Post by Hoovie on Feb 19, 2018 9:37:55 GMT
On my Towbar fitting post Chris (Three5) raised a very good question about TowBar Certification.
There are some very specific rules about Towing and Trailers, way too many to go into here, but in a nutshell (and as always, confirm for yourself as well before embarking on a similar path) this is what the situation is:
Towbar Certification
If a Towbar is fitted to a CAR registered after 1st August 1998, that Towbar must be Type Approved or it is illegal to use (and I understand even fitted and would cause an MOT Failure).
If the Towbar is fitted to a COMMERCIAL, there is no Type Approval required whatsoever whatever the vans age - but of course must be safe to use otherwise other offences would be committed.
A newer regulation that came into force on 1st April 2012 means that a Towbar fitted to a Motor Caravan registered on or after that date must have Type Approval - this would override the 'No Type Approval for Commercials' rule if a van is converted to a Motor Home or Campervan.
In my own case, I would not need a Type Approved Towbar even though I am converting as my vehicle is older than 2012, but it is prudent to have a product that has had rigorous testing, so the photo below highlights the certification number of the unit I just fitted and is an example of what to look for when checking for a Towebar for your own vehicle
Towbar Cert by David, on Flickr
Trailer Certification
Trailers built after October 2012 must have Approval. It was of course common place before then with commerically provided trailers, but this date means that it is no longer possible to just knock up a trailer out of separate bits and pieces on your driveway and tow it - it must get inspected and approved first.
Trailers older than Oct 2012 are exempt (but must be safe still of course!) and changing and adapting older trailers is still permitted without approval.
How this affects trailers that are built from old caravan platforms I am not sure - I suspect they would (should anyway) be classified as a new Trailer build?
There are some very specific rules about Towing and Trailers, way too many to go into here, but in a nutshell (and as always, confirm for yourself as well before embarking on a similar path) this is what the situation is:
Towbar Certification
If a Towbar is fitted to a CAR registered after 1st August 1998, that Towbar must be Type Approved or it is illegal to use (and I understand even fitted and would cause an MOT Failure).
If the Towbar is fitted to a COMMERCIAL, there is no Type Approval required whatsoever whatever the vans age - but of course must be safe to use otherwise other offences would be committed.
A newer regulation that came into force on 1st April 2012 means that a Towbar fitted to a Motor Caravan registered on or after that date must have Type Approval - this would override the 'No Type Approval for Commercials' rule if a van is converted to a Motor Home or Campervan.
In my own case, I would not need a Type Approved Towbar even though I am converting as my vehicle is older than 2012, but it is prudent to have a product that has had rigorous testing, so the photo below highlights the certification number of the unit I just fitted and is an example of what to look for when checking for a Towebar for your own vehicle
Towbar Cert by David, on Flickr
Trailer Certification
Trailers built after October 2012 must have Approval. It was of course common place before then with commerically provided trailers, but this date means that it is no longer possible to just knock up a trailer out of separate bits and pieces on your driveway and tow it - it must get inspected and approved first.
Trailers older than Oct 2012 are exempt (but must be safe still of course!) and changing and adapting older trailers is still permitted without approval.
How this affects trailers that are built from old caravan platforms I am not sure - I suspect they would (should anyway) be classified as a new Trailer build?
