Exhibition trailer towing
Before I delve a little more deeply into the subject of exhibition trailer towing let me first mention the need to ensure that your new exhibition trailer has the correct certification to be road legal. At the time of writing, exhibition trailers built in Europe (including the UK) are subject to Approval under the European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval scheme (ECWVTA) and more specifically under the rules covering trailers types 01 to 04. If you are of a technical disposition and interested in detail then I would refer you to this page https://www.vehicle-certification-agency.gov.uk/vehicle-type-approval/type-approval-for-trailers/
That said, with Brexit deadline looming and, as I write, no formal trade agreement having been reached, you may wish to refer to provisional information provided by the Department of Transport file:///C:/Users/Raymond/AppData/Local/Temp/GB-Type-Approval-Scheme.pdf One does rather need to be blessed with an inquisitive nature, or an urgent need to understand the Governments thinking, to read this document in its entirety!
To avoid this worry purchasing your exhibition trailer from a reputable manufacturer such as Multi Vehicle Technology Ltd https://www.multivehicletechnology.co.uk/products/exhibition-trailers-and-vehicles/ where we take pride to ensure that all of our production satisfies, and is appropriately independently tested, for compliance with the ECWVTA regulations. We have come across cases of falsified documentation, and where this occurs you risk invalidation of insurance at best and prosecution at worse. So please do be careful.
Just as there are regulations that you may be unaware of concerning the manufacture of exhibition trailers, so there are others that also cover how you tow. You can no longer take the risk of simply loading up and driving off! Taking a little time to check a few things out first can well save hassle in the future.
Trailer dimensions
Towing vehicles up to 3500 kgs are restricted to towing trailers with a body length (excluding A frame) of 7 metres and a maximum width of 2.55 metres (including any protrusions such as door handles, side mounted awnings etc.). So always check these dimensions on your exhibition trailer. If they exceed these then do not tow.
Driving Licences
One of the first things really worth doing is to double check your team’s driving licences to ensure they are qualified to handle the towing combination weight in question. The simple rule is that drivers who passed their standard car driving test (category B) after the first of January 1997 are subject to more restrictions than those who took their test prior to this date.
The drivers who passed their test after 1997 are restricted to a trailer of just 750 kgs gross weight. These drivers wishing to tow in excess of this weight of trailer will need to take and pass a B+E car and trailer driving test.
Exhibition trailer towing weights
Another wise thing to do is always check what your towing vehicles are authorised to tow. This information will be given in the vehicles handbook and is also very often shown on labels under either the bonnet or on the offside door frame.
In addition to the towing vehicle having a trailer weight restriction the trailer too will also have a maximum gross weight limit which will be shown on the trailers plating certificate, which is nearly always located on the A frame. Here you will see the actual weight of the trailer as it was constructed (with its fixtures and fitting installed) plus the maximum gross figure up to which it can be loaded with your extra equipment such as brochures, refreshments etc. The trailer plate will also show the maximum weight limit permitted on each of the individual axles.
It is incredibly important not to overload any of these individual maximum axle weights and gross weight limits. As with driving licences, doing so could result in invalid insurance and even prosecution for the driver. We know of many of our professional hire clients who double check weights every time their trailers go out.
As an aside it should be noted that trailers up to 750 kgs do not have to be fitted with their own braking systems, whilst those above must be fitted with working over run brakes.
Tachographs
This is one piece of equipment with which the average car driver rarely comes into contact with. So lack of knowledge of these is common and not unexpected. Any vehicle under 3500 kgs does not require a tachograph. Go over this weigh with either the vehicle or the combination of trailer and vehicle then you must have a tachograph installed…but only if the vehicle is being used for hire or reward. The definition of hire or reward is open to interpretation as are many of the exemptions. If in any doubt then I would always advise reading up on the subject at https://www.gov.uk/tachographs . As you will see it’s quite a challenging subject, if indeed not downright confusing, where some exemptions can apply even to those involved in exhibition trailer towing.
For Advice
If you find any of the above outline comments confusing or and providing you with insufficient information my advice would be to consult government web sites first before consulting others. Then only ask such advice from reputable and experienced companies.
Scott Walker
information@multivehicletechnology.co.uk
