Trailer for SO26

[JumbleDuck]

I have followed this group for many years and usually read and sometimes contribute to anything trailer related and have never seen this exemption quoted.

You are not alone. At risk of raising poor Vic's blood pressure even further, I'll mention (again) that at one time glider pilots had so much trouble with traffic cops claiming that their trailers were illegal that the British Gliding Association circulated a letter from the Department of Transport confirming that the exemption existed. I carried a copy of the letter, but never had to use it.

It would be interesting to know if Longboat owners got or get the same hassle. Maybe I should look out my copy of the letter, just in case.

 

[aquaplane]

A Disco can tow a max of 3500kg. You state your boat is 2700kg. Depending on the braked trailer you get / use, you might be over the cars tow limit.

Yes and no.

A Disco, Series, Defender and some Range Rovers are rated to 3.5Te as standard. That is the limit for over run brakes and a 50mm ball tow hitch.

If you modify the vehicle to have air or hydraulic brakes which operate on the trailer when you press the brake pedal, and the trailer has them, you can go up to 4Te trailer weight, kits are available.

Then you are looking at going bust on the max train weight on your licence. I think mine is 7.5Te so should be OK with a 4Te trailer/boat and a 2+Te Defender. Other tow vehicles are available, but availability of suitable brakes will be the decider.

To be honest, it's a lot of hassle to trail that sort of weight if you are only an hour away from the summer mooring.

Father trailed a Windrush 80 miles home each winter for 4 years but that was only 2200Lbs, (with a hired Landrover Series II), I woudn't do that and think trail sailing a smaller boat is viable.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have followed this group for many years and usually read and sometimes contribute to anything trailer related and have never seen this exemption quoted.

By the way, the length exemption is in The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Part II, A, Section 7 (3) (a):

The provisions of paragraph (1) do not apply to ... a vehicle combination or trailer which is constructed and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length.​

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/7/made

 

[navrep]

Yes and no.

A Disco, Series, Defender and some Range Rovers are rated to 3.5Te as standard. That is the limit for over run brakes and a 50mm ball tow hitch.

If you modify the vehicle to have air or hydraulic brakes which operate on the trailer when you press the brake pedal, and the trailer has them, you can go up to 4Te trailer weight, kits are available.

Then you are looking at going bust on the max train weight on your licence. I think mine is 7.5Te so should be OK with a 4Te trailer/boat and a 2+Te Defender. Other tow vehicles are available, but availability of suitable brakes will be the decider.

To be honest, it's a lot of hassle to trail that sort of weight if you are only an hour away from the summer mooring.

Father trailed a Windrush 80 miles home each winter for 4 years but that was only 2200Lbs, (with a hired Landrover Series II), I woudn't do that and think trail sailing a smaller boat is viable.

Thanks once again for all input - and these are all things I need to consider. An hour away (well just over) still means that it is all day at the boat as anything less is not worth it, whereas parked outside the house I can tinker more easily and forgetting a tool is no longer a problem, I think I need to consider exactly what jobs I want to carry out this winter, it would of course also involve stepping the mast which is another additional cost. My license is pre 1997 so towing weight not an issue from that point of view.

 

[duncan99210]

Given that you'll have to notify the police about the movement of the boat, you'd better make sure that you cross all the 'Ts' and dot all the 'Is' before setting off, as it wouldn't surprise me to see you get pulled over somewhere along the way for a check.