Trailer Weight Plate

[Jim@sea]

When I bought a boat in France the boat yard supplied a Brand New Trailer.
I brought the boat (on the trailer) back to the UK. I have realised that the trailer has no weight plate. Aparrently this is illegal in the UK not to have one.
In France when you buy a new trailer it dosent come with a "Weight Plate" aparrently you are supposed to take the trailer to a "Control Technique Station" (MOT) and they issue a form, so then you take the form to the Licencing Office (Swansea Type) and they give you a Registration Number for your trailer.
So as obviously I have no Trailer Weigh Plate on my Trailer, If I use it in the UK how much trouble will I be in if I am pulled up.
But there is a solution. On EBAY someone is selling a Weight Plate which you either stamp or engrave with your trailers Gross Weight.
Is this the answer. Thoughts please.

 

[Lakesailor]

Yes. Any small trailer manufacurer will supply a plate engraved for your trailer. We have a couple around here. Agricultural trailer makers are a likely source. The trailer bloke in Ulverston behind the car park in the town centre is a source.
Despite the raft of legislation about towing the trailer plating is a bit hit and miss.
If you know the weights that's fine.
Otherwise you can mark it up on the basis of the Gross Trailer Weight being the weakest component in the mix . That is the combined maximum load of the tyres or the tow hitch maximum load or the suspension units. Use the lowest figure. If the hitch is the lowest rated component, that is the most the outfit can bre rated at.
On the other hand if they give a weight that is more than your vehicle towing limit us that as the Gross Trailer Weight (or round it down)
Older trailers only require that the the Gross Trailer Weight be marked on the nearside of the drawbar. I use a paint stick to write the figure on.
In fact I'm not even sure the details need to be written on a plate to be legal. As long as they are visible.
Check this out for yourself by googling trailer weight regulations.

* Since 1982 all trailers, including unbraked ones, must be clearly marked with their maximum gross weight in kilogrammes.
* Since January 1, 1997, all unbraked trailer plates must show the year of manufacture.
* Department of Transport Code of Practice states that it is desirable for trailers less than 3,500kg gross vehicle to carry a manufacturer's plate clearly showing manufacturer's name and address, chassis or serial number, model number, number of axles, maximum weight per axle, nose weight or coupling, maximum gross weight and date of manufacturer.

 

[Csail]

Not sure on the law but when i got pulled a few months ago they didn't check any plates but did weigh the van and trailer.

 

[electrosys]

* Since 1982 all trailers, including unbraked ones, must be clearly marked with their maximum gross weight in kilogrammes.
* Since January 1, 1997, all unbraked trailer plates must show the year of manufacture.

Good innit ? I've got a commercially-made unbraked trailer - dunno the weight capacity, dunno the year of manufacture. Sure, I can guess - but what if I'm wrong ? Is deceiving some inspector-or-other worse than having no plate ? Makes you think...

 

[Lakesailor]

It's unbraked so 750 kg including the trailer's weight is the absolute maximum gross weight.
If you can identify the suspension units you should be able to find their capacity. The tyres will have their maximum load on the sidewall and the hitch will have a maximum capacity.
Whichever is the lowest is the effective gross trailer weight.

 

[electrosys]

Regret to say that it's not that easy - nothing marked on the hitch, the indespension-type units don't translate to any known types, and tyres cannot be used for this exercise as they are removeable items and their load capacity depends on their ply rating.

Don't misunderstand me - I can make a reasonably intelligent guess - but as I see it I could lay myself open to 'attempting to deceive' as I am not the original trailer manufacturer.

I face a similar 'problem' with a c. 2-ton 4-wheel trailer I built from scratch, using my own suspension and braking designs - I've tried to get a 'Trailer-MoT' via VOSA, but they will only plate 3.5 tonnes plus.

 

[davidpbo]

I believe the requirement for trailers to be plated relataes to trailers manufactured after 1988.

Ask the original manufacturer what the rating was and get that put on a plate?
Realise there may be a language barrier but that should not be impossible to overcome.

 

[seanfoster]

So long as you can get hold of the info you need you can get blank vin plates here :http://www.vin-plate.co.uk/ and stamp with a set of stamps from machine mart.

 

[Avocet]

Regret to say that it's not that easy - nothing marked on the hitch, the indespension-type units don't translate to any known types, and tyres cannot be used for this exercise as they are removeable items and their load capacity depends on their ply rating.

Don't misunderstand me - I can make a reasonably intelligent guess - but as I see it I could lay myself open to 'attempting to deceive' as I am not the original trailer manufacturer.

I face a similar 'problem' with a c. 2-ton 4-wheel trailer I built from scratch, using my own suspension and braking designs - I've tried to get a 'Trailer-MoT' via VOSA, but they will only plate 3.5 tonnes plus.

If "plod" wnts to get nasty, he'll go on whatever tyres are fitted at the time he pulls you, so they can be the limiting feature as far as weight is concerned.

You could try VOSA again shortly. There's a new "Individual Vehicle Approval" scheme out now. Trailers (including home-made ones) will have to pass an IVA test from 29/10/2012, but you should be able to voluntarily use the scheme right now, in theory. Whether or not their test stations are set up to carry out the tets yet is another matter entirely.

You can download the tester's manual here:

https://online.businesslink.gov.uk/Transport_files/127_IVA_O1O4_Inspection_Manual_1110.pdf

Your 2 ton one will be a category "O2" trailer.

Be careful designing your own brakes. Regardless of IVA, the Construction & Use regs require trailer brakes to comply with the EC Directive on braking. I'm not syaing that yours wouldn't, but if you got pulled and it was queried (highly unlikely!) You'd be stuck for proof of compliance without carrying out very expensive tests! IVA would be the best way to cover your backside, although they probably have some weasly small print that says an IVA certificate doesn't confer immunity from the law!

 

[Lakesailor]

Ooer. That document states

1.
The trailer must be fitted with a manufacturer’s plate in a conspicuous and readily accessible position
2.
A manufacturer’s plate must be fitted for each stage of a multistage build.
3.
The manufacturer’s plate(s) must be made of a durable material
4.
The manufacturer’s plate must be securely attached to the trailer that will not be replaced through normal use. (See note 1)
5.
The manufacturer’s plate(s) must be indelibly marked with the Trailer Identification Number which matches the number marked into the trailer structure. (See notes 2)
6.
The manufacturer’s plate(s) must show the following required information in the correct order:- (See note 2)

Name of manufacturer
- Trailer Identification Number
- Maximum permitted laden mass of trailer
- Maximum permitted laden road mass for each axle, listed in order from front to rear
- In the case of a semi trailer, the maximum permitted mass on the fifth wheel kingpin.
- in the case of O1 trailers, the year of manufacture (optional for other categories)

Which is different from information available elsewhere on the web. Is the law changing?
Also, couplings will be inspected to check for E markings, so old trailers are unlikely to pass this inspection.

 

[Avocet]

Yes, the law is changing, but not retrospectively. This has come about as a result of the European Commission publishing the "Recast Framework Directive" (2007/46/EC). It replaced the old "Framework Directive" which only had requirements for the type approval of passenger cars. The recast one extends its scope to include cars, goods vehicles, buses and trailers. as a result, each Member State has to accept trailers (or anything else) with EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval, or EC Small Series Type Approval. Each Member State can also have its own National Small Series Type Approval scheme or, an "individual" vehicle approval scheme, or both. Of course, with no compulsory registration scheme for trailers, it all falls a bit flat on its face because nobody knows who has got what, or when it was built! I have an old 4 whel trailer and I bought it second hand a fair few years ago. I've no idea when it was built!