US Road Trailer Question.

Alistairr

Alistairr

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 Dec 2002
Messages
11,584
Location
North Ayrshire/ Glencoe
Visit site
Can a US trailer be altered to UK spec?
I know the ball size is different, but can a new hitch be fitted and then the brakes altered to work, to make it UK road legal?

Is it feasable, or best just to buy a UK trailer?

No, I'm not buying another trailer, but was just looking at smaller towable boats online tonight and some come with what they describe a 'US launch trailer', other words the trailer supplied with the boat is illegal for our roads!

What would one need to do to such trailers?

Cheers

Al.
 
By the time you have changed the hitch and the entire braking system, it is not worth it unless you want to take the risk with the plod.

I looked into it last year.

Found a trailer of the correct width, but it meant two new axles and wheel and new hitch - and I had to fit mudguards.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ok, so would be best just to replace the trailer, then.

Cheers

Al.

[/ QUOTE ]

Funny you should mention that! Now forum rules preclude me making any price predictions but it so happens that we have a trailer for such a boat that is surplus to requirements! Our new boat is now sitting on a twin axle trailer bought from - yes you guessed it, Nick at Atlas.

I feel a PM conversation coming on /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
What is the difference between US & UK spec trailer brakes? Are US all trailers disks, I know some are, never seen disks on UK trailer. How big is a US ball hitch?
 
US tow balls used to be 2 inch not 50 mm, not a lot but they will not work. In the old days US trailers required no brakes, or not a lot of brakes, plus the brakes, and braking system plus trailer require to be type appoved to EEC regs.

Brian
 
I've been towing U.S spec trailers for the last 3-4 years. Never had a problem with them,in fact, very nice to tow. I've not had to change the size of the hitch ball as i expect thats done as soon as they come into the country.
My belief is that the axle beam is 2" wider than UK trailers.If that is the case, who care's!!! in my opinion,makes the trailering safer.

And i'm pretty sure the police would'nt bother you,as 1, they probably would'nt know the difference between U.S and UK trailers, and 2, i've had 2 officers sat in a car right behind me at traffic lights,i turned left, they carried on straight /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and that was an escort trailer.

On a minus point, i did once have a white painted escort trailer trailer with no handbrake,oh and brake pipes with fluid not cables.Towed just as well but not happy at the set up.The other 2 i had, had cables and handbrakes and all were bunked trailers.

I'd buy another in a heartbeat so go for it. There's a couple on boatsandoutboards for around £700
 
The problem is not the towing, it's if you have a accident, and what the insurance comapany say about using a non legal trailer, and your cover, then you get the police and driving with no insurance. Plus the random vehicle / trailer checks by police and test people.

Just a matter of how much of a gambler you are.


Brian
 
Alister,

As you know I bought my Bayliner late last year, I asked a friend of mines (just retired Chief inspector of the central traffic police dept) should I pay the extra £1000 for the road legal version. His reply was ..................................We wouldn't know the diffrence between uk legal and us legal trailers.

I decided to keep my "us launching troley" or you could say my "illegal uk boat trailer"

Chris
 
[ QUOTE ]
Alister,

As you know I bought my Bayliner late last year, I asked a friend of mines (just retired Chief inspector of the central traffic police dept) should I pay the extra £1000 for the road legal version. His reply was ..................................We wouldn't know the diffrence between uk legal and us legal trailers.

I decided to keep my "us launching troley" or you could say my "illegal uk boat trailer"

Chris

[/ QUOTE ]

In that case, make sure you have his name and address handy, if you need him as a witness if you are involved in a traffic accident and the insurance is refusing to pay out and the police want to prosecute you.
 
These trailers can be legal in the uk depending on diferent factors.
The width of the trailer is relevant when it comes to the class of vehicle towing it. For instance L.G.V s in this country tow trailers up to 9'6" with out going out of construction and use into STGO. Therefore you can tow up to 7'6" wide with a normal tow vehicle subject to it being within its weight and length limits which would be easily checkable.
Larger us trailers up to 9'6" could still be towed but would have to be towed by a ' commercial vehicle' with an unladen weight in excess of 3500 kg. Trailers of MAM 3500kg would require testing anyhow.
This type of trailer would then fall in to plating and testing etc etc.
Its not that it cant be done but the help of the D.O.T should be sought to make it viable.
hyrdraulic brakes, would not necessarily be illegal depending on the wieght and how they are applied. For a tested trailer they may require positive actuation from the tow vehicle which can be achieved by vacuum, air pressure,hydraulic link etc.
If a good trailer comes cheap enough it can be quite easy to make it legal once you know what parameters you working in. Or you can take the easy route and and just but British.
Wiht regards to type approval I dont think that would apply because substantial light and park brake changes would be required anyhow. If it falls under playing and testing it would reach insurance requirements. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif If homebuilds cant be stopped I dont think altered vehicles not subject to test can fall in to type approval. Legislation in this area is a minefield and I believe most insurance companies accept cover provided it could not be proved that you would be using a vehicle in a dangerous condition which in itself is subjective but easy to avoid.
I am currently working out how to get my 6500kg tri axle , 30ft trailer with hydraulic overrun disc brakes home for alterations so I have a keen interest.
I will let you know how I get on . PS The chief Inspector might not know the difference but VOSA will and they work on statistics! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Can a US trailer be altered to UK spec?
I know the ball size is different, but can a new hitch be fitted and then the brakes altered to work, to make it UK road legal?


Cheers

Al.


[/ QUOTE ]

Al, can you at least let us get over bringing you a trailer from Southampton before upping the anti. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

HF
 
As i've already stated Al, just go and buy one. Your only talking about a small boat, so a small single axled U.S. escort trailer or similiar,preferably braked isn't going to cause anyone any cause for concern.
My insurance company has never asked about the trailer and you probably find most of the American boats at the slipway have an American trailer.
Like i said before, i think they're great trailers and never had a problem.
 
Also besides 7' 6" width limit, the trailer should not be more than 2' wider than the towing vehicle, these days less of a problem.

The type approval is on running gear and braking system, so you can self build but use approved systems. Must be CE marked, and VOSA can see on vehicle checks.

You also have the problem when you come to sell the boat.

As said earlier, how much do you want to gamble ?

Brian
 
[ QUOTE ]

My insurance company has never asked about the trailer

[/ QUOTE ] Presumably you haven't had, and I hope you never do, had an accident.

IMHO, if towing a trailer, that does not comply with the regulations invalidates your insurance, it is no different than knowingly driving your car uninsured.

Okay, if you have a small bump, nobody will check your trailer, but if injuries or deaths are involved, everything will be inspected and you will not be insured.

I really can't make it any clearer than that, but it is no different from driving uninsured, hoping you don't have a big bump, or injuring anyone.

I only say all this, because last year, following dissatisfaction with my own trailer, I investigated buying a trailer, which had been imported from the USA.

I contacted VOSA and they simply said, that it was illegal to tow a trailer that did not fully comply with UK and European legislation and build standards.

When I had the modifications costed, all I had that was legal, was the trailer frame and the wheels. Everything else needed to be replaced to make it comply with the regulations. Even the lighting board had red turn indicators and needed replacing, and some guy had been driving around with it.
 
Well said that is 100% right it is VOSA that do the checks, If there is no ' E ' marks on brakes , hitch and wheels thats it end of the road for that trailer . I was stopped taking one back to work to change the axles,hitch and wheels they tried to do me for having an unsercure load beacuse of the 2" hitch but the trailer was going for modification and that is allowed.
 
In the U.S. there are three ball sizes, according to weight rating. 2" is the most common, but you can go up 3/8" or down 1/8" as required. In any case, it would seem that the proper ball could be installed on the tow vehicle easier than replacing the coupler.

As for brakes, most common are surge brakes, but there is a move to electric brakes as the newer versions prove their worth. There are also electric over hydraulic systems for heavier trailers. Any trailer over a certain weight is required to have brakes, but it is the states that determine that weight. It is usually around 700 kg, but some states are even 1500 kg. Actually, very few of the boats here, come with factory built trailers. The dealers usually have a custom builder that they use, or the factory will farm it out.

I am curious as to the reference to 'escort' trailers. Not a term used here in the states. We limit trailer width to 8' on all roads, with most states allowing 8'6" on most roads. Anything over that requires a permit that is usually not hard to obtain for up to 10'.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top