Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 31 October 2011, 00:06   #1
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Rosas
Boat name: Conqueror
Make: Valiant
Length: 7m +
Engine: Outboard 150hp Merc
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 549
Send a message via Skype™ to Courageous
Braked axle question

Guys, I was just wondering whether, on a two axle setup, the law requires that both axles are braked or can just one set have brakes? I ask this as I have bought a trailer which I plan to mod and just wondered whether there would be an option to make it braked without replacing the existing axle set?
__________________
Courageous is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 09:15   #2
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Hamble
Length: 9m +
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,317
All axles have to be braked
__________________
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt!
Dirk Diggler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 09:35   #3
Member
 
Trailer Guy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Hampshire
Boat name: Altea 2
Make: Narwhal
Length: 5m +
Engine: 90 Mariner
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 855
Yup, Dirk's correct.
Trailer Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 11:04   #4
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Rosas
Boat name: Conqueror
Make: Valiant
Length: 7m +
Engine: Outboard 150hp Merc
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 549
Send a message via Skype™ to Courageous
Oh well, errm I suppose braking is still a good option as it does increase the allowable load doesn't it? At the moment the axle fitted is 1200kg but I guess from what I've read here that over 750kg is wasted without the brakes (for road use). Thanx for your replies guys.
__________________
Courageous is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 13:10   #5
Member
 
Trailer Guy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Hampshire
Boat name: Altea 2
Make: Narwhal
Length: 5m +
Engine: 90 Mariner
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 855
Correct - anything over 750kg GVW / MAM has to be braked by law.
Trailer Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 13:21   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: West Wales
Make: Vipermax 5.8, SR4.7
Length: 5m +
Engine: 150 Opti, F50EFi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,299
Quote:
Originally Posted by Courageous View Post
Oh well, errm I suppose braking is still a good option as it does increase the allowable load doesn't it?
Not if the trailer only has a MAM of 750kg. Fitting a more capable axle won't increase the allowable load of the trailer.
__________________
Downhilldai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 13:42   #7
Member
 
Trailer Guy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Hampshire
Boat name: Altea 2
Make: Narwhal
Length: 5m +
Engine: 90 Mariner
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 855
If they're both 1200kg it should give a GVW / MAM of 2600kg.
Trailer Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 14:46   #8
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Rosas
Boat name: Conqueror
Make: Valiant
Length: 7m +
Engine: Outboard 150hp Merc
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 549
Send a message via Skype™ to Courageous
Dai, I haven't seen the trailer yet but believe it has a MAM at the moment of 1200kg on the one axle. TG - I guess you are talking about both axles? I probably won't go to the second one now you've told me they both need to be braked but wot I may well do is change the existing 1200 for a braked one and then get more value (payload wise) for the trailer as my DR750 is something like 800kg anyway. In any case how does 2 x 1200 make 2600 I wonder? Is that a typo or is there some other science at work here?
__________________
Courageous is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 15:07   #9
Member
 
Trailer Guy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Hampshire
Boat name: Altea 2
Make: Narwhal
Length: 5m +
Engine: 90 Mariner
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 855
ha ha ha!

nope, typo! I may be fik, but i can likt 'eavy fings!
Trailer Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 16:11   #10
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Plymouth
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,693
Can i interrupt this maths lesson for another topic ?

I'm putting it on here so as not to take any attention away from your sticky (fantastic by the way, well done).

With regards to the B+E licence. All the documents seem to suggest if you've passed your test after 1997 and want to tow over 750 kgs you have to take the test.

My understanding is that if you've passed your test after 1997 your permitted to tow upto 3500 kgs total to include your tow car. So in theory if your car is 2000 kgs you can tow up 1500 kgs provided both the trailer is legal (ie braked) and th car is rated to pull such weight.

I checked with a local company who offers the b+e test on their website and thats what they confirm too

Here's the link

http://www.catseyesdrivingschool.co.uk/tow.htm

Which is correct ? It matters not to me but im sure some ribnetters may think they need to take the test when it may be they don't.

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007
__________________
Boats&Outboards is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 16:38   #11
Member
 
Trailer Guy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Hampshire
Boat name: Altea 2
Make: Narwhal
Length: 5m +
Engine: 90 Mariner
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 855
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boats&Outboards View Post
Can i interrupt this maths lesson for another topic ?

I'm putting it on here so as not to take any attention away from your sticky (fantastic by the way, well done).

With regards to the B+E licence. All the documents seem to suggest if you've passed your test after 1997 and want to tow over 750 kgs you have to take the test.

My understanding is that if you've passed your test after 1997 your permitted to tow upto 3500 kgs total to include your tow car. So in theory if your car is 2000 kgs you can tow up 1500 kgs provided both the trailer is legal (ie braked) and th car is rated to pull such weight.

I checked with a local company who offers the b+e test on their website and thats what they confirm too

Here's the link

Caravan Towing Courses | Expert Caravan Towing Lessons

Which is correct ? It matters not to me but im sure some ribnetters may think they need to take the test when it may be they don't.

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

Can see where you're coming from! Maybe this would be a better link?:

Towing - Are you legal? - The Camping and Caravanning Club
Trailer Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2011, 17:43   #12
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Plymouth
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,693
That's the cookie

So in summary if your total combined weight is 3,500 kgs or less all in including the car, persons, trailer and load your fine, regardless of when you passed your test. Provided the trailer is legal of course (braked trailer if over 750 kgs and within car rating).

If your combined weight is over that limit and you took your test after 1997, take the B+E test.

Simples

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007
__________________
Boats&Outboards is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 November 2011, 11:01   #13
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: North Lincolnshire
Boat name: Mary Olwen
Make: Humber
Length: 6m +
Engine: OB, Petrol, 140HP
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 151
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boats&Outboards View Post
That's the cookie

So in summary if your total combined weight is 3,500 kgs or less all in including the car, persons, trailer and load your fine, regardless of when you passed your test. Provided the trailer is legal of course (braked trailer if over 750 kgs and within car rating).

If your combined weight is over that limit and you took your test after 1997, take the B+E test.

Simples

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007
Correct, although it's worth noting that the actual measured weight is irrelevant (unless you're overloaded of course!), the combined plated MAMs of the tow vehicle and trailer are what you need to go by.
__________________
Dry_Doc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 November 2011, 20:01   #14
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Plymouth
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,693
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dry_Doc

Correct, although it's worth noting that the actual measured weight is irrelevant (unless you're overloaded of course!), the combined plated MAMs of the tow vehicle and trailer are what you need to go by.
That's interesting to read. So you could be towing a 750 kg boat but on a 2.5t mam trailer and the "measurement" would be taken as 2.5t.

Makes matching the trailer/boat even more important then if your outside the licences. Glad I'm ok

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007
__________________
Boats&Outboards is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08 November 2011, 19:51   #15
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Dereham
Boat name: Alexandro
Make: I'd love to know
Length: 7m +
Engine: optimax 225hp
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 63
what happens if the trailer doesn't have a plated mam weight. i.e. its fell off or faded and you don't know the make can you just go by the axle specs, assuming they are known i.e. they have been replaced during your ownership
__________________
derdle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08 November 2011, 20:01   #16
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Rosas
Boat name: Conqueror
Make: Valiant
Length: 7m +
Engine: Outboard 150hp Merc
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 549
Send a message via Skype™ to Courageous
I'm possibly about to face the same issue. I don't know the definitive but I suppose you can't assume that as the frame could well be below spec for the axles. I have no idea how the DOT or the police would assess that one?
__________________
Courageous is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08 November 2011, 20:16   #17
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Seattle
Boat name: Water Dog
Make: Polaris
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yamaha 60hp
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,152
Quote:
Originally Posted by Courageous View Post
I suppose you can't assume that as the frame could well be below spec for the axles. I have no idea how the DOT or the police would assess that one?
At least over here, axles are always vastly stronger than any trailer frame they are under. Doesn't matter if its a boat trailer or not. I think my utility trailer has a 2400lb gross weight with a 3500lb axle for instance.
__________________
captnjack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08 November 2011, 20:24   #18
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Rosas
Boat name: Conqueror
Make: Valiant
Length: 7m +
Engine: Outboard 150hp Merc
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 549
Send a message via Skype™ to Courageous
Well there you go then!
__________________
Courageous is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 02:20.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.