Bailey Approach - 3 General Advice; Advice on Towing

16
GENERAL ADVICE
DRIVING LICENCE
!
Before you drive or allow any other
person to drive your motorhome you
must check your/ their driving licence
against the criteria of your particular
vehicle.
Category B
With this category on your driving license you
can drive vehicles with a MTPLM of up to 3500
kilograms, with eight passenger seats, and
with a trailer no heavier than 750 kilograms.
It’s also possible to tow a braked trailer heavier
than 750 kilograms if the MTPLM of the vehicle
and trailer together is no more than 3500
kilograms. The trailer must also be lighter
than the vehicle towing it.
To tow a heavier trailer than mentioned above
you’ll need category B+E.
Category C1
With this category you can drive vehicles with
a MTPLM over 3500 kilograms but less than
7500 kilograms with a trailer no heavier than
750 kilograms. To tow a heavier trailer you’ll
need category C1+E.
Category C
With this category you can drive vehicles with
a MTPLM over 3500 kilograms with a trailer
no heavier than 750 kilograms. To tow a trailer
that weighs more than 750 kilograms you’ll
need category C+E.
Vehicleclassications
Motorhomes up to 3500Kg MTPLM are p/LGV
(Private Light Goods Vehicles) motorhomes
with an MTPLM over 3500Kg and up to
7500Kg are P/HGV (Private Heavy Goods
Vehicles) These are normally used in dening
MOT classications and vehicle excise duty
(road tax) classications.
Please refer to the website:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Driverlicensing/
CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles for the
latest rules and regulations.
!
ADVICE ON TOWING
The towing specication alters
depending on the vehicle’s weight.
Towing requires sensible loading of both the
motorhome and the towed object.
When towing, the demands on both the driver
and the vehicle are increased. When towing,
manoeuvrability is reduced together with
the ability to climb gradients and accelerate.
Braking and vehicle handling are also affected.
It is essential that the driver is alert at all
times.
• Pull over if you feel tired and get some rest.
• Brake in good time and take special care
when driving down steep gradients.
• Use your gears and change down before
going down a steep hill so that the engine
also acts as a brake.
• Ensure that the tyre pressures are correct
on both your motorhome and the towed
object.
• Regularly check the towed object’s brakes
and lights.
When loading the trailer ensure that the loads
are properly secured for transit.
• Position loads so that most of the weight is
placed close to the oor and, where possible,
immediately above or close to the axle(s).
• Where the load can be divided between
the towed object and the motorhome it is
advisable to load more into the motorhome
as this will greatly increase the stability of
the combination.
• After loading always check the maximum
weight does not exceed the manufacturer’s