But do they need to Work

[Bigplumbs]

I suppose one of my points is (if indeed I have a point) if a person has a relatively simple question about a piece of legislation it should be possible in this day and age to get the answer by reading it ones self without having to pay someone to interpret what is written by another similar person. Why not just write the law in clingon and have done with it

 

[Boatbore]

I am loving this thread. Bigplumbs aks a very precise question, knowing it will invite criticism. He goes on to score various answers out of 10...... this should be mandatory on the forum from now on !

With respect to the trailer, and notwithstanding that we are not debating the rights and wrongs of trailing a more than 750kg load without brakes (in truth we all know the answer) but more the question of are you a lawbreaker if you do ?

As with many details of the law there may be some ambiguity in the precise wording,, but in truth we all understand the spirit of the law here, and that means that the magistrate would also. The fact that an earlier post was fined for lending someone an inoperable trailer suggests that this is very much the case. However there is no fun in that..... so Perhaps we should add a secondary question that may or may not feed BigPlumbs criminal tendencies...... the question is simply :
let’s say you are randomly pulled over by the boys in blue for a failed brake light (which of course we would all be able to fix on the spot from the set of spares that we all carry around)....... how would the good and wise PC know if the brakes on your trailer worked or not ? It would be hard to tell by simply looking if all the right bits were connected and the piston didn't look like it had spent 20 years at the bottom of the sea, And assuming you didn’t drive into the worlds only mobile trailer testing unit ...... how would he catch you ?

 

[derekbland]

I am loving this thread. Bigplumbs aks a very precise question, knowing it will invite criticism. He goes on to score various answers out of 10...... this should be mandatory on the forum from now on !

With respect to the trailer, and notwithstanding that we are not debating the rights and wrongs of trailing a more than 750kg load without brakes (in truth we all know the answer) but more the question of are you a lawbreaker if you do ?

As with many details of the law there may be some ambiguity in the precise wording,, but in truth we all understand the spirit of the law here, and that means that the magistrate would also. The fact that an earlier post was fined for lending someone an inoperable trailer suggests that this is very much the case. However there is no fun in that..... so Perhaps we should add a secondary question that may or may not feed BigPlumbs criminal tendencies...... the question is simply :
let’s say you are randomly pulled over by the boys in blue for a failed brake light (which of course we would all be able to fix on the spot from the set of spares that we all carry around)....... how would the good and wise PC know if the brakes on your trailer worked or not ? It would be hard to tell by simply looking if all the right bits were connected and the piston didn't look like it had spent 20 years at the bottom of the sea, And assuming you didn’t drive into the worlds only mobile trailer testing unit ...... how would he catch you ?

A standard patrol officer could call out another officer that is a qualified vehicle examiner. They can test all sorts of "stuff" incuding things such as play on the steering wheel along with a myriad other things.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I am loving this thread. Bigplumbs aks a very precise question, knowing it will invite criticism. He goes on to score various answers out of 10...... this should be mandatory on the forum from now on !

With respect to the trailer, and notwithstanding that we are not debating the rights and wrongs of trailing a more than 750kg load without brakes (in truth we all know the answer) but more the question of are you a lawbreaker if you do ?

As with many details of the law there may be some ambiguity in the precise wording,, but in truth we all understand the spirit of the law here, and that means that the magistrate would also. The fact that an earlier post was fined for lending someone an inoperable trailer suggests that this is very much the case. However there is no fun in that..... so Perhaps we should add a secondary question that may or may not feed BigPlumbs criminal tendencies...... the question is simply :
let’s say you are randomly pulled over by the boys in blue for a failed brake light (which of course we would all be able to fix on the spot from the set of spares that we all carry around)....... how would the good and wise PC know if the brakes on your trailer worked or not ? It would be hard to tell by simply looking if all the right bits were connected and the piston didn't look like it had spent 20 years at the bottom of the sea, And assuming you didn’t drive into the worlds only mobile trailer testing unit ...... how would he catch you ?

10/10

I am soon going to start a thread on why people carry out unnecessary maintenance every year replacing bits that work perfectly. Now that will start a real fight

 

[halcyon]

I am loving this thread. Bigplumbs aks a very precise question, knowing it will invite criticism. He goes on to score various answers out of 10...... this should be mandatory on the forum from now on !

With respect to the trailer, and notwithstanding that we are not debating the rights and wrongs of trailing a more than 750kg load without brakes (in truth we all know the answer) but more the question of are you a lawbreaker if you do ?

As with many details of the law there may be some ambiguity in the precise wording,, but in truth we all understand the spirit of the law here, and that means that the magistrate would also. The fact that an earlier post was fined for lending someone an inoperable trailer suggests that this is very much the case. However there is no fun in that..... so Perhaps we should add a secondary question that may or may not feed BigPlumbs criminal tendencies...... the question is simply :
let’s say you are randomly pulled over by the boys in blue for a failed brake light (which of course we would all be able to fix on the spot from the set of spares that we all carry around)....... how would the good and wise PC know if the brakes on your trailer worked or not ? It would be hard to tell by simply looking if all the right bits were connected and the piston didn't look like it had spent 20 years at the bottom of the sea, And assuming you didn’t drive into the worlds only mobile trailer testing unit ...... how would he catch you ?

Apply trailer handbrake and drive away the towing vehicle, do the trailer brakes resist rotation ?

Brian

 

[Boatbore]

A standard patrol officer could call out another officer that is a qualified vehicle examiner. They can test all sorts of "stuff" incuding things such as play on the steering wheel along with a myriad other things.

Of course you at right. But this deals with how he COULD catch you. In practice, and assuming you hadn’t given cause to arouse suspicion, why WOULD he (or she) suspect that your brakes didn’t work.

Same with the handbrake test. It would definitely catch you, but you’d be hellish unlucky to have found that particular officer who very likely has better things to do !!! (One hopes)

I am really just saying that if you are prepared to debate whether or not You can get away without brakes then perhaps it’s also reasonable to consider whether or not you’d be caught under normal circumstances. It was meant to be light hearted and not serious !

 

[Assassin]

Bigplumbs, if you are using standard ALKO parts which are stamped, then no problems as the traceability is readily available from the part numbers stamped onto the component.

Some other posts, they regularly stop trailed items and they use a mobile brake testing rig which is 4 pads which sit under the wheels and they are that light and compact that they will fit into the boot of a small car, let alone a DVSA van; ask some of the caravanners who have been stopped in the last couple of years and hit with brake tests with this mobile kit.

Many plod are corrupt in this respect and they are only interested in revenue and tickets and once they have decided you are having one it is difficult to get out of having one, but not impossible, and they play on peoples ignorance and their uniform to get people to consent (comply) with what are requests. In essence any plod has to have reasonable suspicion but in reality they do what they please and get away with it usually.

 

[Grubble]

I suppose one of my points is (if indeed I have a point) if a person has a relatively simple question about a piece of legislation it should be possible in this day and age to get the answer by reading it ones self without having to pay someone to interpret what is written by another similar person. Why not just write the law in clingon and have done with it

You really don't need a law degree or be able to understand klingon to know that if you are required by law to have brakes on your vehicle or trailer they are going to also have to be in working order, because if they are not in working order and are not able to brake the vehicle or trailer then they are not in fact brakes.

10/10

 

[Boat2016]

You really don't need a law degree or be able to understand klingon to know that if you are required by law to have brakes on your vehicle or trailer they are going to also have to be in working order, because if they are not in working order and are not able to brake the vehicle or trailer then they are not in fact brakes.

10/10

At last, some common sense. Definitely 10/10

 

[Bigplumbs]

You really don't need a law degree or be able to understand klingon to know that if you are required by law to have brakes on your vehicle or trailer they are going to also have to be in working order, because if they are not in working order and are not able to brake the vehicle or trailer then they are not in fact brakes.

10/10

Must be correct after all you awarded yourself the score......... Well done you

 

[Bigplumbs]

At last, some common sense. Definitely 10/10

Since when has common sense had anything to do with the Law or indeed answer to the question raised 0/10

 

[Boat2016]

Since when has common sense had anything to do with the Law or indeed answer to the question raised 0/10

Since those without common sense who think they know better deserve to be prosecuted for not sticking to the law.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Since those without common sense who think they know better deserve to be prosecuted for not sticking to the law.

0/10 you need to read and understand the original Post and question. It is not about what I am going to do It is about what the law says.

 

[Grubble]

Since when has common sense had anything to do with the Law or indeed answer to the question raised 0/10

The question you raised was ".... so many people just leave them not working but they are fitted. If Plod or VOSA were to pull you over in this situation would you be breaking the law. "

The answer is Yes.

If you actually look up the relevant law on line, you will find the following paragraphs:-

"18.—(1) Every part of every braking system and of the means of operation thereof fitted to a vehicle shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted."

and

"Every vehicle to which this paragraph applies be so maintained that—

(a)its service braking system has a total braking efficiency not less than that shown in column 3(a) for that item;"

So not only do the brakes have to work, they have to work to the minimum specification as layed down in the Act. You may be aware that when you take your car in for an MOT one of the tests is a braking test that measures the braking force that each wheel can apply - this has to reach the braking efficiency minimum as specified in the Act. And yes, when they say "vehicle" they also mean trailers.

You should consider yourself lucky that MOTs are not required for trailers like they are in other European countries (so much for the EU dictating to us).

That's another 10/10 for me.

 

[derekbland]

Since those without common sense who think they know better deserve to be prosecuted for not sticking to the law.

Nice one Boat2016. When someone gets killed because a car is defective you'll hear, "what are the police doing about it... blah blah blah". Anyhoo, wasn't going to post again as only got a 9/10 last time :-(. I met a traffic police officer in Tesco yesterday. His son used to play football with mine. I mentioned this post to him. As I said previously, they do need to work. He added, "the only time you would be found out however, is if police were called to an accident". Again, this would likely have to be traffic police rather than local, or, if local police called a Traf Pol officer especially if the are trained as a vehicle examiner.

100/10

 

[derekbland]

Excellent post Grubble.

 

[stelican]

Since those without common sense who think they know better deserve to be prosecuted for not sticking to the law.

Well said
Thank God cars have to be MOT'd and hopefully trailers soon

 

[Bigplumbs]

Well said
Thank God cars have to be MOT'd and hopefully trailers soon

May well be well said and true but it don't answer the question. Answering the question you think should have been asked rather than the one that was asked gets Nil Points

How is a bit quoted that is not in the post quoted. Must be a timing thing while editing I recon

 

[Bigplumbs]

I bought a complete new Knott Axle about 3 years ago and new brake cables. The Brakes and cables are now all had it because of the salt water. Even though I flush them every time

I have just returned from Indespension £145 lighter with a load of parts I don't think will last 2 years. This year I am going to spray the inside of my breaks through a little hole at the back with WD40 each time I get home from using it.

So with the new head this has cost me £ 350. Nice this boating lark

Don't much care about the actual braking efficiency as my Disco will easily stop my 1000 kg boat, I just don't want them all seized up.

There must be a better answer than what we have here in the UK

 

[Boat2016]

I get all my trailer parts from Trailer Tek, I find their prices to be good, I use the stainless cables on all my trailers.

https://www.trailertek.com