Trailer woes...

[PeteB]

Why do we balance car or truck tyres but not trailer tyres?

[Haironyourchest]

14 hours ago, PeteB said:

Why do we balance car or truck tyres but not trailer tyres?

 

I had mine balanced. Did get a funny look from the tyrestop guy but he did it.

[PeteB]

I've noticed a right vibration occasionally when towing some Chippers!

[GarethM]

3 minutes ago, PeteB said:

I've noticed a right vibration occasionally when towing some Chippers!

That was the breakaway cable doing it's thing, or the jockey wheel once or twice when they didn't have the pin to stop them unwinding.

[AHPP]

1 hour ago, PeteB said:

I've noticed a right vibration occasionally when towing some Chippers!

 

Briggs petrol ones? Are you leaving them running so you don't have the ordeal of starting them at your destination?

 

@Ty Korrigan

Get in there.

[PeteB]

4 hours ago, AHPP said:

 

Briggs petrol ones? Are you leaving them running so you don't have the ordeal of starting them at your destination?

 

@Ty Korrigan

Get in there.

Nope. Just unbalanced tyres.  Stop looking for a reason to be a hater. It is beneath you....

 

 

[AHPP]

Too soon? Too close? Should I wait until 09:00 Monday?

[josharb87]

On 14/03/2025 at 00:21, PeteB said:

Why do we balance car or truck tyres but not trailer tyres?

With the same reasoning why MOT cars but not trailers? 
it’s a bit daft that it isn’t done in the uk when you think about it, especially since the scrapping of the trailer test, 3.5ton trailer with dodgy brakes behind a light little defender 90……

[Haironyourchest]

1 hour ago, josharb87 said:

With the same reasoning why MOT cars but not trailers? 
it’s a bit daft that it isn’t done in the uk when you think about it, especially since the scrapping of the trailer test, 3.5ton trailer with dodgy brakes behind a light little defender 90……

 

Too complicated. To make it valid there would need to be trailer registration as with cars. VIN numbers stamped on all trailers etc etc. Domestic and light commercial trailers are too "mobile" to be plugged into the system, bought and sold, borrowed  etc, ergo the onus is on the towing party to ensure whatever trailer they are towing is roadworthy. Nothing to stop anyone getting a mechanic to check their trailer. But they're so simple anyone can reasonably assess their roadworthiness. Bearings. Hitch play. Structural rust. Mudguards falling off. Lights. The only thing a mechanic might* pick up what an average person wouldn't is the condition of the overrun breaks. If a person caused or contributed to an accident, on account of their trailer being unroadworthy, that would be grounds for denial of coverage. Hence it's in our interest of self protection and the common weal to ensure our trailers are that. And visibly dangerous trailers enforced by police or similar. But to enforce a mandatory test cert system would be too difficult. Too much scope for cheating.

[josharb87]

1 hour ago, Haironyourchest said:

 

Too complicated. To make it valid there would need to be trailer registration as with cars. VIN numbers stamped on all trailers etc etc. Domestic and light commercial trailers are too "mobile" to be plugged into the system, bought and sold, borrowed  etc, ergo the onus is on the towing party to ensure whatever trailer they are towing is roadworthy. Nothing to stop anyone getting a mechanic to check their trailer. But they're so simple anyone can reasonably assess their roadworthiness. Bearings. Hitch play. Structural rust. Mudguards falling off. Lights. The only thing a mechanic might* pick up what an average person wouldn't is the condition of the overrun breaks. If a person caused or contributed to an accident, on account of their trailer being unroadworthy, that would be grounds for denial of coverage. Hence it's in our interest of self protection and the common weal to ensure our trailers are that. And visibly dangerous trailers enforced by police or similar. But to enforce a mandatory test cert system would be too difficult. Too much scope for cheating.

 

it’s not too complicated, it’s done here in Sweden.

 
it’s very handy to be told the performance of the brakes on each wheel too for example, (I normally think the brakes are alright, but they always need adjusting, it’s good someone keeps you in your toes!) 

IMO It helps with theft prevention too (that trailers have their own VIN, number plate and V5)