American Trailers - What's the story?

[TheOrs]

A mate has just bought himself a Sea-Doo from Texas & is getting it shipped back over. The boat comes C/W a trailer but of course this is an American spec trailer.

(See attached picture. This is the actual trailer)

I've read lots of comments about American trailers & I've got a few questions:

1) Are they legal for use in this country?
2) If not, why not/what has to be changed?
3) Is the hitch going to be Metric or Imperial? If Imperial is it easy to swap for a metric one?
4) Any other hints or tips?

Cheers

 

[roofer]

A mate has just bought himself a Sea-Doo from Texas & is getting it shipped back over. The boat comes C/W a trailer but of course this is an American spec trailer.

(See attached picture. This is the actual trailer)

I've read lots of comments about American trailers & I've got a few questions:

1) Are they legal for use in this country?
2) If not, why not/what has to be changed?
3) Is the hitch going to be Metric or Imperial? If Imperial is it easy to swap for a metric one?
4) Any other hints or tips?

Cheers

1/ only if less than750kg gross
2/axle needs to be braked with handbrake
3/i think yanks are 2 inch,you can buy ball from castleford american autos in leeds

 

[Taz]

Yep roofer is right i have a yank trailer under my boat which i paid peanuts for the braking ststem worked for a bit but it was hydraulic and locked up so i cutted the pipes the hitch is of the 2 inch varity so you either need a bigger ball or a to change the hitch.

Legally u need to rip all the yanky brakes off and change to cable which i belive means u need to change the hubs and hitch anyways but if its under 750kg u get away with not needing brakes.

I never bothered spose depends how worried you are my trailer is free wheeling and running on the yanky hitch still

 

[TheOrs]

Thanks for the replies.

Boat without trailer is approx 900kg's. As far as he is aware trailer has no brakes.

Any ideas on the best place to buy hubs/hitch/cables/handbrake etc?

He's intending to tow with a 2.5 V6 Vectra hatch. My feeling is that brakes of some kind would be a good idea.

 

[Captain Chaos]

dont feckin bother.........................just tell ya mate to go easy.

Tow ball will fit.....they just rattle alot.

 

[Jon Fuller]

Some american trailers are also too wide for UK trailer regs (if you're worried about legality, which I aint)

 

[Cyco]

Ministry of transport

Legal regulations as follows:

Dimensions
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 and 12 metres respectively. If however the gross weight of the towing vehicle is 3.5 tonnes or less then the maximum permissible width and length are 2.3 metres and 7 metres respectively. In both cases the overall length of the towing vehicle and trailer must not exceed either 18m or 18.75m depending on the type of towing vehicle.

Brakes
Braking requirements are prescribed in Regulations 15 and 16 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 as amended and essentially require a trailer with a maximum design laden weight of more 750 kg to be braked and allow an inertia (overrun) type braking system to be used up to a maximum permissible laden weight of 3500kg. In use it is not permitted to use an unbraked trailer the laden weight of which exceeds 50% of the kerbside weight of the towing vehicle. For trailers up to 1500kg laden weight it is permitted to use a secondary coupling, which in the event of separation (NOT failure) of the main coupling will retain the trailer attached to the towing vehicle, prevent the nose of the trailer from touching the ground and provide some residual steering of the trailer. Above 1500 kg laden weight the trailer must be fitted with a device to stop the trailer automatically in the event of separation (NOT failure) of the main coupling and this is normally achieved by a breakaway cable attached to the parking brake mechanism - the trailer becomes detached from the towing vehicle.

Cyco

 

[darexms]

The SeaDoo trailer in the pic is the same as the one used in this country except when they get here, they retro fit them with cable brakes, handbrake and UK hitch lock mechanism. All bits to adapt it should (in theory) be available from your local unfriendly SeaDoo dealer.

I've got a UK '99 Speedster in the warehouse with the same trailer and the retro fitted brakes certainly haven't worked within the last 4 years.

 

[Taz]

www.towsure.com for all your trailer needs

 

[TheOrs]

Thanks guys.

 

[Ice Kiddie]

and http://www.trailerpartswarehouse.co.uk

and http://www.trailertek.com

(I'm in danger of becoming a trailer anorak! )