[Matt Gibson]

Does anyone know the rules regarding the Gross weight/trailer hitches and stuff? dont have a clue. I notice the bowser trailers have eye hitches, is that cause of the weight? are there even any rules?

Cheers,

Matt

[Alan McTernan]

Robert Mcleans the man to ask about this

[Rob_Mac]

If you are using a trailer within 50 kms of your base or home address you do not need a tachograph.

If you are towing outside of this radius you need a tachograph fitted (if towing for commerial gain) irrespective of the size of trailer and combined vehicle weight.

If you can keep away from towing a trailer for commercial purposes do so - unless you can stay within the permitted radius.

Tachograph regs are an absolute nightmare and you don't get any second chances.

You can have eye hitches and ball hitches I always went for ball hitches because they were fitted and I feel that the eye hitches are more agricultural.

I was pulled more times by the police and VOSA in a twelve month period than I ever have been over all of my previous driving experience.

One VOSA man told me that they actively target van & trailer combinations because they are an easy target!!

You have been warned

Good luck

Rob

[Rob_Mac]

Just to be clear what I was towing - one Ifor Williams 105 BV, twin axle not a mark on it, towed by a Vauxhall Movano - not a mark on it

Also a substantial trailer 14 x 7.2 by 9 foot high -  not a mark on it.

These werent rubbish set ups that deserved to be pulled!!!

Rob

[Matt Gibson]

H Rob,

Cheers for that mate. So basically what your saying is, they pull you to check for weight/roadworthiness and stuff like that?

I wont be going outside that 50km limit so the tachograph wont be needed.

So as long as the trailer is is good nick, under weight and basically legal, i should have no probs?

I was just wondering if the whole hitch thing went on weight or if it was just a different kind of hitch.

[Rob_Mac]

If you have a license that is pre 97 you can tow a combin ed MAM (maximum authorised mass) up to 8.5 tonnes.

After 97 you have to sit a trailer test and have a 4.5 tonne (MAM) allowance remembering that at least 2.5 tonne can be taken up by your towing vehicle and then you have your trailer unladen weight

We went everywhere without water and filled up on site (easy for us to do). When we were full we were always overweight but only shunting.

Rob

[Rob_Mac]

Matt

Just different hitches - personally I felt there was a bit too much play in the eye hitches and they rubbed metal to metal. Yes they check for road worthiness etc but they mess with your day and hold you up.

They miss nothing and properly turn over both the towing vehicle and trailer. I was kept for thre hours once, with just a thank you sir!!

Rob

[Matt Gibson]

Bast*rds....

Cheers for the info mate, appreciate it. Im just trying to get my machine out of my van and into a trailer with about a 500-600L tank in there. Ill be driving round empty aswell and filling up at the job.

cheers..

[Rob_Mac]

You'll be ok but don't risk going out of your radius and keep on top of everything. I felt like I was towing a sign saying, 'pull me over'

Good luck

Rob

[Matt Gibson]

just another quick question,

should i bother with a braked trailer? or do you HAVE to have brakes on it over a certain gross weight?

[Blast Away]

Cheers Rob  

There's me thinking of selling my bowser and buy a box trailer...

...and I may be being put off with the law.

Seeing Trevor Perry's, I wanna have similar with heat.

Problem with my bowser is the jocky keeps breaking(not one on now), lights and connections always playing up and I'm need of a couple of engine mounts for between the plate the engine is sat on and the chequerplate on the trailer chassis.

[Blast Away]

Come down and buy mine Matt.

 

Handbrake needs fixing
No Jocky wheel.

 

[Matt Gibson]

mate i was thinking a bowser, but now im not so sure. Ive got a big van/skid mounted diesel, such a good machine, thinking buying a box and getting it in that. Was gonna get rid of it and buy a bowser with a small machine attached, but dont really wanna get rid of my big machine..

If you had of offered it to me about a week ago, i probably woulda driven down and bought it straight away 

Now im too busy looking for a decent, cheap box trailer..

[Rob_Mac]

I think up to 750 kilos there is no requirement to be braked but over that then I think it is a legal requirement

Lee I saw Trevors the other week in Preston - he's making far too much money, nearly as much as Alan!!!

Rob

[Alan McTernan]

I think up to 750 kilos there is no requirement to be braked but over that then I think it is a legal requirement

Lee I saw Trevors the other week in Preston - he's making far too much money, nearly as much as Alan!!!

Rob