unbraked trailers

[jwood]

Can anyone let me know if trailing a boat on an unbraked trailer will prove to be illegal or particularly dangerous? The boat which I am thinking of buying is a 20 foot keelboat weighing 1 ton. The trailer is in good condition. I don't want to be pulled over on the M1 and have the book thrown at me!

 

[pvb]

Sounds illegal...

As far as I'm aware, current regulations say that the maximum gross (fully laden) weight of an unbraked trailer is 750kg, or half the kerb weight of the vehicle - whichever is less.

 

[aitchw]

Re: Is illegal...

Yes, you are right, 750kgs is the max permitted unbraked weight.

 

[snowleopard]

never mind the law, you wouldn't want a weight like that taking charge if you lift off in a corner!!

 

[Its_Only_Money]

750Kg max AND below the tow vehicle manufacturers max tow weight AND has to be "roadworthy" and "safe" in the eyes of any Policeman that takes an interest (so for example you could be below all the limits you like, if the combination weaves down the road the police are able to pull you off and prevent you continuing).

Also worth noting is that it is the actual weight of the trailer that is important so even if the trailer is plated at 750Kg, if the police take you to a weighbridge and you are over then you'll get clobbered.

If your boat weighs approx 1 tonne then I'd guess the loaded trailer would weigh 1200-1400Kgs so you'd be well/obviously over the limits.

 

[gjgm]

ntta.co.uk all you never really wanted to know !

 

[Jacket]

I've never towed a boat that heavy, but I regularly towed a 12 meter long glider trailer that weighs around a ton all up. And whatever the legalities of the matter, there's no way I'd ever tow that without a braked trailer - even whith brakes, there's been one or two hairy moments when people have pulled out of side roads just ahead of me.

 

[pvb]

Hairy moments...

You're right about needing the brakes! Most of my towing is with a horse in a trailer - all-up weight around 1.5 tons - and it certainly concentrates the attention.

 

[William_H]

Re: Hairy moments...

Yes you must have brakes however there are many good reasons to not have brakes like the amount of maintenance required. I had drum brakes on my boat trailer with the overide coupling with master cylinder. It worked well however the cylinders corroded very quickly and more than once I arrived at the water with very hot brakes. They didn't release due to corrosion. (I ended up making nylon pistons to replace the alloy which helped a lot. The piston supports the rubber seal) Anyway go for disc brakes if you can, preferably power assisted or electric if you like driving fast and long distances. (mechanical are less trouble) Best consult someone dealing with boat trailer brakes then quickly learn how to dissassemble and repair them yourself. I think I used to overhaul the brakes after every dunking in the water. I keep the boat on a mooring now and only use the trailer once a year to bring it home without brakes but very carefully. happy Christmas will

 

[jleaworthy]

Re: Hairy moments...

The best option, but not the cheapest, is the piggyback trolley/trailer combination which used to be very popular for boats like the Corribee and for the smaller Hunter range. A simple launching trolley is winched onto the trailer so that the trailer with brakes, suspension etc is never immersed. My experience is that if you immerse a trailer braked or unbraked in salt water you will ruin it however careful you might be at stripping down and rinsing brakes and bearings.

 

[AJW]

Re: Hairy moments...

Electric brakes not legal in the UK AFAIK. Few trailers with disc brakes - the only boat trailers I have seen with discs are made by RIBA in Belgium. Very nice bits of kit! Trailer brakes and bearings are generally a pain in the rear, never seem to survive dunking whilst launching at all well. Or rather there seems to be no manufacturer with the will to design brakes and bearings (esp. bearings) fit for the purpose to which they are put!

re. the original post..... everyone's said it - >750kg all up then it MUST be a braked trailer. Otherwise it will not only be illegal but Bl**dy dangerous too boot!

 

[Egbod]

Re: Hairy moments...

Beware it is not just the trailer weight that is important. You also need trailers over 750kg on your licence. People who have passed their driving test recently need to take an additional trailer test for heavier trailers. If / When you move the repacement licence form must be filled in very carefully or you lose the trailer part. You can apply for it to be reinstated up to three years later or you have to take the trailer test.

 

[aitchw]

Re: Hairy moments...

I use an old trailer with the suspension removed and axle mounted direct to frame as a launching trolley. This loaded onto a twin axle car transporter trailer with excellent brakes and this goes nowhere near the water. I too believe there is no way to maintain a braked trailer that gets dunked especially in sea water.

 

[oldharry]

As has already been said the all up weight of the trailer and load must not exceed 750kg if it has no brakes. Also if you are using the car to tow you must not exceed a) the vehicles specified towing capacity (usually around 80% of the Gross Vehicle Weight), and b) the vehicles Gross Train Weight - that is the maximum permissible weight of the car, its total load and the total load of the trailer.

The trailer must have working suspension, and the brakes if fitted must be capable of holding loaded trailer on a specified slope.

If the Police are unhappy they can require you to go to a vehicle checking station where all measurements can be checked out. If they decide the load is 'unsafe', they can issue an immediate Stop order, which means you have to leave the load at the roadside and you have to arrange (and pay!) for it to be recovered: If the trailer itself is regarded as unsafe this would involve loading the whole thing on to a lorry or low loader, at a cost (including the fines you will also earn) probably exceeding that of a good second hand trailer!

 

[Avocet]

I'd be surprised if a trailer for a 1 ton boat weighed more than half a ton (and probably nearer a quarter of a ton) but even so, the boat alone is outside the legal towing limit for not having brakes. To be honest, I often find that boats tend to put on weight once they've been used (interior furnishings, bits of stowed gear in lockers, contents of tanks etc.) so it could be more than a ton in any case!

 

[oldharry]

All up weight = weight of trailer and its load. Including as you say, all the other junk accumulated on board.

I had a 20 foot plywood boat many years ago which had a design weight of 19.5 cwt. Bringing her home at the end of the first season out of curiosity I had the whole outifit weighed - the total came out just under 28cwt! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[William_H]

Hello Jwood again. Interesting reading so many opinions on trailer brakes. Around here there are thousands of boats on trailers most with brakes. Most cars have tow hitches. It is quite common of a Saturday morning to see at my street corner power boats perhaps 3 tons on tripple axle going down to the local ramp as we call it . My local council provided boat ramp has parking for about 100 boat trailers and is often like today overflowing. All dipping the trailer into the salt water. Most of the large boats have a vaccuum operated brake system. The piggy back trolley idea is not popular perhaps for the extra weight and the struggle of winching the trolley onto the trailer. I noticed on a quick Firefox search West marine in USA do stainless steel disc brake rotors and other parts. I am sure I have local suppliers here in Oz I just can't seem to find them easily on the net. Anyway if you do decide to fit brakes keep searching for a specialist in boat brakes there must some in UK with the huge population. regards will

 

[oldharry]

UK law is rapidly tightening up on 'overloading' - and the French police are 'seriously worried' about 'overloaded English cars'on their roads (quote Gendarme Bro in Law) and with their usual Gallic efficiency wreck many people's holidays.

For towing anything of any size in the UK a vehicle designed to take the weight is required such as a large Van or LandRover - these have to be 'Plated' with the maximum permissible weights specified.

What it is to live with a Government who regards us all as naughty children, and keeps making more and more rules for our 'safety'

 

[Avocet]

Yes, aren't we lucky?

It's all very depressing, I work with cars and used to design sports cars. Cars are my "first love" but about 10 years ago, I swapped to boats because it was getting so difficult to do anything "fun" with cars. Then lo and behold, those nice Eurocrats bring in the Recreational Craft Directive! - "for our own good" of course! It will be interesting to see how many lives it saves over the next ten years! Of course, "evidence-based" legislation is still in its infancy.

 

[William_H]

One last shot Jwood this site http://groups.msn.com/TrailerSailerPlace
is a forum devoted to trailer yachts of similar size to yours. You will surely find useful info re brakes etc. happy new year will