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Small Trailer Maximum Size


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I have been offered a substantially constructed home made trailer with a bed size of 2.8m x 1.3m. It's tare weight is 180kg so it doesn't need registration and can potential carry a payload of 320kg whilst staying within the 500kg max, very useful for those sheets of plasterboard and long lengths of timber etc. and even the odd scoop of sand or stone [;-)]

I seem to recall reading somewhere however that there are maximum dimensions for small trailers, 2.5m comes to mind, but can't remember where I read it ?

 

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racking my brains and looking it up in my examiners handbook (im a military driving examiner) its not to do with dimensions unless you exceed 3500kgs,  however in the UK any trailer under 3500kgs  (laden weight) is not regulated by any restrictions or laws.  also their is no minimums for the towing vehicle.
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Car licences obtained before 1 January 1997

If you passed a car test before 1 January 1997 you keep your existing entitlement to tow trailers until your licence expires. This means you're generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM). You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750 kgs MAM.

Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997

If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750 kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle.  You'll need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.

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[quote user="ErnieY"]

I have been offered a substantially constructed home made trailer with a bed size of 2.8m x 1.3m. It's tare weight is 180kg so it doesn't need registration and can potential carry a payload of 320kg whilst staying within the 500kg max, very useful for those sheets of plasterboard and long lengths of timber etc. and even the odd scoop of sand or stone [;-)]

I seem to recall reading somewhere however that there are maximum dimensions for small trailers, 2.5m comes to mind, but can't remember where I read it ?

 

[/quote]

If you're defining a 'small trailer' as one that is under 500kg, then go and measure your caravan.  You'll find it's bigger than this one.....[;-)]

 

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Width - 2.55m Length - 12.0m excluding towing hitch is the maximum dimensions for a trailer over 3500kgs,  and would require a C+E licence not B+E

an example of this is a 40ft artic? trailers under 3500kgs dont attract restrictions as there not heavy enough to be big.

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The code de la route provides the maximum dimensions for trailers (both non articulated and articulated) without any mention of weight.  That means that trailers under 3500kg  are subject to the same dimension restrictions as those over 3500kg. 

As far as not being heavy enough to be big, a specialist trailer designed to transport a long but lightweight load could well have a PTAC less than 3500kg, but it will still be subject to the length restriction.

 

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[quote user="Sunday Driver"]

As far as not being heavy enough to be big, a specialist trailer designed to transport a long but lightweight load could well have a PTAC less than 3500kg, but it will still be subject to the length restriction.

 

[/quote]

Such as a Glider Trailer, these certainly don't weigh much and can be VEEEEEERRRRRRYYYYYY    LLLLLOOOONNNNGGG

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