Beiträge getagged mit: "driving with a trailer"

Depending on the purpose for which you need a trailer, a different trailer type is used. A rigid drawbar trailer is generally used for transport by car, for example to transport a boat or horses. This is certainly the most common trailer in everyday life. But there are two other types of trailers that are used quite often.

Each trailer type has a specific purpose and has special specifications. At the same time, not all trailer types are compatible with a trailer coupling, such as a semi-trailer. So that you can still keep track of the different types, we have put together the three most common trailer types for you. As a rule, a distinction based on the design is used for the various trailer types.

What actually defines a trailer?

A trailer is defined as a vehicle that has a loading area but no drive of its own and is connected to a towing vehicle using a drawbar. A distinction is made between the following three basic designs: rigid drawbar trailer, articulated drawbar trailer and semitrailer.

The rigid drawbar trailer

A rigid drawbar trailer is always used when the connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer, i.e. the drawbar, is rigid. This type of construction is the most common, most of the trailers in daily use follow this type of construction. Trailers of this type usually have one or two axles. The axles are also rigid and not steerable.
Rigid drawbar trailers up to 750 kg are so-called “light” trailers and can be used without their own brake. If the trailer is heavier then overrun brakes are required on the trailer. If the total permissible total weight is over 3.5 tons, a continuous breaking system must be installed. For most of the above mentioned scenarios trailers which are rigid drawbar trailers are used.

The articulated drawbar trailer

The articulated drawbar trailer differs from the rigid drawbar trailer due to its two or more steerable axles. This steering is mostly based on a turntable steering, a so-called king pin is installed as a central joint and enables the trailer to pivot. As a rule, such trailers are not used on most cars. Instead, they are increasingly being used with trucks or tractors, since as a two-axle vehicle they can weigh up to 20 tons in total. With a three-axle vehicle the total weight is already 24 tons.

The semitrailer

Most people will know this trailer as an artculated lorry. The semi-trailer has no drawbar and is not one of the classic trailers for cars. It is usually used on trucks, and the special connection construction between the semi-trailer and ist traction engine enables it to be moved in all directions.

Read more about driving a trailer in our blog post.

You have to pay attention to this when parking the trailer

How, where, when and for how long is it allowed to park your trailer and under what conditions? What to look out for? All of this is regulated in the schedule of penalties. For example, when driving the trailer and then parking it, you must have your wheel chocks with you and protect the trailer against rolling away when parking. It is also not allowed to park the trailer in the same public place for longer than two weeks without the towing vehicle. In principle, you should of course always park your trailer so that ongoing traffic is not disturbed by the trailer.

The interaction of towing vehicle and trailer

Of course, the connection between the vehicle and the trailer is also relevant for driving with a trailer. The towbar must be in good condition and approved. We take over the approval of our products, so our towbars are approved according to regulation ECE 55 (previously 94/20 / EG) and manufactured according to all valid rules and the latest technology. You no longer need to have our trailer couplings checked and registered at a test center, you just have to carry our assembly and operating instructions with you. This is the so-called ABE. It is not permitted to make changes to the towbar yourself as this will invalidate the approval. However, if you have installed a towbar that has been changed, for example, and traffic safety can be influenced, you must expect a fine. A differentiation is made once again as to whether “only” there was a hazard or even an accident. Even if you drive a trailer with a trailer coupling that does not comply with the regulations or if you allow this as a vehicle owner, fines will be imposed.

Below you will find the graduation for the offenses when parking:

• Trailer guided, without carrying chocks: € 5
• Trailers without a car parked in the same place for more than two weeks: € 20
• Team led with improper AHK: € 25
• Driving a team with an incorrect towbar approved as a vehicle owner: € 35
• Team led despite poor connection of vehicle and trailer, which would impair traffic safety: € 135, 1 point
• In spite of a faulty connection between motor vehicle and trailer that would impair traffic safety, the team was at risk: € 165, 1 point
• In spite of a faulty connection between motor vehicle and trailer, which would impair traffic safety, the team led with an accident: € 200, 1 point

You can find more information on the website of the German schedule of penalties.

Of course, before you retrofit a trailer hitch, you first have to determine whether your car has ever been designed to travel with the trailer and is approved as a towing vehicle. You can find all the information you need on the nameplate of the vehicle. The data are both in the service booklet and usually on a sticker that is housed in the spare wheel module. If it can not be found there, you will find information in the owner’s manual of the vehicle on where to findyour nameplate. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer and the approval number, the chassis number can also be found there. The second line also specifies technically permissible weights. Underneath you will also find the permissible trailer weight.

This indicates the permissible trailer weight

As the name implies, the trailer weight indicates how heavy the combination of vehicle and trailer may be. Thus, it is clear that a combination may exist, so theoretically a trailer could be drawn. It then depends on the value. The weight of the vehicle must be deducted from the weight of the trailer in order to clarify whether and, if so, with what weight a trailer can be towed.

In addition, you can also consult the vehicle registration, which is the easier way. The vehicle registration indicates with the values ​​O1 and O2, which braked and unbraked towing load is technically permissible for the vehicle. If you can not find any values ​​there, the vehicle is not allowed to drive with a trailer.

What happens if your vehicle is not allowed as a towing vehicle and still pulls a trailer?

In order for a vehicle to be approved for trailer use, some points have to be met already in the development of the vehicle. Thus, for example, the motorization of the car is adapted to the possible use as towing vehicle, or special attachment points for the trailer hitch are defined by the vehicle manufacturer. Also, the cooling of the engine and other system must be defined separately for the optional trailer drive. If your car is not suitable and approved for the load and service as a towing vehicle, it will cause a variety of damage to the vehicle if it is still used to tow a trailer.

In Germany there are many different license classes, among these are also some that regulate and influence driving with a trailer. We had a look at the different licenses and summarized the key data for you. A distinction is made between the driving license class 3, class B, class B96 and class BE.

The driving license class 3

This certificate is already older and has been replaced by the class B. Thus it is old, it is not invalid and confirmes the permission for its owners to drive a car up to 3.5 tons total weight. In addition, the Class 3 license also allows you to drive trucks of up to 7.5 tonnes overall weight and three-axe trailers of up to 12 tonnes total weight (as long as the towing vehicle is not heavier than 7.5 tonnes). This means that combinations of up to 3.5 tons can be driven. Also included in the Class 3 license are motorcycles, trikes and agricultural tractors up to 40 km/h.

Your options in driving with a trailer when owning a driving license class B

If you have a class B license, you can drive up to 3.5 tonnes. Exceptions are motorcycles, which fall under the driving license classes AM, A1, A2 and A. In addition, the addressed motor vehicles may not have more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat. When driving with a trailer, the category B driving license allows to tow trailers with a total mass of a maximum of 750 kg, or a maximum authorized mass of more than 750 kg, provided the maximum permissible mass of car and trailer does not exceed the value of 3500 kg.

The driving license class B96

This driver’s license is a supplement to the class B and is therefore also noted in the driver’s license. If you have this extension, it is allowed to drive trailers with a total weight of more than 750 kg. In addition, the permissible total weight of the combination of vehicle and trailer, which you may tow, increases. Namely, the permissible total weight of the class B96 billet may then be between 3500 kg and 4250 kg.

Driving with the driving license class BE

If you have a driving license class BE, then you are as flexible as possible when driving with the trailer. This is a combination of the class B and the permission to drive with trailer. The maximum permissible weight of the trailer may be up to 3.5 tonnes. So this is the driver’s license with which you can pull the heaviest trailer.

Before you start moving with your trailer, you should go through and check certain items from your checklist. We have put together for you the most important points that you should absolutely check before leaving, so that you are well prepared for the next ride with the trailer.

Our checklist: These points should be checked before driving with the trailer

1. Make sure that the trailer’s ball coupling is actually snapped onto the tow bar’s ball bar. Many tags have a tag to detect, so you can be sure that everything is correct – even if you may not hear the click sound.
2. Be sure to check the turn signals and lights before starting. Due to the electrical kit towing vehicle and trailer are electronically connected to each other, whether everything is working properly there, you should check before every trailer ride by checking the flashing and light functions. In addition, you should also take a closer look at all the reflectors, are they perhaps too polluted?
3. Is the safety rope correctly attached to the vehicle? In some EU countries, this requires specific brackets. How to fasten the tear-off rope correctly, we present you in our post.
4. Have you kept all the values? When driving with a trailer, the vertical load that the vehicle and the trailer hitch allow should not be exceeded. The trailer hitch can often „endure“ more than the vehicle, but the lower value is decisive.
5. Make sure you get your cargo right before starting. Large heavy parts should be down, the weight should be basically evenly distributed and nothing should be able to fly back and forth. This can change the driving behavior of the trailer while driving and you can quickly lose track.
6. Finally, you should go around the whole trailer again. Is the handbrake released? Is the jockey wheel cranked up? Are possible flaps closed? Are the 12 in good shape? You should be able to check all these points at a glance and keep an eye on the tires for driving in different weather conditions.

Now you only have to adjust the interior mirrors on the vehicle and if necessary put the additional mirrors into operation. Then you have already completed the checklist, you can go and start your trip with the trailer. Good ride!

Maneuvering with a trailer, parking and normal driving is often not as easy as one would wish. For driving with a trailer, you do not only have to get used to the big yoke, but also always pay attention to the restrictions of the driver’s license.

Even with practice, maneuvering and reversing with the trailer is often the most difficult t ask. To make sure that this is no longer a hurdle, we have put together five tips that make reversing with a trailer easier and prepare you for the next shunting.

What you should look out for when maneuvering

1. Before you start driving and, for example, place the trailer in a parking space, you should make sure to adjust your mirrors so that you can see the trailer well. You may not neglect the interior mirror, this is of course much less used than usual, but it can be a help when reversing, since you can watch the trailer well in there and you can make out landmarks on the trailer. Of course, you might alreday know this from attaching, once you have no helper, attaching through landmarks on the trailer becomes easier even without help.
2. When going backwards, make sure you drive slowly and steer. The smaller the trailer, the more it reacts to your steering movements. So, if you slow things down a bit, you can avoid the trailer suddenly taking a position that you either could not predict or could not easily undo. If you are slow, you can brake at any time and react to movements of the trailer.
3. If you are not sure about the distances when parking, you should get a referrer to help you. If you do not have anyone, get out in between and see how much maneuvering space you still have.
4. Make sure the angle does not get too steep when reversing. Because the steeper the angle is, the more elaborate is the parking in the parking space for you. If possible, drive a bit farther away from the parking space, then relax in a gentle arc.
5. When choosing the parking space, you should make sure in advance that this is not only big enough, but you also have enough space to maneuver. Consider the length of your team and act accordingly anticipatory.

For some years now the PDC (Park Distance Control) system has been a standard feature of a car. When reversing sensors recognize obstacles behind the car, the board computer gives the driver an optical and/or acoustic signal.
In reality, a trailer should always be recognised as an obstacle, because it is directly at the tail end of the car. The PDC should really go haywire and permanently give warning signals. But it doesn’t – and why not? The reason is that the PDC shuts down, which is realised in various ways.
Heinz Hueber, Technical Manager of our Electrical Kit Department, explains how the Park Distance Control can be switched off with retro-fit trailer hitches and how the PDC shutdown functions.

1. Complete integration into the onboard electronics of the towing vehicle
If a towbar is installed by a car manufacturer in the factory, the electronics will be completely integrated with the onboard electronics of the towing car. Trailer operation is then activated in the board computer so that the board computer automatically knows when the trailer plug is inserted into the socket, e.g. that the car’s PDC and the rear fog light have to be switched off and possibly the trailer combination stabilisation switched on.
If a trailer hitch is retro-fitted the coupling electronics into the onboard electronics of the towing vehicle could also be integrated by a specialist workshop. For this, the control units in the vehicle must be manually activated with a tester (Caution! Not every tester can activate control units). There will be additional costs.
Unfortunately, not all car manufacturers authorise the access to the intelligent board electronics. Sometimes after a service at an authorized workshop the activation is reset. Therefore, the manufacturers of retro-fit trailer hitches solve the PDC shutdown by means of an electronic or mechanical trailer identification.

2. Control module in the electrical kit is used for recognition
A control module is built into the electrical kit delivered along with the towbar. This module detects the electrical load of the trailer lighting and passes on the information to the board electronics accordingly. Here we can latch into the board electronics of the towing vehicle, but without activation. The PDC shutdown is either switched on or off manually via a P-OFF switch, which many cars have, or automatically via an intelligent control module of the electrical kit, which also switches the trailer rear fog light on and off. Disadvantage: further driver assistance systems will not be adapted.

3. Micro-switch interrupts the power supply
The easiest solution is a mechanical micro-switch in the towbar socket. If the connector of the trailer is plugged in the micro-switch bumps off and interrupts the power supply to the PDC. At the same time the rear fog light will be switched off on the towing vehicle – only the rear fog light on the trailer will shine, not on the towing vehicle.

4. Digital communication via databus (CAN)
Nowadays many vehicles communicate via a databus. Here all information is digitally transported via a two-wire cable. The control modules are, connected with one another via the data bus, CAN (Controller Area Network) and communicate the necessary signals via the two cables, CAN-High and CAN-Low.
Technically the latest control modules of the trailer hitches could hook up into the CAN-Bus and communicate digitally with the onboard control units, but this is seldom the case.

When driving with a trailer the breakaway cable already plays a major role when attaching the trailer. The breakaway cable is responsible for an emergency slowing-down process in case the trailer backs out the towbar. A new law concerning the transportation and use of trailers has been released in the Netherlands (Art. 5. 18. 34-2) claiming that the tear-off must be a fixed part of the vehicle itself. Therefore, an option must be  provided for the driver to fix the breakaway cable to the car.

How to use the breakaway cable correctly

Simply placing the breakaway cable around the towbar is not valid anymore. There are two alternatives:

You can rather fixate the breakaway cable using a special lug which is part of our towbars in series. The lug can be found in the vicinity of the housing. Further, a special retainer can be used which makes it possible to fixate the cable to the towbar as well and also accomplishes the same purpose as does the lug.

More information on the law in the Netherlands can be found at Algemene Nederlandse Wielrijdersbond.