Trailer test - anyone done it?

[Justme]

I think the trailer needs to be around 2 tonne or something like that, so I think it would need to be checked before (another reason to use an instructors).

 

 

Actual real weight minimum is 800kg with a minimum plated weight of 1000kg.

 

All trailers even if they weigh more than the minimum must have a specified load of either of these:-

 

1 x 1000L IBC filled with water

1 x 600L IBC filled with water

Pre bagged aggregates in clear sealed weighed & labeled bags with all bags weighing the same totaling 600kg.

 

All must be secured in trailer safely.

[Richard 1234]

I've never put extra mirrors on my truck when towing I have pre97 licence. Makes me wonder if I should have some though. Normal trailer I pull is 6 foot 6 wide and 15 foot long. Low sides on it. With loading ramp. Does anyone know the proper rules as its badly written on the government website

[Justme]

You need to be able to see effectively down both sides. So wide cars & narrow trailers are not a problem.

 

Car & trailers that are the same size would benifit from extra mirrors especially if its a box type trailer so that you can angle them in to see behind you. Wide trailers need extra mirrors.

 

The requirement is that you can see 20m behind & 4M wide to the sides of the trailer. If you cant then you need mirrors.

 

[richy_B]

I did my b+e a couple of years ago. Prior to that I had been pulling trailers almost daily for years. Despite this I thought it was worth having some tuition. After all they don't necessarily teach you to tow, they teach you how to pass the test...

 

From what I recall the actual test isn't cheap so having a few goes to get it right didn't seem like a worthwhile option. Not when a two x three hour training sessions was only £200.

 

One of the big thing I learn was if you caused another drover to slow down, when you you were pulling out for example, it was a straight fail. This sounds common sense but in busy areas you really need to watch this as you also score minors for hesitation.

 

Edit - a quick Google says it £115 for the test on a weekday. £141 for the weekend.

Edited October 5, 2015 by richy_B

[Coletti]

Get booked in for training and assessment, it's not difficult but the days training will get it strait in your head what the assessor wants to see. Not sure on price where you are but I did mine 3 years ago in Lincoln for £360 and that included 1.5days training then assessment with vehicle hire. On a side note, you can drive a tractor on a standard car licence