Is there a new lae coming out for trailers

[graham]

Hi, I dont know if this has been covered before but is there a new law coming out regarding towing trailers.

I tow a two axel Ifor williams trailer for moving machinery around.

[DEANO3528]

I think the old chesnut of regular trailer MOT's is raising it's ugly head once more.
I think mine will fail on emissions!

[JohnW]

Originally posted by DEANO3528
.....regular trailer MOT's.......

Oh great, yet another potential govt. revenue collection scheme... I guess that means we'll all potentially need to mount a plating certificate too.

One good thing is that it'll make it infinitely more difficult to go round pinching/re-selling trailers.

Do they have a registration system on the continent?

[OldFart]

Dunno about the revenue gripe, but from a safety issue its gotta be a good idea when you see some of the trailers that are on the road :snarl:


Caravan MOT's next......:buck:

.....and why not :p

[graham]

Found out some more info.

Anyone who passed their driving test after 1st Jan 1997 is only allowed to tow a small trailer, anything bigger including a caravan they are required to take a B+E test.

So us old gits are ok:p

[Hector]

Originally posted by graham
Found out some more info.

Anyone who passed their driving test after 1st Jan 1997 is only allowed to tow a small trailer, anything bigger including a caravan they are required to take a B+E test.

So us old gits are ok:p

Oops - does 3 1/2 tonnes of Ivor Williams Tri-Axle plant trailer count as a small trailer? :p

Cheers

Jamie

[callisr]

Originally posted by Hector


Oops - does 3 1/2 tonnes of Ivor Williams Tri-Axle plant trailer count as a small trailer? :p

Cheers

Jamie

It could count as small. It depends what you compare it to!!

[sidetable]

whats a B+E test and where would you take it??

[graham]

whats a B+E test and where would you take it??

I telephoned the local HGV training centre it was they who told me about the new regulation, you would need to do it through one of these places as I understand it.

[Porny]

My understanding of the rules for new type licenses....

With a new type licence you can tow a 750Kg behind any vehicle weighing up to 3500 kg....

However, you can also drive a vehicle and trailer not exceeding a combined weight of 3500kg. But the weight of the trailer can not exceed the weight of the towing vehicle.
Thus behind a 90" you could tow 1600kg, as a 90" weighs roughly 1600kg - and thus the combined weight would only 3200kg - below the max of 3500kg.

This is regardless of what the vehicle can actually tow - in the case of a Defender 3500kg (or 4000kg with air brakes).

But a further twist....

As long as somebody is in the vehicle with you, who passed their test before the new type license, then you can tow upto the maximum towing weight of the vehicle (you are classed as a learner but do not need to show L plates).

The funny thing is, it does not matter whether the person in the vehicle has ever towed anything in their life - so I can have my mom sat next to me, and tow 3500 kg.

The test, I believe, costs £68 ish. But you need to provide vehicle and trailer. The test consists of you driving around a predetermined route with the examiner (to ensure that you appreciate the fact your towing a trailer), reversing it into a coned off space and hitching and un-hitching.

Note - this is only my understanding of the rules.


Ian

[Astbury]

For Germany, Switzerland, Poland I know for sure that you have to register your trailer almost in the same way as a car. Here in Switzerland the trailer must pass its MFT (same as the MOT) every 4 years, I also think that you have to pay some sort of road tax for it too!

The only good thing about Swiss law is that you can have as many cars as you like but if you only drive one at a time you are allowed to insure just one (the most valuable one) and you just swap the reg plates over to the one you will take on the road.

Dont think that you need to pass any tests though? (hope not I took a twin axle trailer on the back of my 110 from Zurich to Poland not long back, I had no trouble though I was asked for the trailers documents at the Polish boarder, they even wanted to see the green card for it!! "sorry I dont speak Polish what are you asking for?? you have all my papers in your hand Mr. Boarder man what more do you want?".........

[ROB 110 HICAP]

Caravan MOT's next......: :p

"I'm sorry sir but your caravan failed its MOT because the beds weren't made well enough and the biscuits were stale."

[Michelle]

we have that '750kg limit for ubraked trailer and 3500kg limit for braked trailer', But the weight of the trailer is not allowed to exceed one and a half times the weight of the car or some such crud...and thats just basic vicroads regulations; Insurance companies have their own set of standards again, so even if you think you are ok weight wise with what you are towing, if the mass of it exceeds what the gross towing capability of your vehicle is )as per the specs) then you wont be covered by your insurance in the event of an accident.
But hundreds of people are still trundling around in their old holdens and x series fords towing double horse floats with two horses in...
Trailers here have to be inspected upon their first registration (or hand made ones anyway) but then are just re registered every year afterwards with no further inspections necessary, ( in this state anyway). IT's the same with our cars, and the same with caravans. In the event of transfer of ownership, some may or may not need to pass another roadworthy test before they can be registered in the new owners name, but I'm unsure on that. I know cars do though.
In New South Wales, there is a requirement for each vechicle to be roadworthied every year upon renewal of ones registration; So not only does one have to pay $120 vehicle registration, plus around $350 in TAC insurance (traffic accident comission; not for damage to car, but go towards looking after people sh ould they become crippled in an accident. You still need further insurance to protect yourself against car damage or liablility to others) Plus the cost of a roadworthy certificate $85 or so, or more if things need to be done. I'm not sure if they apply all that to trailers.

[mburton2]

"I'm sorry sir but your caravan failed its MOT because the beds weren't made well enough and the biscuits were stale."


:yay: :jester2: :Bigbounce