Timber trailers on public roads

[agrimog]

and from my above post, my mog weighs in at 5250kg...4 times this is 21000kg, max gross allowed is 14230kg, so a 14 ton loaded timber trailer is my max (not that I would attempt this), but it would be legal

[aspenarb]

The ins and outs all in here http://www.fwi.co.uk/gr/info-trailers.pdf

section 3 for the braking section.

 

Bob

[agrimog]

another information sheet put into circulation by a dept, not the definitive act or statute... construction and use act trumps any such leaflets, check it if your in any doubt, sect 15 and 16 are quite clear, and are the ONLY legislative information that can be used in a court, not some advisory leaflet

[aspenarb]

another information sheet put into circulation by a dept, not the definitive act or statute... construction and use act trumps any such leaflets, check it if your in any doubt, sect 15 and 16 are quite clear, and are the ONLY legislative information that can be used in a court, not some advisory leaflet

 

 

With respect if the department of transport publish a guide its going to be very close to anything that`s written in the construction and uses. I understand the act will go into further detail but the nuts and bolts of its contents must be accurate and very close to the same.

 

It does end with section 9 which reads ............

 

The views expressed in this Information Sheet are based on the Department‟s current understanding of what the law

means and are not definitive. Only the courts may interpret legislation definitively. If you are in any doubt about your

legal obligations, you should take independent legal advice as this Information Sheet is not a substitute for such

independent legal advice.

 

Pretty much the same disclaimer that VOSA tag on the end of correspondence.

 

From the braking requirements section.

 

The braking requirements depend on both the maximum weight, and the speed at which the trailer

is towed at:

 

Agricultural trailed appliance conveyor with unladen weight under 510kg - no brakes required

 

Agricultural trailed appliance (where gross weight is less than double the unladen weight) - no

brakes required if speed is kept to 20mph or below

 

Agricultural trailer with gross (laden) weight less than 750kg – no brakes required

Agricultural trailer with gross weight over 750kg but not used at speeds exceeding 20 mph – brakes

on at least half the wheels, with 25% efficiency, a parking brake on at least two wheels.

 

Agricultural trailer or Agricultural trailed appliance exceeding 20 mph – and gross weight below

3500kg – inertia (over-run) brakes

 

Agricultural trailer or Agricultural trailed appliance exceeding 20 mph and gross weight above

3500kg - braking in line with ECE Regulation 13.

 

 

Seems clear enough to me.

 

Bob

[TRADITIONAL LOGGERS]

I would use chain ratchets on slippery wood as normal ones loosen. Vehicles doing 20mph should have the large Orange Triangle (known as SMV) That does slow the public down. Make sure you can see behind in mirrors.

[Alycidon]

the law as it stands, 1986 construction and use act, not what pc plod likes to think, or not what the muppet from the nfu says:-

 

Trailers drawn by agricultural motor vehicles

 

85. (1) No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a wheeled agricultural motor vehicle drawing one or more wheeled trailers if the weight of the drawing vehicle is less than a quarter of the weight of the trailer or trailers, unless the brakes fitted to each trailer in compliance with regulation 15 or 16 are operated directly by the service braking system fitted to the motor vehicle.

 

(2) No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road, any motor vehicle drawing an agricultural trailer of which—

 

(a)more than 35% of the weight is borne by the drawing vehicle; or

 

(b)the gross weight exceeds 14,230 kg, unless it is fitted with brakes as mentioned in paragraph (1).

 

(3) No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road an agricultural trailer manufactured on or after 1st December 1985 which is drawn by a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st June 1986 unless the brakes fitted to the trailer—

 

(a)in accordance with regulation 15 can be applied progressively by the driver of the drawing vehicle, from his normal driving position and while keeping proper control of that vehicle, using a means of operation mounted on the drawing vehicle; or

 

(b)automatically come into operation on the over-run of the trailer..

 

as you can see, as long as your tractor weighs at least 1/4 the weight of your load, you DONT need a braked trailer

 

 

When I was a 17 year old I was driving an MF165 and a Ford 5000 pulling 10 tonne bulk grain trailers filled with hen muck, brakes were on the hydrualics and relied on you moving a two way valve before setting off from Tip to Brake.

 

Forget to move the lever and the trailer when loaded was in charge, very unfunny in the wet.

 

A