Trailer behind trailer

the_pen_turner

whats the law in relation to pulling a trailer with another behind it.
can you do it.

the_pen_turner

Anyone got any advice

fritzelly

On a normal licence you are allowed to tow a small trailer - I would take that to mean you can't daisy chain them together.
Apart from that 2 trailers would be uncontrollable at any kind of speed.

doolox

I've seen a small trailer being towed behind a caravan which was being towed by a Hiace van way back in the '90's.

Don't know how he got on.

the_pen_turner

I'm thinking along the lines of a tractor and trailer with tow along log splutter behind
Wouldn't be going very far at all

Del2005

I've often seen carnival/circus wagons towing 2 trailers, I know that they are exempt from some of the haulage rules but I doubt they can tow illegally. Also plenty of agriculture contractors tow 2 trailers, if they were breaking the law the Gardai would stop them.

IIRC the limit is the weight of the train and not the amount of equipment being towed.

fritzelly

Del2005 wrote: »

I've often seen carnival/circus wagons towing 2 trailers, I know that they are exempt from some of the haulage rules

Why exempt? The rules state A trailer - maybe they think more trouble than it's worth to stop them and have them off haul one of them on a busy road

Victor

fritzelly wrote: »

Why exempt?

I vaguely recollect a rule limiting them to 40-50 km/h

The rules state A trailer - maybe they think more trouble than it's worth to stop them and have them off haul one of them on a busy road

That would be non-enforcement. That isn't how exemptions work.

fritzelly

Victor wrote: »

I vaguely recollect a rule limiting them to 40-50 km/h

Pulling two trailers at 40-50 km/h is crazy

http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/gardai-stop-another-jeep-driver-for-towing-a-trailer-with-the-incorrect-licence/

TrailerBob

For Agri use I can't see a problem, in fact most silage trailers are built with this in mind and have a towing bracket to train 2 when empty.

Wouldn't do it with a car trailer, not designed for it, or safe. Trailer trains for any decent speed need balancing and damper drawbars

Outkast_IRE

Del2005 wrote: »

I've often seen carnival/circus wagons towing 2 trailers, I know that they are exempt from some of the haulage rules but I doubt they can tow illegally. Also plenty of agriculture contractors tow 2 trailers, if they were breaking the law the Gardai would stop them.

IIRC the limit is the weight of the train and not the amount of equipment being towed.

A friend of mine works for a vintage steam fair in the UK . They tow 2 trailers but he would be the first to admit its not strictly legal due to the overall length of the vehicle + 2 trailers, however they are never stopped. They would be skilled drivers, only time they had a notable tip was when navigating the centre of london to setup.

If you are doing it with a tractor there should be no issue, with a car I'm not so sure.