Trailer parking

[thequeenscheese]

Ive had to park the freebie with trailer on the road overnight for 1 reason and another, (mainly cos its a little un and impossible to reverse into the parking spot ive got and full so no handballing it either) but having researched the legals it seems i need it to be lit: (according to this site : [ARCHIVED CONTENT] Towing a caravan or trailer - driving tips and advice : Directgov - Travel and transport)

So a couple of questions
1 is this right?
2 will the electrics work woth the van locked and lights off or can be adapted?
2 ifso how will this affect the battery on the freebie, i dont want a duff in the mornings?
4 what do you guys sudgest to use as 1 that will last without swapping batterys every morning on something like a cycle rear light?

This all came about as the x2 houses opposite think they own the road and have double parked but annoyingly i cant complain cos i dont know if im legal, i know their not cos i was there first and they are facing the wrong way at night grrrrr


cheers

 

[Fur Trapper]

2 things learn to backup a trailer and get yourself a spotter with a flash lite/ torch

 

[thequeenscheese]

i can back up a trailer thanks its the fact the spot is 2 tight to get into in the flats residental carpark especially when the other spots are occupied, and its a trailer that you can barely see in the mirrors to back it up, and im not sure how a spotter with a torch will help unless their gonna sit on the trailer all night warning traffic?

 

[Jonners]

Trailer Parking.
Have a look at Vehicle Wiring Products website Vehicle Wiring Products Ltd. Suppliers of auto electrical parts. - Lighting section part number RCV4022 Marker lamp. We used fit these in the 60's when vehicles parked on the road had to have lights on. Might be worth buying two, one for the vehicle and one for the trailer and wire them both to a cigarette lighter plug. Put an in line fuse in if you want. We used to make a little bent bracket to hook over the drivers window, you could do the same for a convenient part of the trailer.

Only problem arises when some idiot realises they can be pinched.

Jonners.

 

[keiron]

i use to leave my trailer on my car out side hse stopped i cooper the 1 day and said to him about it and his reply was it got Reflectors on it was ok as mine was a long trailer but low he said maybe worth add some thing a bit higher add some old tent poles with ball Reflectors on top i never need any lights as such over nite

 

[thequeenscheese]

Trailer Parking.
Have a look at Vehicle Wiring Products website Vehicle Wiring Products Ltd. Suppliers of auto electrical parts. - Lighting section part number RCV4022 Marker lamp. We used fit these in the 60's when vehicles parked on the road had to have lights on. Might be worth buying two, one for the vehicle and one for the trailer and wire them both to a cigarette lighter plug. Put an in line fuse in if you want. We used to make a little bent bracket to hook over the drivers window, you could do the same for a convenient part of the trailer.

Only problem arises when some idiot realises they can be pinched.

Jonners.

this looks the ticket, but how do you think will this affect the battery life when plugged in all night, i had the radio on a bit back for 4-5hrs when camping and she stuttered at the next mornings start then, wouldnt it be like leaving the interior light on inside thats killed my batterys before when ive done it?

 

[thequeenscheese]

i use to leave my trailer on my car out side hse stopped i cooper the 1 day and said to him about it and his reply was it got Reflectors on it was ok as mine was a long trailer but low he said maybe worth add some thing a bit higher add some old tent poles with ball Reflectors on top i never need any lights as such over nite

this is what i was thinking cos as far as i was concerned its no different than leaving the van/car etc over night with the lights off as we all do, but seems according the this site:
[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Towing a caravan or trailer - driving tips and advice : Directgov - Travel and transport
it says it has to be lit and i cant very well phone the law to winge about the neighbours opposite double parking if im in the wrong..

 

[bsa77]

I used to have a large box trailer and on occasion I had to leave it on the road outside the house.

I bought two sets of very cheap led bike lights and stuck them to the corners of the trailer, so two white front facing markers and two red rear facing markers. Worked perfectly. Might not be the "to the letter of the law" solution but more than enough to keep most people off your back.

 

[Funkykipper]

I suppose it doesn't matter what goes on the back as long as you don't wake up to find a vehicle embedded into the trailer in the morning.
Common sense really.

 

[teddywood1]

no use wiring it up for the lighter socket this goes of when ignition is not on just make sure you have reflectors on and park the right way round on the road

 

[thequeenscheese]

I thin k ill prob pic up a couple of cheap rear bike L E D's as it say needs to be lit and not how its lit, then i can purposley park on the road and complain to the law whaen the **bheads opposite double park and face the wrong way around believing they own the road, and that they are better than us cos we live in a flat not a house, especially when they have a drive which they choose not to use when they double park..
sorry had to have a rant..

 

[Kizzeh]

park the trailer in there drive...simples!!

 

[thequeenscheese]

more than tempted

 

[Singvogel]

more than tempted

You have my full support mate. I had a similar problem with f*ckwit neighbours years ago.

Complain like hell if they're parked facing the wrong way.

Just make sure you are 'watertight' - a little bicycle lamp will do the trick.

Make sure your more than the required 10 metres from a junction.

Report the bar-stewards.

Likely they'll only get a warning - the first time - so you'll need to keep reporting them every night.

Screw them - well and good.

Cheers,

Singvogel.

 

[top-cat]

if the trailer is attached to your motor and in a lit area within a residential speed limit you dont need to have it lit as it is part of your vehicle.

 

[Singvogel]

if the trailer is attached to your motor and in a lit area within a residential speed limit you dont need to have it lit as it is part of your vehicle.

Well that's not what it says in this Highways Agency leaflet.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/Fit_to_Tow_leaflet_Update_2011.pdf

 

[top-cat]

Well that's not what it says in this Highways Agency leaflet.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/Fit_to_Tow_leaflet_Update_2011.pdf

and thats the law is it??

 

[Singvogel]

and thats the law is it??

Hi top-cat,

I don't know if it's the law or not. I've parked with a trailer attached overnight many a time and not had a problem. But seeing as how the OP asked the question I had a think about it and a search of the web.

I actually hope that you are correct.

Don't try having a pop at me just because I point out that an 'official' info leaflet says other than you do.

Is what you said about a trailer being part of your vehicle the law? I know it is for many purposes - insurance, number plates etc. But no need for lights at night? Can you quote a source for your point of view?

Cheers,

Singvogel.

 

[*minty*]

Trailer Maintenance - Trailer Lights & Regulations


might be worth readin.

 

[top-cat]

Hi top-cat,

I don't know if it's the law or not. I've parked with a trailer attached overnight many a time and not had a problem. But seeing as how the OP asked the question I had a think about it and a search of the web.

I actually hope that you are correct.

Don't try having a pop at me just because I point out that an 'official' info leaflet says other than you do.

Is what you said about a trailer being part of your vehicle the law? I know it is for many purposes - insurance, number plates etc. But no need for lights at night? Can you quote a source for your point of view?

Cheers,

Singvogel.

Sorry if you thought i was having a pop.
I cant quote any refference other than a friend and neighbour left a van and trailer parked out side his home and it got hit by a drunk driver.
The police at the time told him that the vehicle (not just the trailer) would have had to have had its lights on as he was 100 yards outside the village thus on a country lane. if he parked it 100 yards further down he would be within the 30mph speed limit and in an area lit by street lights and would be ok. They didnt press charges against him as the driver that hit him was ****ed.
What i would assume with the op his trailer would have reflective markers on the back, like any vehicle so would be ok, i know skip companies place lights on the skips but usually only on main roads i assume because they dont have reflective markers on them.