Trailer board - road legal or not?

K

kdband

New Member
Joined
2 Nov 2009
Messages
10
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
A few days ago, someone told me that my 3' trailer board isn't road legal because it doesn't have any triangular reflectors on it. I use it when towing my supernova dinghy, which hasn't been needed very often but might become more frequent in the future. In case it's relevant, my vehicle lights are fully visible when towing.

Is he correct?

If my 3' board isn't legal, then why are they for sale on many websites?

Is it possible to buy a blank 4' board, so I can transfer the lights from my existing board and add some reflectors, or will I have to stump up the cost of a complete board?
 
I think you are not fully legal on a number of points. No reflectors. Lights must be within a certain distance of the sides of the trailer. Do you have a visible fog light?
I have always found it difficult to know exactly what the law is, but I followed the old Indespension manual when I made my last set.
I think these little (short) light sets sre only legal on these narrow Erde style camping trailers.
 
I had the lighting board before I got the boat. I thought I'd bought it for a small road trailer rather than trying to repair the existing broken lights, but I just realised I actually got it when I was carrying bikes on the back of the car, for which I assume the regulations are not as strict.
The only question outstanding is whether I can get a blank board and transfer the lights across, or whether I just say stuff it and buy a new 4' board.
 
VicS said:
I made mine !
Click to expand...

Trailer%20board.jpg



Originally It had a 50 (?) sticker where the rear fog light now is.
 
davidpbo said:
I could do with replacing mine. It is probably not wide enough to be legal, it is more or less the width of the transom but not the beam of the boat. I would also like LED bulbs as with the long cable run it is probably a bit dim in sunlight.
Click to expand...

I used Aldi LED bike lights fastened to the outside of stanchions at deck level as the beam of our trailer sailer was much wider than trailer wheels.

They make excellent front and rear load marker lamps and help show the actual width of your load rather than just the trailer!

Tail boards and trangles relate to the fixed width of the trailer not the load they are carrying!

Front pointing white marker lights are essential (but not a legal requirement) if your load projects both wider than your trailer or your towing vehicle to give guidance and warning to oncoming HGVs on narrow roads!
 
I think the 3' boards without triangles are made to go on bike carriers on the back of cars when the bikes obscure lighting and number plates.

My understanding is that reflective triangles must be fitted within a speciified distance of the side of the trailer.
 
kdband said:
A few days ago, someone told me that my 3' trailer board isn't road legal because it doesn't have any triangular reflectors on it. I use it when towing my supernova dinghy, which hasn't been needed very often but might become more frequent in the future. In case it's relevant, my vehicle lights are fully visible when towing.
Click to expand...
Triangles indicate the rear of the vehicle is articulated from the front. So its not technically legal to use a trailer lighting board on a bike carrier and vice versa. You are unlikely to get prosecuted for displaying triangles on a cycle carrier. Cheese off the traffic cop and they want something to stick you for they'll do you for the triangles coz they will know!

Visibility of vehicle lights doesn't matter. If it did - the triangles would still be needed!

If my 3' board isn't legal, then why are they for sale on many websites?
Click to expand...
Bikes!
Is it possible to buy a blank 4' board, so I can transfer the lights from my existing board and add some reflectors, or will I have to stump up the cost of a complete board?
Click to expand...
The snag is you need the board (UPV facia, or timber will do nicely.) But you will also find the board will probably have wires come in on say the left and then reach 3ft over to the right. You now need ~ 4ft of wires. You might also need to think about number plate lighting. Mine are lit from a clear panel on the tail lights. Move them 6 inches further away either side and the plate wont be lit.

There is a diagram in this doc that I find helpful:
http://www.ntta.co.uk/downloads/SafeLegalTowingShort.pdf
 
I have a legal wide trailer board for my 20'er, it's very wide to get the lights the right distance from the sides of the tow.

However, I fasten it to the transom of the boat which is too high. It should be on the special frame which extends from the back of the trailer (which is lost) to get it level with the back of the boat and at the correct height from the road.
 
There is a statement in the C&U regs that allows in certain circumstances lights to be placed higher. (You will sometimes see the same on horse boxes where the back door folding down would obscure the lights.)

The common dinghy way is to attach a pintle/gudgeon to the board and attach the the rudder mounts. Common RIB way is to attach to the A Frame. Technically neither are legal as lights should be attached to the trailer not the load* - hence all the new tested and certified trailers come with a frame. Told they are a pain in the a$$ and people are often fitting waterproof LED lights permanently on the trailer.

*Never heard of anyone even being pulled by the police for a word for it. It does seem like the best solution to the problem - so the fact its not legal seems irrelevant. Certainly thats what I do!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top