I need information on trailer towing law?

Question

I bought a trailer recently and was looking for informantion on my legal obligations. It is a small measuring 5" x 3". It is over 20 years old (don't know exact date). Nothing wrong with it though. I recently serviced it and changed the wheel bearings.

1. Does it need the max gross weight marked on it?

2. Do I have to fit a second method of securing to the towing vehicle? Chain, etc?

3. Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

As long as you do not use it for hire/reward or other commercial reasons, the minimum requirement in the UK is working rear lights and indicators. Break away(safety) chain is optional, but i reccommend you use one for safety in any case. You also need a number plate light also. Best bet if there are no lights fitted is to buy a trailer board from your local caravan cealers, they are around twenty quid and come fully rigged with all lights and number plate brackets prefitted. You do not need max gross weight plate unless it is used for commercial purposes. Always ensure you load it evenly, and secure your load as tightly as you can. There are heavy fines now for insecure/ unsafe loads. Hope this has been of some help.

Answer 2

make sure you do not need a category B1 to your licence,

the law now is if you have just passed your test you CANNOT pull a trailer check your licence and the dsa site, then after that make sure the thing is roadworthy,

good luck

Answer 3

l have a trailer and l haven't got any weight stickers it, also l haven'y any secondary securing device, l tow it regulary and have had no trouble with the police. l think if it were a new trailer then the axles have to be braked, but as its old it dont matter

Answer 4

Always worth informing your insurance company

to make sure that you are covered with a trailer fitted

2 red refective triangles will be required

as well as the lights on the trailer

carry a spare wheel/tyre this will save you a fortune

if you are unlucky enough to suffer a blow out

check the highway code for speed limits

do not ever go in the outside lane of a motorway whilst towing

that is illegal

hope this helps

best wishes

Answer 5

Should have a gross vehicle weight on it.... a safety chain will be required.. a minimum of one tail light if you can see the tail and brake lights of the vehicle towing it.... can't think of anything else......    oh, license plate light in most states

Answer 6

i tow mine all over the place mate i dont have a weight plate dont worry about it just make sure the lights work

Answer 7

http://www.ntta.co.uk/

look at this!

you will need b+e on licence if trailer is over 750kg max gross

otherwise you'll be fine with b

Answer 8

if trailer is not  wider than your car then u can tow it Even if you passed your test last week but if its bigger you will have to take a driving test with trailer unless you have held your licence longer than 5 years   no max gross weight  its also good idea to have brake way cable or Chane 4 safety you can Cary as mutch wate as your little trailer can hold but its the security of what u ar carrying that counts your discretion what is a safe lode

Answer 9

I towed a small trailer just the same size when camping, although was several years ago to be honest, i didn't have any weight markings on it but I did have a safety chain so as if anything happened to to the tow ball etc if the trailer broke free for any reason, the trailer hand brake would be pulled on by the chain which would be attached to the car.I presume you do have brakes on the trailer that is a must. the only other thing ,the trailer must have a full light board as two tail lights two brake lights reversing light indicators  reflectors yes the complete works if you go into the likes of Halfords I am sure they will keep you right,  A bit of extra advice would be to have a spare wheel for the trailer or at least a repair kit,

as trailers can get puctures as well as your car.

Have a practice reversing the trailer before you take it on the road it's amazing how many people take trailers and caravans on the road and can't reverse it, and before you load up check all the lights and trailer brakes are working.

oh another thing that might help you to reverse , what I did because I couldn't actually see the trailer in my rear view mirror I screwed a pole to two opposite corners of the trailer, like  flag poles, that way I could watch how fast the trailer was turning, as a small trailer turns fast in reverse. Make sure the tyre pressures are the same, and load your trailer even, make sure it's ballanced or it might swing about on the road.

Hope it helps

Answer 10

At 5 inches by 3 inches, it seems THAT trailer would by about useless. (kidding)

A safety chain is probably required everywhere. I know they are here in the U.S. Also lights.