Trailer Licence

Just your normal general chatting in here..

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
FarmerPug
2.0 HDI 110
Posts: 9656
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:42 pm
Location: The Countryside, Northern Ireland
Contact:

Trailer Licence

Post by FarmerPug »

I have a car with a tow bar, plenty of pulling power and access to a number of trailers and a transporter but i cant use them legally because i dont have the trailer licence.
Has anyone done the trailer licence, i sort of need one, but what puts me off is having to reverse a trailer, i can do it but really slowly.
User avatar
Gary406
The moderator with a 1.9TD!
Posts: 5315
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:56 pm
Location: Wigan, Lancashire

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by Gary406 »

frank do not worry about it mate.

theres no way on this earth a police officer will pull you over and ask to see your trailer license.

i use to always tow and i dont have that feature on my license.

it wont happen 8)
2004 (04) Volkswagen Bora 1.9 TDi (100)
FarmerPug
2.0 HDI 110
Posts: 9656
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:42 pm
Location: The Countryside, Northern Ireland
Contact:

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by FarmerPug »

i bet they would here, the police here are quite good at unexpected checkpoints. Id like to have it because if they did give me points id be fecked insurance is expensive enough without anything else.
User avatar
TooT
3.0 24v
Posts: 1228
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:34 pm
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by TooT »

I dont know how old you are but if you passed your driving test before the 1st of Jan 1997 then you already have it.

Heres the guff http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Dr ... DG_4022547
2006 207 GT THP 150
FarmerPug
2.0 HDI 110
Posts: 9656
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:42 pm
Location: The Countryside, Northern Ireland
Contact:

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by FarmerPug »

im 19 passed the test in 2008 so well after the 1997 thing.

i need it more now for carting the jeep about the place, or for getting old cars for breaking, its too unreliable my da or uncle if they can do it.
User avatar
TooT
3.0 24v
Posts: 1228
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:34 pm
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by TooT »

Lucky for me i did but i am told that it is a bit of a bastard to pass. I drive all day every with a trailer of some sort so a little advice would be to use a good size trailer as its far easier to maneuver and see in your mirrors. These tiny little box trailers you see outside halfords for instance will be a bastard to use and jackknife dead easy.
2006 207 GT THP 150
User avatar
lozz
3.0 24v
Posts: 11908
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:18 pm
Location: where-ever

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by lozz »

FarmerPug wrote:i bet they would here, the police here are quite good at unexpected checkpoints. Id like to have it because if they did give me points id be fecked insurance is expensive enough without anything else.
They wont give you points they will just take it off you or give you some Ear ache,
You will Get a Tug with abig car trailer its un avoidable there pulling them in looking at the stamps to see if theyve been Ground off /plated over,

Buy a cheap car transporter ford/transit etc problem solved then
FarmerPug
2.0 HDI 110
Posts: 9656
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:42 pm
Location: The Countryside, Northern Ireland
Contact:

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by FarmerPug »

lozz wrote: You will Get a Tug with abig car trailer its un avoidable there pulling them in looking at the stamps to see if theyve been Ground off /plated over,
i dont understand whats to be ground off?

i dont have a trailer i just use my uncles trailer, or my cousins car transporter trailer.
User avatar
lozz
3.0 24v
Posts: 11908
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:18 pm
Location: where-ever

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by lozz »

FarmerPug wrote:
lozz wrote: You will Get a Tug with abig car trailer its un avoidable there pulling them in looking at the stamps to see if theyve been Ground off /plated over,
i dont understand whats to be ground off?

i dont have a trailer i just use my uncles trailer, or my cousins car transporter trailer.
Trailers have Chassis number like a car,
iwas saying there pulling them in to check all is above board,

Iwasnt saying you shouid take an angle grinder to the trailer or anything :roll:
The plod are looking for trailers thats a bit Warm thats all iwas saying -hence why there stopping people with them :lol:
FarmerPug
2.0 HDI 110
Posts: 9656
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:42 pm
Location: The Countryside, Northern Ireland
Contact:

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by FarmerPug »

ah thats no problem my uncles trailer is definatley ok, i went with him the day he got it from the shop and it was new.
User avatar
lozz
3.0 24v
Posts: 11908
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:18 pm
Location: where-ever

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by lozz »

FarmerPug wrote:ah thats no problem my uncles trailer is definatley ok, i went with him the day he got it from the shop and it was new.
Im not saying it isnt,
just comenting on why there picking on pulling in trailers thats all,
FarmerPug
2.0 HDI 110
Posts: 9656
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:42 pm
Location: The Countryside, Northern Ireland
Contact:

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by FarmerPug »

ah the police, they just pull in anything that looks different, modified cars for example get pulled in all the time, you have talent beside you they will pull you in, if you havent got 2 disks one for mot one for tax they will ask many questions.
User avatar
lozz
3.0 24v
Posts: 11908
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:18 pm
Location: where-ever

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by lozz »

FarmerPug wrote:ah the police, they just pull in anything that looks different, modified cars for example get pulled in all the time, you have talent beside you they will pull you in, if you havent got 2 disks one for mot one for tax they will ask many questions.
ah you have 2 discs ? thats sad,
we only have one,
that used to be ok as a Beer mat or something simalar colour used to do
iknew someone that stuck a peice blue card board off a Gillete mach 3 shavers in the tax disc holder,
police tugged him and let him off for his sheer cheek :lol:

iused to notice cars seemed to run better years ago with no road tax strange that :lol:
stealthe
2.0 16v
Posts: 137
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:06 pm
Location: Bedfordshire

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by stealthe »

A quick google found this,
What does the test consist of?

The test is conducted by the LGV examiners at the lorry test centres, taking about an hour to an hour and a half. The first part is off road, comprising of a reversing manoeuvre; a controlled emergency stop and disconnect/connect the trailer. The on road part is a full driving test and you will be expected to drive to a very high standard. Particular emphasis is placed on use of mirrors, forward planning, general observations, road positioning and consideration for other road users.
TBH it sounds a pain in the back****, but if you are towing and not licensed then your insurance is invalid also. You risk losing your car, not just points and higher premiums.

If you can practice off road then wide trailers can be seen in the mirrors, and long trailers don't swing as fast, so you can learn to reverse without constantly jackknifing.
If you are using a small trailer then put a broomstick on the centreline of the trailer at the front and back of the box, as 'sights', and keep them in line as you reverse to go straight,
or use them to gauge where the trailer is going. Lose the front stick, or put them in the rear corners as you improve. Once you can reverse a small trailer without any aids there's no problem.
Going forwards a short, narrow trailer will just follow the car, a longer or wider trailer will need more care at corners, junctions and gaps. Remember to adjust your braking distances and observations.

Training/testing for cars around here seems to be with the small halfrauds 'tin' trailers.

stealthe
FarmerPug
2.0 HDI 110
Posts: 9656
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:42 pm
Location: The Countryside, Northern Ireland
Contact:

Re: Trailer Licence

Post by FarmerPug »

halfords trailers they are just samples of a real trailer
Post Reply