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| Towing the line |
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| Thursday, 17 April 2008 | |
 Most people are surprised at how easy it is to tow a trailer, at least forwards. Reversing needs practice (preferably without hazards or spectators) and it can be easier at first to manoeuvre the trailer by hand. The biggest risk is getting into a zig-zag at speed. This happens when the trailer is too heavy, or you brake too sharply, or in cross winds. A zig-zag can end up in ‘the tail wagging the dog’, with the car thrown off the road or into oncoming traffic. The worst thing you can do is to brake sharply. Instead, you should take your foot off the accelerator and concentrate hard on keeping the car on the road. Whenever towing you must remember to brake earlier and more gently. The heavier the trailer the longer the braking distance. In rural France most grain silos and some builders' merchants have weighbridges and are happy to weigh your vehicle and trailer if asked nicely. Note: a car or small 4x4 towing a laden horsebox is unlikely to meet legal requirements in France. Weight limits The PTAC (poids total autorisé en charge – maximum laden weight) and the PTRA (poids total roulant autorisé – total weight of towing vehicle and laden trailer) are on the carte grise. The trailer cannot exceed 1.3 times the towing vehicle’s weight.Trailers with a PTAC above 500kg need their own carte grise (from your préfecture), and an imported trailer must be homologated. Fines for overloading are quite common. Homologation Regional offices of the DRIRE (Direction régional de l’industrie, de la recherche et de l’environnement) are listed on their website* and in the Yellow Pages. There may be local variations in procedure and cost. You will need • existing registration documents (if they exist) • proof of ownership • a cheque or mandat cash for (typically) e86.90 • a justificatif de conformité from the manufacturer. This should be available for newer trailers but can cost up to £150. If it is unavailable, any technical details you can supply will help. The trailer and its braking mechanism in particular, if it has any, will be inspected by an expert. You should be prepared to wait several weeks for the inspection. Driving licence An ordinary driving licence allows you to tow a trailer with a PTAC of up to 750kg, or higher provided that the empty trailer weighs no more than the car and together their PTAC does not exceed 3,5t. Beyond this you will need a category E licence. Contrôle Technique (MOT) There are no current requirements for light trailers. *DRIRE: www.drire.gouv.fr/ weights: www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/infos-ref/vehicule/faq/index.html |
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