Failed Trailer Test - Outraged! (RANT ALERT)

I am so glad I have never had to sit that test, I would so fail. I've been towing for a few years now and I still can't reverse!
 
I failed mine on the reverse however in my defence was foggy and couldn't see cones, they let me continue with rest of test tho - and promptly cancelled rest for that day! Now that is an outrage, also got a minor for not doing full speed on motorway again due to fog!
 
Yes, as long as road worthy (MOT etc for car) & trailer meets minimum weight

Examiners only halt the test (can do this anywhere on route) if they feel they or other road users are in danger. Not being there you may have had a snotty examiner (a few are but I hasten to say these are by far the minority) or there was something he did not feel comfortable with. It is unusual not to continue onto the road section.

You let the cat out the bag about the mark on the vehicle!
 
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I think the secret with the trailer test is not to do much towing before you do the test!! I know that sounds stupid but I had never towed a trailer then took a two day course with the test on the third day. I was not competant at reversing the trailer on my test day but I was very competant at doing the reverse exercise!! I was taught exactly how to do it and how to not have to get out of the car at all. I promptly passed my test then learnt how to drive a trailer!!!! Better luck on Monday!!
 
martlin you have to fit extra mirrors for the examiner too.. friend didn't .. so couldn't take test when he got there :rolleyes: I lacked sympathy!
 
assuan said:
1. I got out of the vehicle too many times. You're allowed out once, I got out twice, one of which was to insert the damn reversing pin (haven't got auto-reversing brakes) - HELLO!!!!

2. I pulled forward twice (you're only allowed once). Why only once, what differences does it actually make...

3. Because tha back of the trailer wasn't within the yellow area at the back of the bay, I was 2 inches outside of it.....
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OP -
1) you've obviously hit the tester on a bad day - I got out about half a dozen times and still passed. If you're unsure, check it with the tester. They are supposed to explain it clearly. If you're still convinced you did it ok then point out that one of the times you got out was to sort out your reversing pin. And when you re0sit tell them you don't have auto reversing brakes so will need to get out more than the once.

2) not sure on this one, but again, get the tester to explain clearly what the problem was.

3) that, to be fair, is stipulated in the test conditions.
 
friesian80 said:
I also failed the first time, second time the examinor asked if I had sat the test before, I replied yes. He asked me if I felt confident pulling a trailer I replied yes.

So for the test he told me which direction to drive whilst he spent most the test on the phone to his son or reading his morning paper.

He was totally unfussy about my reversing etc and could see I cold drive confidently and safely.

Passed with no faults!

Better luck next time! x
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I wish mine had been so laid back.... I had to do mine at the VOSA testing centre because it was for commercial purposes and I needed to get the 101 restriction code off my licence so I could Tow for 'Hire & Reward' rather than just for pleasure which I had done for a long time... it was such an effort but I passed with only 2 minors but god the examiner was hard work lol He made me feel like such a newb :(
 
ester said:
martlin you have to fit extra mirrors for the examiner too.. friend didn't .. so couldn't take test when he got there :rolleyes: I lacked sympathy!
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really? they could use mine, I don't use them anyway :D:p
good job I don't need the entitlement, I think I would go mad... my licence is post '97, but for the limited towing I do, I have a set up that allows me to tow legally without (before anybody gets their knickers in a twist - I only tow a small livestock trailer, not horses ;))
 
cm2581 said:
I think the secret with the trailer test is not to do much towing before you do the test!! I know that sounds stupid but I had never towed a trailer then took a two day course with the test on the third day. I was not competant at reversing the trailer on my test day but I was very competant at doing the reverse exercise!! I was taught exactly how to do it and how to not have to get out of the car at all. I promptly passed my test then learnt how to drive a trailer!!!! Better luck on Monday!!
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Agree with This
 
I did some research and its cheaper to run a small lorry then a towing car and a trailer.

Next year we are going to buy one of those van conversions so I can drive myself to shows without having to take a test. It costs us £450 in road tax for our car and is £130 to fill up and it does 18mpg!! :eek:

So much easier to have a little lorry.
 
If you can all reverse so 'damn well' and are better at it thatn anyone you know etc. then putting the trailer in a specific spot should not be hard..
I've done it, it's easy if you can reverse. Just because you can direct the trailer does not mean you can reverse well, you have to be able to direct it to a certain spot. What if you hit an accident and have to 3 point turn etc., there are so many varied road situations you must be able to deal with them all.
you did not fulfill the required criteria-hence you failed. Stop being a sore loser and go get some quality lessons to pass next time.
 
I took a couple of lessons, and I have to say the reversing exercise is a bit crazy. I have not gotten around to more lessons or the test due to finances. At this stage it is just not possible financially, so will be begging my Dad or hacking to local shows instead.

I have noticed a lot of the older drivers are very pro trailer test, however I consider it likely they would be less so if they had to pay £70 per lesson and about £200 for the test itself only to fail on a ridiculously convoluted reversing manoeuvre (sp?)!
 
I feel your anger op! I've failed my trailer test 3 times alrealy! And that was with having lots of lessons with an instructor and driving in my own time. In my first test my nerves got the better of me and I didn't even make it out of the test centre! The next times I failed for different things. Nerves is the main thing that gets me and I end up resorting back to my old bad driving habits! I'm ok if i'm driving with someone I know or with my instructor but just seem to loose it on the test. I'm going to sit it again this year but I HATE it and do think it's a way to make money. I hate thinking how much i've spent.

Good luck with your next test and let us know how you get on.



Jude
 
It does sound a bit OTT.

Glad i dont have to take mine!I can reverse my trailer but would struggle in a test situation I think.But it would depend on how wide the bay was! :D

I also know what you mean about the reversing pin too. You have to get out to put it in. Then you have to get out to take it out again! So that is you failed!
 
Well i failed mines first time as well but because someone changed their mind halfway round a roundabout and the examiner deemed I was obstructing :rolleyes: ut I passed everything else :)

Its not a con you failed, you only are allowed to get out to check once and only allowed two shunts forwards when reversing. Its not a beginners course my intructor told me, your being tested as an advance driver.

I do feel sorry for you it is expensive but i would go into it with a clear mind as the way you feel right now you may end up failing. Give it a few week before resit :)
 
Gosh, I've just been thinking about taking mine. Could anyone tell me the average it costs? How many lessons on average did you take?
 
It's a test to see that you are safe to tow a trailer so why all the emphersis on reversing?
Most of us can reverse but would rather not, go to any show and most peole plan their exit route.Lets face it most of us are not towing huge trailers and going in to town centres
I would be more worried about their speed, the way the trailer is loaded and how they drive to suit conditions as that the things that cause massive accidents. Seems nuts.
 
there is not a huge emphasis on the reverse, it requires you to turn the trailer in both directions during the manouver which ensures that you know how to manipulate the trailer with some degree of accuracy. Having had my mother drive me about previously to shows, the ability to reverse with some ease even just a v short distance on a narrow country lane would have been most useful! Hence I drive it a lot more now than her.

I am for the test and had to take it, the cost is minimal in compared to keeping a horse! I did mine using group bday/xmas presents.

Kirsty I paid for 3 training sessions (about 3 hours each) the test and the use of their vehicle (smaller box trailer) was about £400 or £450 for the whole thing. It's not cheap but then neither were my driving lessons in the first instance!
 
The box I think is fine.

I wouldn't be very happy if the edge of the box you actually were two inches over was my car/horsebox/child...lol

Chin up and try again!
 
Just to clear up a small point, which isn't clear from my earlier 'ranting' posts. When I say the guy couldn't be bothered with the rest of the test, his words were:

"I can tell you now that you've failed that exercise, I can give you the choice to go and do the road section of the test or not, but there's not a lot of point because you have I'm afraid already failed"

With that attitude, would you have wanted to do the rest of the test with him? Hence why I said no, it's fine!

So, it was nothing to do with me being dangerous...... I could have said yes.

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I;ve got another test booked for Friday at another site, and it's during rush hour, which many people have said is a benefit (can't make my mind up)
 
ester said:
there is not a huge emphasis on the reverse, it requires you to turn the trailer in both directions during the manouver which ensures that you know how to manipulate the trailer with some degree of accuracy. Having had my mother drive me about previously to shows, the ability to reverse with some ease even just a v short distance on a narrow country lane would have been most useful! Hence I drive it a lot more now than her.

I am for the test and had to take it, the cost is minimal in compared to keeping a horse! I did mine using group bday/xmas presents.

Kirsty I paid for 3 training sessions (about 3 hours each) the test and the use of their vehicle (smaller box trailer) was about £400 or £450 for the whole thing. It's not cheap but then neither were my driving lessons in the first instance!
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Yeah That
 
I passed my driving test in 1995. Does that really mean I could just get in and tow?!

Blimey, I'm a good driver but I think I'd need lessons first!
 
pardalis said:
I passed my driving test in 1995. Does that really mean I could just get in and tow?!

Blimey, I'm a good driver but I think I'd need lessons first!
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Yes you can, but i must say that i agree that there should be tests. I have had to reverse too many trailers for people who cant do it ad they have a licence to tow.
 
SusieT said:
If you can all reverse so 'damn well' and are better at it thatn anyone you know etc. then putting the trailer in a specific spot should not be hard..
I've done it, it's easy if you can reverse. Just because you can direct the trailer does not mean you can reverse well, you have to be able to direct it to a certain spot. What if you hit an accident and have to 3 point turn etc., there are so many varied road situations you must be able to deal with them all.
you did not fulfill the required criteria-hence you failed. Stop being a sore loser and go get some quality lessons to pass next time.
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Have to say I completely agree with this (sorry OP). I have seen too many "pony club mums" who can't/won't reverse lorries or trailers and I have had to reverse a trailer many a time at a show for people. I had to do the test - did an intensive course and passed first time. Trailers can be dangerous and lifethreatening for both horse and driver in the wrong hands and I don't feel it is a money-grabbing exercise at all. Just trying to keep people safer - come on we see enough people who can't reverse having passed a normal driving test as it is;)

Oh and for those who say you would never have to do that maneourve in real life - well I went to the Area Festivals two years ago and got blocked in by some big lorries and yep the only way to get out was to do the trailer test maneourve - certainly impressed my new (at the time) BF:D
 
I did my trailer test very recently and was only allowed to get out once - the instructor even mentioned that to me. I was only allowed one shunt forwards as well.

I had lessons and they were the best money I spent as would never have passed otherwise. I had to spend two days learning to drive correctly forwards!! The reversing was fine but just need to learn the exercise.

I think they are a great idea especially as I live in Somerset and get stuck behind lots of caravans etc.
 
assuan said:
Just to clear up a small point, which isn't clear from my earlier 'ranting' posts. When I say the guy couldn't be bothered with the rest of the test, his words were:

"I can tell you now that you've failed that exercise, I can give you the choice to go and do the road section of the test or not, but there's not a lot of point because you have I'm afraid already failed"

With that attitude, would you have wanted to do the rest of the test with him? Hence why I said no, it's fine!

So, it was nothing to do with me being dangerous...... I could have said yes.

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I;ve got another test booked for Friday at another site, and it's during rush hour, which many people have said is a benefit (can't make my mind up)
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i failed mine the first time on the reversing part. I pulled forward too many times. You can pull forwards twice and that is it!

I knew i had failed but the examiner took me out and i did the rest of the test. I'm glad i did that as it was good experience and gave me the chance to drive under exam conditions so to speak. I rebooked my test and passed it 4 days later, my slot was 8.30am so really busy but sometimes this can work in your favour as you may not actually drive as far. Fingers crossed for you. It is a money maker by the DSA/government whoever/whatever but if you want to be legal and pass you have to conform to what they want you to do. So just practice, practice, practice and you will get there! Some of the examiners do seem a pain in the ass but they are only doing their jobs so don't give them any reason to fail you! Harsh but true. all the best of luck for your next test.
 
why do people think that its a mean examiner if they fail? OP, i'm sorry if this sounds mean but you failed because you couldn't pass the criteria required by the test! i've done both my class 2 and my trailer test and think that its a great thing that the gov't brought it in- yes its frutrating that there are a lot of crap trailer drivers out there who didn't have to do the test but within the next generation everyone will need a test and it will be fair...

before setting out on a test you should check with your instructor or the examiner what the rules are re. getting out of car/ how many shunts allowed etc. and sorry if you can't get the back of your trailer in the yellow box then you aren't as good at reversing as you think you are- if you had been two inches the other way you'd have crashed...so it IS important. i passed first time, it can't be that impossible :rolleyes:
 
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