Towing with a Hobby 750 Tagg axle 3Ltr

[potjoe]

Please can someone help me? Looking to tow a trailer on the back of my Hobby 750 Tagg axle 3ltr need to no the max I can tow with my motor home as I cannot work it out (yes I am thick) . :-| :-|

[Robinhood]

The maximum weight you can tow is governed (mainly) by the GTW (Gross Train Weight) rating of your vehicle, and your GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) both of which are best determined from your VIN plate.

 

This is normally (but not always) under the bonnet, and an example of a FIAT one is shown below.

 

NOTE, however, that many converted vehicles have a second VIN plate added by the converter which overrides the base vehicle one - on a Hobby, you are likely to find one added by Hobby, and marked "Stufe 2" (Stage 2) with similarly located (but possibly different) figures to the original, and this is the one that will apply.

 

The relevant figures are those shown at E and F, where E is the GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight - also known as MAM - Maximum Authorised Mass), and F is the Gross Train Weight.

 

The weight of the loaded vehicle without any trailer should not exceed that shown at E.

 

The combined weight of the loaded vehicle plus any trailer (including the load in it) should not exceed the figure shown at F.

 

There has been recent discussion on the forum as to how these figures are applied by the Authorities, the consensus appearing to be:

 

In the UK - As long as neither of the above weights is exceeed, you can tow a trailer that has a plated weight which is greater than the difference between E and F. (For example, If your GVW (E) is 3850kg, and your GTW (F) is 5000kg, you could tow a trailer with a plated weight of greater than 1150kg, as long as the overall weight of the two, plus load, is no greater than 5000kg. This also means that, if the actual running weight of your 'van is less than 3850kg, you can run with a trailer and load in excess of 1150kg actual weight [the excess amount being equal to 3850kg less the actual weight of your 'van).

 

On the Continent - There is a view that the authorities apply the rules differently, and that the plated GVW (MAM) of both the 'van, and the trailer should be added together, and not exceed the 'vans GTW (F). (Using the same example, if your GVW (E) is 3850kg, and your GTW (F) is 5000kg, you could tow a trailer with a (maximum) plated weight of 1150kg).

 

Note under certain circumstances, the manufacturer or converter will define a maximum trailer weight in any case, and this will inhibit taking advantage of the UK interpretation above.

 

For instance, on my (Ford) Hobby, the difference between E and F is 1000kg, and Ford/Hobby limit the trailer weight to 1000kg, regardless of whether the 'van itself is running below maximum weight.

 

It is probably safest, and most widely legal, therefore to consider that you can safely tow a trailer with a plated weight equal to, or less than, the difference between E and F, and the maximum load you will therefore be able to take will be equal to F (Gross Train weight) minus E (Gross Vehicle Weight) minus the actual (unloaded) weight of the trailer.

 

Hope this makes sense.

[Wooie]

That`s about as clear as mud to someone that has admitted they can`t work it out .......lol

 

Potjoe what you need to do is look at the VIN plate ( looks like the link above ) and write down the

figures in the order they appear.

Then put them on here in the same order and someone will tell you straight away what you can tow.

 

Regards.

[Robinhood]

Wooie - 2012-06-09 4:42 PM

 

That`s about as clear as mud to someone that has admitted they can`t work it out .......lol

 

Potjoe what you need to do is look at the VIN plate ( looks like the link above ) and write down the

figures in the order they appear.

Then put them on here in the same order and someone will tell you straight away what you can tow.

 

Regards.

 

......which will lead to the final paragraph to my post (as long as the correct VIN plate is used, 'cos the Hobby one won't look like the one above), viz:

 

It is probably safest, and most widely legal, therefore to consider that you can safely tow a trailer with a plated weight equal to, or less than, the difference between E and F, and the maximum load you will therefore be able to take will be equal to F (Gross Train weight) minus E (Gross Vehicle Weight) minus the actual (unloaded) weight of the trailer.

 

............but not necessarily the definitive answer (for all the reasons I've quoted) ;-)