Advice for weight watchers

When asking for your vehicle to perform the extra duties involved in towing, you must consider the extra effort required from the engine and brakes in pulling and stopping the extra load, particularly on occasions such as hill starts and emegency stops. There are also the loads imposed on the tow bar and the bosy where the tow bar is attached. The vital consideration to all this is weight - excess weight means strain and strain can mean trouble.

It's worthwhile, therefore, to understand maximum weights.

When we talk about Maximum Towing Weight (Driver Only), that's exactly what it means - the weight the vehicle can tow with just the driver on board. Add pasengers and luggage and you are adding to the total weight of the combination of vehicle and trailer. The maximum figure for the combination is known as Gross train Weight.

There's on more figure to be considered, which is noseweight. That's the weight the trailer places on the vehicle through the towing hitch.

To be absolutely sure that you are within the limits visit a weighbridge (ask your local council for it's location) and check the weight of the car and trailer loaded as you intend to use them. Weigh them separately in order to ascertain that the vehicles Gross Weight and the trailers Maximum Plated Weights are not exceeded (and that the laden Weight is within the towing capacity of the vehicle) and then together, to check the Gross Train Weight is within the specified limit.
Don't exceed the maximum, because it could be dangerous - and it's illegal.

The following weighbridges are located in the Warwick area.

Midland Environmental & Recycling Services,
Princes Drive,
Leamington Spa
CV31 3PH
tel: 01926 430775
Capacity (tonne): 50
Dimensions (approx): 15.2 m x 3 m 50 ft x 10 ft
Opening times: Monday to Friday 08.00 - 16.30
Saturday 08.00 - 12.30
Fee (at November 2004): £10.00

Warwickshire County Council,
Trading Standards Service,
Old Budbrooke Road,
Warwick, CV35 7DP
tel: 01926 414040
Capacity (tonne): 60
Dimensions (approx): 19.5 m x 3 m 64ft x 10 ft
Opening times: Monday to Thursday 08.00- 16.30
Friday 08.00 - 16.00
Fee (at April 2005): first weighing £8.00 each additional weighings £4.00 each