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Trailer regulations in UK

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Richard Lamprey

Joined: 15 Jul 2011
Posts: 95
Location: Kenya

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:32 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

Good morning all,



Does anyone have info for regulations about trailers in UK, eg for a Europa?  Does it have to be made/ constructed by some company, up to British Standard xxxxxd.   Or can I stick it together in my backyard, bolt on some lights at the back, and get going.  And to register ?  New number plates, or those of the car that pulls it?  



So, if I had a trailer made here in Kenya by a very good Kenya manufacturer, shipped my Europa (Classic) back to UK in it, in a 20' container, what sort of problems will come at me at the UK end when I try to put it on the road?



Obviously the problems of UK/LAA certification of the Europa itself will be of an entirely different order, but lets start with the trailer!

Best

Richard

Kenya, reg 5Y-LRY

dg.watts(at)talktalk.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:45 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

Richard,



In the UK I have built a lot of trailers over the years for myself (well

over 10, in fact I have 4 in use at the moment).



Anybody can build a trailer in the UK and it doesn't have to be registered

or insured. It will use the cars registration when on the road.



The requirements are:-

You must use UK approved suspension units.

You must use a UK approved coupling.

If it is over 750Kg it must have brakes and the brakes must have auto

reversing mechanism.

It must have light, number plate and triangles showing at the rear.

Max weight cannot exceed 3.5 tons authough the tow car may have lower

restrictions.

Max width and length are somewhere around 9ft and 23ft (I can't remember the

exact dimensions as they are under what I usually build, although I did

build a 22ft 10inch trailer once, which was right on the limit) These

dimensions can be exceeded if the load is indivisible.

I think I have covered most of the required points, but let me know if you

want any more.



Dave Watts

G-BXDY (Hoping that I can fly again one day if the runway ever dries out

after all the rain we have had)



--

frans(at)privatepilots.nl
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:23 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

On 01/13/2013 09:32 AM, Richard Lamprey wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Does anyone have info for regulations about trailers in UK, eg for a

 Europa?


	


Unfortunately every country in Europe has its own rules. For me in the

Netherlands it is impossible to get the UK-trailer registered. Luckily

it is allowed to carry the number plates of the car on the trailer,

provided the total loaded weight of the trailer does not exceed 750

Kg's. (Yes I know it is a bit heavier than this, but I think it is close

enough to talk my way out of it and in the few years I have trailered

the aircraft back and forth to the airfield for every trip nobody has

ever questioned about it).



Frans

dg.watts(at)talktalk.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:55 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

Hi Frans,



You say that you are over the 750Kg weight limit. That is a surprise.



Assuming your empty aircraft with full fuel is somewhere around 450Kg (not

unreasonable I would think), that leaves 300Kg for the trailer. Even for a

fully enclosed trailer (as I have) that seems rather a lot. Mind you I do

get very obsessive about building light, whatever I am building.



Dave Watts



--

frans(at)privatepilots.nl
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:10 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

On 01/13/2013 11:55 AM, David Watts wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   You say that you are over the 750Kg weight limit. That is a surprise.


	


I have put my empty trailer on an agricultural weight scale, and the

receipt said that it was 420 Kg's. Of course they usually measure the

amount of fertilizer loaded in a tractor which is a much higher weight

so the scale might be a little bit less precise on the lower end, but it

didn't look unreasonable to me. (Note that this is a trailer for a tri

gear, so it has a twin axle).



I just found the Europa Tri-gear Trailer Specification (the attached

file was rejected by Matronics) it says the empty weight is 360Kg. As I

have added boxes for the tail planes, a winch plus battery, spare wheel,

and some other goodies it might weight close to 420 Kg's after all. I

wish my Europa was only 330 Kg's but it is a tad heavier than that.



Frans

davidjoyce(at)doctors.org
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:25 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

Frans, Googling UK Towing Regulations gets you to 

www.solentribster.com/towing_requirements.htm which nicely 

summarises UK regs. There is no stipulated National limit 

for the weight a car can tow. The limit is set by the 

manufacturer and varies with the car. There is a 

stipulation that if the trailer weight exceeds 750kg then 

the trailer must have a braking system, but I cannot 

imagine any plane trailer would be made without an 

over-ride system.

Regards, David Joyce, G-XSDJ

On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 13:09:38 +0100

  Frans Veldman <frans(at)privatepilots.nl> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

<frans(at)privatepilots.nl>

 

 On 01/13/2013 11:55 AM, David Watts wrote:

 

> You say that you are over the 750Kg weight limit. That 

>is a surprise.

 

 I have put my empty trailer on an agricultural weight 

scale, and the

 receipt said that it was 420 Kg's. Of course they 

usually measure the

 amount of fertilizer loaded in a tractor which is a much 

higher weight

 so the scale might be a little bit less precise on the 

lower end, but it

 didn't look unreasonable to me. (Note that this is a 

trailer for a tri

 gear, so it has a twin axle).

 

 I just found the Europa Tri-gear Trailer Specification 

(the attached

 file was rejected by Matronics) it says the empty weight 

is 360Kg. As I

 have added boxes for the tail planes, a winch plus 

battery, spare wheel,

 and some other goodies it might weight close to 420 Kg's 

after all. I

 wish my Europa was only 330 Kg's but it is a tad heavier 

than that.

 

Frans

 

 

 

Un/Subscription,

Forums!

Admin.

dg.watts(at)talktalk.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:40 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

David,



You say that you  cannot imagine a plane trailer without an over-ride

system, buty the standard factory monowheel trailer has no brakes and it

seems to tow fine by all accounts.



Dave Watts, G-BXDY

--

davidjoyce(at)doctors.org
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:40 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

David, you are right but it probably weighs very little or 

at least not enough to exceed the limit with an average 

Europa.

       On another tack, are you contemplating a 

Laddingford fly in this year?

Regards, David Joyce, G - XSDJ

On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 12:39:47 -0000

  "David Watts" <dg.watts(at)talktalk.net> wrote:

[quote] 

<dg.watts(at)talktalk.net>

 

 David,

 

 You say that you  cannot imagine a plane trailer without 

an over-ride

 system, buty the standard factory monowheel trailer has 

no brakes and it

 seems to tow fine by all accounts.

 

 Dave Watts, G-BXDY

 

 

 --

dg.watts(at)talktalk.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:30 pm Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

Hi David,



Yes we are and I think Peter Kember will be contacting you shortly about it

as we have only discussed it in the last 2 days. The date will be 17th

August with a rain date of 18th.



Dave.



--

Richard Lamprey

Joined: 15 Jul 2011
Posts: 95
Location: Kenya

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:49 pm Post subject: Re: Trailer regulations in UK

Thanks, Dave, David and Frans,



This is very useful indeed.  I'll endeavour to have my builder keep the trailer down below 300 kgs, but he builds strong steel trailers for our potholed roads, so it may be a challenge.



All best

Richard

Kenya

davidjoyce(at)doctors.org
Guest

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:10 am Post subject: Trailer regulations in UK

Richard, If you are still building it I would strongly 

reccommended putting in an over-rite brake anyway. Whether 

trailer + plane weigh 700 or 800 kg, it will still 

seriously degrade your ability to stop in a hurry without 

one? Regards, David Joyce, GXSDJ



On Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:49:04 -0800

  "Richard Lamprey" <lamprey.richard(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

<lamprey.richard(at)gmail.com>

 

 Thanks, Dave, David and Frans,

 

 This is very useful indeed.  I'll endeavour to have my 

builder keep the trailer down below 300 kgs, but he 

builds strong steel trailers for our potholed roads, so 

it may be a challenge.

 

 All best

 Richard

 Kenya

 

 

 

 

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