3.5T Towable Hot Box

Features

Chapter 8

Gas Heated Hotbox
Temperature Controlled
Capacity 2.5 Tonne
Tipping options available

Specifications

Hot Box Capacity: 2.5 Tonne

Description

The 3.5‑tonne Towable Hot Box is a compact, highly manoeuvrable asphalt heating unit designed for fast, efficient road repair and maintenance. Powered by a reliable gas‑fired heating system, it delivers consistent, even heat to keep up to 2.5 Tonne of asphalt hot and workable throughout the day. Its fully insulated body minimises heat loss and reduces material waste, ensuring maximum productivity on every job. Lightweight and easy to tow behind standard commercial vehicles, this hot box is ideal for councils, utilities, and rapid‑response maintenance teams. For patching, pothole repairs, and small‑scale reinstatement works, it offers dependable performance with low running costs.

Applications: Highway Maintenance, Road Repair Contractors, Local Councils, Municipal Authorities, Utilities Companies, Specialist Road Surfacing & Civil Engineering Firms, Asphalt Recycling, Paving Contractors & Private infrastructure maintenance companies

Download Spec Sheet

Requirements

To drive and operate an ND Brown’s 7.2/7.5 tonne hot box, you need a Category C1 licence, because a C1 entitlement covers vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. A 3.5‑towable tonne hot box counts as a 3.5‑tonne trailer and therefore to tow a trailer over 750 kg, the correct licence category depends on the combined weight of the towing vehicle + trailer. Category BE permits a driver to tow a trailer over 750 kg, with a combined vehicle + trailer weight of up to 7 tonnes. Category C1+E permits driving a 3.5–7.5 tonne vehicle with a trailer over 750 kg, giving a higher overall towing limit than BE.

A “static hot box” that weighs 12 tonnes or more cannot be legally towed by a light commercial vehicle. If it must be moved by road, it requires an HGV tractor unit, meaning you are effectively towing or hauling a commercial trailer well above 7.5 tonnes MAM. Category C+E allows driving an articulated lorry or rigid vehicle with a trailer over 750 kg, with a maximum weight up to 44 tonnes. A 12‑, 15‑, 20‑ or 30‑tonne unit can only be moved by a heavy goods vehicle combination, which legally places the driver in C+E territory.

Hot Boxes over 7.5 tonnes (12t, 18t, 26t, 32t)
For ND Brown’s heavier fleet — such as 18‑tonne, 26‑tonne, and 32‑tonne tippers, tipper grabs, and hook loaders — you need a Category C (Class 2) licence, which allows you to drive rigid HGVs over 7.5 tonnes up to 32 tonnes.

Commercial use
If you are hiring these vehicles for professional/commercial use, you must also hold a valid Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence).

Insurance

When hiring a commercial vehicle from ND Brown, operators are responsible for providing their own insurance cover. This is standard across the commercial transport industry, where owner‑operators must secure and maintain their own commercial vehicle insurance to legally operate hired trucks and equipment.

This insurance must include appropriate levels of:

Commercial vehicle (auto) liability
Physical damage cover for the hired vehicle
Any additional insurance required for the operator’s business activities

The hirer is to supply comprehensive insurance as per company conditions of hire – ‘Plant Insurance’ is required for trailer mounted and static hot boxes

Because ND Brown provides the vehicle but does not insure your operation, you must have valid, active insurance in place before the hire period begins.

Driving Restrictions

It is the hirer’s responsibility to check for DVS PSS certification and to inform ND Brown Limited if a hired vehicle over 12T GVM is to enter the London LEZ zone.

Vehicles over 12T GVM operating in the London LEZ Zone will be subject to an additional levy of £15 per week for DVS PSS additional safety equipment.

Our fines and penalty charge administration fee is £35.00 per item.

Hot Box Hire

3.5T Towable Hot Box

Description

Requirements

Insurance

Driving Restrictions

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