Make sure you know the technical requirements when towing a trailer, from understanding trailer categories and required licensing, to mandatory roadworthiness testing and braking requirements.

TRAILER CATEGORIES

Trailers are classified as Category O vehicles, and are broken down into subcategories by their Design Gross Vehicle Weight (DGVW). The DGVW of a trailer is the gross weight of the trailer laden with the heaviest load which it can carry having regard to the general construction of the trailer. This figure is specified by the manufacturer.

• O1 Trailers have a DGVW not exceeding 0.75 tonnes.
• O2 Trailers have a DGVW exceeding 0.75 tonnes and not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
• O3 Trailers have a DGVW exceeding 3.5 tonnes and not exceeding 10 tonnes.
• O4 Trailers have a DGVW exceeding 10 tonnes.

Trailers in Categories O1 and O2 are light duty trailers such as car trailers, horseboxes, trailer caravans, boat trailers, etc.

Trailers in Categories O3 and O4 are heavy duty trailers, including heavy goods trailers and semi-trailers, i.e., the drawn component of an articulated vehicle.

LICENCE AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

For O1 Trailers

If you have an ordinary Category B licence, you may:

• Tow a trailer of up to 0.75 tonnes DGVW, with a vehicle with a DGVW not exceeding 3.5 tonnes and seating for up to 8 passengers (apart from the driver).
• Tow a trailer over 0.75 tonnes DGVW, with a vehicle with a DGVW not exceeding 3.5 tonnes provided the combination weight does not exceed 3.5 tonnes.

O1 trailers are not obliged to have brakes fitted unless they have a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), i.e. the weight of the trailer plus the load being carried, which is more than half the GVW of the towing vehicle to which they are attached.

If the trailer’s GVW is more than half the GVW of the towing vehicle, then the trailer must be fitted with a service brake, a parking brake and a device capable of automatically stopping the trailer if it becomes detached while in motion—i.e., a breakaway cable. As an alternative to a breakaway cable, a secondary coupling may be fitted.

For O2 Trailers

If you have an ordinary Category B licence, you may:

• Tow an O2 trailer, provided that the total design gross vehicle weight of the combination does not exceed a total of 3.5 tonnes..

If you have a Category BE licence, you may:

• Tow an O2 trailer, with a vehicle with a DGVW of up to 3.5 tonnes and seating for up to 8 passengers (apart from the driver), provided that the GVW of the trailer does not exceed the manufacturer’s rated towing capacity for the towing vehicle.

All O2 trailers must have brakes fitted. They must also be fitted with aservice brake, a parking brake and a device capable of automatically stopping the trailer if it becomes detached while in motion—i.e., a breakaway cable. As an alternative to a breakaway cable, a secondary coupling may be fitted.

If the trailer has more than one axle and does not have an automatic breakaway device that activates its brakes should it become detached from the towing vehicle while in motion, then it must be fitted with brakes and asecondary coupling consisting of a chain or wire rope.

Changes from June 1st 2011

O2 trailers manufactured from June 1st 2011 onwards must have brakes on all wheels and the brakes fitted must disengage automatically to allow the trailer to be reversed with minimum drag and must re-engage automatically in the forward direction.

02 trailers with a DGVW exceeding1.5 tonnes must be fitted with breakaway cable capable of automatically stopping the trailer if it becomes detached while in motion; however those with a DGVW not exceeding 1.5 tonnes may be fitted with secondary coupling as an alternative.

For O3 and 04 Trailers.

If you want to pull an O3 or O4 trailer, the licence required will depend on the type of towing vehicle you’re using and the trailer’s DGVW.

O3 and O4 trailers used on public roads must be:

• Licensed by the Local Authority in which they are ordinarily kept, i.e. your local motor tax office. Licensed trailers are then issued with a licensing card. The period of the licence is twelve months and there is no fee for renewal of licence. Further information on ; First Licensing, Renewal of Licence, Change of Particulars including Address, Trailer Scrapped/Destroyed/Exported from the DOEHLG website.
• Fitted with a national ‘Weights and dimensions’ plate and undergo an annual roadworthiness test known as the CVT for HGVs. You can prepare for this test by viewing the HGV Test Manual(PDF 1.9MB).
• Fitted with brakes, including a secondary or emergency brake and a parking brake, rear and side underrun and conspicuity markings etc, all of which are checked during the annual roadworthiness test.

Changes from June 1st 2011

• All O3 and O4 trailers first licensed in the State (new or imported) from June 1st 2011 onwards must be fitted with ABS or EBS and the system must be maintained in working order. More information on the new braking requirements applying to vehicles from June 1st 2011 can be found in our Information note on Amendments to Vehicle Braking regulations(PDF).
• Where fitted to both the towing vehicle and trailer, the ISO 7638 connector must be used irrespective of when either was first registered.

Source: http://www.rsa.ie