Contoversial Question for you!!

[Edges]

Hi all,
I have just been reading around the forum in this section and the wants / sale section. I understand some don't need to buy an expensive trailer but why does no one want to spend money on trailers? A trailer is the only thing between your very expensive boat and the tarmac.
To clarify - I am not making a dig, just curious why trailers are overlooked, ie. breaks and hitches being been disconnected. Do you trust your cars?

[jambo]

Funnily enough I have just bought a spanking new trailer and I am very pleased with it and miles better than the old one which was 17 years old and in need if some deep overhauling.


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[Poly]

What makes you think that ignoring trailers, not spending money and disconnecting brakes is normal round here?

Which trailer manufacturer do you work for? My guess is snipe...

[Edges]

Right okay - that didn't come across well. I did not mean to say just on this forum - I see it on gumtree ebay etc. Just interested to open a bit of a discussion really. No, I do not work for any trailer company, why would you guess Snipe?! I work in a marina and see dodgy trailers all the time!

[Boatnomad]

Originally Posted by Edges

why would you guess Snipe?!

Snipe

[ShinyShoe]

So with the exception of the actual chassis there isn't much to a trailer.

wheels sometimes awkward sizes. Have a habit of rusting from salt exposure. Suspect between people having alloys these days and road wheels being washed by rain but trailer wheels being static they suffer.

bearings get plenty coverage on here

axles do occasionally fail. But not sure you can do much to prevent it.

brakes a pain. They rust and jam when dunked. Only needed if MAM is > 750kg. So if a bigger trailer being used for lighter work why not remove brakes? Can't think when I last saw a small unbraked trailer on its side. I see plenty of heavier braked ones...

hitch don't see them abandoned, but do see lots without breakaway. Usually unbreaked. Is that because its remarkably difficult to buy a type approved chain for sensible money.

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

hitch don't see them abandoned, but do see lots without breakaway. Usually unbreaked. Is that because its remarkably difficult to buy a type approved chain for sensible money.

Where is type approval on a chain?

[beamishken]

does a sub 750kg trailer require a chain? never did the last time I towed one ( which was a long time ago to be fair)

[kerny]

Originally Posted by beamishken

does a sub 750kg trailer require a chain? never did the last time I towed one ( which was a long time ago to be fair)

Yep sure does.

[Dry Run]

For what it's worth. I also don' t work for Snipe or any other trailer manufacturer. Here at the Dry Stack we only get to look after trailers that aren't really used. And I think that's the problem. If you only use something rarely, chances are you don't maintain it well. If you use something regularly, chances are you don,'t maintain it until it fails.

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by beamishken

does a sub 750kg trailer require a chain? never did the last time I towed one ( which was a long time ago to be fair)

Not sure the type approval stuff says "chain". Basically over 750 you need a breakaway cable that when the hitch fails the handbrake applies then snaps and leave the trailer stationary on the motorway without showing brake lights for the car following to close to plough into.

For under 750 as you have no brakes it might roll back down a hill on the motorway which is REALLY bad so you have to attach your trailer with a secondary coupling device. So when the axle fails you drag it behind you digging a rut into the carriageway ;-)

I'm under the impression everything is supposed to be type approved. But I struggle to find chains with E mark. None of the unbraked I've ever bought has had a chain. One had a 3mm wire loop

So at 60mph ... On The motorway up hill ... Your 750kg trailer disconnects .. What force does the chain need to take?

How do I know the 3mm wire is strong enough?

[paddlers]

I bought an ex demo SBS trailer last year as it has brakes and is a nice piece of kit but pricey compared to my old tub. On the downside it has sealed for life () bearings and relatively inaccessible brakes which I regard as a backward step for home maintenance when I just had to grease or easily replace the old style roller bearings on my previous trailer. I now need a large socket, length of scaffold pipe just to get the nut off to look at the brakes plus access to a press to replace the bearings !!

There's no wonder they get neglected.

[beamishken]

But is a secondary coupling mandatory.
I didn't think it was & a 3 mm wire is surely just a breakaway?

[kerny]

Originally Posted by beamishken

But is a secondary coupling mandatory.
I didn't think it was & a 3 mm wire is surely just a breakaway?

Again yes it is. [emoji106]

[Deekus]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

For what it's worth. I also don' t work for Snipe or any other trailer manufacturer. Here at the Dry Stack we only get to look after trailers that aren't really used. And I think that's the problem. If you only use something rarely, chances are you don't maintain it well. If you use something regularly, chances are you don,'t maintain it until it fails.

I bought a second hand 1300kg gross weight braked trailer early this year with disconnected shot brakes.


Made sure the necessary was spent to overhaul the trailer to make road legal. Money well spent as VOSA are keen in my neck of the woods and will hand out a hefty fine without a second thought.


Better safe than sorry

[ShinyShoe]

Just been to check the type approval rules. Not sure the secondary coupling needs an E mark. The coupling does and secondary coupling is in the text before it so not 110% sure its not inferred to need an E.

However with regard to need... A secondary coupling is mandated on all unbraked trailers. This is a retrospective mandate so applies to all trailers.

The rule is it needs to be 'sturdy' and it needs to stop the hitch touching the ground.

The 3mm cable trailer was only rated to 350kg. it wasn't a breakaway as there were no brakes to apply.

Also discovered that braked up to 1500kg has choice of breakaway or secondary. Above 1500kg must be breakaway...

So I'd assume a secondary coupling should be able to take a load of 1500kg --> plus 60mph driving and a hill suddenly applied without breaking.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by beamishken

But is a secondary coupling mandatory.

YES

I didn't think it was & a 3 mm wire is surely just a breakaway?

I think that might be the point ShinyShoe is making (badly!) - secondary couplings are more often than not unrated and it requires the driver to be intelligent enough to specify a suitable system.

[beamishken]

Does the secondary rule apply to old trailers then ie do you need to retro fit to an old trailer my rib is on a very old trailer made when they didn't need I'd plates & such like
I've got a couple of big braked trailers & I'd kinda forgoten about the little rib trailer I guess a short chain on a carribeiner will do if you do need to retrofit secondary couplings?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by beamishken

Does the secondary rule apply to old trailers then

YES it is retrospective.

[beamishken]

Every days a school day on ribnet another job to add to the list!