But do they need to Work

[Bigplumbs]

Much has been debated many times on here about towing weights and sizes etc and it usually starts quite a bun fight.

Most of us in the UK know that if your load all up is over 750 kg you need to have over run brakes fitted. I have Just read as much as I can find on the net about this and most references say that these braking devices must be fitted. Now because Trailers do not have to have an MOT I was wondering if fitted in the eye of the law means just that fitted. I was wondering if they actually need to work with regard to the law.

I know many will jump in and not answer the question that was asked but instead answer the question they think should have been asked (In my day in an exam you got 0/10 for that). I know if fitted it is best that they work. etc etc etc.

Now facing reality many towed boats in the UK that get their trailers dunked in sea water (I know there are those that don't dunk theirs ) end up with overrun breaks that don't work and in truth if you are towing a 16-17 foot speed boat (around 1000kg all up) with a decent tow car the brakes are not that necessary in my humble opinion (I can feel the blades sharpening) so many people just leave them not working but they are fitted.

Now to the question....... If Plod or VOSA were to pull you over in this situation would you be breaking the law. This is the question that has been asked.

By the way I have just ordered the kit to get mine working..... I am still however interested in answers to the question

Dennis

 

[julians]

Govt website is pretty clear, it says they must be fully working ( not just fitted)

See link below, section 3

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...r-or-van-the-basics#the-brakes-on-the-trailer

 

[Bigplumbs]

Govt website is pretty clear, it says they must be fully working ( not just fitted)

See link below, section 3

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...r-or-van-the-basics#the-brakes-on-the-trailer

Well in my world I recon that answer gets 10/10.

So I recon loads of people running around breaking the law as it is not easy to keep these breaks working. I am glad my 3 ribs are all under 750 with no breaks

Dennis

 

[prv]

Well in my world I recon that answer gets 10/10.

Strictly speaking that gov.uk page only says they need to be working on a trailer of 750kg or under.

I’m sure that’s not what they meant to say though

Pete

 

[Bigplumbs]

Strictly speaking that gov.uk page only says they need to be working on a trailer of 750kg or under.

I’m sure that’s not what they meant to say though

Pete

Yes I noticed that as well. So might we assume:

If they are fitted to a trailer under 750 kg they must work

But they just need to be fitted to a trailer over 750 kg and it is silent on whether they need to work or not

Dennis

 

[stelican]

Yes I noticed that as well. So might we assume:

If they are fitted to a trailer under 750 kg they must work

But they just need to be fitted to a trailer over 750 kg and it is silent on whether they need to work or not

Dennis

You have to be stupid if you think its within the law to have them but they dont need to work.
Bonkers!

 

[Bigplumbs]

You have to be stupid if you think its within the law to have them but they dont need to work.
Bonkers!

That one gets a 0/10 and also demonstrates little understanding of the law and how it operates. Also how Lawyers make a lot of their money

 

[simonfraser]

as you say, bit of a tough ask with the trailers dunked in (salt) water.
even if you ensure they did work whenever you last checked them, no guarantee they work well enough after a few dunkings.
food for lawyers.

 

[Boat2016]

I would not even want to take the risk of transporting my boat on the road without a road worthy trailer with working brakes, if you have towed on the road before you will know how idiots pull in front of you then brake hard, by leaving a good gap you are just leaving room for this to happen, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for killing someone when I can’t stop in time, also a boat is too valuable to take this chance, like most boat owners I value my boat and would be rather p**** off if it got damaged in a crash. So for me if it means checking brakes every trip then that’s what I would do, trailer brake parts are dirt cheap compared to the damage they can cause if not working.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I would not even want to take the risk of transporting my boat on the road without a road worthy trailer with working brakes, if you have towed on the road before you will know how idiots pull in front of you then brake hard, by leaving a good gap you are just leaving room for this to happen, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for killing someone when I can’t stop in time, also a boat is too valuable to take this chance, like most boat owners I value my boat and would be rather p**** off if it got damaged in a crash. So for me if it means checking brakes every trip then that’s what I would do, trailer brake parts are dirt cheap compared to the damage they can cause if not working.

I agree but did you read my first post. Not answered the question 0/10 I am afraid

 

[TangaraToo]

Some years ago I lent my horse trailer to the farmer we whose land we kept the horses on. Trailer had sat for a few months. Farmer overloaded it, jackknifed, wrote trailer off.
Post crash investigation revealed the brakes were faulty. I got 3 points and £450 fine for allowing unsafe trailer to be used on public highway.
Does that answer you question?

 

[Bigplumbs]

Some years ago I lent my horse trailer to the farmer we whose land we kept the horses on. Trailer had sat for a few months. Farmer overloaded it, jackknifed, wrote trailer off.
Post crash investigation revealed the brakes were faulty. I got 3 points and £450 fine for allowing unsafe trailer to be used on public highway.
Does that answer you question?

I would give that answer 7/10 I am interested as to why you got the fine etc and not the farmer

Dennis

 

[TangaraToo]

We both got fined. I was fined because I owned the trailer and had allowed him to use it in an unsafe condition.

 

[Bigplumbs]

We both got fined. I was fined because I owned the trailer and had allowed him to use it in an unsafe condition.

Interesting because I have a trailer that the family shares (not a boat one) and ownership is a little uncertain and could not be proved

Dennis

 

[jrudge]

Interesting because I have a trailer that the family shares (not a boat one) and ownership is a little uncertain and could not be proved

Dennis

I think you are seeking to be "clever" and this will not likely have a happy outcome in court.

Judge : Who ownes the trailer ?

You : I will leave you to prove that my lord

Judge : Perhaps you would like to think again for 10 seconds and answer my question before I hold you in contempt.


you could probably reply that you didn't want to incriminate yourself and i have no idea as to the likely outcome but I would be sceptical it would lead to success.

Just because something is ( on the face of it per an interpretation on a boat forum ) "not illegal" does not mean it is sensible or safe to do, so I am struggling to see what point it is that you are trying to prove.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Just because something is ( on the face of it per an interpretation on a boat forum ) "not illegal" does not mean it is sensible or safe to do, so I am struggling to see what point it is that you are trying to prove.

If you read my first Post you will see that I agree with you. Regarding the point of this thread. Just interested that is all

 

[stelican]

That one gets a 0/10 and also demonstrates little understanding of the law and how it operates. Also how Lawyers make a lot of their money

My understanding of the law has Eff all to do with you.
If you want to be an idiot and try and flout it let me know when and where you are going to do it and I will organise the law to come along.
Bonkers as I said.
.

 

[Bigplumbs]

My understanding of the law has Eff all to do with you.
If you want to be an idiot and try and flout it let me know when and where you are going to do it and I will organise the law to come along.
Bonkers as I said.
.

Always helps if you read the original question

 

[prv]

Yes I noticed that as well. So might we assume:

If they are fitted to a trailer under 750 kg they must work

But they just need to be fitted to a trailer over 750 kg and it is silent on whether they need to work or not

That's what the gov.uk page says, but pages like that are just what some careless civil servant has written. They're not the law. So no, you can't assume that.

You would have to look on http://www.legislation.gov.uk for the actual statute, but tracking down the right bit of legislation can be difficult.

Pete

 

[Assassin]

There are certain variables in play here such as date of manufacture, etc.

Anything manufactured after a certain date must be CE marked and if your trailer qualifies then under EU legislation it is very clear, if it has to be fitted, or is fitted then it must work as both UK and EU legislation applies to anything and everything manufactured or imported for use within the EU, and it should have a Certificate of Conformity which is basically a piece of paper stating that it complies with various conditions ranging from structural integrity to the approval and CE marking of sub assemblies such as bought in components which may be tow hitches, brakes, and even the wheels and tyres.

If it is pre CE marking then you have to inspect it periodically and you can replace items which wear out through use or age, but you must fit replacement components equal to, or of a higher specifications than the original components.