Trailer speed limits - same flex as normal cars?

[Super Slo Mo]

grumpyscot said:

Speed limits are defined for a reason, and if towing a lightly loaded or small trailer, then stick to them.

I don't think it's sufficient to suggest that the trailer will be safe at the speed limit, and not when over it. It's a judgment call the driver has to make I feel.

I recall towing a big trailer some years back, weighing in at comfortably more than 3 tonnes all up, probably closer to 3.5, and it was a real handful when used in combination with a series 1 Discovery with no anti-roll bars. It was quite simply dangerous at anything over 50 mph, it'd start to weave or snake quite severely, and with the trailer being so heavy, it pulled the car around a lot.
It was better behind a series 2 Disco with the better suspension that was fitted to that model, and could safely achieve 60 without issue.

On the other hand, I've towed at quite a bit over the limit with a small (8'x4') loaded box trailer and it's been good as gold.

As I say, it's something the driver will have to decide on the day, it might be fine at the limit or thereabouts, it might not.

[barker22]

lbc said:

Most people I see with a trailer use lane 3 on motorways, so either they don't know the law or don't care.

I think a lot of people just 'don't know'
IIRC it was anyone who passed before 97 didn't have to sit a trailer test. So potentially anyone over 36 ish who did their test when they hit 17.

[blugnu]

I know a little about lightly loaded trailers having collected this one. I know, for example, that even at a speed far lower than you'd think necessary, an empty 5 x 3 trailer will take off on a speed bump.

The trailer has a max gross weight of 350kg, and I reckon it will have about 200kg on/in it - add on the weight of the trailer and I guess you're looking at 250kg all in.

I much preferred it with the roof box and bikes on a carrier.

[rewc]

barker22 said:

I think a lot of people just 'don't know'
IIRC it was anyone who passed before 97 didn't have to sit a trailer test. So potentially anyone over 36 ish who did their test when they hit 17.

Many people do not know that you do not need to pass a trailer test to tow a trailer. The B only licence is quite generous with its towing capacities.

[speedking31]

Since most of the network is subject to 60 / 50 / 40 mph limits towing a trailer will make very little difference to the driving experience.

[blugnu]

rewc said:

Many people do not know that you do not need to pass a trailer test to tow a trailer. The B only licence is quite generous with its towing capacities.

That will be me then - I can tow quite a lot without any more testing - iirc the limit is 750kg without the extra categories I have by dint of being middle-aged - i.e. not quite enough to tow a caravan.

[rewc]

blugnu said:

That will be me then - I can tow quite a lot without any more testing - iirc the limit is 750kg without the extra categories I have by dint of being middle-aged - i.e. not quite enough to tow a caravan.

With catergory B licence only you can tow much more than 750kg.You can tow a trailer weighing up to 750kg with a vehicle having a MGW of 3500kg giving a train weight of 4250kg. If the trailer is over 750kg then the maximum train weight is 3500kg.

[Jarcy]

I regularly tow a reasonably weighty trailer - caravan, or track car on a car trailer.
Towing currently with an E-class which is a very stable combination.
Even so, 70mph would be my personal limit even if there were no legislative restrictions.
But quite comfortable towing within the 65 - 70mph range. Once above 70 it feels "iffy". 80 is scarey (did it by accident momentarily abroad).

I don't really understand the 50mph A-road limit though. I ignore it and drive at 60mph with the flow of the rest of the traffic. If it's stable at 60mph on a motorway, then should be the same on an A-road.

I wasn't aware that speed cameras could differentiate between towing and solo vehicles. Any corroboration to this insight?

[Shaun_E]

Check the speed rating of the tyres on the trailer. Some of the little box trailers have very low speed rated tyres as standard and a long drive at sustained high speed might destroy them - I know from experience! Luckily we had a spare.

[Vipers]

If your pulled, tell them you just had the bearings greased, that will work.

[blugnu]

Vipers said:

If your pulled, tell them you just had the bearings greased, that will work.

you're

[blugnu]

Shaun_E said:

Check the speed rating of the tyres on the trailer. Some of the little box trailers have very low speed rated tyres as standard and a long drive at sustained high speed might destroy them - I know from experience! Luckily we had a spare.

The 'no name' ones I've just bought (that's me limited to walking pace) are rated to 140km/h (87mph) which surprised me. (The 30 year old Continentals that came off didn't seem to have a speed rating.)

I did occur to me that an 8 inch tyre is going to do a lot of rotations in 300 miles - were you driving yours at over the rating, or is it something to be wary of regardless of the official rating?

[Vipers]

blugnu said:

Vipers said:

If your pulled, tell them you just had the bearings greased, that will work.

you're

Cheers. Always mix that up. Can I blame the spill cheka.

[garyjc]

Unless of course you are driving a French registered Cayenne towing a high and very wide covered trailer (something like a trailer tent, but much bigger), without any extension mirrors making it impossible to see behind you at all. In which case you have the full flexibity to be travelling at speeds in excess of 80mph, overtaking and using the 3rd/4th lanes of the M25.

I saw this unbelievable act of stupidity on Monday 27th, evening around 7pm, travelling west on the M25.

[jeffw]

Jarcy said:

I wasn't aware that speed cameras could differentiate between towing and solo vehicles. Any corroboration to this insight?

Yes, I spent time on a speed awareness course as a result of doing 67 in a 70 limit with a trailer on the back. The car in front of me passed the camera with no issue while pulling away from me and the camera flashed me at an indicated 70-72mph.

[Corpulent Tosser]

Jarcy said:

I wasn't aware that speed cameras could differentiate between towing and solo vehicles. Any corroboration to this insight?

I can confirm that at least some cameras can differentiate as I got done for 70mph at Blackburn nr Stirling.

[speedking31]

Is it the camera or a human with a bit of spare time randomly flicking through the photos looking for anomalies?

[Corpulent Tosser]

There would be no photo if the camera hadn't been able to detect that the trailer was there.

[blugnu]

Journey successfully completed - mainly at indicated 62 / sat nav 60 or stop-start.

10 hours to cover 320 miles on the way back ...

[gothatway]

blugnu said:

Journey successfully completed

Well done - though for myself there's no way I would consider towing a single axle trailer with small wheels and skinny tyres for any distance at any speed. Just imagine the effect of a blow-out - far far worse than a blow-out on a properly balanced twin (or triple) axle rig - which will have tougher tyres to start with.