Few questions about towing ??

[silverbullitt]

Did a bit of digging and found this on boards ...
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2056115062

Lads

Just to update. Took a lesson on the EB.

The instructor informed me and after reading it on the RSA website, that from 4 April 2011 any person applying for a provisional licence (learner permit) will have to take out 12 compulsory driving lessons (€€€€ !!!) No, the lessons you did for B don't count, EB is separate

Simply, get your prov EB before March if your towing a trailer and save €'s

[Chuck_g]

I have my Provo Eb with a few years, does me fine and gaurds never touch me.

[jeff nelson sileighty]

my dad has an eb licence he said he just applied for it and got it...no test involved but he said twas cause he was driving for so long he wasnt required to do the test??

[Boguey001]

I may be wrong lads but i think if you get the ridget lorry licence it covers the car and trailer licence plus you wud hav a provisional for an artic licence, i think thats how it works would have to check though coz i aint fully sure.

[kouki_kid]

Ive got a syncro transporter and a brian James Club never had any probs with
weights on it. Your B licence is only up to 750kgs after that you need an EB
It does not come with the rigid IE C licence I got mine automatically when I
passed my artic test You get all E's with that Bar the bus. Ive never heard of
anybody getting stuck for licence but a prov licence would probably cover
you no problem!!!

[mkeogh]

wouldn worry about the licence lad , nobody bothers doin it really.. never get stopped.....

Getting stopped by the gardai isnt the problem, its your insurance being void if you have an accident towing a trailer and dont have the prov or full eb licence

[Blacklimited]

What are the Trailer Regulations?
All trailers used in Ireland's public spaces must meet with Irish road safety regulations. They set out rules for trailers' weight, lights, brakes, plating, under-run, side-guards, securing of loads, etc.

There are three main pieces of legislation:

Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations as amended—outlines the maximum weight and dimensions for trailers
Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations as amended—outlines the braking requirements for trailers
Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations as amended—outlines the lighting requirements for trailers
Which trailers have to follow these regulations?
All trailers must follow these regulations, but there are specific rules for the driving licence you must have and the brakes your trailer must have depending on trailer type. Trailers are classified by their weight when they are carrying a load, which is called the Design Gross Vehicle Weight (DGVW) or maximum mass.

Trailer categories:

O1 Trailers = DGVW less than 0.75 tonnes. This includes small car trailers.
O2 Trailers = DGVW between 0.75 and 3.5 tonnes. This includes larger trailers, horseboxes and most caravans.O3 Trailers = DGVW between 3.5 and 10 tonnes.
O4 Trailers = DGVW over 10 tonnes. This includes heavy trailers and articulated or semi-trailers.
Driving Licence requirements
The licence required will depend on what type of towing vehicle you are driving, i.e., whether you are using a car, a truck or a bus.


Towing an O1 or an O2 trailer with a car, 4x4 or a small van
With an ordinary category B licence, a person can

tow a trailer of up to 0.75 tonnes DGVW, with a vehicle with a DGVW of up to 3.5 tonnes and seating for up to eight passengers (apart from the driver). The combination weight cannot exceed 4.25 tonnes.
tow a trailer exceeding 0.75 tonnes DGVW, provided that the DGVW of the trailer does not exceed the un-laden weight of the towing vehicle, and the maximum combination weight does not exceed a total of 3.5 tonnes.With an EB licence, a person can

tow a trailer exceeding 0.75 tonnes DGVW, with a vehicle with a DGVW of up to 3.5 tonnes and seating for up to eight passengers (apart from the driver) provided that the manufacturer’s rated towing capacity for the towing vehicle is not exceeded.



For towing O3 and O4 trailers
The licence required will depend on what type of vehicle is being used and the trailer size.

Brake requirements
For O1 Trailers (DGVW not exceeding 0.75 tonnes)
O1 trailers with a single axle are not obliged to have brakes provided that their DGVW is less than half the DGVW of the towing vehicle.
O1 trailers that have a DGVW greater than half of the DGVW weight of the towing vehicle or that have two or more axles must have brakes fitted.



For O2 Trailers (DGVW between 0.75 & 3.5 tonnes)
All O2 trailers must also have brakes fitted. The braking system must include a parking brake.
If the O2 trailer does not have an automatic breakaway device that activates its brakes should it become detached from the vehicle, then it must be fitted with a secondary coupling consisting of a chain or wire rope.



For O3 & O4 Trailers (DGVW exceeding 3.5 tonnes)
O3 & O4 trailers must be

licenced for use on the public road.
plated and undergo an annual roadworthiness test.
fitted with brakes, a secondary or emergency brake and a parking brake, all of which are checked during the roadworthiness test.

Further details are available in the HGV Test Manual. (Link to HGV Manual)

What you can do to improve safety
Make sure that your vehicle and trailer (and all parts and equipment):

are in good working order and correctly maintained
are used safely and won't harm anyone
are able to carry the load
Make sure that the load you are carrying:

does not affect the stability of the vehicle or the trailer
is securely attached to the vehicle or trailer
It is your responsibility to know the capacity and the limits of your vehicle, tow hitch and trailer and to make sure that you never operate beyond these.

Please consult your owner’s handbook for all the details on your vehicle's towing limits. Many vehicles will have a higher towing capacity/limit for a trailer fitted with brakes and a far lower capacity/limit if towing a trailer without brakes.
As a driver you are legally required to never exceed the manufacturers' design specifications for the car, the tow hitch or the trailer.
Future Trailer Regulations
Starting in 2012, all trailers will be required to comply with European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) and its related approval schemes. ECWVTA will test trailers on brakes, lighting, coupling devices, etc. A trailer must pass these tests before it can enter the European fleet or enter into service on Irish roads.

There are also new national schemes to approve trailers: both those manufactured in low volume in Ireland, and for trailers manufactured or imported individually.

[NIALL JZX]

Getting stopped by the gardai isnt the problem, its your insurance being void if you have an accident towing a trailer and dont have the prov or full eb licence

well i suppose thats your decision wheather to chance it or not..

[mkeogh]

well i suppose thats your decision wheather to chance it or not..

Exactly, but for the sake of two passport photos and €15, the provisional is worth getting

[silverbullitt]

Exactly, but for the sake of two passport photos and €15, the provisional is worth getting

So true , i'll be heading in to get mine in the morning anyway ..
better to be safe than to be sorry