When figuring out if you’re legally able to tow a trailer, it all depends on when you passed your driving test. If you passed after 1 January 1997, you can tow a trailer up to 750kg which does not have to have its own braking system. That’s plenty for three trail bikes, but before you rush out and start loading up – there’s more you need to know.
If you passed before 31 December 1996, your maximum ‘all up’ weight for the entire vehicle train is over eight tonnes. Unless you are towing three GSs, weight is unlikely to be a concern for you.
It would be a very odd insurance policy which covered your trailer and bikes fully comprehensive whilst being towed, and you’ll find most insurers will cover it third party. With this in mind, it’s important to understand that you’re towing at your own risk.
When it comes to towing safely, your bike needs to be strapped down properly. A dangerously loose bike will get you three points and a fine of up to £2,500 per load, meaning two poorly loaded bikes could see you £5,000 and six points down. Furthermore, if this is your second unsafe load conviction in three years, you’re looking at a mandatory driving ban of three months.
If you want to attract the attention of the boys in blue, don’t bother with a working light board or registration plate. The police are attracted to these easy nicks like moths to a flame, and they would be well within their right to pull you over – they can, and they should.
So far, so obvious. But hands up who knows what nose weight is? Extra points if you know what your nose weight limit for your car is, and top class if you can actually measure it!
Nose weight is the static down force generated at the hitching point by a towed or otherwise affixed load onto the tow bar. It is second only to the weight ratio to the tow load to the tow vehicle (which should not exceed 85%) as a safety factor, and the heavier the load, the bigger the nose weight needs to be. If it’s not, traction in the rear wheels will be compromised and the trailers could snake, causing an accident.
Nose weight is crucial to safe trailering. Once you know the nose weight of your car (it will be in your owner’s manual), you can work out the ratio of the rate to the tow vehicle to the towed load. For example, if you have an un-braked trailer (and just about every bike trailer will be un-braked), a Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 has a range of safe towing loads, depending on the model, between 300-625kg. Going beyond the manufacturer’s limits could easily constitute a dangerous driving charge if your trailer gets bent out of shape as a result of such actions.
Unfortunately, if you want to check if you are safe to tow, you are going to have to do some homework. You’ll need to know your tow vehicle’s limit for towing an un-braked trailer, the manufacturer’s published nose weight, the gross vehicle weight of the tow vehicle, and ensure the towed load does not exceed 750kg or the manufacturer’s maximum if lower on an un-braked trailer.
Also, the lighter your trailer, the less crucial down force/nose weight becomes. If you are towing a 750kg load behind a 1.1 tonne car, the load is about 68% of the weight of the towing vehicle. If you do not have weight pressing down through the towing hitch, when the trailer bounces the static force that goes through the hitch starts to vary. Three quarters of a tonne pulling 1.1 tonnes is clearly going to start lifting, even momentarily, the tow vehicle’s suspension, which means that your back wheels are more likely to break out, leading to snaking which can bend your vehicle out of shape and is the reason why you see cars on their roofs in the summer holidays as people are towing caravans without making these checks.
So, it is not as simple as going off and buying a trailer, sticking your bike on and hoping for the best.
Finally, a word on racks. I have seen enduro bikes on the back of family cars and MPVs, even the ubiquitous VW T5 will have a dirt bike perched on the rack on the back. I own a T5, so I happen to know the maximum nose weight for my model is 80kg. I have a rack, which I know weighs 9kg, therefore if my bike weighs more than 71kg I cannot put it on a rack on the back of the van.
I’ve seen 160kg bikes on the back of a Renault Espace, with the front wheels virtually pawing the air and the rear suspension sat so low that the tyres are pretty much touching the arches. That was a crash waiting to happen, and any copper worth his salt will have that vehicle over and have the driver nicked.
Once you make the decision to transport your bike to the dirt in anything other than the back of a van, you need to do some thinking and research. Hitch and hope might work, and probably for a single dirt bike on a trailer you’re unlikely to go wrong, but a bit of homework will keep you on the right side of the law.
Andrew Dalton
Adventure Bike Rider – Sep/Oct 2017
Stephen I can promise you almost nothing which I say will have any application in any US law whether State or Federal. Andrew
None of this applies to US drivers. There are few restrictions in regards to towing trailers with motorcycles. European countries appear to have restrictions that change as you cross from border to border.
Hi Adrian,
Whilst I cannot speak for every EU jurisdiction the usual rule is that your home country rules apply within the EU so lets say you have a regular UK car licence which allows you to tow a trailer with a total weight of up to 750 kg – plenty to carry a single sports bike. That licence covers you actross the EU. So long as your car has the towing capacity (it will be in the owner’s manual) then provided you can meet local law – in France for example you need to be able to prove ownership of a vehicle – then as you are not riding the motorcycle and you are lawfully towing it you do not need a motorcycle licence to tow a motorcycle. You are usually covered for third party risk arising form the use of the trailer but damage to the trailer or its load are not usually insured, but check your policy on your towing vehicle. Some do exclude towing.
Hi, been trying to google some info regarding towing a motorbike from UK,. Im planing on buying a sport bike for my brother who lives abroad. His dream bike Ducati 848, the problem i have i’ve been asking around and nobody gave me straight answer so far. I don’t have a motorbike licence, Can i tow a bike with my van abroad from UK without heaving motorbike licence and insurance? Do i have to provide motorbike licence and insurance in order for me to tow it abroad? Technically im not riding the motorcycle it is only being towed with my van, some told id have to have licence and insurance? While some say you don’t need to supply any of that other than have logbook/motorbike on my name.. any advice/help appreciate it..
The honest answer is I do not know. Much will depend on the cover by each mode of transport. My feeling is that the fully comp on the bike would cover the risk of harm to the bike but expect to be hoop jumping! The trailer is unlikely to have own goods on board cover but it may have,. The car cover is very unlikely to cover you.
Thanks Andrew – one question on insurance? I have my car, my bike, and my trailer fully comp insured but its hells own job to get a straight answer from any of the three to confirm any kind of cover for my bike whilst its actually being towed. I realise each insurere will have its own policy but is there a general approach to this? and if not can I extend any policy to cover the bike ??