Towing advice needed

Rick-sta · 7th December 2016, 15:05

Hi all,

I need some advice around towing a vehicle using a 75. I need to get my ZT to Phil in Milton Keynes and am thinking about the option of borrowing a trailer to put the ZT on and towing it using my 75. The trailer has it's own brakes.

Now I obtained my licence in 2012, so I only have category B on my licence. The current rules around towing for my category states: "A category B vehicle may be coupled with a trailer over 750kgs MAM, provided the combination does not exceed 3,500kgs MAM."

Now I guess that means I can tow a trailer only if the combined weight of the tow vehicle, trailer and what's being towed does not exceed 3,500kg.

So my question is, how heavy are our cars and would I exceed the 3,500kg limit?

Not sure what the weight of the trailer is, but it's one of these types that a 75 comfortably sits on.

cheers

simon.jane · 7th December 2016, 15:14

Rick you can't tow you don't have the entitlement

Alan123 · 7th December 2016, 15:19

Our cars empty Wiegh 1.5 tons approx

TomRS · 7th December 2016, 15:25

I have used the ZT CDTi i had to tow other ZT's before and it was fine, combined weight is very important though.

Everything must not total more than 3.5 tonnes, so trailer/car/towing car/driver/any gear in either car.

All that has to be below 3.5T

tdi90 · 7th December 2016, 15:38

Rick, your correct with what you can tow. But not sure if you'd be legal towing your ZT on a trailer. Pretty sure another exclusion on the towing rules for B grade is the towed trailer must not weigh more than the car towing it. So in theroy, 150 to 200kg for the trailer + the weight of the ZT may nudge you over.
If you've a public weigh bridge near by, pop your 75 on and see what it weighs, the trailer should have a weight plate on that'll tell you its kerb weight.

Coups · 7th December 2016, 17:36

It's the gross weight of the trailer that's used for enforcement purposes regardless of its actual weight when stopped. That trailer looks like it'd be plated at 3500 kg gross which, on its own, would put it out with your licence.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sonic ZS · 7th December 2016, 17:45

Hi Rick,

Unless someone can prove me wrong, I'm happy to state you CANNOT LEGALLY tow any complete 75/ZT/ZTT (i.e. fitted with all mechanicals, running gear, interior, etc.) using another similar model & transporter trailer.

The reason for this is the maximum towing weight of any of our cars is 1600kg and this must include the weight of the transporter trailer.

As our lightest models (1.8 manual Classic) are around 1400kg, and the lightest trailers with a sufficient payload (eg Brian James) come in at around 600kg, you'll quickly see that even with the most favourable scenario, the total load will be 2000kg and hence 400kg overweight at best. Add in higher spec, diesels and autos, and you'll be even further over the legal limit. This, of course, will render you uninsured, whilst driving an overloaded combination.

The chassis plate on your tow car will show the maximum train weight & hence towing ability. A weigh bridge is a very useful tool, as it'll take into account fuel in the tank, driver weight, ancilliaries, etc.

Irrespective of licences, classes, age, etc. there is a big difference between what our cars will tow and what they will tow legally.

PM me if you need any other help

gozo ken · 7th December 2016, 17:49

DITTO What Sonic said..

Graham E · 7th December 2016, 18:20

As said you can't tow that combination.

Check the handbook for the cars towing weight (the weight that the car can tow) and you will find it is less than what the car weighs.

Then add the weight of the trailer and it will probably exceed the towing weight of the car.

Your best bet is to find someone with a Land Rover as they can tow a small country.

HarryM1BYT · 7th December 2016, 18:21

and again - ditto what Sonic said, though you will often see this rule ignored.

7th December 2016, 15:05	#1
Rick-sta This is my second home MG ZT 2.0 CDTI+ in Typhoon, MG TF 135 in Typhoon & Rover 75 Connoisseur CDTI SE in Pearl Black Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Norfolk Posts: 7,534 Thanks: 2,718 Thanked 2,827 Times in 1,462 Posts	Towing advice needed Hi all, I need some advice around towing a vehicle using a 75. I need to get my ZT to Phil in Milton Keynes and am thinking about the option of borrowing a trailer to put the ZT on and towing it using my 75. The trailer has it's own brakes. Now I obtained my licence in 2012, so I only have category B on my licence. The current rules around towing for my category states: "A category B vehicle may be coupled with a trailer over 750kgs MAM, provided the combination does not exceed 3,500kgs MAM." Now I guess that means I can tow a trailer only if the combined weight of the tow vehicle, trailer and what's being towed does not exceed 3,500kg. So my question is, how heavy are our cars and would I exceed the 3,500kg limit? Not sure what the weight of the trailer is, but it's one of these types that a 75 comfortably sits on. cheers __________________ How to retrofit Cruise Control on a diesel with no OEM wiring in place: Link How to retrofit heated electric memory seats with no OEM wiring in place: Link How to operate FBH and ATC via text Link How to restore cloudy projector headlights Link

7th December 2016, 15:14	#2
simon.jane Loves to post we have a 75 connoisseur cdt se saloon and a 75 conniosser se cdt tourer Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Romford Posts: 492 Thanks: 177 Thanked 62 Times in 52 Posts	Rick you can't tow you don't have the entitlement __________________ I have been driving for 20 years and most of it is in rovers [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

7th December 2016, 15:25	#4
TomRS Posted a thing or two Mk1 ZT 190 - Mk2 ZS 180 - Mercedes E63 AMG S - Ford Ranger Hawk Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 1,456 Thanks: 123 Thanked 409 Times in 281 Posts	I have used the ZT CDTi i had to tow other ZT's before and it was fine, combined weight is very important though. Everything must not total more than 3.5 tonnes, so trailer/car/towing car/driver/any gear in either car. All that has to be below 3.5T __________________ http://i66.tinypic.com/5cd6xj.jpg

7th December 2016, 15:38	#5
tdi90 Gets stuck in Nissan Navara Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wisbech Posts: 875 Thanks: 130 Thanked 98 Times in 76 Posts	Rick, your correct with what you can tow. But not sure if you'd be legal towing your ZT on a trailer. Pretty sure another exclusion on the towing rules for B grade is the towed trailer must not weigh more than the car towing it. So in theroy, 150 to 200kg for the trailer + the weight of the ZT may nudge you over. If you've a public weigh bridge near by, pop your 75 on and see what it weighs, the trailer should have a weight plate on that'll tell you its kerb weight. __________________ ZT gone, Range Rover gone. Nissan Navara pick up now

7th December 2016, 17:45	#7
Sonic ZS Posted a thing or two 75 Conn CDT Tourer, 75 Conn SE V6, 75 Conn V6, 75 Conn CDTi Tourer, ZS 180 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Devon Posts: 1,986 Thanks: 1,287 Thanked 963 Times in 534 Posts	Hi Rick, Unless someone can prove me wrong, I'm happy to state you CANNOT LEGALLY tow any complete 75/ZT/ZTT (i.e. fitted with all mechanicals, running gear, interior, etc.) using another similar model & transporter trailer. The reason for this is the maximum towing weight of any of our cars is 1600kg and this must include the weight of the transporter trailer. As our lightest models (1.8 manual Classic) are around 1400kg, and the lightest trailers with a sufficient payload (eg Brian James) come in at around 600kg, you'll quickly see that even with the most favourable scenario, the total load will be 2000kg and hence 400kg overweight at best. Add in higher spec, diesels and autos, and you'll be even further over the legal limit. This, of course, will render you uninsured, whilst driving an overloaded combination. The chassis plate on your tow car will show the maximum train weight & hence towing ability. A weigh bridge is a very useful tool, as it'll take into account fuel in the tank, driver weight, ancilliaries, etc. Irrespective of licences, classes, age, etc. there is a big difference between what our cars will tow and what they will tow legally. PM me if you need any other help __________________

7th December 2016, 15:19	#3
Alan123 Posted a thing or two Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Darlaston Posts: 1,897 Thanks: 484 Thanked 325 Times in 261 Posts	Our cars empty Wiegh 1.5 tons approx

7th December 2016, 17:36	#6
Coups Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Contemporary SE Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Dundee Posts: 1,941 Thanks: 545 Thanked 520 Times in 402 Posts	It's the gross weight of the trailer that's used for enforcement purposes regardless of its actual weight when stopped. That trailer looks like it'd be plated at 3500 kg gross which, on its own, would put it out with your licence. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

7th December 2016, 17:49	#8
gozo ken Avid contributor R75 SALOON Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 226 Thanks: 20 Thanked 57 Times in 44 Posts	DITTO What Sonic said..

7th December 2016, 18:20	#9
Graham E Loves to post MG ZT-T CDTI Join Date: May 2010 Location: Newport Posts: 384 Thanks: 7 Thanked 25 Times in 23 Posts	As said you can't tow that combination. Check the handbook for the cars towing weight (the weight that the car can tow) and you will find it is less than what the car weighs. Then add the weight of the trailer and it will probably exceed the towing weight of the car. Your best bet is to find someone with a Land Rover as they can tow a small country. __________________ This vehicle was the 5,602nd ZT-T to run off the production line, out of 8,249 This vehicle was the 383rd ZT-T CDTi + (115) to be made out of 522 This vehicle was the 995th ZT-T in XPower Grey (code: LEF) to be made out of 1,673 XPower Grey ZT-Ts

7th December 2016, 18:21	#10
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	and again - ditto what Sonic said, though you will often see this rule ignored. __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.