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Remember
the law!
Drivers who passed their test after 1
January 1997 are only licensed to tow
a combination up to 3,500kg MAM (this
is the maximum laden weights as stated
on the plates of the car and trailer,
irrespective of whether they are empty
or loaded).
The majority of horse trailers and tow
vehicle combinations exceed 3,500kg (most
4wd tow vehicles exceed 3,500kg). Since
1 January 1997 licence holders must pass
the Towing Ability test to tow heavier
combinations. Without this you are committing
an offence and your insurance is invalid.
Use a public weighbridge to find out the
weight of your vehicle.
When towing a trailer you are restricted
to a maximum speed of 50mph on single
carriageway roads, and 60mph on dual carriageways
and motorways. You are not allowed to
use the outside lane of a three or more,
lane motorway when towing, (except where
there are lane closures).
If you tow a small trailer without brakes,
the weight of the trailer is limited to
50% of the kerb weight of the car or 750kg,
whichever is less.
When towing larger trailers that have
brakes fitted, the weight of the vehicle
should not (as a rule of thumb) exceed
85% of the kerb weight of the towing vehicle.
Most vehicle manufacturers state the maximum
towing limit in their hand books, check
this as the weight can soon add up
Before Setting Off
Regularly service your trailer. If you
leave your trailer sitting idle most of
the year it’s even more important
to check it over – particularly
the brakes and tyres. If brakes are worn,
they may suddenly ‘bite’ when
applied causing great discomfort and potentially
injury to the horses. As well as checking
tyre treads and pressures, keep an eye
on the tyre walls as deterioration such
as cracking may cause blow-outs.
If you are towing a large trailer you
may require extended door mirrors. These
will help visibility along both sides
of your vehicle and trailer.
Watch Your Driving
If you’re new to towing a trailer,
practice first in an open space.
Remember to allow for the extra length
of your vehicle and trailer when turning
corners or manoeuvring in tight spaces.
Be aware that the vehicle and trailer
will take longer to stop, accelerate and
turn. It will also need more power to
pull off.
Always be generous when turning to ensure
you don’t clip kerbs and keep a
watchful eye on both door mirrors.
Believe it or not, reversing a small trailer
can be trickier than a large one as it
is a lot more sensitive to steering and
harder to see.
Beware of excessive speed – if your
trailer begins to weave do not brake suddenly
as it could jack-knife.
Parking
When you park up, you must not leave
a detached trailer on a public road. If
it is hitched up it must always be parked
with lights on at night on any public
road.
Park on a level surface and avoid parking
with the handbrake on.
When reverse parking, turn the steering
wheel the opposite way to normal to start
the trailer turning, slacken off then
turn the normal way to enable the car
to follow the trailer.
Safety
Floors: There
has been a dramatic increase recently
in trailer floors collapsing under the
weight of horses, with the inevitable
catastrophic consequences. If your trailer
has a wooden floor, check it regularly.
Remove wet bedding as this can cause the
floor to rot. If washing down and rubber
mats are installed, remove the mats to
allow the floor to dry. Drain holes are
essential – make sure they are unblocked
and check them regularly.
Lights: Check
the trailer lights are working before
every journey and ensure the light covers
are clean.
Tyres: Always
carry a spare and check its condition
when you check the fitted tyres.
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