Old Unbraked trailer - legal?

Gerry · 14 July 2011, 14:57

Bit confused about the legal situation with older trailers.

My understanding is that if the weight is above 750kg, the trailer must have brakes.

However, I'm being told that an older trailer (twin axle, mid 90s) with a boat, definitely over 750kg, never had brakes fitted (from new). The question is, is that true and does that make it legal today? I guess the trailer must be plated with weights and date, etc. Looked on the NTTA website but couldn't find anything specifically about this.

Anyone know anything about this?

Cheers,

Gerry

Nos4r2 · 14 July 2011, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerry

Bit confused about the legal situation with older trailers.

My understanding is that if the weight is above 750kg, the trailer must have brakes.

However, I'm being told that an older trailer (twin axle, mid 90s) with a boat, definitely over 750kg, never had brakes fitted (from new). The question is, is that true and does that make it legal today? I guess the trailer must be plated with weights and date, etc. Looked on the NTTA website but couldn't find anything specifically about this.

Anyone know anything about this?

Cheers,

Gerry

Absolutely 100% definitely illegal.

m chappelow · 14 July 2011, 15:22

Any unbraked trailer must wegh no more than half the towing cars weight with a maximum of 750kgs ,
,so if you have an unbraked trailer that weighs say 750 kgs your going to need a tow vehicle /car that weighs 1500 kgs ,
or an unbraked trailer that has a maximum weight of say 500kgs you will need a car that weighs 1000 kgs ,
the law goes way back into the late 1970s at least .

Gerry · 14 July 2011, 15:54

Ok thanks for the quick replies. Would definitely need a new (braked) trailer then.

Gerry

Poly · 14 July 2011, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerry

Ok thanks for the quick replies. Would definitely need a new (braked) trailer then.

Gerry

Or can you add a braked axle and hitch to this one (I don't know the answer to that)

Nasher · 14 July 2011, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Or can you add a braked axle and hitch to this one (I don't know the answer to that)

Yes you can, been there, done that, so nice to work with shiny new brake components.

Even converted to twin axles at the same time.

Nasher

9D280 · 14 July 2011, 17:11

Sounds like you may have just purchased a yard trolley......

But yeah, hub / axle swaps aren't difficult - I nearly did that to the trailer mine came on, but in the end when I priced the parts it was going to be not far off the cost of a new trailer, and in a hassle reducing mission, someone got a launch trolley for the cost of a few beers.....