Can I reduce the max gross weight of my trailer?

[Conner]

This might sound like a daft question. Due to circumstances I have sold my old tow vehicle and dropped down to an NV200 people carrier with no back seats. Max towing capacity 1100kg.  I have a small braked Ifor trailer with a Max gross weight of 1400 kg. 
I know I can be stopped and had for being overweight with the trailer empty due to potentially filling trailer to max capacity. 
my question is can I put a large yellow sticker on the trailer stating max gross 1100kg and have max load and empty weight on the sticker as well so it looks right. 
I know most coppers don’t know towing laws I used to teach it to them abt 30 years ago but am well out of the trailer law game now. 
what are your thoughts 

[Johnsond]

5 hours ago, Conner said:

This might sound like a daft question. Due to circumstances I have sold my old tow vehicle and dropped down to an NV200 people carrier with no back seats. Max towing capacity 1100kg.  I have a small braked Ifor trailer with a Max gross weight of 1400 kg. 
I know I can be stopped and had for being overweight with the trailer empty due to potentially filling trailer to max capacity. 
my question is can I put a large yellow sticker on the trailer stating max gross 1100kg and have max load and empty weight on the sticker as well so it looks right. 
I know most coppers don’t know towing laws I used to teach it to them abt 30 years ago but am well out of the trailer law game now. 
what are your thoughts 

Just load it to the 1100KG point. The figure on the sticker won’t matter if you are over anyway. 

[GarethM]

From memory you have to stamp the metal data plate, a sticker is removable.

 

Maybe get a spare data plate/duplicate for when or if you sell it.

[Conner]

The biggest problem is and a stupidity part of the law. Although on a weigh bridge the trailer is say weighed at 800kg. 300kg under the vans max of 1100kg. Should not be a problem. BUT as the trailer COULD be up to 1400kg this is classed as overweight. Because the van can’t tow the full weight possiable. I only use it to transport my small pencil sharpener chipper. 

Edited May 4 by Conner
Grammer

[Decro]

I'm surprised by the original post.

Assuming the law is the same as heavy goods vehicles the gross permissable weight or a trailer is governed by the gross train weight - that is the maximum for the trailer and towing vehicle. 

The gross weight of the trailer could drop dependent on the towing vehicle irrespective of the trailer plate. Same as the weight on a small drawbar trailer will vary with the nose weight imposed on the towing vehicle.

That's my understanding - but I have my tin hat ready to put on. 

[Treewolf]

I'm pretty sure that for several years now the theoretical gross weight of the trailer is immaterial and it is the actual laden weight which matters, i.e., you could tow a trailer with a maximum gross weight marking of 3.5 tonnes provided that the actual gross weight does not exceed the maximum permitted trailer weight of the towing vehicle.

 

I'm sure this has been discussed thoroughly on here more than once before, I suggest that a search of prior posts would be worthwhile.

[PeteB]

That rings a bell with me, the plated amount means nowt, they have to go on the scales....

[Conner]

Thanks gents I have tried searching but doesn’t seam to work. I hope you are right as I will still tow. I have always believed the theoretical weight was the problem. As we all know this is daft. I’m going to also put a sticker on for when towed by the van as a reminder to myself. So if overweight weigh bridge is required .

[monkeybusiness]

The Ifor Williams website has info on this - no need to downplate your trailer. 
 

My vehicle has a maximum towing weight of 1500kg and my trailer has a maximum gross weight of 2000kg. Can I still tow this trailer? » My vehicle has a maximum towing weight of 1500kg and my trailer has a maximum gross weight of 2000kg. Can I still tow this trailer? » Ifor Williams Trailers Ltd - Britain's Leading Trailer Manufacturer

WWW.IWT.CO.UK

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Questions and answers on towing trailers and related laws for trailers up to 3500kg.

 

[Steven P]

That's what my common sense would suggest too, trailer max load is irrelevant to the vehicle, so long as your vehicle is not overloaded.

 

Might be some mechanics comes into play if it is a silly big trailer for the vehicle (thinking levers, all the load at the tow bar, trailer wheel a mile further back effectively all the load is then in the boot of the car)... but would have to be a sully big trailer and point loaded for that to happen.