Vehicle Loading Category

To learn all about the Vehicle Loading category watch the video or read the article below.

The theory test featuring all the questions from this category is at the bottom of the page.

Topics Include

Towing – understanding the affects of towing a trailer and the relevant regulations.
Stability – understanding how to correctly load vehicles, trailers and caravans and how towing can affect vehicle stability and safety.

Questions concern vehicle stability and towing regulations.

When towing a trailer or caravan on a motorway:

Do not exceed 60 mph.
Do not use the right-hand lane unless directed to do so.
To stop a trailer or caravan from snaking you should ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.

Facts to Know

It is advised you inflate your tyres to a higher pressure than normal when carrying a heavy load, or when driving fast for long distances.
A heavy vehicle load, on a roof rack or in the car, will reduce stability and affect steering and handling.
The driver is always responsible for making sure the vehicle isn’t overloaded.
Any load must be securely fastened.
To improve handling when towing a caravan fit a stabiliser to the towbar.
When towing a caravan never allow passengers to travel in it.
Using a roof rack will increase fuel consumption.
A child passenger under the age of three, should be seated in a child seat.
Animals should be restrained so that they can’t interfere with the driver.

Take the Test

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Vehicle Loading Theory Test

All the Questions in the Category

Explanation

Your vehicle must not be overloaded. Carrying heavy loads will affect control and handling characteristics. If your vehicle is overloaded and it causes a crash, you’ll be held responsible.

1 / 14

Who is responsible for making sure that a vehicle is not overloaded?

(mark ONE answer)

The driver of the vehicle

The owner of the items being carried

The person who loaded the vehicle

The licensing authority

Explanation

A vehicle towing trailer must not

use the right-hand lane of a three-lane motorway unless directed to do so, for example, at roadworks or due to lane closure
exceed 60 mph

2 / 14

You are towing a small caravan on a busy three-lane motorway. All the lanes are open. You must

(mark TWO answers)

not exceed 60 mph

not overtake

have a stabiliser fitted

use only the left and centre lanes

Explanation

In the event of a towbar failure the cable activates the trailer brakes, then snaps. This allows the towing vehicle to get free of the trailer and out of danger.

3 / 14

A trailer must stay securely hitched up to the towing vehicle. What additional safety device can be fitted to the trailer braking system?

(mark ONE answer)

Stabiliser

Jockey wheel

Corner steadies

Breakaway cable

Explanation

The safest way to carry items on the roof is in a specially designed roof box. This will help to keep your luggage secure and dry, and also has less wind resistance than loads carried on a roof rack.

4 / 14

Any load that is carried on a roof rack should be

(mark ONE answer)

securely fastened when driving

loaded towards the rear of the vehicle

visible in your exterior mirror

covered with plastic sheeting

Explanation

You must know how to load your trailer or caravan so that the hitch exerts a downward force onto the tow ball. This information can be found in your vehicle handbook or from your vehicle manufacturer’s agent.

5 / 14

You wish to tow a trailer. Where would you find the maximum noseweight of your vehicle’s tow ball?

(mark ONE answer)

In the vehicle handbook

In The Highway Code

In your vehicle registration certificate

In your licence documents

Explanation

It’s your responsibility to ensure that all children in your car are secure. Suitable restraints include a child seat, baby seat, booster seat or booster cushion. It’s essential that any restraint used should be suitable for the child’s size and weight, and fitted to the manufacturers instructions.

6 / 14

You are carrying a child in your car. They are under three years of age. Which of these is a suitable restraint?

(mark ONE answer)

A child seat

An adult holding a child

An adult seat belt

An adult lap belt

Explanation

Fitting a stabiliser to your tow bar will help to reduce snaking by the caravan especially where there are crosswinds. However, this does not take away your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle/caravan combination is loaded correctly.

7 / 14

Why would you fit a stabiliser before towing a caravan?

(mark ONE answer)

It will help with stability when driving in crosswinds

It will allow heavy items to be loaded behind the axle

It will help you to raise and lower the jockey wheel

Explanation

Try not to brake or steer heavily as this will only make matters worse and you could lose control altogether. Keep calm and regain control by easing off the accelerator.

8 / 14

You are towing a caravan along a motorway. The caravan begins to swerve from side to side. What should you do?

(mark ONE answer)

Ease off the accelerator slowly

Steer sharply from side to side

Do an emergency stop

Speed up very quickly

Explanation

Riding in a towed caravan is highly dangerous. The safety of the entire unit is dependent on the stability of the trailer. Moving passengers would make the caravan unstable and could cause loss of control.

9 / 14

Are passengers allowed to ride in a caravan that is being towed?

(mark ONE answer)

Yes, if they are over fourteen

No, not at any time

Only if all the seats in the towing vehicle are full

Only if a stabiliser is fitted

Explanation

Towing a caravan or trailer affects the way the tow vehicle handles. It is highly recommended that you take a caravan manoeuvring course. These are provided by various organisations for anyone wishing to tow a trailer.

10 / 14

You are planning to tow a caravan. Which of these will mostly help to aid the vehicle handling?

(mark ONE answer)

A jockey wheel fitted to the towbar

Power steering fitted to the towing vehicle

Anti-lock brakes fitted to the towing vehicle

A stabiliser fitted to the towbar

Explanation

Check the vehicle handbook. This should give you guidance on the correct tyre pressures for your vehicle and when you may need to adjust them. If you are carrying a heavy load you may need to adjust the headlights as well. Most cars have a switch on the dashboard to do this.

11 / 14

On which two occasions might you inflate your tyres to more than the recommended normal pressure?

(mark TWO answers)

When the roads are slippery

When driving fast for long distances

When the tyre thread is worn below 2 mm

When carrying a heavy load

When the weather is cold

When the vehicle is fitted with anti-lock brakes

Explanation

Strong winds or buffeting from large vehicles can cause a trailer or caravan to snake or swerve. If this happens, ease off the accelerator. Don’t brake harshly, steer sharply or increase your speed.

12 / 14

If a trailer swerves or snakes when you are towing it you should

(mark ONE answer)

ease off the accelerator and reduce your speed

let go of the steering wheel and let it correct itself

brake hard and hold the pedal down

increase your speed as quickly as possible

Explanation

A heavy load on your roof rack will reduce the stability of the vehicle because it moves the centre of gravity away from that designed by the manufacturer. Be aware of this when you negotiate bends and corners. If you change direction at speed, your vehicle and/or load could become unstable and you could lose control.

13 / 14

A heavy load on your roof rack will

(mark ONE answer)

improve road handling

reduce the stopping distance

make steering lighter

reduce stability

Explanation

Any load will have an effect on the handlingn of your vehicle and this becomes worse as you increase the load. Any change in the centre of gravity or weight the vehicle is carrying will affect its braking and handling on bends.

14 / 14

Overloading your vehicle can seriously affect the

(mark TWO answers)

gearbox

steering

handling

battery life

journey time

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