maybe simpe questions but oh well am asking on someone elses behalf .
does a 3.5ton van and trailer need to have a taco fitted .
do you require a oporators licence
both will be used for hire or reward .
thanks
psv8:
does a 3.5ton van and trailer need to have a taco fitted .
Yes, If the combination is over 3.5 tonnes and being driven commercially.
Take off the trailer and the answer is no
thanks rog
dont suppose anyone could recomend anywhere that fit’s taco’s and estimate of costs
am presuming would have to do 60mph when on taco ?
say for instance didnt need trailer half of the week would you still have to run with a taco running solo without trailer
thanks
psv8:
do you require a oporators licence
NO - Not if the prime mover (the towing vehicle) is under 3.5 tonnes
psv8:
say for instance didnt need trailer half of the week would you still have to run with a taco running solo without trailer
No - but I’m not sure exactly what the score is if the trailer is on for half a day but not the other half
psv8:
am presuming would have to do 60mph when on taco ?
Speed limits are the same whether on tacho or not - see highway code
Before I acquired my O Licence many moons ago I ran a 3.5 ton beaver and a trailer, used tacho when trailer was used but if the trailer was only used on out journey I would winch the trailer on to the beaver and remove tacho, never got a problem, as long as you keep records for journeys when tacho should be used I cannot see a problem here, though if it’s a van you cant easily put the trailer in the back can you? Unless it’s a ickle trailer I suppose.
If you are over 3.5 tonnes during the working day - you need a tacho in for the WHOLE day, not just the part of the day when you are - straight from a VOSA man, if not over 3.5 tonnes no tacho - but may need to record hours manually to prove that not breaking weekly and fortnighly rules - again straight from VOSA
No 'O’Licnce reqd - ditto
speed limit on mtorway when towing = 60 mph
Tacho - budget £500 if vehicle can accept one easily - if not sky’s the limit or may not be even possible
don’t forget you need a digital tacho card, reader and unit downloader
hope this helps
Dean
thanks for the advice would be looking at anologe not messing about with digi
thanks for the info .
No third lane either
I’ve got a 3.5t Sprinter with a towbar and a tacho fitted.As far as I understand,(don’t hold me to this as it all seems to be a bit confusing),it depends on the unladen weight of the trailer being towed.
Unladen trailers under a certain weight are not taken into account for either tax or licensing purposes*:I think it’s either 750kg or 1100kg or something,so if you have a Sprinter like mine,(max towing limit 2700kgs),the GTW without a tacho would be would be 6200kgs,[/i]as long as the trailer is under the unladen weight limit[/i].
However,If the empty trailer weighs over the limit,( the laden trailer weight limit still 2700kgs,the max towing limit),then you have to have a tacho fitted and used,even if the trailer is unladen.
- I was told that by a VOSA bloke that this unladen trailer weight limit applies to any vehicle,including 7.5t.So in theory a C1 Driver can drive a 7.5t with a trailer,as long as the empty trailer is under the limit.
I’m quite prepared to be corrected over this,although I’ve been told it’s all legal I’ve always put a tacho in if I’m pulling a trailer in the Sprinter,and I’ve not bought a trailer for the 7.5t…
AIUI trailers with an unladen weight of 1020kgs are discounted with regards to ‘O’ licencing.
psv8:
thanks for the advice would be looking at anologe not messing about with digi
If it doesn’t have one already fitted you don’t have a choice - you’re not allowed to install new analogue tachos any more, all new ones have to be digi.
Paul
There are a few bits in here which I think you are wrong on 
dieseldan340:
I’ve got a 3.5t Sprinter with a towbar and a tacho fitted.As far as I understand,(don’t hold me to this as it all seems to be a bit confusing),it depends on the unladen weight of the trailer being towed.
That bit is true for O-licence purposes, but not for tacho purposes. If the MAM of your combination is 3500kg or more, you need to use the tacho, regardless of the unladen weight of the trailer, so a 3500kg transit/sprinter would need to use one even to tow an empty 199quid from halfords little baby trailer that you can lift up and carry around…
The unladen weight of the trailer comes into play where O-Licencing is concerned. If the unladen weight of the trailer is under 1020kg, then you don’t need an O-Licence. If it is over 1020kg then you do.
dieseldan340:
so if you have a Sprinter like mine,(max towing limit 2700kgs),the GTW without a tacho would be would be 6200kgs,[/i]as long as the trailer is under the unladen weight limit[/i].
Nope, see above, as soon as your MAM goes above 3500kg, you need to use the tacho. So with a 2700kg plated sprinter if your trailer has a MAM over 800kg, then you’re in tacho territory.
dieseldan340:
I was told that by a VOSA bloke that this unladen trailer weight limit applies to any vehicle,including 7.5t.So in theory a C1 Driver can drive a 7.5t with a trailer,as long as the empty trailer is under the limit.
VOSAman was wrong, as soon as the trailer goes over 750kg MAM, you need +E on your licence to pull it. That said there are some exceptions when it comes to towing with a category B vehicle (for example a car or your sprinter) related to the ratio of the MAM of the trailer to the unladen weight of the towing vehicle which are all quite complicated and explained here.
Hope this helps.
Paul
repton:
The unladen weight of the trailer comes into play where O-Licencing is concerned. If the unladen weight of the trailer is under 1020kg, then you don’t need an O-Licence. If it is over 1020kg then you do.
psv8:
do you require a oporators licence
ROG:
NO - Not if the prime mover (the towing vehicle) is under 3.5 tonnes
Was this incorrect advice I got and posted 
ROG:
ROG:
NO - Not if the prime mover (the towing vehicle) is under 3.5 tonnesWas this incorrect advice I got and posted
Surely not!
As has already been stated the O-Licence requirement is only if the trailer has an unladen weight of over 1020kg, which in practice means not many people need them as only the biggest trailers are over that. For example of the entire Ifor Williams Box Van trailer range of 17 trailers only the biggest one is over a ton empty, the other 16 are under, and their biggest flat trailer (which is 18 feet long) only comes in at 915kg.
Paul
Go to the head of the class for a lollypop Mr Repton!
Mr Rog, stand over there in the corner and feel very ashamed >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
zebadee:
Go to the head of the class for a lollypop Mr Repton!Mr Rog, stand over there in the corner and feel very ashamed >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I phoned a Leicester company who were supposed to know about O licences as they had lawyers that deal with this !!!
hope this helps
WHO NEEDS AN OPERATOR’S LICENCE?
1.1 You need an operator’s licence to carry goods (or burden) connected with any trade or
business if you “USE” a motor vehicle on a road with:
- A gross plated weight of more than 3.5 tonnes; or
- if it has no gross plated weight, an unladen weight of more than 1525kg.
1.2 The use of vehicle combinations also requires a licence. Further details on weights,
including relevant combination weights, are in Appendix 3.APPENDIX 3
Weight thresholds
HOW DO I FIND THE PLATED WEIGHT OF A VEHICLE?
- The gross plated weight is the total permitted weight of a loaded vehicle.
- If you want to confirm the permitted weight look on the Department for Transport plate
or the manufacturer’s plate if there is no Department plate.- Department for Transport plates are fitted on motor vehicles after first registration and
on trailers after they have undergone a Department for Transport annual test.- The plates are usually found:
– on motor vehicles - inside the cab in a conspicuous position.
– on trailers - on the nearside, often on the headboard.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A VEHICLE IS NOT FITTED WITH A PLATE?- If you do not know the unladen weight, you should take the unladen vehicle to a
weighbridge. A list of the VOSA’s heavy goods vehicle test stations is at Appendix 15.
Your nearest station will be able to advise you of weighbridges near you.
HOW DO THESES REQUIREMENTS AFFECT “ARTICS” OR VEHICLES WITH
DRAWBAR TRAILERS?- For an articulated vehicle ie tractive unit with a semi-trailer, you need a licence if:
– the unladen weight of the tractive unit, plus the gross plated weight of the semi-trailer
is more than 3500kg, or
– in a case where the semi-trailer is not plated, the combined unladen weight is
more than 1525kg.- For a motor vehicle with draw-bar trailer, you need a licence if:
– in the case where both the motor vehicle and the trailer(s) are plated, the total of their
gross plated weights is more than 3500kg, or
– in any other case, the total unladen weight is more than 1525kg.
NB A small trailer of not more than 1020kg unladen weight can be ignored for the
purposes of adding up total gross weights or unladen weights for drawbar outfits.