Boat Trailers and CE Certification-what are the implications for self built trailers?

[mickywillis]

Have recently come across this thread on another forum:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/hayling-trailers-no-more-52663.html

Which basically means not good news for low volume, small production companies like Hayling Trailers.

So what are the implications if I wanted to build my own trailer then? Assuming that because it wouldn't be CE certified and not tested, then it would be illegal to use it on the road?

Does this mean that ALL trailers from 2013 onwards will need to be certified for road use if new?

COULD this mean that any existing trailers used on the road may be more likely to be stopped and inspected by the Police/Highway Standards officers if they suspect that it may not be CE cetrified?

Am assuming this applies to ALL types of trailers, not just boat (so that includes horseboxes, box trailers, car trailers, etc, etc)

WILL this mean that the value of 2nd hand trailers COULD potentially increase if they are NOT liable to CE certification due to teh fact that not everyone can afford new trailers or wants to build one at home to a design not available on the retail market (for a specific application for example)

Bl**dy EU rulings!! Getting a bit fed up with it now, where will it all end?? If they can stuff the trailer companies, are they likelky to pounce on the Kit Car builders next?? Or those people who chose to build their own boats and watercraft??

 

[PCUK]

When you build it yourself just make it look old and say you've had it for years.

 

[ianj99]

Does this mean that ALL trailers from 2013 onwards will need to be certified for road use if new?

The CE regs normally apply to businesses selling something. They are intended to provide a level playing field that every seller must adhere to so cowboys can't gain an advantage by taking shortcuts and selling dodgy gear. The side effect is, having been drawn up by beaurocrats rather than businessmen, the implementation is costly and just not affordable to smaller businesses.

For a diy trailer, I think insurance issues could be more relevant so you'd best check with your insurers that they would cover the item on the trailer & also 3rd party claims if the worst happened.

 

[Avocet]

As has been said, it's all rather pointless - given that there is no compulsory registration scheme for trailers in the UK, so they are, in effect, untraceable. I'm just rebuilding my trailer now and it'll look quite shiny when it's done, but it's donkey's years old...

Anyway, for anyone doing it properly, it shouldn't be that onerous. It's really just a series of checks to make sure it complies with everything it's supposed to. Kit car builders have been doing one-off approvals since the late 1990s. Anyone building a trailer from scratch would use the Individual Vehicle Approval scheme administered by VOSA. You can download the inspection manual here:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/O1-O4 IVA Inspection Manual.pdf

Most boat trailers will either be category "O1" (up to 750kg laden) or "O2" (up to 3.5 tonnes laden).

Boat trailers are NOT regarded as "special Purpose" (interestingly, they were only removed from the special purpose list at the start of this month)!

Almost all the tests are simple visual inspections. The only exception is brakes - where you need to show evidence of type approval. This can usually be got from the brake manufacturer. (I bought a couple of braked axles on eBay for my rebuild recently and just asked the seller to put a copy of the braking approval in the box - which he did. Obviously, being a rebuild of a very old trailer, I don't have to undergo this inspection, but just in case anyone asks...

All you then need to do is make sure the brakes are connected up correctly and are adequate for the maximum weight the trailer is capable of carrying.

To be honest, if kit car companies can cope, I can't see any reason why a trailer manufacturer couldn't - there's a lot less to check on a trailer!

 

[Lakesailor]

Boat trailers are NOT regarded as "special Purpose" (interestingly, they were only removed from the special purpose list at the start of this month)!

Does this mean they now have to have side marker lights?

Interestingly. The trailer maker in Dalton offered to inspect my trailer and put it on his register and plate it for a fee if I wanted. Small trailer-makers are able to self-certify if registered.

 

[Avocet]

Does this mean they now have to have side marker lights?

Interestingly. The trailer maker in Dalton offered to inspect my trailer and put it on his register and plate it for a fee if I wanted. Small trailer-makers are able to self-certify if registered.

Dunno! I'd have to look at the regs. I've a vague feeling that over 6m long, you need side markers. I think there was then some messy wording about the spacing of them. By and large i don't really get involved with bigger vehicles though, so I've never had occasion to look it up properly.

Didn't know about the self-certification though? Does that mean "small" as in the company size or the trailer size? None of the other sort of vehicle submitted for an approval test can be self-certified, but I wonder whether it's because trailers don't need to be registered with DVLA before they can go on the road?

 

[Lakesailor]

I think trailers longer than 3 metres need front marker lights, but it did used to say that boat trailers were an exception. The requirement was for the post 1997 (?) trailers.

I got the impression from the guy at Dalton that he builds a trailer and plates it and enters the details on a database register. Then if VOSA have a query he is responsible for that trailer's legality.
It seems to be more for small manufacturers than to do with trailer size. It also only applies to new trailers built after Oct 31st 2012.

 

[Tranona]

Think what you are describing is the Type Approval process where the design is approved and records kept that subsequent examples are the same type. The alternative is the one off approval process. The main difference is that type approved can be sold across Europe whereas the one off is only valid in the UK. Clearly some manufacturers will go the Type Approved route to suit their type of business.

 

[Corribee Boy]

Does this mean they now have to have side marker lights?

I've not got side markers on my 1984 trailer because of the 'special case' - presumably if I've still got the original plate, even though most of the trailer's been replaced -the law won't apply retrospectively?

 

[Lakesailor]

No. That's why it's a good thing to keep old bits on your trailer. I don't know if the lack of proof of age means you would be assessed as having a later trailer.
However, it's not arduous to make your trailer comply with later legislation.
It's just the new ones built since 29th Oct 2012 that need the full range of new specifications. As far I have been informed.


As far as I was told, the manufacturer can self-approve if he is registered.

It is the NSSTA scheme for small volume manufacturers. http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca//vehicletype/national-small-series.asp

 

[Avocet]

There are actually 3 levels of approval in operation.

There's the EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval (as Tranona says, allows unlimited sales in any EC Member State);

There NSSTA (which is still a "type" approval but only valid for sales in the UK);

Then there's "Individual Vehicle Approval" (again only valid within the UK, but it's not a "type" approval as such. Each example is individually assessed).

the first two are administered by the Vehicle Certification Agency in the UK. The third is administered by VOSA.

 

[rafiki_]

For small trailers, O1 and O2, the retailer is responsible for the registration. Larger trailers, O3 and O4 will need annual testing by VOSA, hence the registration is held by VOSA.
There is no self certification.