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the blazing blacksmith
Junior Member
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 16
Location: SCOTTISH BORDERS
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 Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject: Towing trailers |
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| I recently bought a new to me fairly tatty us import pick up off a mate who was emigrating back to Canada. Its a big bit of kit with a three litre engine, crew cab etc etc. The only reason I bought it is that it still has a 6ft bed on it even with an extended cab. I stupidly imagined it must have a good load rating and towing capacity but have found it only has a payload of 600ish kg and a towing capacity of 680kg. As I am a blacksmith this is a bit of a blow. The auto model with a 4ltr engine has a towing capacity of 2630kg and even the same model with a higher ratio diff has a rating of 1133kg. Any ideas why this would be. Is there a cheap and easy way to up the ratings or can I legally upgrade it by changing springs or should I get a tiddly trailer and start making very wee stuff!!!! |
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ultimatehandyman
Site Admin
Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 9105
Location: Darwen, Lancashire
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| Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Vans can be hard to judge when it comes to payloads and towing.
I doubt it will just be a case of upgraded springs, I bet the brakes would need upgrading as well.
If you break it I bet it will be very expensive to repair and so you may be best of selling it and getting something that can carry the extra weight.
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dazid1
Junior Member
Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Legally you can tow 750kg trailer without brakes, after that it has to have brakes fitted. The max you can tow on overun brakes is 100% of your curb weight, 85% is recomended. Where are you ngetting your figures from? does it have the weights on the vin plate?if so what does it say. |
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the blazing blacksmith
Junior Member
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 16
Location: SCOTTISH BORDERS
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| I got the figures from the vehicle hand book. It has a chart that gives the max towing weight of the various models of the pick up and mine sadly is the lowest at 680kg. I do have a twin axle braked trailer with a 2.2 tonne ratong on it that tows very well on my hi-lux and so will still use this to shift stuff but I will never have it up near the 2.2 tonne weight limit. I did always wonder if the weight limit was different for braked trailers. |
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Mooncat
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Dec 2007
Posts: 1676
Location: Wales-UK
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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I know that if you passed your test recently, you aren't allowed to tow a trailer, even a tiny one, without taking an additional test. Has anybody here done this, what's involved, and how much does it cost?
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dazid1
Junior Member
Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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That seems very low, does it have a plate anywhere on the vehicle?
You can tow a trailer if you passed your test after 01/01/1997 but it can only have max gross weight of 750kgs. But be careful if you were towing it with a 3500kg van the train weight can not exceed 3500 so the van has to be part empty. |
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Mooncat
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Dec 2007
Posts: 1676
Location: Wales-UK
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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I was clearly misinformed by somebody years ago. The 750kg limit seems reasonable. It would include a small caravan, or boat.
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