Author Topic: DIY car trailers  (Read 5560 times)

Offline metz

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Re: DIY car trailers
« Reply #15 on: July 12, 2011, 10:59:32 am »
I thought if you had passed your test AFTER 1997 you could drive upto 3.5 ton but could only tow upto 750kg without doing the seperate trailer test?
Reason i thought this is because a mate had todo the trailer test for her horse box. (it was around £300 and there was no written/computer module involved)

My bad...i just re read the vosa site and i'm sure you need  a degree to understand the wording. i did find this though..

The possible Penalties for Towing Without a Valid Licence
 •9 Penalty Points (3 For the missing Licence entitlement and 6 for no Insurance - owing to fact you are driving without a licence)
 •A Maximum fine of approx £5000
« Last Edit: July 12, 2011, 11:45:28 am by metz »

Offline hayesey

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Re: DIY car trailers
« Reply #16 on: July 12, 2011, 12:07:19 pm »
also, they will not let you drive away with the trailer so they'll happily relieve you of that and whatever is on it.  Then send you a big fat bill for the recovery.  This is my main concern about a DIY trailer and why I'm not going to buy one, if VOSA decide they dont like it I could end up losing my polo which is worth a damn sight more to me than a £1k trailer!


Offline metz

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Re: DIY car trailers
« Reply #17 on: July 12, 2011, 06:23:03 pm »
Thats true Paul. i reckon spend once on a decent trailer and know its all done legally and safely.

Offline hayesey

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Re: DIY car trailers
« Reply #18 on: August 01, 2011, 10:16:48 am »
Well to follow this up, I got a reply from the message I sent to the directgov website:

Quote
Dear Paul

Thank you for your email of 11 July concerning planning to use a trailer on your small car.

If you are looking at old caravan chassis' they are legal on the road and you should contact the manufacturer to find the MAM of the trailer.

If you are building the trailer it will be for you to determine the MAM.

I enclose an Information Sheet on trailer specification which is useful.

I also attach a very useful website to help you further.

http://online.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/searchBasicMode?r.l4=1084673346&r.l1=1081597476&r.l3=1084755647&r.l2=1082103262&r.i=1084673512&r.t=RESOURCES&resultPage=1&expression=trailer+specifications


Kind regards


Fran Simpson
Department for Transport
International Vehicle Standards
Zone 2/03
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1 4DR

And the document she talks about is attached.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2011, 10:18:53 am by hayesey »

Offline scotsjohn

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Re: DIY car trailers
« Reply #19 on: August 03, 2011, 03:47:28 pm »
Not a lot of joy in reading that; "bullshit baffles brains" category. I had a word with my local trailer manufacturer today( no I can't mod. my towbar, it's in the 2012 MOT) and he came up with the following:-  DIY is still on till 2012 without any VOSA inspection and the £450 fee.
He recommends a full on trailer as piggyback/jockey style will eventually fail because all wheels in contact with the road must be braked. He reckons this will be retrospective and will fuck up a lot of people, even the AA and suchlike. It's called progress seemingly. Plated trailer is the way by the looks of it.

Offline metz

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Re: DIY car trailers
« Reply #20 on: August 03, 2011, 03:53:31 pm »
I better test the electrics on my polo 2f towbar then if its a mot failure in 2012

Offline scotsjohn

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Re: DIY car trailers
« Reply #21 on: August 03, 2011, 08:33:49 pm »
Only thirteen pin electrics for testing seemingly.