Trailer help needed - plates and weights

KarlyHT

KarlyHT

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Evening all, I need your expertise. I am looking to possibly purchase a cheap horse trailer and have found one which has been totally refurbished, good condition and most importantly seems safe!

However... There is no manufacturers plate on it so there is no information on weights and capacities etc. The owner doesn't actually know the make and model!!

So my question is - is it a legal requirement to have a "plate" with weights etc on the trailer? I will get it weighed at a weigh bridge so will know the unladen weight to make sure that is legal but won't have maximum weights etc.

Any advice greatly appreciated... I have searched for hours online and can't get a definitive answer!

Thanks all!
 
If a trailer is old enough to be manufactured without a plate, it doesn't need a plate. If the plate is not present, you go by tyre ratings to establish MAM - I wouldn't know how to do it, but that is what you supposed to do :D
 
Thanks! That is really helpful! I am hoping ROG comes along to help too!

How would I find out the MAM without a plate?

The car is a VW Tiguan which weighs 2160kg with a towing capacity of 2000. The trailers I have been looking at are single horse trailers which weigh about 650kg and my horse weighs about 700kg also.

Soooo if I am correct then that would mean I could drive that on a post 1997 licence as its less than 3.5tonne. Is that remotely correct? It's just the GVW and MAMs that are throwing me as the trailer is not plated.
 
KarlyHT said:
Thanks! That is really helpful! I am hoping ROG comes along to help too!

How would I find out the MAM without a plate?

The car is a VW Tiguan which weighs 2160kg with a towing capacity of 2000. The trailers I have been looking at are single horse trailers which weigh about 650kg and my horse weighs about 700kg also.

Soooo if I am correct then that would mean I could drive that on a post 1997 licence as its less than 3.5tonne. Is that remotely correct? It's just the GVW and MAMs that are throwing me as the trailer is not plated.
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ROG who??? :D

Trailer with no serial number, no plate, no idea who made it will be treated in the same way as a home made trailer

That means it is subject to the same laws that govern manufacturered trailers in regards to brakes lighting etc etc

The unladen weight is easy to get - take it empty to a weighbridge

The MAM will now be determined by the TYRE LOAD RATINGS which are figures on the side walls of the tyres - HOW TO FIND THE TYRE LOAD RATINGS

The MAM is the total of all the tyre load ratings added together but cannot be taken as being higher than 3500 kgs
 
ROG you are a legend! Thank you! I think I get it. :confused:

So it's not just the unladen weight that needs to be taken into consideration, it's the MAM also. Very confusing without a plate though! Not sure I would trust myself working it out, ha!
 
KarlyHT said:
ROG you are a legend! Thank you! I think I get it. :confused:

So it's not just the unladen weight that needs to be taken into consideration, it's the MAM also. Very confusing without a plate though! Not sure I would trust myself working it out, ha!
Click to expand...

You tell me what the load index number is on each of the tyres and I will work it all out for you

Your PM is answered
 
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