No, I’m not talking about driving tractor units on a Class C licence, I’m talking about driving them back in the days when we still had HGV licencing.
Was it legal to drive a tractor unit with anything less than a Class 1 licence? I’m sure you could drive a two-axle unit on a Class 3 licence and a three-axle unit on a Class 2 licence but others say not, and that you needed a Class 1 licence to drive tractor unit only.
Anyone shed any light here?
Harry Monk:
No, I’m not talking about driving tractor units on a Class C licence, I’m talking about driving them back in the days when we still had HGV licencing.Was it legal to drive a tractor unit with anything less than a Class 1 licence? I’m sure you could drive a two-axle unit on a Class 3 licence and a three-axle unit on a Class 2 licence but others say not, and that you needed a Class 1 licence to drive tractor unit only.
Anyone shed any light here?
one of our mechanics regularly took 2 axle units to test station and he only had class 3 licence
Harry Monk:
Was it legal to drive a tractor unit with anything less than a Class 1 licence?
Yes.
Harry Monk:
I’m sure you could drive a two-axle unit on a Class 3 licence and a three-axle unit on a Class 2 licence
Correct.
well i did trade plate on cat C. with 6/4 wheeler units a few year ago
but not quite so sure how the class 1 thing worked
someone told me you had to have a class 1 to drive a unit
mcgregors shafter:
well i did trade plate on cat C. with 6/4 wheeler units a few year ago
but not quite so sure how the class 1 thing worked
someone told me you had to have a class 1 to drive a unit
Only if you have a trailer behind it
is that in the old days like
Any day
Class 1 was required to drive an articulated vehicle. Is a solo tractor unit articulated? Sorted.
I wonder how long this thread can go before someone mentions removing the 5th wheel? 
Coffeeholic:
I wonder how long this thread can go before someone mentions removing the 5th wheel?
An idiot farmer I used to work for and be his tenent bought a ford 6 wheeler lorry as scrap and converted it into a tractor unit
the unit had no 5th wheel so could be used for agricultural purposed but if it had a 5th wheel he said it was then a lorry not an agricultural tractor
but any road eventully I did the farm over pooring waste engine oil in the fresh 200L hydraulic oil drum, poored waste paint and thiners all over the meew of hay
drained the oil from the digger and cut the oil sensor, cut the fan belt on the tractor slashed the tyres on the push bike slashed the gas and oxy hoses, and put rat poison in the cows troff
But thats another storry
mcgregors shafter:
Coffeeholic:
Class 1 was required to drive an articulated vehicle. Is a solo tractor unit articulated? Sorted.I wonder how long this thread can go before someone mentions removing the 5th wheel?
well dose a car and trailer not count?
Now your definatly puulling it
Don’t you need to put the 5th wheel in the cab ■■
how’s that CH ? 
Maybe it was a myth all those years ago beacuse I was led to believe that the pre 1990 HGV driving licence rules restricted the driving of artic units to those with a class 1 licence
The reason given was that the unit was classed as part of the articulated set up even if the trailer was not attached
I wish I could find the old HGV licence rules on the internet but so far no joy!!
but think of the children!
Coffeeholic:
Class 1 was required to drive an articulated vehicle. Is a solo tractor unit articulated? Sorted.
Well, that’s what I thought when the question came up on the “new and wannabes” forum, but what with ROG being a trainer, and me being a simple steering wheel attendant, I did have some creeping doubt that he might be right.
i thought the 5th wheel had to be taken off. put in a sealed container then delivered to the solo units destination if the driver of the unit is on class 2.
Harry Monk:
Coffeeholic:
Class 1 was required to drive an articulated vehicle. Is a solo tractor unit articulated? Sorted.Well, that’s what I thought when the question came up on the “new and wannabes” forum, but what with ROG being a trainer, and me being a simple steering wheel attendant, I did have some creeping doubt that he might be right.
This question used to be a regular feature if the Ask the Expert type pages in the truck magazines, such as Headlights, back in the day. The answer was always as you thought with regards the licence class and the number of axles.
The removal of the 5th wheel was to enable it to be driven on an ordinary licence because it made it sn incomplete motor vehicle or something, like those mad blokes in the padded suits and crash helmets driving the coach chassis on a car licence.
Surely 5th wheel or not a tractor unit by its self is a rigid vehicle so class 2 the 5th wheel don’t’ effect anything like saying someone passing there test after 1997 can’t drive a car with a tow-bar. The 5th wheel only effects the taxation class not the licence required only thing the licence covers is the weight of the vehicle
gogzy:
i thought the 5th wheel had to be taken off. put in a sealed container then delivered to the solo units destination if the driver of the unit is on class 2.
No no no, that’s definitely wrong, you need to take the fifth wheel off, but then what you do is phone the Police and get them to draw a chalk line around it.
why do I get the impresion that class one meant 5th wheel special and other then that it falled into the catogry of the towing vehicle
So a 4 wheel unit with the 5th wheel off and draw bar on could of been driven on a class 3 licence
Harry Monk:
gogzy:
i thought the 5th wheel had to be taken off. put in a sealed container then delivered to the solo units destination if the driver of the unit is on class 2.No no no, that’s definitely wrong, you need to take the fifth wheel off, but then what you do is phone the Police and get them to draw a chalk line around it.
what then makes sure theres 2 free bays around you so you dont hit anything and then fine the company if they disturb you?