tonnes on a std car licence.
My pinto Indy with me in it just about comes under the 7.5 tonnes!! 
Andy
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/
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Peter M
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 08:23 AM |
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You can if you passed your test before 1997 there after your limited to 3.5t.I will find the axact date.Also you cant tow a trailer if passed your
test after 97.
Here is the extract.
1. 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.
Drivers who hold subcategory C1+E - limited to 8.25 tonnes MAM, may apply for provisional entitlement to the new subcategory C1+E, in order to
take and pass the test which will increase their combined vehicle and trailer entitlement to 12 tonnes MAM. It is not necessary to gain subcategory C1
entitlement first but drivers have to meet higher medical standards, and pass both the category C theory test and the subcategory C1+E practical test.
LARGE GOODS VEHICLE AND PASSENGER CARRYING VEHICLE LICENCES HELD BEFORE 1 JANUARY 1997
Since 1 January 1997 all drivers who hold category C or D entitlement have been limited to trailers up to 750kgs MAM; Category C+E or D+E must be
held in order to tow trailers in excess of this.
2. CAR DRIVING LICENCE FIRST OBTAINED SINCE 1 JANUARY 1997
Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category
B+E and all larger vehicles. In addition to the new driving tests, drivers of vehicles which fall within subcategories C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E also have
to meet higher medical standards.
[Edited on 11/5/06 by Peter M]
my previous cars
my westfield build
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flak monkey
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 08:46 AM |
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Trailers:
I quote from the dvla:
" Motor vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more than 8 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."
Thats std category B licence which is your normal car license. Which is the same regardless of when you passed your test.
The difference came in 1997 when you had to pass an extra test to get access to cat B+E which allows you to tow above those limits.
David
[Edited on 11/5/06 by flak monkey]
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Peter M
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 09:21 AM |
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Towing caravans trailers.
From the DSA website.
Driving a car with a caravan or trailer
Car licences obtained 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 750 kgs MAM.
Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997
Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E
which allows them to tow caravans and trailers.
For more information
The booklet INS 57 enclosed with your provisional driving licence, or Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) factsheet INF 30 'Towing
Trailers in Great Britain will give you all the information you will need. Alternatively more information can be found on the DVLA website.
The Driving Standards Agency in association with The Caravan Club has produced a guide to towing a caravan, called 'Towing the line'. This
guide contains advice and important information for those drivers wanting to tow a caravan. For more information on this product, please follow the
link in the related content box.
my previous cars
my westfield build
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flak monkey
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 09:36 AM |
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Im not going to get into an argument.
You CAN tow a trailer on a std car licence, regardless of when you passed your test.
Cat B+E is the upgraded trailer license allowing you to tow over 3.5tonne MAM or bigger trailers.
Category B is the normal car license everyone holds, REGARDLESS OF WHEN THEY PASSED THEIR TEST.
DVLA website:
CAR DRIVING LICENCE FIRST OBTAINED SINCE 1 JANUARY 1997
Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category
B+E and all larger vehicles. In addition to the new driving tests, drivers of vehicles which fall within subcategories C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E also have
to meet higher medical standards.
Category B:
Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to 8 passenger seats
Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) OR a trailer over 750kgs MAM
provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.
For example:
1.
a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the
holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not
exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle.
Whereas
2.
the same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall
within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the
trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle.
Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle’s
handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of the trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne
would be well within the new category B threshold.
As for towing caravans, existing general guidance recommends that the laden weight of the caravan does not exceed 85% of the unladen weight of the
car. In the majority of cases, caravans and small trailers towed by cars should be within the new category B threshold.
Note - An exemption from the driver licensing trailer limit allows a category B licence holder to tow a broken down vehicle from a position where
it would otherwise cause danger or obstruction to other road users.
By passing a category B test National Categories F (tractor), K (pedestrian controlled vehicle) and P (moped) continue to be added
automatically.
Category B+E:
Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM towing trailers over 750kgs MAM
Category B+E allows vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM to be combined with trailers in excess of 750kgs MAM. In order to gain this entitlement new
category B licence holders have to pass a further practical test for category B+E. There is no category B+E theory test. For driver licensing purposes
there are no vehicle/trailer weight ratio limits for category B+E.
You can read it for yourself here if you like!
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/dl_towing_trailers.htm
[Edited on 11/5/06 by flak monkey]
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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wildchild
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 09:40 AM |
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I believe the gist of all this is:
If the Max Gross Weight/MAM of a LWB sprinter is over 3.5ton, you will not be legal driving it even if it is empty, because you *could* load it past
3.5ton.
My dad's got a 2.5 ton trailer. I can't legally tow it even if its empty for the same reason - I would need a 2.5ton+ vehicle and hence
max gross weight of the train would be 5ton or so.
Same applies to driving an empty 16 seat minibus. You can't do it on a post 97 licence.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 09:44 AM |
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Merc make two different sprinters. One GVW 3.5 tonne, the other GWV 4.6 tonne.
Nothing to do with wheelbase or anything.
Its all on the merc link i posted previously.
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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zilspeed
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 11:08 AM |
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Minimum speed of a LWB sprinter towing a 2.5 tonne mini digger on the Motorway is 93mph.
At least, I've never seen one doing less than that.
Yes - this helped the thread not one little bit. 
[Edited on 11/5/06 by zilspeed]
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NS Dev
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 11:09 AM |
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Bloody hell this is a frigging minefield.
I passed my test in 1994, and tow cars of up to 1100kg on a 500kg trailer on the back of my 1325kg Sierra 4x4................................
is this legal???????????????
As far as I know it is as long as I am not exceeding the GTW (gross train weight) for the Sierra given by Ford (which I have never actaully checked!)
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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Peteff
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 11:15 AM |
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They make 3 different bodies
Short, medium and long. The combined maximum weight for van and load is the same for all 3 so you can carry less in the larger ones. They are fast for
vans as noted.
[Edited on 11/5/06 by Peteff]
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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NS Dev
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 11:19 AM |
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Do you REALLY want a Sprinter!???
I used to think they were good until I drove one!!!! New transit is MILES better.
In fact, I think the old transit was better!! Yes, the sprinter was faster than the old tranny, but that's not the case now, but forget
power/speed, there's something far more major!!!!!!
The driving position in the Sprinter is HORRENDOUS!!!! If you have ever driven one, how numb was your right leg after 10 miles, let alone any real
distance!!!
Why the hell did the tosser that designed the bloody thing put the accellerator pedal by the flipping door, 1/2 a mile walk from the brake pedal.
[Edited on 11/5/06 by NS Dev]
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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JoelP
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 06:28 PM |
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nat, you as so correct its unbelievable, i find the seat doesnt go far enough back to allow your heel onto the ground. However, its just bearable if i
make the seat more upright so it slides further back. Are you taller than 6 foot?!
Thats in my mates MWB sprinter. I do like the new transit, but i want the massive size of the sprinter, so i have the option of using the back as a
workshop in bad weather.
As for the trailer issues that arose, i agree with flak monkey, we went through this some time ago. However, its alarming that the DVLA and DSA sites
apparently disagree? I care not anyway.
The seller of this van told me its a 4.6 tonne MAM one, hence probably not drivable on my new license.
So, does anyone know what test i need to take to increase my limit? Do i just ring a local HGV training place and see if they do a suitable course?
Cheers for the input all, i'm off to peruse that merc link now.
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JoelP
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| posted on 11/5/06 at 06:29 PM |
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would seem that i need to take a cat C test.
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