Lights down side of rig

[tonto]

Originally Posted by m chappelow

Max towing length 6 metres
but with a maximum of 7 metres if it is classed as an Indivisible load ( load that can not be readily broken into smaller units ) eg aircraft/ helicopter / boat hull .

So my 6.5m on the trailer, with a total length of 7.5m from tow hitch to the rear of the boat is illegal to tow then?

[AJ.]

Originally Posted by spartacus

I know it's American, but this is a well lit trailer with LED rear lights, wheel arch marker lights and amber side lights. Kinda puts our plastic light boards to shame. I especially like the tail marker lights below the outboard... nice!

That's what I was thinking maybe some Amber LEDs that I can put on the winch post which will be out of the water when launching and will be at a height so impatient drivers will see there is something attached to the back of my car. So do we think that if I attached one on each side of the winch post I will be contravening any laws? Pic of my rig:

http://www.rib.net/forum/attachment....9&d=1350293403

[m chappelow]

Originally Posted by tonto

So my 6.5m on the trailer, with a total length of 7.5m from tow hitch to the rear of the boat is illegal to tow then?

They don't take into account the length of the tow / draw bar & you may be ok as its a boat could be classed as an indivisible load .

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by AJ.

That's what I was thinking maybe some Amber LEDs that I can put on the winch post which will be out of the water when launching and will be at a height so impatient drivers will see there is something attached to the back of my car. So do we think that if I attached one on each side of the winch post I will be contravening any laws?

Nice rig by the way.

You've already got the amber reflectors, (and plenty of them). Don't see why an additional amber marker light either side of the winch-post would contravene any traffic laws, and as you say the lights would be out of the water. The link I posted earlier was for waterproof LEDs. I might go for separate white LEDs on the front of the mudguards and red ones on the rear.

Use tinned wire, solder connections and heat shrink where necessary.

[AJ.]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Nice rig by the way.

You've already got the amber reflectors, (and plenty of them). Don't see why an additional amber marker light either side of the winch-post would contravene any traffic laws, and as you say the lights would be out of the water. The link I posted earlier was for waterproof LEDs. I might go for separate white LEDs on the front of the mudguards and red ones on the rear.

Use tinned wire, solder connections and heat shrink where necessary.

Cheers chap,

So if I put LEDs on the side of the winch post should they be amber because they will be facing out to the sides.

I think I am getting this red if facing backwards, white if facing forwards amber on the sides?

[nugent]

Reflective tape/vinl on the . Main trailer rails works great,

[jyasaki]

Waterproof LED Fleet Count Sealed Marker/Clearance Light - Overton's

Marker lights are available in fully sealed, LED capsules. Still have to be careful about wiring (getting it waterproof), but the lights themselves will stand up to repeated dunking (from experience.)

In the US, my trailer (for a 18' RIB) is required to have: running/turn/brake lights on either side at the rear (one side containing a license plate light), a over-80" set of three red lights in the center at the rear, clearance markers near the widest point (which ends up as the fenders), and side marker lights on the tongue (about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way back.) I believe additional lights are allowed as long as the required ones are present.

jky

[Pikey Dave]

I've got these mounted on the ends of the trailer board. I can see them at night which is handy for reversing & I know if the trailer board falls off, don't ask how I know

[9D280]

There are new(ish) rules about using reflective tape instead of marker lights. On the phone so not going to try & post a link... Might be worth a Google?

On the subject of iffy but useful lights, wot 'bout a reversing lamp ahead of the nearside wheel for use on single track roads when you meet the numptie that doesn't know how to work reverse and it would be handy to know how close the trailer is to the ditch...?

[eilean mor]

just caught up with this thread, various things towed with work over the years, staying away from water, bateson had brilliant designs, and they incorporated white forward into their light clusters- they were great, reversing yachts and stuff in tight places in the dark- suction mounted spotlights into the 12v socket, the current rib- I got my local trailer dealer to source me a lighting board with forward facing whites, what that ended up being was him adding some wired in LED clusters on the ends of the board.... excellent, I can see them, so it helps me in the dark, and they are enough for other vehicles to see, and like Pikey, very useful when the board jumps out of its cradle

[AJ.]

Well I have added some whites to the back of the trailer lightboard which should provide enough light for other drivers to see there is a boat attached to the car. Also help me know where the back of the boat is when reversing it up the drive way.

So from all the responses I think I am not breaking any regulations......

[jyasaki]

Off-topic:

At home, I pull past my driveway, then have to back the rig into the drive at a 45 degree angle, then another 45 around a bush up a slope, then through a gate, up against a wall to the parking space. My neighborhood is dark enough that it's impossible to see anything, and the boat/trailer effectively shadows the floodlights from the house. As such, I put some back-up lights on the trailer, using these. I've got two pair on the passenger side, and two singles on the drivers side. At least now I can see what I'm about to run over, rather than sensing it and getting out and taking stock.