Do caravans need an mot ?
Discussion
Just wondering as two tried to kill me on Thursday night as i travelled from Plymouth to Glasgow. First one had a blowout as it tried to overtake a lorry near the M5/M6 interchange, fair dues to the driver as he controlled the incident very well but the van did look old and knackered. Second one shortly after as the M6/M6 toll join up, the wheel came off this one, must of happened moments before i got there as his wheel was on the carrigeway while his caravan was at a jaunty angle on the hard shoulder, didn't see it till the last moment as it was dusk and raining heavily and only just managed to avoid it...........shaky leg moment. So are they subject to an annual saftey test ?
Actually, when they do have a wheel problem they usually flip and are instantly turned to matchwood
Might hold things up for a while but it does get them off the road quicker than a HMR&C officer checking for red diesel, which has to be a good thing.
Might hold things up for a while but it does get them off the road quicker than a HMR&C officer checking for red diesel, which has to be a good thing.
Edited by Denis O on Saturday 28th August 15:36
I have allway beleived that trailers and caravans over a certain size/weight should have an annual test. That is, chassis condition, tyres, brakes, suspension and lighting checks. Most caravans sit for 5 month a year and then are taken on a long trip, They can last for years and often have very old tyres but with good tread, the owners are non the wiser that they can fail due to age. Hate them myself.
Mind you the first one would've taken me with it 
bubblehead said:
That'd be a no then. F
ing things are bad enough normally, weaving all over the place and holding up traffic but when they go suicidal and try and take me with them (these were pretty big caravans) then maybe they should be tested to keep the dangerous ones off the road.
Don't tar all caravaners with the same brush. My parents only use theirs a few times a year but tyres are pumped to correct pressures/changed when age required rather than wear (age is usually before wear on most trailer tyres I would imagine) and the rest checked over. And as for all over the weaving - blame the new type stabilisers designed for the towballs which detach in order to not be visible when it's not in use. The parents had to get an aftermarket towball to match the old style stabiliser we have because it wouldn't work with these towballs which can be detached and the old stabiliser will hold the 1.5ton caravan perfectly straight at leptons around the 0.7 mark!ing things are bad enough normally, weaving all over the place and holding up traffic but when they go suicidal and try and take me with them (these were pretty big caravans) then maybe they should be tested to keep the dangerous ones off the road.Plank said:
I have allway beleived that trailers and caravans over a certain size/weight should have an annual test. That is, chassis condition, tyres, brakes, suspension and lighting checks. Most caravans sit for 5 month a year and then are taken on a long trip, They can last for years and often have very old tyres but with good tread, the owners are non the wiser that they can fail due to age. Hate them myself.
As a caravanner myself I would agree with the concept of legally required checks. I pay a great deal of attention to all tyres pressures, loading balance and so on in both caravan and car.I see some, and agree they should not be on the road!
Plank said:
I have allway beleived that trailers and caravans over a certain size/weight should have an annual test. That is, chassis condition, tyres, brakes, suspension and lighting checks. Most caravans sit for 5 month a year and then are taken on a long trip, They can last for years and often have very old tyres but with good tread, the owners are non the wiser that they can fail due to age. Hate them myself.
As a caravanner myself I would agree with the concept of legally required checks. I pay a great deal of attention to all tyres pressures, loading balance and so on in both caravan and car.I see some, and agree they should not be on the road!
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