Long shot.... trailer towing help

[Dan 6511]

Hi everyone,

Bit of a long shot but do any of you have a car like an old landy or a van or anything that can legally tow about 2.5 tons that would be willing to either lend to me for a day in return for the use of my audi, or some cash or beer etc? or alternatively tow a trailer for me?

I didn't realize when I towed a car before that it was about 700kg over the cars plated max train weight, which I believe is actually an endorsable offense

Has anyone had experience of being done for being overweight? Should I just chance it, or do they take it quite seriously?

Cheers.

[jerzybondov]

I didn't know this... My only experience of this was towing this kind of weight was having an Austin Healey behind my old Volvo 360 from Manchester to Milton Keynes. Flat out was about 60mph. 95bhp not really enough to be towing that, but I made it and didn't get busted. Mind you this was in the late 90s...

[RobvdVeer]

I'm sure a rental van with a hitch will be able to tow anything you're licensed for. Probably will set you back less than the trailer itself.

[Admin-bloke]

I'd double check your driving license to see what limits you're allowed to tow too

[Dan 6511]

I can get a trailer for free, so just need something to pull it with, or just do it with my audi like I have before and plead ignorance....

The sticker on the car is this kind of thing: The first weight is the cars gross weight, the 2nd is the total weight including a braked trailer. A Delorean and a trailer, plus the weight on my audi adds up to more than 3005kg which is what is on my audi

[bandit]

I'd go for it Dan & just take your time, I rekon' you'd be very unlucky to get a tug

[jerzybondov]

Surely it's not the car's gross weight you need to factor in? And I'd say you might even be under in any case... If it's an A3 then maybe it weighs 1350kg. DeLorean weighs 1275kg. That means your trailer would have to weigh more than 400kg - which it really might not.

And how would the cops prove you're overweight anyway? They'd have to take you down to a weigh station. How would they even know what your towing limit is from just driving past? Reckon you're way more likely to get pulled over for a US style rear plate - and that's only happened to the pair of us once in 8 years of DeLorean driving between us

I'd say driving my un-MOT'd, un-registered, un-numberplated, complete shed of a car from Southampton to Essex was a fraction more rozzer-attractive than doing this

[MikeWard]

I'd say driving my un-MOT'd, un-registered, un-numberplated, complete shed of a car from Southampton to Essex was a fraction more rozzer-attractive than doing this

[Starglider]

I'd be more concerned about the safety issue than the legal one. You'll be ok in good weather... as long as you tow car and trailer brakes are well maintained and you don't have to stop suddenly. Strong winds, rain, emergency stop due to an accident just ahead of you; any of these could cause serious problems with an overweight trailer. Tow capacity on my VehiCROSS is 2400kg, more than sufficient for DMC-12 + trailer, but I still have to be careful with it due to the short wheelbase. Alas that car is in the middle of an engine swap right now otherwise I'd try to help.

[RobvdVeer]

I support starglider for his remark on safety.

Edit: i found this link https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car