Max Legal Beam For Towing

[Brambles]

Originally posted by propwash
Trailer length would be to suit a 8 metre boat, towing vehicle is a grand cherokee so thats fine, weight is the worrying factor, its very, very, very close

Whilst your vehicle is capable of towing your rig, there is a regulation which states that if the kerb weight of the towing vehicle is less that 3.5 tonnes (which I think your Jeep is) the maximum lengh of trailer you can legally tow is 7 metres. See http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/group...ds_506866.hcsp See "Dimensions"

There is a lot of debate as to where the draw bar stops & the trailer starts when measuring a trailer. The Police will probably not bother, but you can bet your insurance company will in the event of an accident.

It maybe worth getting approval in writing from your insurance company.

Ian.

[verytricky]

interesting: From the website quoted..

1) In the case of light trailers ( that is less than 3500kg maximum laden weight ) there is not any specified relationship in UK law between the weight of the towing vehicle and the weight of the trailer.

2) If the gross weight of the towing vehicle is 3.5 tonnes or less then the maximum permissible width and length are 2.3 metres ( 7'8" ) and 7 metres ( 23' 4" ) respectively. The overall length of the towing vehicle and trailer must not exceed either 18m or 18.75m ( 60' ) depending on the type of towing vehicle.

3) If the towing vehicle has a permissible gross weight in excess of 3.5 tonnes the maximum width and length of the trailer are 2.55 metres ( 8'5" ) and 12 metres ( 40' ) respectively. The overall length of the towing vehicle and trailer must not exceed either 18m or 18.75m ( 60' ) depending on the type of towing vehicle.

This is different from that which I have seen before..

[jw.]

2) is incomplete and, as Brambles says, should read, '7 metres excluding the draw bar'.

But, remember, this is the trailer, the boat is the load and can be wider and longer. There is a good and full discussion on ribnet if you do a search. Actually, there's more than one.

[Ice Kiddie]

I'm still intrigued about a point that someone posted a while ago... glider trailers. They are huge, really huge!

Have a look at this: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/group...ty_023679.hcsp

[Ice Kiddie]

Originally posted by Ice Kiddie
I'm still intrigued about a point that someone posted a while ago... glider trailers. They are huge, really huge!

Have a look at this: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/group...ty_023679.hcsp

(sorry, digressed from width to length! )

[BluFin]

Originally posted by Trailer Bloke
come under 'Agricultural Trailer' laws- these allow the trailer to be 2500mm wide

Thats nufink, Aircraft Hangars come under "railway sheds"