Has anyone done the B+E trailer test? Any tips?

[ponyforever]

Hi

I have my trailer test next week!! I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips or advice?

I have been practicing and have had professional lessons, but I wanted to hear from anyone who has actually survived the test.

Thanks x

 

[ROG]

any help = http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?733893-Towing-test-after-1997!

Also take a look at post number 2000 in the top link in my signature below

 

[Cinder]

I did mine in June. Had four hours of training then straight into my test. The hardest part was remembering to drive "correctly" again! Eg hands on steering wheel, checking mirrors a lot etc.

 

[Equi]

Just relax!!! Count how many things you need to do and Tick them off. I failed before leaving the yard cause I forgot to check my brake lights after doing everything else perfectly

Passed second time with nothing examiner had to make up three minors so my sheet didn't look too clean. He filled them in at the station lol

 

[abbijay]

After hitching up, remember to take the trailer handbrake off before you drive away...
Sounds so simple doesn't it!
I forgot due to being a quivering wreck about doing a driving test. I swore, I apologised, I got back out and took the handbrake off, I cried a little bit, I apologised again. Somehow I still passed!
So moral of the story, relax and even if something goes wrong you might still be ok.

 

[ROG]

If the examiner says - are you happy with that ? - then always say no and recheck it all again

 

[horsse]

If the examiner says - are you happy with that ? - then always say no and recheck it all again

Thanks for the tips! Do you have any tips for hitching on? The videos I have seen on youtube show the candidate manoeuvring the trailer onto the tow hitch after applying the breakaway cable, however, the trailers now have to carry a 600kg weight and my trailer is a Ifor Williams 510 - thus I cannot manoeuvre it by hand. Do you know if I am able to get out and see how far away I am from the tow bar multiple times?

I have a mirror which helps, but I am a bit concerned about hitching on with a big heavy trailer. I have loaded my weight and there is no way I can manoeuvre the horse trailer onto the hitch without being 100% accurate with my reversing.

 

[ROG]

Thanks for the tips! Do you have any tips for hitching on? The videos I have seen on youtube show the candidate manoeuvring the trailer onto the tow hitch after applying the breakaway cable, however, the trailers now have to carry a 600kg weight and my trailer is a Ifor Williams 510 - thus I cannot manoeuvre it by hand. Do you know if I am able to get out and see how far away I am from the tow bar multiple times?

I have a mirror which helps, but I am a bit concerned about hitching on with a big heavy trailer. I have loaded my weight and there is no way I can manoeuvre the horse trailer onto the hitch without being 100% accurate with my reversing.

They will allow a reasonable amount of vehicle shuffling to line up but not to a point where they feel it is wasting time

I have never seen a time where a candidate cannot move a trailer a little by hand but that can only be done with the breakaway safety cable attached

Always make sure the jockey wheel is pointing to the rear when unhitching so it can move forward easy by hand

 

[lydia]

I did my test in April (and again in May &#128584 failed the first time in the couple/recouple. My advice is to practise that in the way the test wants you to! I have to say I was so (unnecessarily) nervous in the first test. I read somewhere that that manoeuvre was done at that end of the test but my instructor asked me to do it just after the reverse at the beginning and I just panicked! So relax is the second bit of advice! Good luck

 

[ponyforever]

They will allow a reasonable amount of vehicle shuffling to line up but not to a point where they feel it is wasting time

I have never seen a time where a candidate cannot move a trailer a little by hand but that can only be done with the breakaway safety cable attached

Always make sure the jockey wheel is pointing to the rear when unhitching so it can move forward easy by hand

Thank you very much for the jockey wheel advice- I will definitely do that!

I was also wondering if you have any tips for reversing the trailer up to the barrier in the box? My trailer has a spare wheel on the back, so I assume that the spare wheel will count towards my trailer being in the yellow part of the box? At the moment I sort of guess how far back the trailer is, get out and look and take it back a little further - am I missing any tricks?

Thanks for taking the time to help

 

[ponyforever]

I did my test in April (and again in May �&#56904 failed the first time in the couple/recouple. My advice is to practise that in the way the test wants you to! I have to say I was so (unnecessarily) nervous in the first test. I read somewhere that that manoeuvre was done at that end of the test but my instructor asked me to do it just after the reverse at the beginning and I just panicked! So relax is the second bit of advice! Good luck

Thanks for sharing your experience- I will practice the correct order

 

[ROG]

Thank you very much for the jockey wheel advice- I will definitely do that!

I was also wondering if you have any tips for reversing the trailer up to the barrier in the box? My trailer has a spare wheel on the back, so I assume that the spare wheel will count towards my trailer being in the yellow part of the box? At the moment I sort of guess how far back the trailer is, get out and look and take it back a little further - am I missing any tricks?

Thanks for taking the time to help

Put something like a white fag packet on the ground at the rear of trailer but viewable from the driver mirror then put a bit of tape or tipex on part of the trailer which lines up with the fag packet looking through the mirror - you then know where the rearmost part of the trailer is

 

[puppystitch]

You should definitely still be able to move the trailer slightly by hand. It might take some pushing and shoving but the do move relatively easily, even with the weight. You'll find it easier if you wind the jockey wheel to slightly raise the front of the trailer so that the weight shifts more to the back.