Home built trailer

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by RMA on 14/08/2019 20:32:19:

I would suspect that this will eventually happen in the UK, Brexit or not. I've followed trailers being towed at 70 mph or more on two tiddly thin wheels carrying loads that are probably never weighed! I for one would welcome a standardised test for all vehicles.

Dont get me started, towing a trailer/caravans at 70 mph is ilegal on all roads, 60 mph is the limit on motorways and your not allowed in the third lane either, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 50 mph on single carriageways, they come past me as if I'm parked.

Martin P

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, Martin is correct about the speed limits when towing a trailer, unless of course, there is a lower limit on these roads that is in force, be it temporarily or permanent. He is also correct about driving in the right hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes. The number of people I've seen pulling a trailer who ignore both the speed limits and being in the right hand lane is unbelievable. I built my trailer back in 1986 and gave it a full overhaul in 2010, but it does need a new floor in it again now. You could at one time, buy a basic factory made trailer assembly and build your own body/structure on to it, but I don't know if anyone sells them now. I wouldn't throw my money at the tinny things sold by one or two of the High Street retailers though, better to go to dedicated trailer makers with a good reputation.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 14/08/2019 22:26:46

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by martin perman on 14/08/2019 20:59:43:

Posted by RMA on 14/08/2019 20:32:19:

I would suspect that this will eventually happen in the UK, Brexit or not. I've followed trailers being towed at 70 mph or more on two tiddly thin wheels carrying loads that are probably never weighed! I for one would welcome a standardised test for all vehicles.

Dont get me started, towing a trailer/caravans at 70 mph is ilegal on all roads, 60 mph is the limit on motorways and your not allowed in the third lane either, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 50 mph on single carriageways, they come past me as if I'm parked.

Martin P

My experience of shed draggers in North Wales is that they go for mile after mile of winding road at 20mph, then when you get to a straight bit they zoom off into the distance, never give a thought to the long tail back they are causing. I believe that in some states of the USA if you are holding up more than 6 cars you are obliged to pull over at the first opportunity.

[PlasmaParticipant @plasma]

Well after much consideration and a bit of common sense I have bought a Brenderup trailer with full certification and chassis number etc.

In the long run it's far safer and legally compliant than going to the effort of building one. I will get it safety checked before loading up.

Price wise it probably matches up with building one so I'm better off financially too.

The DVSA have sent my enquiry on to the relevant department and I will send any reply on in due course.

Thanks to all who responded and provided invaluable help in making my decision.

Regards plasma

[PlasmaParticipant @plasma]

Collected the trailer this morning. Really nice piece of kit and more than up to the job.

Plasma

[PlasmaParticipant @plasma]

Update from the government re my enquiry. Case closed lol.

Good afternoon Mick.

Many thanks for your recent e-mail which has been passed to the Approvals Technical department in order to reply to your concerns. Firstly, please accept our apologies for the delay in replying, the department is extremely busy at this time.

Any “new” trailer, be it manufactured by a company or self-built, will be required to have an approval before it is first used on a public road. Small trailers however are not as such “registered”.

For trailers manufactured in small numbers or for self-builds, these would usually be approved through Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA). The IVA scheme is administered by ourselves (the DVSA).

Please follow the link below for more information on the IVA Scheme;

**LINK**

The technical requirements that a trailer must meet can be found in the IVA Inspection Manual for Trailers;

**LINK**

For your trailer with a GVW not exceeding 750kg, this would be classed as a Category O1 Trailer.

Once you have completed the build, you must apply for an inspection using the correct application form (IVA1T);

**LINK**

This must be submitted electronically on our Technical Application Submission (TAS) system;

**LINK**

You can find a list of IVA test sites and the Category of vehicles they can accommodate in the interactive map in the link below (best viewed in Chrome or Firefox);

**LINK**

The fee for an IVA inspection on a Category O1 trailer is £70.00.

Once your trailer meets with the requirements, you will be issued with an Individual Approval Certificate (IAC). This will then permit you to use your trailer on a public road.

I hope that you find this information helpful and apologise again for the delay in replying.

Many thanks & best regards,

Steve Bardsley | DVSA Vehicle Approvals Technical Team

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks for posting that, Mick

It's very useful to have an easy reference to the [current] facts of the matter.

MichaelG.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

+1 Mick,

That will make an interesting read.

Martin P

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Plasma, thanks for taking the time to post your reply. Not that I'm planning to build a new trailer anytime soon, but I have downloaded the useful docs in the links, and will therefore, be able to point any friends or relatives in the right direction if any of them should ever ask.

Regards Nick.

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