| | |
Car Trailers for Sale and
Hire. Kent, Sussex, UK
Towing Tips / Info
 Does
your licence entitle you to tow a trailer??????
You must hold a full driving licence to tow any trailer
or Caravan.
Most drivers who passed their test before 1 January
1997 have licence categories allowing them to drive
vehicle and trailer combinations weighing up to 8.25
tonnes.
With effect from 1 January 1997 the second EC Directive
on Driving Licences (91/439/EEC) came into effect,
affecting new drivers passing their test after that
date and HGV drivers who obtained their licence after
31 December 1991.
The net result is that new drivers will only be allowed
to drive and tow the following combinations:
- Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (category B) with a
750kg trailer (4.25 tonnes total MAM).
Example:
If you have a full licence you can tow any trailer
without brakes.
- Category B vehicles with larger trailers i.e.
> 750kg, provided that the combined MAM does
not exceed 3.5 tonnes and the gross MAM of the trailer
does not exceed the un-laden weight of the towing
vehicle. To be able to tow combinations outside
this ruling requires the passing of an additional
test.
Example:
If your vehicle weighs 1200kg you can tow a braked
trailer up to our equal to 1200kg, if your trailer
and load exceeded 1200kg then you will need to take
an additional test
- New HGV drivers and those who have passed their
HGV tests since 1 January 1992 will be restricted
to towing trailers up to 750kg until they pass an
additional test.
Detail of the Regulation
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment)
Regulations 1990 SI 1990 No 842 classifies vehicles
according to either:
"Maximum authorised mass" (permitted maximum
weight). Vehicles over 3,500kg MAM are classified
as LARGE GOODS VEHICLES (LGV's) ? Number of seats.
Vehicles having more than 8 seats (not including the
drivers) are classified as PASSENGER CARRYING VEHICLES
(PCV's)
Requires Additional qualifications for people to
drive LGV's & PCV's
For more information see 'The driving licence you need to tow a caravan or trailer' at www.direct.gov.uk
Driving whilst towing
You must always adhere to the legal speed limit for
the road on which you are driving.
Speed limits for cars towing trailers and caravans
are as follows:
- 30mph speed limit is applicable on all roads that
have street lighting, unless signs indicate otherwise.
- 50mph speed limit is applicable on single carriageways
unless signs indicate otherwise.
- 60mph speed limits are applicable on dual carriageways
and motorways.
Remember: If you are driving a vehicle
that is towing a trailer you must not drive in the
outside lane of the motorway.
- You must always drive at a speed that is acceptable
and safe according to the road and weather conditions
that occur, and well within your capabilities.
- If the trailer starts to swerve or snake due
to a wrongly positioned load or too fast driving
gradually ease off of the accelerator and gently
reduce your speed.
- Do not take any harsh action such as sharp braking
as this may cause a jack knife to occur.
- Always reduce your speed prior to a bend and select
the appropriate gear for the speed at which you
are traveling.
How to reverse with
a trailer
- Get out of your vehicle prior to reversing and
make sure that the area to your rear is clear from
obstruction before attempting any manoeuver.
- Be especially aware of children and pedestrians;
if possible get somebody to observe while you perform
a manoeuver.
- It is advisable to practice reversing with a trailer
as with a little perseverance it is a skill that
can be mastered.
Trailer Checks before
each journey
For the most important reasons to keep your trailer
maintained & road legal click
here (Google search link, opens in new window)
- The driver of the towing vehicle, or the trailer
operator, holds the responsibility for the safe
operation of the trailer and therefore needs to
carry out the following checks before each journey:
- Is the actual gross weight that is being towed
within the towing vehicle manufacturer's recommended
maximum towing limit? This applies to both a braked
or un-braked situation.
- Is the load within the trailer's official payload?
- i.e. Make sure it is not overloaded.
- If the trailer is laden is the load correctly
and evenly distributed i.e. Not too much or too
little nose weight?
- Have you correctly secured the load?
- Are all the lights working correctly and undamaged?
- Is the correct number plate fitted? This applies
to both registration number and style.
- Are all tyres free from cuts, bulges and with
adequate tread and are the tyre pressures correct?
These checks also apply to the spare tyre. Tyres
must have a continuous tread depth of at least 1.60
mm on cars, light vans and trailers, across the
centre three-quarters of the width (1mm for other
vehicles)
- Are the wheel nuts and bolts tightened to the
correct torque?
- If required are the mudguards in satisfactory
condition and securely fitted?
- Is the trailer correctly coupled to the tow ball
or pin?
- Is the coupling height correct? i.e. Not excessively
nose up or nose down.
- Is the breakaway cable or secondary coupling undamaged
and correctly connected, to a suitable point on
the tow bar or towing vehicle?
- Is the jockey wheel and any corner steadies or
prop stands fully wound up secure?
Always follow these rules when towing:-
- Make sure that the nose weight is between 50 and
100kg unless the trailer is very light.
- Make sure the tyre pressures are correct.
- Make sure the trailer is level when coupled to
the towing vehicle
The Motor Vehicles
(Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 SI
1990 No 842 classifies vehicles according to either:
- "Maximum authorised mass" (permitted
maximum weight). Vehicles over 3,500kg MAM are classified
as Large Goods Vehicles. Vehicles having more than
8 seats (not including the drivers) are classified
as Passenger Carrying Vehicles.
- Requires additional qualifications for people
to drive Large Goods Vehicles and Passenger Carrying
Vehicles.
- Vehicle Categories
The main non - LGV (unified) licence categories
are:
- Category A: Motor cycles (with or without a sidecar),
including tricycles and mopeds
Category B: Motor vehicles with:
- A maximum authorised mass (MAM) not over 3,500kg
- A maximum of 8 seats (not including the driver's
seat)
Trailers being towed by vehicles in this
category must either:
- Not be more than 750kg MAM - making a maximum
authorised Train Weight of 4,250kg
- Have a MAM which does not: have a train weight
exceeding 3,500kg
- Have a MAM which does not: exceed the unladen
weight of the towing vehicle. Drivers of vehicles
that fit into this category wanting to tow trailers
which do not comply with either of the above conditions
must have a B + E entitlement.
Download the DVLA's
document INFO30 Driving Licensing Requirements for
Towing Trailers in Great Britain
|
For regular news and special offers, sign up for our Email
Newsletter
   
Friend
us or follow us on
Facebook,
YouTube
& Twitter
Keep up-to-date with the Trident Trailers Blog
Trident Trailers are an official Brian James Trailer Centre
Visit our new dedicated Brian James microsites
 |
Trailers by type