On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:48:17 +0000, Willy Eckerslyke
wrote:

shazzbat wrote:
"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
The Real Doctor wrote:
On 24 Mar, 19:02, "reg" wrote:
Towbars will now become a testable item in the test for classes
3,4,5, & 7.
What counts as a towbar? If the hitch is removed, is it still
testable?
the test is only going to be for safety of attachment to the vehicle IIUC

Which is a shame, because it will leave us with the "car indicating right,
trailer indicating left" dipsticks,

Isn't that already illegal? If laws aren't enforced, there's not a lot
of point making new ones to try to correct the situation.

FWIW my electric car didn't need an MOT because (partly I guess) they
wouldn't know how to test it properly and there weren't that many
about at the time (20 years ago). Anyone know if that's still the
case?

Also FWIW I still run the trailer I built over 30 years ago and treat
that in the same way as I did the EV or any other thing I have on the
public highway in that I try to ensure it's up to spec etc.

I think the legislation for un powered domestic stuff (unlike HGV
trailers etc) would be tricky as where would you stop ... cycles and
disability scooters next? ;-)

T i m

On Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:21:39 -0000, Willy Eckerslyke
wrote:

Conor wrote:
"Willy Eckerslyke" wrote in message
...
Conor wrote:

If you're equating dodgy trailer electrics with bald tyres, then
you're the one who's missing the point.

Tell that to the people who end up running into the rear of trailers
because of faulty lights.

And how often does that happen?

I put it to you that if there's really a significant number of accidents
involving trailers (which I doubt), then the majority of cases will have
nothing to do with faults with the trailer itself, but were caused by
overloading, uneven loading, speeding or sheer driver incompetence. None
of which will be solved by testing the trailer.

And if you think an annual test will ensure that trailer lights will
work correctly for a year, you've clearly never owned a trailer.
And if you think an MOT guarantees a car is safe for a year, you've
obviously not got a clue.

The point that you clearly can't grasp, is that the electrics on any
trailer that's stored outside are hugely unreliable so there's no
substitute for checking that all the lights work every time it's used.
An MOT test will achieve nothing. If anything, it will have a negative
effect as owners will be less likely to bother to check their lights as
"it passed last week, so must be alright".
The _only_ way to cut down on trailers with defective lights, is to
enforce the law and educate people to check them regularly. That doesn't
need new or revised legislation.


Well the only accident I know of involing a trailer was when a wheel fell
off. When I used to have to tow oother peoples trailers regularly I just
gave up expecting them to work (most common failure seemed to be crushing
the cable) & bought my own towboard.

"Adrian" wrote in message
...
"Mark" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/ne...00/7961224.stm

Bit early for 1st April. Very poor bit of image manipulation.

No, it's real...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03...shire_mansion/

We'll see. Looks a well flakey grey background image laid on that roof to
me, not even crisp edges, but we will see.

Mark

Conor wrote:

If you're equating dodgy trailer electrics with bald tyres, then
you're the one who's missing the point.

Tell that to the people who end up running into the rear of trailers
because of faulty lights.

And how often does that happen?

In rural areas? Enough.

I live in a rural area and don't remember hearing of any accidents
involving trailers. There have been plenty of others though.

I put it to you that if there's really a significant number of
accidents involving trailers (which I doubt), then the majority of
cases will have nothing to do with faults with the trailer itself, but
were caused by overloading, uneven loading, speeding or sheer driver
incompetence. None of which will be solved by testing the trailer.

Did you actually read what I posted?

Sadly, I did. Can't say it was the high point of my day.

The point that you clearly can't grasp, is that the electrics on any
trailer that's stored outside are hugely unreliable so there's no
substitute for checking that all the lights work every time it's used.

No disputing of the fact.

An MOT test will achieve nothing. If anything, it will have a negative
effect as owners will be less likely to bother to check their lights
as "it passed last week, so must be alright".

With many, an MOT check will be one more than they'd normally get.

With many, it would be a pointless, time wasting and needlessly costly
incumberance. Now if you actually came up with some statistics showing
that there's a genuine problem that needs correcting, I might see a
justification. But only if a workable system could be introduced that
would actually make a difference. So far, nothing you've said persuades
me at all.

"Adrian" wrote in message
...
"Mill Autos" gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

Yo Cock, I'm on the sauce tonight due to a toothache.

Clearly. Hello, TeflonMorphBoi.

Get ****ed you dopey ****


is this your house?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/ne...00/7961224.stm

Wish it was. That's a rather nice house. Shame I'm to simple to ever earn
enough money to afford it.


Fair comment.

On 25 Mar, 15:11, "shazzbat"
wrote:

Which is a shame, because it will leave us with the "car indicating right,
trailer indicating left" dipsticks...

There is no need to have any lights at all on a trailer, as I recall.

Ian

On 25 Mar, 21:58, Adrian wrote:

Trailers should be registered and tested.

How big is the problem of unroadworthy trailers?

Ian

On 26 Mar, 12:14, Willy Eckerslyke wrote:

I live in a rural area and don't remember hearing of any accidents
involving trailers. There have been plenty of others though.

We get 'em all the time in my rural area. Almost invariably it's
****wits in HGVs going round corners faster than centrifugal force
thinks reasonable.

Ian

"The Real Doctor" wrote in message
...
On 25 Mar, 21:58, Adrian wrote:

Trailers should be registered and tested.

How big is the problem of unroadworthy trailers?


You presumably don't live near the coast. I live near Poole, and I can tell
you that through the summer, hardly ever a weekend goes past without a boat
trailer shedding a wheel and bringing the A31/M27 to a grinding halt.

Add to that the caravans which do the same thing bcause "we've only used it
for a fortnight a year and the odd bank holiday weekend for the last ten
years, so there can't be anything wrong with it". Plus the aforementioned
orange box on two wheels variety, and yes there is quite a problem. Don't
ask me for statistics.

Last year one had the outer part of a wheel come off, leaving the centre
disc part of the wheel still held firmly on by it's wheel nuts. There was an
upside to that one though, because the owner got some nasty cuts to his hand
in picking up the wheel, so he may have learned his lesson.

Steve

On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:01:59 -0000, "Conor"
wrote:


"asahartz" wrote in message
.. .

A test for trailers would only be workable if they also had a
registration scheme. Which is the case in France...

Yet strangely there's an MOT test for HGV trailers......I wonder what
they use. Oh yeah, chassis numbers recorded on a database.

Except that many trailers don't even have chassis numbers.
--
asahartz woz ere