Whats the law requiring an independent brake on a trailer?

Run_to_da_hills · 02-06-2009 8:04am #1

Whats the law on trailer brakes? are they required on all twin axle trailers, horse boxes etc?

peasant · 02-06-2009 8:13am

To my knowledge (not necessarily correct) anything above 750 kg gross weight has to have brakes, regardles of the number of axles.

Run_to_da_hills · 02-06-2009 8:19am

peasant wrote: »

To my knowledge (not necessarily correct) anything above 750 kg gross weight has to have brakes, regardles of the number of axles.

I would presume that would cover an average size car on a transporter trailer,

peasant · 02-06-2009 8:35am

Indeed it would.
Average car on trailer would be around 1.5 tons. Towing that withour brakes on the trailer is a bit lethal.

Leman-Russ · 02-06-2009 9:53am

Brakes are required if the trailer is over 750kg or if the trailer weight more than 75% of the towing vehicle hope that helps

bop1977 · 02-06-2009 10:02am

750kg or half the laden weight of the towing vehicle.

pakalasa · 31-07-2009 5:25pm

But what is the max weight that can be towed if the trailer is braked?

Anan1 · 31-07-2009 5:27pm

I'd imagine that's governed by the car doing the towing?

Solitaire · 31-07-2009 5:39pm

If the trailer is over 750kg (e.g. laden carporter) it needs both brakes and an EB driving license (assuming towing vehicle is a car) for the operator. Otherwise its the same as driving without a valid legal license, which is Most Very Ungood :eek:

Weight of trailer for EB is a real gray area; I've never seen a hard-and-fast limit myself. Even a heavy-duty diesel isn't going to be able to pull anything close to EC1 levels (which has a max of 12000kg, and other conditions) so its probably just like Anan1 said

pakalasa · 31-07-2009 5:52pm

Thanks Guys,

I found this since. It says that the towed weight (braked) must not exceed the weight of the car itself.:)

"To tow a caravan/trailer the weight of any caravan/trailer equipped with over-run brakes must not exceed maximum weight of towing vehicle"

http://www.aaireland.ie/infodesk/motoring_europe/speed_limits_notes.asp

BrianD3 · 31-07-2009 6:40pm

Solitaire wrote: »

If the trailer is over 750kg (e.g. laden carporter) it needs both brakes and an EB driving license (assuming towing vehicle is a car) for the operator. Otherwise its the same as driving without a valid legal license, which is Most Very Ungood :eek:

This always causes confusion, you can tow a trailer >750 kg d.g.v.w (design gross vehicle weight) with a B licence if the d.g.v.w of the combination is <3500 kg and the d.g.v.w of the trailer is less than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle.

If the trailer d.g.v.w is <750 kg, a driver with a B licence can drive a combination of up to 4250 d.g.v.w once the towing vehicle is in Category B.

Whats the law requiring an independent brake on a trailer?

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