Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Gets to 3mph without breaking down though
4th Jun 2017 8:08 pm
OldPOP
Member Since: 15 Apr 2017
Location: Newbury
Posts: 117
I passed in the late 70’s but took my cat G last year and the hardest thing was re-learning the highway code (was asked hand signals to give to a Policeman if going straight on & marker posts for a railway crossing) I did gain the upper hand with vehicle checks on a 1930’s roller
4th Jun 2017 8:20 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73133
J@mes wrote:
Gets to 3mph without breaking down though
Good point, well made!!
Last edited by DSL on 4th Jun 2017 8:23 pm. Edited 1 time in total
4th Jun 2017 8:21 pm
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 06 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4197
My 17 year old daughter passed her B+E towing test yesterday only five weeks after passing her driving test! Top girl! She blitzed the reversing manoeuvre in one!
She did have an awesome instructor though!
She's gutted she's got to wait another six months before she can start her HGV driving......
4th Jun 2017 8:22 pm
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 06 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4197
As an aside for those thinking of doing their test the manual / auto rule still applies....if you do your test in an auto Disco you will only be allowed to tow with an auto car thereafter........
So make sure you do the test in a manual!
4th Jun 2017 8:42 pm
Beno2
Member Since: 18 Apr 2009
Location: SE
Posts: 996
So many young couples I meet on caravan sites are unaware of the towing restrictions which apply to their licence. Also when buying a new caravan no questions are asked if the new owner has the right licence.D3 HSE
4th Jun 2017 8:47 pm
Johnhiggs
Member Since: 19 Feb 2017
Location: Reading
Posts: 123
I have it on my licence, passed in 1988, can also drive 7.5ton
I'm amazed how many younger people don't know the restrictions and classes2006 D3 2.7tdv6 SE Zermatt (6A)
Front and rear light protectors
EGR's Blanked
704 rims
LED Interior lamp upgrade
2014/2015 navigation maps
DAB Motion
Parrott Mki9100 Bluetooth
By age & when passed text I'm exempt..
But had some serious instruction in the late 80's from where I worked (Government owned company - compulsory course)
Learnt on a Defender with a huge twin axle trailer.
Lots of of people my vintage, exempt but haven't a clue.....potentially dangerous
Which is sort of as bad as someone younger, who should take test - not doing so.
It ain't rocket science to find out the regs....
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-carBREXIT - done properly.
Right now ...We need Government - not Politics
Save the Dipstick Flagbearer-keep it simple, less likely to fail campaign-agenda items:Starting Handles, Acetylene Lamps.
Founder: Dipsticks-R-Us Inc
D3 HSE-perfectly formed, passenger friendly...has real DIPSTICK
Jag XK-but sadly no DIPSTICK...HUGE design fault
FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
VW Golf wondermobile (?)..has real DIPSTICK
Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY.
4th Jun 2017 9:25 pm
Kev91
Member Since: 08 Oct 2012
Location: Erskine Bridge
Posts: 430
I have sat & passed my B+E test, being the young'in that I am
I found it very easy, although I had been reversing boat trailers since before I had my car license. With the weight of the disco, there wasn't much that could be towed behind it with the combined weight.
13th Jun 2017 8:44 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
Thankfully I had my B&E (although there was a brief panic after I'd agreed to buy a twin axle caravan and had to check ) as I passed my test in '95.
I still think I may go on a course though as I'm really struggling to get the reversing to work. I know the theory but can't always get the caravan to go in the direction I want D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
I passed my test in 1987 and started towing a caravan soon after for my parents.
Now that I work for JLR I need to tow company vehicles on test so I did our internal trailer tow course. This was 2 days where we learned to drive through a slalom, reverse through a slalom with reducing gaps, reverse around a circle. High speed track driving, with an incorrectly loaded trailer and correctly loaded. Then a 4 hour drive through the Cotswolds trying not to hit any kerbs or other cars.
D3 tow vehicle with a tri-axle Bateson trailer and Freelander 2 on it.
I've never concentrated so much!
13th Jun 2017 9:48 am
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
James W wrote:
Thankfully I had my B&E (although there was a brief panic after I'd agreed to buy a twin axle caravan and had to check ) as I passed my test in '95.
I still think I may go on a course though as I'm really struggling to get the reversing to work. I know the theory but can't always get the caravan to go in the direction I want
It's well worth taking some training, I think the Caravan and Camping club offer courses to members if you are one.
I always get commented on how well I can reverse my outfit (Swift 590 Twin Axle and VW Amarok) and I can't remember the last time I had to use my motor mover
13th Jun 2017 9:56 am
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 06 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4197
James W wrote:
Thankfully I had my B&E (although there was a brief panic after I'd agreed to buy a twin axle caravan and had to check ) as I passed my test in '95.
I still think I may go on a course though as I'm really struggling to get the reversing to work. I know the theory but can't always get the caravan to go in the direction I want
The trick is minimal steering input and move really slowly...that way if it starts to go wrong you can turn the wheel quickly in the opposite direction without anyone really noticing! ...
As soon as you use big inputs on the steering wheel you've lost it and it's better to pull forwards and do a shunt....
Also always try to pull up with the rig and trailer already in a straight line before manoeuvring otherwise your wrong to start with!
13th Jun 2017 10:03 am
anjo14
Member Since: 27 Apr 2012
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 562
Past my test first time in 1978 just 4 weeks after turning 17. A few month later I borrowed the parents caravan and hooked it up to my Mk3 Cortina for a trip to Aviemore with a couples of my mates.D3 TDV6 S MY2005
13th Jun 2017 10:12 am
EMcC
Member Since: 10 Jul 2015
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 536
I passed my driving test in 1965 and have been towing, caravans, boats, trailers on and off ever since.
I have 'recently' changed my paper licence for a new plastic card type one and have never given it a thought about a 'Trailer Licence'
I passed my tractor licence at 15, my motor cycle licence at 16 and didn't bother to get a car licence until I was 25.
I put in for my car licence and opted for a short notice cancellation, I got it a week later, a Saturday morning in Oxford. Had to buy some L plates and pick up a hitch hiker on the way in !!
Passed first time, no surprise really as had been driving tractors and landrovers since I was high enough to reach the pedals.
Later years went up to HGV but relinquished that at 65, now just poodle about in a Disco, well not exactly poodle, did just short of Hamburg to Calais in five hours.
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& marker posts for a railway crossing) I did gain the upper hand with vehicle checks on a 1930’s roller 
) as I passed my test in '95.
