Trailer speed limits - same flex as normal cars?

[blugnu]

As we all know the speed limit on motorways is 70mph, but if you keep it under 80mph you would be be very unlucky to get pulled over.

I've got to tow a trailer (only a little 5 x 3 one) further than I would like later this week, and wondered if there is the same flexibility with speed limits - i.e. will I get ignored if I keep it under 70mph? Or is it the case that as there are thousands of cars going 80mph the police sort of have to ignore them, but trailers are rare enough for them to be interested?

Trailer is freshly serviced (i.e.the bearings are greased) and has brand new tyres btw.

Never towed before apart from to collect the trailer, so any advice appreciated.

Cheers.

[blugnu]

minky monkey said:

Random idea. Why not keep to the speed limit?

Ok I will.

[blugnu]

barker22 said:

Also remember no outside lane either, 3 points for that also.
We have restricted vans at work and we tow at 70mph when traffic is flowing, although if you see a camera van, don't risk it. You can knock 5mph sharpish just by lifting off

Thanks - I've just been reading the rules today as I've never towed and it's, erm, quite a while since I passed my test ergo a long time since I read the Highway Code.

It's a 350 mile journey so if I can average 45 instead of 40, for example, I'll save over an hour.

[blugnu]

Ki3r said:

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Speed limit is 60mph when towing.

Sorry - initial post isn't that clear - I meant speed limit is 70mph solo. Trailer is 60mph on motorway / dual carriageway, 50 on single carriageway. And no outside lane, as mentioned.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[blugnu]

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

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

[blugnu]

gothatway said:

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.

And if you only had a well-maintained single axle trailer with brand new (not that skinny really) tyres rated to carry a weight almost double the gross weight of the trailer at your disposal you just wouldn't go on holiday?

(Shudders at the recklessness of riding his bicycle)

[blugnu]

I'm not entirely clear on why you consider 250kg of well maintained railer on two wheels (as per it's design) supported at one end by 1.5 tonnes of car to be more dangerous, say, than 300kg of motorcycle and rider on two wheels.

Your opinion seems to be based on opinion rather than fact.