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Post by bomerang on Jul 2, 2011 20:22:46 GMT
i think i seenit all today, driving back froma horse show today on the very busy motorway, i saw a broken down horse trailer and car (with horses loaded) as i got nearer i could hardly beleive my eyes!!! it was being towed to a VW golf for crying out loud!! just how stupid can people be, words fail me
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Post by bomerang on Jul 2, 2011 20:31:33 GMT
sorry meant to say being towed BY A VW GOLF (not to a VW golf)
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Post by thimble on Jul 2, 2011 21:14:33 GMT
See it all the time. Scary !!
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Post by JaysMum on Jul 3, 2011 7:57:28 GMT
if the car is capable of towing these horses why not?? you don't know anything about the situation.
I wonder what you would say to someone transporting a Shetland in a Bedford Van??
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Post by muffymoo on Jul 3, 2011 8:12:11 GMT
my mum had a vw golf and it was perfectly fine towing with 2 ponies,its about engine size and torque,not the size of the car
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Post by Wishiwasrich on Jul 3, 2011 8:46:05 GMT
mmm not cabable of towing it leagally though! i just checked
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Post by viking on Jul 3, 2011 8:48:59 GMT
Not something I would want to do.
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Post by JaysMum on Jul 3, 2011 8:54:49 GMT
it does depend on engine size though...... maybe a 1.2/4/6 wouldnt be strong enough but perhaps a 2l 2.6 would??
really honestly.. if it's not for you fine, but don't pi$$ on other people's parade... If it doesn't involve any of your horses/equipment don't make it your business.... a horsebox can break down just as easily....
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Post by Wishiwasrich on Jul 3, 2011 9:04:40 GMT
It's wieght of vehicle over the maximum towing weight of the trailer that decides if a car can legally tow. There arn't that many standard cars that can tow a double trailer legally. And to go with your point Jaysmum - i have broken down in a navara pickup, been with a friend who broke down in a disco 3. Both terrifiying experiances on the morotway.
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Post by sageandonion on Jul 3, 2011 9:05:40 GMT
Of course it does not depend on the engine size, do you think a ferrari is capable of towing? I am afraid if people do not know or both to enquire of the regulations with regard to towing then this will continue. Actually it is illegal, if I saw that I would report it to the traffic police and the driver would be proscecuted. It puts horses, driver and passengers and other road users at risk. It also invalidates insurance.
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Post by ilovenatives on Jul 3, 2011 9:05:43 GMT
Isnt it also about the weight ratio between the car and what it is towing not just about engine size Oops Cross posted
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Post by sageandonion on Jul 3, 2011 9:06:37 GMT
it does depend on engine size though...... maybe a 1.2/4/6 wouldnt be strong enough but perhaps a 2l 2.6 would?? really honestly.. if it's not for you fine, but don't pi$$ on other people's parade... If it doesn't involve any of your horses/equipment don't make it your business.... a horsebox can break down just as easily.... Is that sort of language necessary.
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Post by brindlerainbow on Jul 3, 2011 9:08:57 GMT
I dont think the issue was with the fact that the car had broken down Jaysmum but with the type of car towing the trailer. I certainly wouldnt tow a double trailer with 2 horses in with a VW Golf. I always tow with a 2.6 Mitsubishi Challenger which is built like a tank.I want to be sure if im going downhill and braking that my tow vehicle has the capability of slowing the trailer too!!!!!!!!
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Post by ilovenatives on Jul 3, 2011 9:10:39 GMT
I dont think the OP was so concerned about the fact they had broken down so much as what they were towing with .
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Post by JaysMum on Jul 3, 2011 10:09:33 GMT
Is that sort of language necessary. well yes if only to get the point across... could have been worse... could have been the F word.. ok, maybe i've got it wrong... have been thinking about this thread... OP was disgusted at the choice of vehicle being used to tow horses... after driving past and seeing having broken down.. surely the point of interest may have been the thought that hopefully the horses were OK, and not the choice of vehicle being used. Yes breaking down anywhere with horses on board is frightening, and I wouldn't like it to happen to any of mine. Oh yes nothing like a touch of sarcasm.... Ferrari towing... do you think Im a complete numpty? considering you do not know me personally or indeed at all ? In my original reply i did say.,... IF the car is capable....
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Post by sageandonion on Jul 3, 2011 10:35:21 GMT
In view of the language needed to be used to get your point across and to respond to the first question you have asked, the answer is ... Yes.
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Post by bomerang on Jul 3, 2011 12:36:17 GMT
good god jaysmum, how rude are you? 1st its illegal, 2nd its illegal for a reason (i.e stability etc), 3rd the car prob DID break down cos it was too hard for it too tow, 4thwhen people do dangerous things and put others and animals at risk its EVERYBODIES business. As someone who`s OH is a senior fireman, i can tell you he spends a large percentage of his time cutting horses out of badly towed vehicles!! not something he finds pleasant. i also find your language and attitude ignorant and rude. there is no need to swear, if you dont like this post then dont read it . simples!!!
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Post by bomerang on Jul 3, 2011 12:40:10 GMT
and as you said "if the car is capbale of towing" well its not rocket science to say it ISNT which was my whole point originally
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Post by bomerang on Jul 3, 2011 12:45:17 GMT
and re "transporting a shetland in a transit van"what do you think i would say (and probably include what most other sane horsey people would say) if its not one of those converted vans then its down right unsafe, ridiculous, stupid and illegal
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Post by brindlerainbow on Jul 3, 2011 13:09:19 GMT
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Post by mountainsandhorses on Jul 3, 2011 13:17:31 GMT
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Post by bomerang on Jul 3, 2011 13:24:20 GMT
mountainsand horses .... it wasnt and they werent
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Post by danihenri on Jul 3, 2011 13:30:12 GMT
The weight of what you are towing, i.e the trailer and the horses inside should not outweight the vehicle towing it. If the police had seen this I am sure they would have stopped them. Dangerous does not is too mild a description!!
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Post by B_31 on Jul 3, 2011 13:33:51 GMT
matter of inttrest - how much does the average trailor weigh??? and 500kg on a horse??
if the trailer is less than 600 - it would be *just* legal on a golf?
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Post by Wishiwasrich on Jul 3, 2011 13:35:29 GMT
most double trailers have a max limit of 2000kg! your car has to beable to tow its max to be legal. x
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Post by mountainsandhorses on Jul 3, 2011 13:37:10 GMT
505 is 675 kilos (from a google) there were two horses I think?
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Post by muffymoo on Jul 3, 2011 14:07:10 GMT
here we go again...
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Post by dimwit on Jul 3, 2011 14:33:39 GMT
A trailer when towed must be no more than 80% of the vehicle towing it. So the vw is not heavy enough to tow a double trailer with 2 horses in it the 20% is for stopping /hill control etc . Not safe if trailer starts snaking car will over turn easier :@
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Post by jebediah on Jul 3, 2011 14:57:25 GMT
Hope this link helps Cars may be capable of towing but have they sufficient weight to pull up safely www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_weights_law.htmI was run into at a competition venue many years ago--I was parked Small but powerful car towing two 14hh ponies in IW trailer so estimated weight trailer 800kg plus another 800kg of ponies 1600kg load being pulled by car weighing less than that is a recipe for disaster when brakes are applied. The vehicle and trailer jack knifed and slid into my car on sloping parking area. A VW Golf weighs less than 1400kg
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Post by amumwithapony on Jul 3, 2011 16:03:43 GMT
I think the original OP's point was that the car SHOULD not have been pulling a trailer in the first place because it is
A. Not safe to do so B. Not legal to do so.
I think the links provided clear up whether the car was legal (it wasn't) and their comments about it were completely justified, not just in my opinion but also in the opinion of the law.
People breaking the law not only put themselves and their animals at risk, but also other road users as well as the emergency services who are the ones who have to cut not only animals, but also people, out of trailers and vehicles when things go wrong.
It also makes a mockery of all of us who go to great time and expense to ensure we are fully legal and also as safe as we can be when travelling our ponies.
I don't think this thread, nor any of the comments on it justified bad language, and I would thank you all to keep your tones civil. The swear filter does its job but it doesnt take a genius to work out what was said.
And I would find my parade very much pee'd on if this set up of a golf and double trailer carrying 2 animals were to go into the back of me whilst travelling on the motorway, or anywhere else for that matter.
The more times threads like this are started the more educated we all get with regards to towing safely, and I was very shocked that some people thought that this set up would be legal or safe.
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