Mobile & Towable Fuel Bowsers

Bowser towing regulations vary depending on the type of vehicle towing the bowser, the type of bowser used, the type (and volume) of fuel to be towed.

The bowser itself must be suitable for towing, and UN-approved in order to be legally used on UK highways. Towable browsers are usually labelled as such and are constructed on robust chassis featuring lights or reflectors, and handbrakes. Standard browsers may only be towed within sites, or on private roads.

Diesel bowsers up to 1000 litres may be towed without an ADR licence, however, due to recently introduced regulations, a towing licence may be required depending on when you passed your driving test.

All fuel bowsers over 1000 litres require an ADR licence and may require a town licence. In addition to this, they may be no more than 2.55 metres in width and weigh no more than 3500kg.

In addition to this, your vehicle must have an adequate weight limit allowing for the towing of a bowser. This limit may be found on the VIN Plate. To calculate the weight of a fuel bowser when filled, use 1 litre of diesel = 0.82 Kg. Add this number to the bowser weight, listed on its serial plate.

A Bowser is a trailer fitted with a tank designed to carry a variety of substances, most commonly including diesel, petrol, kerosene, and water. Designed in both single skin and bunded formats, bowsers most commonly take the form of a cylindrical steel tank mounted on an A-frame chassis, with two, or four wheels. Bowsers are available in formats obeying UN highway regulation (suitable for towing on public roads), and a standard format (suitable for use on private roads, and within sites).

Towable bowsers are most commonly used to provide and transport fuel for machinery or plant operation use, and are a staple on construction sites, events grounds, and agricultural land.

Those with a valid driving licence issued after 1 January 1997 may drive a car or van weighing up to 3500kg MAM towing a bowser of up to 750kg MAM (a bowser of over 750kg MAM may be towed so long as the combined MAM of the bowser and towing vehicle does not exceed 3500kg).

Those with a valid driving licence issued prior to the 1st of January 1997 can typically drive a vehicle and bowser combination of up to 8250kg MAM.

Diesel bowsers up to 1000 litres may be towed without an ADR licence, however, due to recently introduced regulations, a towing licence may be required depending on when you passed your driving test.

All fuel bowsers over 1000 litres require an ADR licence and may require a town licence. In addition to this, they may be no more than 2.55 metres in width and weigh no more than 3500kg.

All bowsers and tow bars must be in compliance with current regulations relating to highway driving to allow for legal towing on public roads.

Bunded fuel bowsers provide a secondary layer of protection against damage and fuel spillage through their tank within a tank’ design. The inner tank of a bunded bowser is used for the storage of the fuel or liquid to be transported, commonly including diesel, petrol, or kerosene. In order to meet current bund regulations, bunds, or the tanks surrounding the inner tanks,  must be able to hold marginally more fuel than the maximum capacity of the inner tank.

All bunded fuel bowsers to be transported on public highways must be UN certified.RPM Fuels are proud to offer a wide selection of UN certified, towable bowsers suitable for a variety of purposes and industries.

A VIN plate can be used to assist in calculating whether or not your vehicle meets weight restrictions related to fuel bowser towing, and in establishing the amount your vehicle can tow.

Typically listed in the vehicle handbook/specifications, or under the bonnet, a VIN plate lists a 17 character VIN number, and the maximum authorised gross train weight for the vehicle model. This may be added to the filled weight of your bowser, which can be calculated by using 1 litre of diesel = 0.82 Kg, (added to bowser weight, typically listed on its serial plate).

As bowsers are typically composed of a robust layer of steel, they typically last for many years, with some manufacturers offering warranties of up to 10 years on towable bowsers. In order to ensure your bowser lasts for as long as it is intended to, it’s important to conduct regular inspection and maintenance.

The tank itself should be inspected for any signs of damage, wear, or leaks on a regular basis. When transporting fuel, no water should be present inside the tank – this can allow for the growth of corrosion-causing microbes. When not in use, the bowser should ideally be kept away from areas in which it will be exposed to hot or extreme conditions.

Paint may be reapplied on a semi-regular basis to assist in preventing corrosion.

The price of a towable bowser will vary depending on the size, type, and features required.  Price variations are generally influenced by whether or not the bowser is highway legal, maximum capacity, fuel type carried, and axle type. In addition to this, bunded bowsers tend to be more expensive than single skin bowsers.

RPM fuel’s range of towable ranges from approximately £2000 to £4500 in accordance with the above factors.

The majority of non-commercial vehicles suitable for towing are fitted with a ball hitch – a type of connector which requires part of the bowser’s frame to be lifted over a ‘ball’ to attach it. This may be a difficult task to undertake if the bowser is full, but generally provides a simple, secure way of connecting your vehicle and bowser.

Commercial vehicles, on the other hand, are often fitted with an eye hitch, which makes use of a pin system, meaning the vehicle can simply reverse to the bowser until the connectors are aligned. This is more suitable for larger bowsers, as it completely removes the need for lifting – hence why it is a more commonly used connector system commercially.

Diesel towing restrictions are dependent on the features of the bowser used, and the kerb weight of your vehicle.

Those with a small diesel bowser without brakes may tow whichever is less of these two options – up to 50% of the kerb weight of their vehicle, or 750kg.

Those towing a larger diesel bowser fitted with brakes should not exceed 85% of the vehicle’s kerb weight.

Diesel bowsers up to 1000 litres may be towed without an ADR licence, however, due to recently introduced regulations, a towing licence may be required depending on when you passed your driving test.

UK towable bowser regulations are variable according to usage and bowser type. In addition to this, the ADR do not recognise the term bowser, making regulation sightly more difficult to follow for many bowser users. If a bowser is called a wheeled trailer fitted with a tank, the following regulations generally apply;

Diesel and gas oil

• The tank must not be “permanently fixed to a motor vehicle or trailer”.
• The tank’s maximum capacity must be below 3000 litres.
• The tank must be designed for ‘mechanical handling’.
• The tank must be safe, and properly maintained.

Petrol

• The tank must meet all of the requirements above.
• The tank must be FL certified.