Thanks for the "heads up", however we should all be aware of the regulations and our responsibilities whilst towing and the possible consequences of getting it "wrong"!
Yes I presume if they decide caravan is not roadworthy then they can put a prohibition on it meaning journey cannot be continued. They might allow it to be towed locally for repair or it might need to be removed by recovery truck.
That is how it works with commercial vehicles & trailers so probably the same for caravans.
Yes back in the day the CB was alive with warnings about “wheeltappers & weightwatchers” but cuts over the years have made these checks much less now. I doubt caravanners have much to worry about.
If that's it, then they are only really the checks we should always do before setting off on a journey anyway. Sadly I know that is not always the case from comments posted on this forum alone, from people who 'don't bother' with certain things, to those that haven't got a clue in the first place, and perhaps the worst, those that don't heed good advice when given and carry on regardless!
Great way to spoil a holiday if you do get stopped and found wanting! 20 min delay and a all clear is not such a great hardship.
Don`t have a problem with the checks as long as those doing them know what they are talking about.
I was pulled over in Bala a couple of years ago driving a truck and they were pulling everything with a trailer. A couple of outfits with the breakaway cable looped around the towball were told they were "illegal" despite there being no other place to attach them. My detachable swan-neck also has nowhere else to attach the cable, so please people at the DVSA educate your officers before you let them loose on the public.
I'd have no problem with DVLA pulling me over and checking hitch, breakaway cable, mirrors, lights etc, though hopefully they'll be allowed to use a certain amount of common sense and discretion - e.g. if one bulb has failed, issue a warning to get it replaced when you arrive at your destination, but if no lights are working and all the connections have rusted to bits then the trailer should be taken off the road. However, the threat "if we find problems, you'll have to fix them before you carry on" doesn't inspire confidence here.
Servicing - of course I'm not suggesting that you go for years without getting your caravan serviced, but - and correct me if I'm wrong - as I understand it there is no legal requirement to have a caravan serviced at defined intervals. How long do they consider - and in the absence of any legal position, "consideration" is all it is - to be too long? And is it just me that's never heard of a "free trailer safety check"?
Brakes - seems a bit of a grey area again to me in that I'm not aware of any legal minimum performance standard. I don't really know how good the brakes on my 18 year old caravan are, other than no warnings were given at the last service and the last time I towed it, I could stop it OK. However, I suspect that they inevitably aren't as good as the ones on a brand new caravan.
It would be helpful for DVLA themselves to say what checks they'd be making, then we'd know what to check ourselves before setting off no matter how inexperienced we are. Without this, the cynic in me is saying that it's less about ensuring safety and more about making money from fining people ...
------------- "Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect."
There is no law requiring a caravan to be serviced.
If there is no dedicated point to attach the breakaway cable it is legal to loop it over the towball,if there is a dedicated fixing point then that should be used.
saxo1
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
All this will be is a visual check. Wheelnuts tyres lights breakaway cable etc. Probably they will have an axle weighbridge as well. They may well check vin number against stolen database & presumably driving licence as well.
Provided outfit looks clean & well maintained & correctly loaded with driver’s licence valid for car caravan then ok.
Quote: Originally posted by billy on 27/5/2021
That is how it works with commercial vehicles & trailers so probably the same for caravans.
You remember GV9's or PG9's then Billy - the good old days of Ministry roadside checks at the best truck stops.
They still do them, but tend to be more targetted.
If you`re running orange plates you`re a target, but otherwise they tend to use the `traffic light` system unless you`re standing out for some reason
Hi
It's from this research in 2019, and is now to carry on.
It got suspended because of lock down, and includes all trailers over 3500kg. even if your going to the tip with a trailer less than 750kg.
Web site is http://www.trailerappg.org.uk/
Read it if you wish to some agree some do not.
AFE Towing Campaign and update to the All-Party Parliamentary Group
(APPG) on Trailer Towing and Safety
I am writing to update you about the upcoming communications campaign
which the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will be undertaking from 21 May, ahead of National Camping and Caravanning Week. This is a timely opportunity to deliver towing safety messages to drivers who are new to towing (for example, new caravan owners), and those who have towed before but have not done so for a long time, due to recent restrictions.
The key message will be: ‘Whatever you’re towing, make it SAFE’. It will recommend that motorists carry out some specific, fundamental checks before they start towing, and to visit a professional garage if required. The DVSA hopes to work with members of the APPG to amplify the campaign and has developed a toolkit to support this partnership. The DVSA also understands that the APPG is keen to consider the commercial audience for towing.
It is planning to work on a business towing angle with Highways
England through their Driving for Better Business campaign.
I would also like to take this opportunity to update you on further activity planned for the coming months with regard to checking non-testable trailers and caravans. As restrictions begin to ease, the DVSA will continue to undertake checks at the roadside. A further 550 caravans will need to be checked to reach the planned target of 700 in total by September 2021.
These checks will need to be done at locations across the country, and over a reasonable period of time, in order to get a representative sample of caravan traffic.
Operation Vertebrae is a week-long operation along the length of the
M6 motorway starting on 24 May, in conjunction with Highways England and the police. The DVSA will have teams out at a number of motorways service along this route to carry out further checks.
By September 2021, we will be better placed to understand the overall condition of light trailers and caravans on our roads.
I understand that you recently reached out to officials in the Department to discuss the work programme of the APPG. If you still have queries which it would be helpful to discuss with officials, I would welcome such a meeting taking place.
May I take this opportunity to thank you and the APPG for your continued
work and engagement on this important issue.
Doesn't bother me, in fact I support it. If they picks up dangerous or incorrectly loaded outfits it's good.
Our van was serviced in April, got the sticker! I check wheel bolts, tyre pressures etc before every trip. We load it the same each trip so it is nicely set up.
Car tyres oil etc all checked too.
Car dealer serviced and MOT in October.
Pedantic possibly. I was a RAF aircraft tech so trained to check things properly.
Better safe than sorry.
We came back from Cirencester today as we don't do school holidays! Quite a few outfits on the M5 going west,bet it's busy tomorrow.
Hope everyone has a safe and pleasant Bank Holiday.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: DVSA Trailer Inspections this summer.
via mobile 27/5/2021 at 9:48am
