Can you make a car trailer and legally have people in the trailer car? With seats

93gavinmoran93

I have a 5 seat car and I cannot afford a bigger car but I was wondering if u can legally get an old car, cut it in half to make a trailer, keep the seats etc in it and legally be allowed to tow it with people in it? Is there an insurance that will Cover that? It literally would be used like once a year for long journeys so it wouldn't be worth my while getting a 7 seater car

Tefral

93gavinmoran93 wrote: »

I have a 5 seat car and I cannot afford a bigger car but I was wondering if u can legally get an old car, cut it in half to make a trailer, keep the seats etc in it and legally be allowed to tow it with people in it? Is there an insurance that will Cover that? It literally would be used like once a year for long journeys so it wouldn't be worth my while getting a 7 seater car

I think you've been watching too much topgear!!

it would have to be NCT'd and would never pass...

Avns1s

93gavinmoran93 wrote: »

I have a 5 seat car and I cannot afford a bigger car but I was wondering if u can legally get an old car, cut it in half to make a trailer, keep the seats etc in it and legally be allowed to tow it with people in it? Is there an insurance that will Cover that? It literally would be used like once a year for long journeys so it wouldn't be worth my while getting a 7 seater car

I don't think you have much respect for your passengers!!

Atlantic Dawn

Sometimes I do wonder...

colm_mcm

you can pick up 7 seaters for under €1000

Prenderb

Hire a 7 seater when you need it.

Sh1tbag OToole

93gavinmoran93 wrote: »

I have a 5 seat car and I cannot afford a bigger car but I was wondering if u can legally get an old car, cut it in half to make a trailer, keep the seats etc in it and legally be allowed to tow it with people in it? Is there an insurance that will Cover that? It literally would be used like once a year for long journeys so it wouldn't be worth my while getting a 7 seater car

Only if they're dead

biko

Hell no, it will never be legal here.

MarkR

Have a look through here.

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/Vehicle-Standards/Standards-for-Vehicles-in-use/

Would cost more to make and certify I would think, then it would cost to buy a car.

CreepingDeath

By any chance did you own this car on the Gardai twitter feed a few weeks ago?

On a more serious note... probably cheaper to rent a bigger car if you're going on hols only once a year or so.

CJhaughey

I don't think it would be legal to carry people in any towed trailer on the road apart from perhaps a parade.
Too much can go wrong with tow hitches etc.
Many French and German and Swedish estates can take 7 people with fold up seats in the back.

CiniO

CJhaughey wrote: »

I don't think it would be legal to carry people in any towed trailer on the road apart from perhaps a parade.
Too much can go wrong with tow hitches etc.
Many French and German and Swedish estates can take 7 people with fold up seats in the back.

I wonder what makes it allright or legal to carry people on a trailer during the parade?
Because I don't think there's any law about that.

Special Circumstances

CiniO wrote: »

I wonder what makes it allright or legal to carry people on a trailer during the parade?
Because I don't think there's any law about that.

Parade use comes under section 1 and a bit of the Dara O'Briain guide to Irish law.
The daily use of such a contraption comes under section 3.

fancy pigeon

No matter how much you hate your in laws you can always lumber them onto someone else for that family reunion down the country.

Cattle trailers are for cattle I'm afraid

bazz26

Is this a serious question or just a wind up?

sjb25

bazz26 wrote: »

Is this a serious question or just a wind up?

I hope it's a wind up Jesus couldn't see myself getting into a trailer and heading to town
I dunno the laws around it but don't think iv seen anybody in a caravan while it is been towed and I'd say it would be the same principle to much could go wrong yeah would be mad
Older 7 seater could be picked up cheap if you looked

Skatedude

It's got to be a wind up, cant see anyone been that stupid and he hasn't replied

Panrich

The Backwards Man

Be nothing wrong with it if you get a horse to pull it.

Special Circumstances

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Be nothing wrong with it if you get a horse to pull it.

This is the path the OP needs to go down I think. If he lives in killarney no one will notice, if he lives in limerick nobody will care, could be a bit conspicuous in other spots though.

Pugzilla

Motorbikes are legal and what protection do they offer?

Don't see how this could be anymore dangerous than that.
Just get the passengers to wear some crash helmets.

savagethegoat

I think it must be legal to do this

stoneill

Bendy buses? - that's just a small bus pulling a trailer.

AngryHippie

93gavinmoran93 wrote: »

I if u can legally get an old car, cut it in half to make a trailer, keep the seats etc in it and legally be allowed to tow it with people in it?

Short answer - No.

Long answer - Hell no.

Anything you do would have to be engineered, tested and certified.

get an old car, cut it in half to make a trailer is not going to fly by any stretch of the imagination.

The cost would far exceed changing to a bigger car, or even a minibus.

You are look at tens of thousands of dollars just for the design and inspection, then you'll have all of the certification rigmarole to go through.

Once you've done all of that you'll have to get it fabricated, tested and insured for use on the road.

Let it go.

AngryHippie

stoneill wrote: »

Bendy buses? - that's just a small bus pulling a trailer.

No, no it's not.

It's an engineered, tested, certified and inspected vehicle for public transit.

do you really think they just stick a couple of hinges on a bus?

cormie

What's the deal with motorhomes and caravans?

On more than one occasion I've seen occupants of a motorhome who didn't appear to be strapped in by seatbelts and I think some even moving around in the back. If this is legal, how many people are legally able to be in the back if none of them have proper seats. Also, if it's legal, is it illegal for the same in a trailing caravan as opposed to a motorhome? And if that's illegal, what about towing a broken down car with the driver at the wheel and possibly more in the back? :pac:

CJhaughey

cormie wrote: »

What's the deal with motorhomes and caravans?

On more than one occasion I've seen occupants of a motorhome who didn't appear to be strapped in by seatbelts and I think some even moving around in the back. If this is legal, how many people are legally able to be in the back if none of them have proper seats. Also, if it's legal, is it illegal for the same in a trailing caravan as opposed to a motorhome? And if that's illegal, what about towing a broken down car with the driver at the wheel and possibly more in the back? :pac:

Motorhomes should have seatbelts for all occupants, of course the temptation for the occupants to make a cuppa or similar can lead to them moving around inside.
Caravans are not designed to carry any occupants in motion, no seatbelts or tested seats inside.
Just google caravan crashes and you can see how well they hold up in an accident.

Second Toughest in_the Freshers

An old banger, a good tow-rope, and someone to steer/ work the brakes. Job done

cormie

CJhaughey wrote: »

Motorhomes should have seatbelts for all occupants, of course the temptation for the occupants to make a cuppa or similar can lead to them moving around inside.
Caravans are not designed to carry any occupants in motion, no seatbelts or tested seats inside.
Just google caravan crashes and you can see how well they hold up in an accident.

Yeah have seen quite a lot on dash cam videos and they aren't nice. So it's perfectly possible to get a motorhome with 9 seats for driver and 8 passengers to drive on regular B license I'm guessing? Does the same apply when you go up the ranks and get the much larger RV types? What about touring busses for the likes of bands going on tour etc I wonder, you never see the occupants strapped in in the movies

Markcheese

Shure you could just buy an old cattle box - throw a few bales of straw in it and transport a whole under 8's football team in it - especially if you have a cortina to tow -
Course you'll also need a time machine to take you to the early 80s

Voodoomelon

"I can't afford a bigger car, but can I cut one in half and...".

This made my morning. Pure wind up, top marks for effort.

CJhaughey

cormie wrote: »

Yeah have seen quite a lot on dash cam videos and they aren't nice. So it's perfectly possible to get a motorhome with 9 seats for driver and 8 passengers to drive on regular B license I'm guessing? Does the same apply when you go up the ranks and get the much larger RV types? What about touring busses for the likes of bands going on tour etc I wonder, you never see the occupants strapped in in the movies

Motorhome insurance is a funny area, there are a few group schemes and they are very tight on conversions and the like.
There is a minimum standard of equipment that has to be inside and I don't think 8 belted seats would leave much room for any accomodation.
Buses are considered a modification and likewise vans with I think over 6 seats for passengers.

Bio Mech

Sure just get roof bars and strap them on up there. Cheaper.

joujoujou

Even cheaper:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlrOp3JconY

savagethegoat

AngryHippie wrote: »

No, no it's not.

It's an engineered, tested, certified and inspected vehicle for public transit.

do you really think they just stick a couple of hinges on a bus?

do you think that applies to the Road Train I posted though? I think it looks pretty home made and I wonder what testing that went though. I wouldn't think it would be much good if rear-ended

Markcheese

savagethegoat wrote: »

do you think that applies to the Road Train I posted though? I think it looks pretty home made and I wonder what testing that went though. I wouldn't think it would be much good if rear-ended

Nah those yokes are factory built in Italy - weigh a ton and serious brakes + very limited speed .... Mind you no seat belts and no doors -

Rossi IRL

Appropriate add placement.

OP if you stuck, rent 1 of these.

cormie

CJhaughey wrote: »

Motorhome insurance is a funny area, there are a few group schemes and they are very tight on conversions and the like.
There is a minimum standard of equipment that has to be inside and I don't think 8 belted seats would leave much room for any accomodation.
Buses are considered a modification and likewise vans with I think over 6 seats for passengers.

Thanks for that. I'm not sure what you mean, there has to be a minimum standard of equipment for what? For it to be considered a motorhome for insurance purposes you mean? And what do you mean by group schemes for insurance? So you think anything might be possible but it would be insured on a case by case basis?

JBokeh

If you have a flat trailer full of small square straw bales that aren't strapped down you'll probably get away with it if you stick the kids on the very top

Used to love sitting on the bale trailer as a kid, don't think you'd get away with it now

robtri

while it is a stupid idea....

strangely enough i think it can be legal to use a trailer to carry passengers..
had a quick read ... so hope i read it right

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2003/si/5/made/en/print

part 4 deals with trailers...
section 39 states only an articulated bus may be used to carry passengers for REWARD, no where does it state (besides for motorbikes) is it illegal to carry passengers in a trailer..... unless i missed something....

its also states that a passenger is required in a trailer that is capable of being steered by its own steering gear....


Also in part 6.. it deals with the parade question.... anyone can apply to the local authority to get a special permit to drive a vehicle not normally allowed on the road

Kenny Logins

I'd have to laugh if it was discovered that this isn't actually illegal.

BohsCeltic

I seen a car towing a trailer on the N3 yesterday and there was people in the back filming a rally car behind them.

jelutong

A sidecar might be an option??

robtri

had to find out for sure.... this was interesting so asked the RSA

here is what they said

It is not legal to carry passengers in a trailer being towed by a mechanically propelled vehicle. The exception to this are land trains used for tourism. However land trains require a permit from the Road Safety Authority and licenced from An Garda Síochána before they can carry passengers.

I trust this clarifies the situation for you.

Best Regards
Philip

| Vehicle Standards Graduate Engineer | Road Safety Authority
Tel: (096) 25081 | RSA.ie - Home

darragh o meara

This is what you want to do yeah?



Often thought about making something similar myself but I doubt Id be able to convince anyone to get into it while driving...

Although I have been in a caravan while its being towed, is that the same thing? Probably...

cerastes

CreepingDeath wrote: »

By any chance did you own this car on the Gardai twitter feed a few weeks ago?

On a more serious note... probably cheaper to rent a bigger car if you're going on hols only once a year or so.

looks like a van not a car, bloody mad, couldnt believe I was reading it was in this country a baby was killed sat on the mothers lap, her driving away like normal?? but Ive seen it a few times, kids 3-5 years old moving about freely in cars that are being driven, If I left the seatbelt off Id feel uncomfortable.

but sure I remember as a young lad getting a lift off a friends dad, we all hopped in the back of the van, sat on a pile of sand and cement, did us no harm, well probably the cement dust did, but sure we were done no harm , unless the thing was in an accident, we'd probably have been killed or injured by the loose tools, flying bodies or bags of cement, other than that, we'd have been fine though.
Different story these days though, right?

job seeker

robtri wrote: »

had to find out for sure.... this was interesting so asked the RSA

here is what they said

It is not legal to carry passengers in a trailer being towed by a mechanically propelled vehicle. The exception to this are land trains used for tourism. However land trains require a permit from the Road Safety Authority and licenced from An Garda Síochána before they can carry passengers.

I trust this clarifies the situation for you.

Best Regards
Philip

| Vehicle Standards Graduate Engineer | Road Safety Authority
Tel: (096) 25081 | RSA.ie - Home

But Philip never backed up his accusations with a source?

robtri

job seeker wrote: »

But Philip never backed up his accusations with a source?

well why don't you ask him then...
personally I am willing to take his word for it being an engineer on vehicle standards for the RSA....