Post Tagged with: "trailer"

If your trailer is due for a general or initial inspection, or subsequent MOT inspections, you can best prepare for the upcoming appointment with your local MOT and often ensure that your trailer remains roadworthy.

What to look out for at your MOT appointment

A good way to start your MOT appointment is to have all the necessary documents with you. This includes your ID, the most recent MOT report (if available), and your vehicle registration document or vehicle registration certificate.

Also, make sure your trailer’s lights are undamaged and fully functional. Working lights are essential for a trailer and road safety. It’s best to check the lights and indicators, the brake lights, the license plate light, and the reversing light beforehand.

You should also check the tires on your trailer beforehand. The tire tread must be at least 1.6 mm, and they must not be older than six years. You can check the age of the tires yourself in advance; the markings on the sidewalls will tell you this. There you will find a four-digit inscription: the last two digits indicate the year, and the first two digits represent the calendar week of that year. You can also check the tire tread in advance using a 1 euro coin: If you insert it into the tread, you should no longer be able to see the gold edge of the coin. Only then is the tread still sufficient.

Wheel chocks are also important for trailers weighing over 750 kg. The TÜV (German Technical Inspection Agency) checks whether these are undamaged and fit the tires.

The KIA EV3 is considered the little brother of the EV9 and is a sleek, all-electric SUV. It’s also suitable as a towing vehicle when equipped with the right trailer hitch. We at MVG have developed a retrofittable trailer hitch for the SUV.

Our trailer hitch is removable. Thanks to the MVG System 2040, the ball bar can be operated via a rotary knob and removed when not in use. It’s easy to use, and the tow bar doesn’t require any modification to the vehicle’s exterior.

The benefits of the detachable towbar for KIA EV3 from 09/2024

• vertically detachable towbar, MVG towbar 2040 
• optimal appearance on the vehicle
• automatic system removal by twist grip
• automatic locking device when fitting
• easy handling

Technical data for detachable towbar for KIA EV3 from 09/2024

• D-value: 8,4 kN
• Towing capacity: 1345 kg
• Trailer load: 100 kg

The towbar for your KIA EV3 from 09/2024 can be found in our MVG-shop. The item number is 3798 A. In addition, you will also find the right electrical kit for retrofitting your KIA in the shop.

Find out more about our products in our other shops:

www.mvg-ahk.at
www.mvg-ahk.ch
www.mvg-ahk.lu
www.mvg-ahk.be
www.mvg-ahk.nl

You’ve been driving the trailer and have already parked, but you’re not done yet. The parked trailer should also be secured, especially against rolling away. You can find out what you need to pay attention to and what liability is like in an emergency in our blog post. 

How to properly secure the trailer

If you park a trailer outside of your private property, you should definitely secure the trailer sufficiently. It can always happen that the trailer rolls away, is hit by strong gusts or – if it is parked on the street – is involved in a possible accident by other road users or even causes something worse. Of course, a parked trailer that moves unexpectedly is not desirable, even on private property, so we always recommend securing it properly. 

The best way to secure a parked trailer is with wheel chocks. To do this, you should first check whether the road is sloping in one direction, and if so, secure the trailer with a wheel chock before unhooking it from the towing vehicle so that it does not roll away when unhooking it. 

But even if the road has no slope or incline, securing it with a wheel chock makes sense: with a wheel chock in front of and behind the wheels you can prevent all movements forwards and backwards, or at least limit these movements, for example in a storm or if another vehicle hits the trailer. It is best to make sure that you park the trailer in a protected area, for example in a driveway or a dead end or on the edge of a parking lot, where the chances of the trailer moving unintentionally due to outer circumstances are already limited. 

You can also secure the trailer against theft, for example with an immobilizer and a lock for the drawbar. 

Liability for your trailer

Your trailer – like your car – must have liability insurance. So if the trailer starts rolling on a sloping road and damage is caused, you are covered. However, it is also helpful if you have additionally secured the trailer as described above. 

Also interesting for you: In 2023 there was a ruling by the Federal Court of Justice in which the trailer’s liability insurance was also asked to pay, even though the parked trailer was only in an accident with one had set another car in motion and was virtually passively involved in the accident. It was said that there was a risk of uncontrolled movement by the trailer and that this risk existed as long as the trailer was parked in public traffic. 

The KIA EV9 impresses as the latest, large-framed SUV and offers plenty of space in combination with a powerful character. In order to be able to tow a trailer with your SUV, you also need to have the right trailer hitch. We have developed the right trailer hitch to easily retrofit the KIA EV9.

Our trailer hitch is equipped with the MVG system 2040 and is removable. A rotary wheel is used to remove the ball rod, which is easy to handle. The removable towbar adapts well to the look of the KIA.

The benefits of the detachable towbar for KIA EV9 from 07/2023

• vertically detachable towbar, MVG towbar 2040 
• optimal appearance on the vehicle
• automatic system removal by twist grip
• automatic locking device when fitting
• easy handling

Technical data for detachable towbar for KIA EV9 from 07/2023

• D-value: 14 kN
• Towing capacity: 2550 kg
• Trailer load: 150 kg

The towbar for your KIA EV9 from 07/2023 can be found in our MVG-shop. The item number is 3797 A. In addition, you will also find the right electrical kit for retrofitting your KIA in the shop.

Find out more about our products in our other shops:

www.mvg-ahk.at
www.mvg-ahk.ch
www.mvg-ahk.lu
www.mvg-ahk.be
www.mvg-ahk.nl

As the latest model from Jeep, the Jeep Avenger now impresses as a large SUV for the whole family and as a powerful partner for towing a trailer. The Jeep Avenger from 2023 can be converted into a towing vehicle at any time with the retrofittable trailer hitch.

Our range also includes a suitable trailer hitch for retrofitting the Jeep Avenger. Our trailer hitch is removable and does not interfere with the look of the SUV. The trailer hitch is easy to use and can be removed in just a few steps when not in use.

The benefits of the detachable towbar for Jeep Avenger from 2023

• vertically detachable towbar, MVG towbar 2040 
• no cut-out required by using the original cut-out
• automatic system removal by twist grip
• automatic locking device when fitting
• easy handling

Technical data for detachable towbar for Jeep Avenger from 2023

• D-value: 7,5 kN
• Towing capacity: 1221 kg
• Trailer load: 75 kg

The towbar for your Jeep Avenger from 2023 can be found in our MVG-shop. The item number is 0852 A. In addition, you will also find the right electrical kit for retrofitting your Jeep in the shop.

Find out more about our products in our other shops:

www.mvg-ahk.at
www.mvg-ahk.ch
www.mvg-ahk.lu
www.mvg-ahk.be
www.mvg-ahk.nl

If you register your trailer in Germany, you usually also specify the license plate number. You have various options for your trailer – just like for your vehicle. We have summarized all information about the green license plate for you, for example under which circumstances you can get such a license plate for your trailer and what advantages you have from it.

When can you get a green license plate?

If you only want to use your trailer for a specific purpose, then the green license plate offers an advantage. A specific purpose would be, for example, if you as a farmer use a trailer for transporting animals, or if you have a trailer only for transporting sports equipment, such as a trailer for a boat or canoe. Due to the specific purposes, you can get the green license plate and the trailer is exempt from vehicle tax. You still need liability insurance for your trailer.

When choosing the green license plate, however, it is important that you are really only allowed to use the trailer for the specified and designated purpose. You are not allowed to use the trailer from our example (approved for transporting sports equipment) for a move, unless you are only transporting the sports equipment mentioned before when moving. If you use your trailer for another purpose and disregard the conditions, then you are committing tax evasion, since the trailer with the green license plate is tax-exempt. If you want to use the trailer for another purpose, you must register the trailer with a normal, black number plate, as trailers with a black number plate are subject to tax and insurance.

This is how you get your license plate

In order to get the green number plate for your trailer, you first have to be exempted from vehicle tax at the tax office or customs for this purpose. You must also take out liability insurance for the trailer. If you have these documents including the confirmation of the tax exemption, then you must present these documents to the responsible registration authority and will receive your green license plate there.

Important: Make sure that you need a few other documents for your visit at the registration authority. You should bring your identity card or passport, your confirmation of registration, the vehicle registration document and vehicle title and also have the eVB number ready as valid insurance confirmation. You may also need proof of the main inspection. If the trailer has been registered before, you must also bring the black number plates with you.

Find out more about our products in our other shops:

www.mvg-ahk.at
www.mvg-ahk.ch
www.mvg-ahk.lu
www.mvg-ahk.be
www.mvg-ahk.nl

If you want to be on the road with a heavy trailer, a class B driving license is not enough. With this driver’s license, trailers are only allowed up to a permissible total mass of 750 kg. Driving a heavier trailer requires a BE driving license or a B96 driving license if, for example, you are traveling with a horse trailer or caravan.

An extension for your class B driver’s license

The B96 driving license is an extension for the class B driving license and allows you to tow heavy trailers. Since B96 is not a separate driver’s license, only theoretical and practical lessons in the driving school are required. There is no test for the B96 in Germany like there is for a class BE driving licence. The B96 extension will be noted on your driver’s license with the key number 96 after you have completed the theoretical and practical part. The extension is valid throughout the EU.

These are your options with the B96 extension

For all those who want to pull more than the class B driving license allows, the B96 extension offers more leeway. You can use it with a total mass of up to 4250 kg. It is important, however, that the total mass is decisive, i.e. the combination of towing vehicle and trailer. So if your towing vehicle weighs two tons, your trailer can still weigh 2250 kg for your journey. If this is not enough for your trailer, you would have to think about a class BE driver’s license, so the trailer alone can weigh 3500 kg as the permissible total weight.

The advantages of the extension B96

If you are thinking about whether you need the B96 extension, then the advantages are probably also important to you. Since no exam has to be taken, the extension can be obtained faster than, for example, the driving license class BE. Also, the costs are lower due to the short duration and fewer hours in the driving school. In addition, the B96 extension offers you more options for towing a trailer than your class B driver’s license.

Find out more about the different driving licenses in our blog post.

While electric cars with trailer hitches were a rarity for a long time, there are now suitable trailer hitches for more and more electric models. These are often sold ex works, but retrofitting is of course also possible. You will also find some matching towbars in our assortment.

Less towing capacity with electric vehicles

Most electric vehicles are characterized by a lighter construction. This automatically limits the towing capacity somewhat, according to the rule of thumb that the larger and heavier a car, the more load it can pull; the reverse applies as well: the smaller and lighter a vehicle, the less it can pull.

So if you are currently thinking about buying an electric vehicle and would like to tow a trailer with it, then think about the loads in advance. There are currently few electrically powered vehicles on the market that can pull a horse trailer, for example.

The range when towing a trailer with an electric car

The additional weight that the trailer puts on the towing vehicle also increases electricity consumption – or, in the case of non-electric cars, fuel consumption. In this respect, combustion engines and e-cars are initially very similar. But the increased power consumption of electric cars means that the range is reduced and more time has to be planned for recharging. It is of course much easier with the combustion engine, since you can refuel within minutes at any time.

The extent to which the range of an electric vehicle is limited by towing a trailer depends on three factors: the weight of the trailer, the wind resistance caused by the trailer and the speed. If you tow a small trailer to transport green waste for a few kilometers, the range is not much limited, if you want to take a caravan to Italy, things are of course different and you should plan many charging breaks.

Of course, the following helps as always when you are traveling with the trailer: Driving with foresight is important and can have a positive effect on consumption – regardless of whether it is fuel or electricity.

Attention: Not all electric cars are approved for driving with the trailer

Not every e-car is allowed to pull a trailer from the manufacturer and is approved as a towing vehicle. This means that the various systems of the vehicle, such as the drive system or the thermal management, are not designed for the higher load caused by the trailer and trailer towing is therefore not possible. In most cases, these vehicles then also have no mounting points for a trailer hitch.

In isolated cases, however, it may be the case that electric vehicles are not approved for trailer operation, but have entered a vertical load. In this case, a car mount can be used to attach a rear bicycle carrier. Before you make your choice on an electric car, just find out from the manufacturer and think about the requirements you place on a vehicle for everyday use.

In the last two posts on the topic of traffic signs for towing a trailer, we have already introduced you to a few very important road signs and traffic signs that you should definitely pay attention to when towing a trailer. There are a handful of other traffic signs that we don’t want to leave out.

Traffic signs for vehicle combinations

Although the following traffic signs are relevant for towing a trailer, they only apply if the combination weighs more than 3.5 tons and the towing vehicle is neither a bus nor a car. So let’s assume that you mostly travel with a car and trailer, then these traffic signs are only important for you if your vehicle combination is particularly heavy. Again and again, drivers are unclear as to whether the following signs are relevant to them or not. In the following we summarize the most important information about the traffic signs for vehicle combinations.

The prohibition sign for trucks

The round prohibition sign shows a truck and states that a general driving ban applies to all motor vehicles with a permissible total weight of more than 3.5 tons. The sign also applies to trailers and their towing vehicles. The only exceptions are cars and buses. So if your motor vehicle is heavier, you will not be allowed to drive through after this sign.

Prohibition sign for heavy vehicles

Based on the actual mass of a motor vehicle, this round prohibition sign indicates how heavy a
vehicle may be in order to continue driving on the affected road. However, the plate refers to the actual mass (what the vehicle actually weighs), not the gross vehicle weight rating (what the vehicle is allowed to weigh). If you are traveling with a vehicle combination, for example with a trailer, then the weight of the individual vehicles is relevant, not the weight of  the combination.

The length of your vehicle on traffic signs

The last traffic sign with a red frame is about the length of your vehicle. Pictured is a truck as well
an indication of its length. The sign states that you would need to consider the actual length of the entire vehicle combination. If your team is longer than indicated on the sign, then you are not allowed to drive into the street. If you continue to drive, it may for example be the case that you will not be able to turn around in an emergency or that curves are too narrow for you. As with the other signs, a fine will be imposed for disregarding the sign.

In our second part on the subject of traffic signs, we have also put together important traffic signs that you should definitely observe when driving with the trailer in Germany. Of course, this does not mean that you can ignore other traffic signs, but the signs listed below deserve the special attention of trailer drivers and will help you to avoid dangerous situations with the trailer at an early stage.

Narrow lane when towing a trailer

As the driver of a trailer, you must keep an eye on the traffic sign for narrow lanes, especially if your trailer is wider than your towing vehicle. In this case, drive a little more carefully into the bottlenecks or danger spots, drive slowly and use your side mirrors.

In this case, caravan owners should pay particular attention to their trailer and trailer: additional side mirrors are helpful and advisable for towing a caravan, but you should always bear in mind that these change the width of the vehicle.

The traffic sign indicating traffic jam

In the event of a traffic jam, the driver of a trailer has to be particularly careful. Traffic jams harbor some pitfalls, the road narrows due to the emergency lane that is to be formed, and other road users who are not paying attention can lead to situations in which you have to react quickly. Therefore, always drive with foresight and keep calm when you are traveling with a trailer.

You also have to be particularly careful when congestion forms, as it is often necessary to brake harder for a short time. There are many factors that come together that are important to you: Your load should be well secured, you should always be vigilant and attentive in order to be able to recognize traffic jams and braking maneuvers early and to be able to react calmly but purposefully.

Special cases of traffic signs for trailer rides

There are three important road signs that specifically address the team. The first is the danger sign for caravans on inclines. Shown is a team with caravan, provided with the signature “Danger of skidding”. The sign warns of the danger of cross winds on downhill stretches on motorways. It is intended to draw your attention to possible changes in driving behavior.

A single caravan on a white background indicates parking spaces where a caravan may be parked for more than 14 days. Unhitched caravans can usually only be parked for two weeks, after which the parking lot must also be accessible to other road users – at least for a short time. Be sure to comply with this. In the event of a possible check, it is not sufficient to claim that the trailer has been moved, since the tire levels are usually noted and movement of the caravan must be clearly recognizable.

A white sign showing a car with a trailer tells you that the rules of the other signs only apply to teams. The additional sign always refers to the traffic sign that is attached directly above the additional sign.