Towing trailers
Discussion
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I know it's not a hot topic on here but does anybody know the law regarding towing trailers? Do new drivers (passed in last 5 years or so) need to take a separate test for towing them?
Dont think so.
Just spoke to my neighbour .. he's not aware of any law against towing, as long as the trailer is legal and your not overweight & dont forget, max speed 50mph !
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....& dont forget, max speed 50mph !
But 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
I was told by the place I bought my trailer from that Plod does not mind a bit of speeding with a trailer but abide by the no driving in the third outside/overtaking lane.
This leads to even more grief on meeting up with The Numpty Middle Lane Owners Club of GB.
Look at your driving licence if it is a new one. it will tell you the requirements for different groups with the relevant ages and time regulations in relation to the lenght the licence has been held.
You cannot exceed 50 mph on an NSL road or 60mph on a dual carriageway or Motorway.
You are excluded from towing any trailer in lane 3 (or 4 if it is 4 lanes) of a motorway and is an endorsable offence with 3 points.
You cannot exceed 50 mph on an NSL road or 60mph on a dual carriageway or Motorway.
You are excluded from towing any trailer in lane 3 (or 4 if it is 4 lanes) of a motorway and is an endorsable offence with 3 points.
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Just spoke to my neighbour .. he's not aware of any law against towing, as long as the trailer is legal and your not overweight & dont forget, max speed 50mph !
Bollox, that's me illegal if I use the trailer for the garden rubbish now then
Cut down on the beer then John or dont ride in the trailer
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Thought a trailer could only attain 60 if a braked hitch used. Plus there is a max hitch wieght, down force type 50kg?
Some trailers do not need overun brakes depending on the weight of the trailer (small single axle trailers, I cannot find the weight but I think it is less than 150 kgs, I may be wrong)
No trailer is restricted on speed because of its weight.
A trailer is defined as a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle
When a motor vehicle is towed by another motor vehicle it still retains its definition as a motor vehicle but can also be regarded as a trailer.
i.e. a broken down car being towed on a straight bar remains a car but is also a trailer (the straight bar does not need a brake attachment and they can legally travel at up to 60 mph on the right roads)
A vehicle is not actually defined in the Road traffic act 1988, so anything would appear to be capable of being a vehicle under the right cicumstances, even a chicken shed on wheels
Been into this recently. (thinking of buying an american 5th wheel to live in during the week) The 60 mph limit only applies to vehicles displaying the unladen weight for trailers up to 750 kg unbraked and up to the vehilcles maximimum tow weight or 3500kg braked. (overun brakes) An absolute maximum of 4000kg is allowed if brakes are linked. After thet the law gets a bit grey because it assumes goods vehicles only. Hence most american 5th wheels fitted with electric brakes are illegal in the UK as they are over weight but as private light goods vehicles the cases have all apparently been dismissed. Most american RVs are over 7500 kg. Most police have no clue as to the law on this and even the dreaded customs parasites fight shy of stopping trailers because the law is so out of date. Best place to go seems to be france because trailers can do 81mgg on motorways. Once we all get RVs of 15 tons or more the parasites will sort it out as usual with the wrong conclusions. (regulations will be revamped to focus on lavatories because most of the politicians can understand that spending a lot of time hanging around in them. Best story I have istowing sppeedboat passing 3 police vans at 95mph on M56 during miners strike, they all waved and honked their horns presumbaly in appreciation.
Oh and Madcop if their is a limit on ball weight this just goes to show what a bunch of twonks the powers that be are because basically if you increase the ball weight the trailer is more stable (2 wheel trailers) Having done a lot of very high speed miles with boats I reckon I know as much about this as just about anyone. A ball weight restriction would be a very bad idea indeed, worse than an anti snake device.
Oh and Madcop if their is a limit on ball weight this just goes to show what a bunch of twonks the powers that be are because basically if you increase the ball weight the trailer is more stable (2 wheel trailers) Having done a lot of very high speed miles with boats I reckon I know as much about this as just about anyone. A ball weight restriction would be a very bad idea indeed, worse than an anti snake device.
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