Towing a caravan chassis...
 

Hi all, I have been given an old caravan chassis which plan to convert into a trailer, and I need to get it the three miles home, so I'll obviously need to tow it before I can start work on it, and as it's literally a bare frame work with wheels on which will ride at the same height as my towball is give or take, would I be right in thinking that I'll be ok to tow it as is without a lighting board or number plate, as the way I read it I'd be ok as my rear lights and number plate on the car will not be obscured, does anyone know more about their traffic law than me who might be able to advise?

Many thanks in advance. :)

No no no, you will need full lighting and number plate on it, as it a trailer, think the distance between your car lights and the end of the trailer, and must have mudguards over the chassis wheels. A breakaway cable on the hitch is a further regulation. I think rear reflectors may be required, think these are on most modern trailer boards.

Ah right, that makes sense, no idea where I'd got my whole as long as the rear of the cars not obscured thing from in that case, I think there is a lightboard somewhere at work and I do have a number plate on my caravan that I can pinch, plus it already has wheel arches and the breakaway cable so all good on that front, cheers :)

Screw a length of 3x2 on rear of it between chassis rails and screw light board to that,

Then tow it home

A quick google for 'trailer lighting requirements' led me to this webpage - http://uk-trailer-parts.co.uk/traile...d-requirements - which seems to give a pretty good guide, a lot would seem to depend on the size and age of the trailer and I wonder whether a regular 'lighting board' is going to be wide enough for a caravan chassis. Given that it will be just the chassis which will be low down and probably a similar colour to the road I'd also be inclined to fix some boards or fabric to it to make it more visible to other motorists especially the rear corners. 3 miles may not be far but Sod's law says every idiot in the district will be trying to get into an accident with you ;)

You could try and fit a cheap caravan body onto.....
No that's just daft!

I think for the distance involved, I would be tempted to fix a number plate and some tail lights to it, get up at first light and tow it home!

I will now wait for the flack!

I was just going to say the same, or even worse actually, take a chance 'as it is' because it is only 3 miles..!!..!! Not good advice mind..lol..!!

Regards

And from a legal view the braking system also needs to work, personally I would use any trailer board as long as it works, there is a clause in the law that will allow you to tow a build chassis that doesn't have wheel guards or fixed lighting but I think you may need to be a coach builder or some such trade.
if the trailer looks roadworthy you shouldn't get any bother from the police.

Just get someone to follow you home, no probs.....

I have seen some pretty bare bones car trailers being towed with no more than a lighting board.

The only real difference between these and a caravan chassis would be a bit of flooring to hold a car.