How do you determine the maximum authorised combination mass of a vehicle combination consisting of a towing vehicle with rigid drawbar trailer?

To determine the maximum authorized combination mass for a towing vehicle with a rigid drawbar trailer, you need to consider the vertical load on the towing vehicle. Specifically, if the vertical load of the trailer is greater than the permissible vertical load of the towing vehicle, you must subtract that excess vertical load from the maximum authorized mass of the trailer. This is crucial because exceeding the permissible vertical load can impact the vehicle's stability and handling, which German traffic laws aim to ensure for safety on the road.

In summary, it's important to understand how the vertical load interacts with both the trailer and towing vehicle's capacities to properly assess the overall mass allowed for the vehicle combination. This ensures compliance with legal safety standards and helps prevent accidents.