Theory course · Topic 14 of 14
Topic 14
Driving solo vehicles & combinations
The second compulsory topic — and the one with the trailer in it.
In short
Topic 14 is the second class-specific compulsory block for Class B. It covers the difference between a solo vehicle and a combination of car and trailer: nose weight and towing capacity, how a combination behaves in a bend, manoeuvring, snaking, the effect on braking distance — and finally environmentally aware, anticipatory driving. Under § 4 FahrschAusbO you must have attended this double lesson at least once.
Compulsory additional material
Topics 13 and 14 are the class-specific additional material for Class B. Under § 4 FahrschAusbO you have to have attended both at least once before you can be entered for the theory test. Every other topic you may repeat as often as you like.
What this topic teaches you
The first part is the figures that decide what you may tow at all. Class B allows vehicles up to 3,500 kilograms permitted total mass with a trailer up to 750 kilograms — and beyond that only while the combination as a whole stays within 3,500 kilograms. Anyone wanting to tow more needs B96 for combinations up to 4,250 kilograms, or Class BE. Add nose weight, towing capacity, and where the load may sit on the trailer in the first place.
The second part is how it drives. A combination does not follow the towing vehicle's line through a bend, it cuts inside — so you swing wider and steer in later. Reversing turns the trailer the opposite way, which makes manoeuvring a matter of practice. At speed, in crosswind or with the load wrongly placed a trailer starts to snake; the correct response is to lift off and hold the steering straight, not to counter-steer.
The third part is braking behaviour and the environmental half of the topic. More mass means a longer braking distance and greater strain on the brakes, especially on long descents, where you brake with a low gear rather than with the brake permanently rubbing. Driving with the environment in mind means driving with the road ahead in mind: off the accelerator early, low revs, engine off when standing for a while, roof rack removed when it is not needed.
- Towing capacity, nose weight, permitted total mass
- Cornering and manoeuvring with a trailer
- Recognising snaking and reacting correctly
- Anticipatory, economical driving
What it looks like in Düsseldorf
The most common trailer in Düsseldorf hangs behind an estate car on the way to the recycling centre or the builders' merchant — and the hard part is rarely the drive but the manoeuvring in the yard and the narrow entrance of an old building in Flingern or Bilk. That is where you notice at once what the lesson meant: the trailer turns the other way, and a look over the shoulder does not replace somebody guiding you.
The second case is the holiday. Caravans and loaded trailers leave the city on the A46 and the A52, and there crosswind on the Rhine bridges, high speeds and long climbs and descents all arrive together. Precisely the combination in which snaking starts, and in which an over-heated braking system on a combination becomes dangerous.
What the test does with it
Because this topic is additional material for the car classes, its questions belong to the class-specific part of the theory test. You are asked about the mass limits, about behaviour while manoeuvring, about the response to snaking and about braking on descents. The questions on economical driving come from this double lesson as well.
In the Class B practical test you drive without a trailer, but the anticipatory half of the topic is assessed: coming off the accelerator early, changing up in good time, not revving the engine needlessly, and reading situations early enough that braking is not necessary. Anyone aiming for a class with a trailer completes a separate course for it.
- Mass limits for B, B96 and BE
- Manoeuvring: the trailer turns the other way
- Snaking: lift off, hold the steering
- Anticipatory driving is assessed in practice too
Common questions
Why is topic 14 compulsory?
Because together with topic 13 it forms the class-specific additional material for Class B. Under § 4 FahrschAusbO every candidate has to have attended both at least once before being entered for the theory test. For Class B that is 12 double lessons of core material plus these 2 double lessons of additional material.
How heavy may my trailer be on Class B?
Always up to 750 kilograms permitted total mass. A heavier trailer is possible as long as the towing vehicle and the trailer together do not exceed 3,500 kilograms. For heavier combinations there is B96 up to 4,250 kilograms and Class BE.
What do I do if the trailer starts to snake?
Come off the accelerator, hold the steering straight and do not counter-steer. Sharp steering movements amplify the oscillation. The best prevention is correct loading: heavy items low and over the axle, sufficient nose weight, no excess weight at the rear.
Do I have to drive a trailer for topic 14?
No. Topic 14 is classroom theory and compulsory for every candidate in the car classes, whether or not they ever intend to tow anything. Anyone who really wants to drive with a trailer takes a separate course in B96 or BE.