New Trailer Regulations

[lw395]

http://flyingfifteen.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/eu-trailers-a-reading-of-the-rules/


Apparently we are moving towards type approval of trailers?
Anybody know more?

 

[Lakesailor]

Sort of. The regs have been in place since ...erm....some time ago.
It only applies to new trailers and at the moment a home-built trailer would need inspection by a trailer maker who could plate it and register it's "passport" as it were. If the police were to want to check on the trailer they would contact the plated manufacturer (ie, the bloke who inspected it).

I'm not sure the bit about one-off trailers being inspected by VOSA is quite correct. A local trailer builder has done a course with VOSA and has a pad of forms to self-inspect trailers. It is someone like him who could inspect your home-built trailer and, if up to regs, enter on his register. This means you would face a charge for the inspection

I'm not sure it will progress to model type approval as trailers are often custom-built for purpose.
It won't apply to any trailers built before 31st October this year, although there are about three levels of regulation to conform to already, depending on the build date of the trailer.

That's how I see it and how people I have spoken to about it see it.

 

[prv]

I'm not sure the bit about one-off trailers being inspected by VOSA is quite correct.

Why not? It's exactly how the system works at present if you build a car to your own design in your back garden. You have to take it to VOSA to inspect it and certify it for use on the road. One of their testing stations is near me. Seems entirely logical, if they insist on checking them, to just extend the same system to trailers.

I hear there's also a small market in Dutch and German enthusiasts bringing their creations over here (on a low-loader?) to go through the process - their own countries do not allow for the possibility of mere members of the public creating vehicles, so there's no mechanism for making them road legal. If they are passed by VOSA, though, the rest of the EU is supposed to honour the approval.

Pete

 

[maxi77]

Think yourself lucky, here in Portugal all trailers have to be matriculated, registered to us, and they have their own number plate, not a cheap process by all accounts, though less expensive than cars.

 

[Kelpie]

How are you supposed to prove how old your trailer is?
I mean, mine *looks* pretty old, but what if I get stopped and asked?

And, on another point... at what point does a trailer stop being 'old'? e.g. if you rebuild it with a new axle.

 

[Avocet]

Yes, it's a progression of the "Individual Vehicle Approval scheme" for one-off cars and yes, it will apply to all trailers. The Flying 5 article is, I think a bit confused. There is a National Small Series "type" approval scheme for trailers too - that's what they mean by "medium volumes" but there's nothing to stop you going to VOSA and "individually" approving as many as you like - it would just get expensive after a while and you'd be better off "type" approving them.

I've heard of the practice of other EU Nationals building and registering cars here, but NO Member State is OBLIGED to accept an Individual or National Small Series approval issued in another Member State. They can choose to do so, but there's no obligation. The only thing they're obliged to accept is a European "Whole Vehicle" Type Approval.

As Maxi77 says, the whole thing falls flat on its face if there's no compulsory registration of trailers though! And as Rob says, without the registration scheme, nobody will know! I have that situation with my own trailer, I genuinely, honestly, haven't a clue how old it is. I bought it in 2000 and the seller bought it second hand before me. It's a bit like "Trigger's brush" in that I've replaced a lot of it. Even now, I have a new set of suspension units with nice auto-reverse brakes on them so I can get rid of the old over-run brakes that are on it now.

 

[lw395]

I think it could be interesting getting VOSA to approve a typical dinghy combi trailer base, when they are empty, they spend quite a lot of time airborne as they are much too light for their suspension.
I did wonder whether any of the continental rules like the trailer board must be attached to the trailer not the boat would come in?

 

[rob2]

How are you supposed to prove how old your trailer is?
I mean, mine *looks* pretty old, but what if I get stopped and asked?

And, on another point... at what point does a trailer stop being 'old'? e.g. if you rebuild it with a new axle.

The great thing is that until they do actually register trailers, you can replace all the parts and have it regalvanised so it can always look new! It does mean there are a lot of unroadworthy old trailers out there, though.

"Hello, Constable. Yes, I replaced a few rusty parts, the axle, the suspension... and I think the last owner had it regalvanised. No, it doesn't have a plate... Maximum what?"

Rob.

 

[lw395]

Are there really many unroadworthy trailers on the UK roads?
I did see some comedy efforts in Greece, but I suspect that they might be exempt as 'agricultural'?

 

[rob2]

Well, Ok I'm only guessing, but I've know quite a few people who had not thought about whether a trailer was designed to carry a couple of tons of boat, so long as it fitted and the price was right. A really old trailer will not be plated, so you have no guide as to what it was capable of carrying before it rusted - and I have seen a small Westerly arrive on a yard trailer (no brakes) after it had gone over a hundred miled on the motorway network! The owner was not at all interested to hear that the rig was unroadworthy. Many small boats which I would guess weigh around two tons on their trailer are to be seen speeding on the roads behind a car which is only suitable to tow just over a ton, large caravans are the same, often too heavy for the towing vehicle.

Yes, I have been pulled over whilst pulling a caravan with a small diesel (Citroen ZX), luckily the van was plated and being ancient it was much lighter than its modern eqivalent.

Rob.

 

[lw395]

Those are issues of the trailer/car/load combination, many of which would still occur if the empty trailer was type approved in its own right.

 

[maxi77]

Are there really many unroadworthy trailers on the UK roads?
I did see some comedy efforts in Greece, but I suspect that they might be exempt as 'agricultural'?

I suspect there are more than you think. When I bought a Seawych I persuaded the seller to deliver the boat on the trailer, just as well as it ran a bearing half way to my house. I checked it out more thoroughly later and found the brakes were completely non functioning and I had to make parts to get them working.

The reality is many trailers get zero maintenance and I suspect many braked trailers do not stop that well, especially older ones

 

[lw395]

I suspect there are more than you think. When I bought a Seawych I persuaded the seller to deliver the boat on the trailer, just as well as it ran a bearing half way to my house. I checked it out more thoroughly later and found the brakes were completely non functioning and I had to make parts to get them working.

The reality is many trailers get zero maintenance and I suspect many braked trailers do not stop that well, especially older ones

Yes, trailer brakes are often a problem when they are no longer new.

That's a maintenance/yearly testing issue, not a type approval issue.

 

[warrenmarkus1]

Yes, type approval came into effect for all new trailers sold in the UK from October. Their are several routes for approval, which depend on the quantity of trailers involved.
These rules exist to protect the public and are aimed and the manufacturers/importers, but the public will eventually pay for it in the amortisation of the approval costs in the trailer price.
Existing trailers in service, or new trailers made/imported before June 2012 are exempt.
The approval requirements are not too onerous on their own, but the associated paperwork is.

We have decided to resolve the issue, by exiting the small boat trailer business, but anyone buying a new boat trailer to request a copy of the type approval certificate

Our issue is that the current legistlation is not enforced, and new legistlation only adds cost to the product, and is yet more red tape to help stifle business.

There is route for approval of one off 'home made' trailer and costs circa £70

 

[Avocet]

It's worth not giving up I think. The paperwork will look daunting at fist, but you get used to it (cars are a LOT worse)! I know people who I'm sure could do that paperwork for you if you wanted to go down that route - might even generate a small competitive advantage!

If anyone else is interested, you can download a free copy of the Individual Vehicle Approval inspection manual for trailers here:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/Transport_files/IVA_O1_O2_O3_O4_Inspection_Manual.pdf

These are NOT the regulations themselves, just a copy of how the inspector is supposed to test things. Dinghy trailers an a few small boat trailers are category "O1" (max permitted laden weight 750kg). Most trailer-sailor trailers will be category "O2" (from 750kg to 3500kg). This is the test that a typical home builder would have to undergo if he builds a trailer himself. (Although, as previously stated, a mass-producer of trailers could use that scheme too, it would just get expensive for anything other than very small numbers of trailers).

 

[maxi77]

Yes, trailer brakes are often a problem when they are no longer new.

That's a maintenance/yearly testing issue, not a type approval issue.

But you asked about trailers on the road.

I would tend to agree that type approval will have little impact on trailer safety, but it is the sort of process that suits the big operators

 

[DownWest]

Here in France it is OK up to 500kg, after that its type approval,registration and plates. Going down to the local DIY, loads of homebuilts in the parking lot. Often with the suspension package from the rear of a small car. Frequently loaded way past the limit, often without mudguards too.
Mine is 'plated' as max weight of 500kg, but I built it to take 800kg for a cu mt of firewood, or a scoop of sand.
DIY cars are a no no, like the rest of mainland Europe. Technicly possible, but paperwork is out of sight.
If you go anywhere near an Autoroute, expect checks. But localy they are less interested. I often see medium sized cars towing similar cars on trailers. Combo must be well over the GTW.

 

[Avocet]

But you asked about trailers on the road.

I would tend to agree that type approval will have little impact on trailer safety, but it is the sort of process that suits the big operators

I think it might help a bit. At least there will be a basic check that (at least at the time of the inspection!) tyres have the right load carrying capacity, the hitch (if braked) is matched to the brakes and that the brakes themselves meet some kind of standard. It should also ensure that people have correctly positioned lights and reflectors. Must admit, I don't know how that would work in the context of a boat trailer where the boat isn't present at the time of the inspection!

 

[maxi77]

I think it might help a bit. At least there will be a basic check that (at least at the time of the inspection!) tyres have the right load carrying capacity, the hitch (if braked) is matched to the brakes and that the brakes themselves meet some kind of standard. It should also ensure that people have correctly positioned lights and reflectors. Must admit, I don't know how that would work in the context of a boat trailer where the boat isn't present at the time of the inspection!

Whilst I agree that the system may avoid some of the worst excesses of the home builder (but these days just how many are there and will the worst ones ever bother to get a certificate) the other result will be the demise of the small local builder and the business will fall into the hands of a few large scale producers, thus ending choice and customisation

 

[Avocet]

People said that about the specialist car industry when Single Vehicle Approval was introduced, but it actually did quite a bit to legitimise the industry, whilst getting rid of some of the worst cowboys. OK, the UK kit car industry isn't doing well at present, but I think that's due to economic conditions more than anything else. I'm not at all sure I see it as a bad thing. It ought to level the playing field quite a bit.