Skillful loading and safe transportation

Niedernhausen. New paving slabs for the garden, new soil for the flower beds, a kit for the new shed: trailers are a great alternative for transporting heavy or bulky loads with a normal driver’s license. However, there are a few things to bear in mind when buying a trailer and for the load on the hook. The TÜFA-TEAM (TÜV SÜD Auto Partner) experts provide an overview of total weight, driving license, speed and tips for safe transport.

What is to be transported and how far? How large and heavy is the load? How is it best secured? How much can I tow with my car? What am I allowed to tow with my driver’s license? A precise analysis is required before the purchase. Once these questions have been answered, there are usually two categories to choose from: the unbraked single-axle trailer with a maximum permissible gross weight of 750 kilograms or the braked single-axle and tandem-axle trailer with a permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tons. “If you occasionally want to transport garden soil or gravel from the nearest DIY store to your home, the unbraked single-axle trailer is sufficient. If you want to cover longer distances and move larger tonnages, the braked version is definitely better,” explains Tatjana Trömner-Gelbe from the TÜFA-TEAM in Niedernhausen.

Properly trained: Driving a vehicle with a trailer is not easy. The legislator has therefore strictly limited the choice of trailers that can be towed with a standard driver’s license. This means that if the car is allowed to tow a 1000 kilogram trailer, this does not necessarily apply to the driver. Anyone with a standard class B driving license may drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tons, but not every trailer approved for this purpose.

750 kilograms total weight is the upper limit for unbraked trailers. If it is braked, it must not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. And: the car and trailer together must not weigh more than 3.5 tons (sum of the permissible total weights from the papers of the two vehicles). However, if you still have the old class 3 driving license, you can drive trailers up to 3.5 tons without any problems – provided the other requirements are also met.

Well weighted: Towing capacity, permissible gross weight, drawbar load – before buying, you should always study the vehicle documents. The most important entry for the new vehicle is the towing capacity, which describes what is actually allowed on the hook. It can be found in the new registration certificate in field O.1 or O.2 and in the old vehicle registration certificate under number 28 or 29, depending on whether the tender is braked or unbraked. The trailer load corresponds to the sum of the axle loads and is calculated from the actual weight of the loaded trailer, reduced by the drawbar load with which the trailer presses on the coupling of the towing vehicle. It is therefore less than the permissible gross weight of the trailer. Note: Axle loads and permissible gross weight often coincide for trailers. “Never confuse trailer load and gross vehicle weight rating”. Too complicated? TÜFA-TEAM : “Car and trailer drivers are safe on the road if the towing capacity of the car is higher than the permissible gross weight of the trailer.”

Then take a look at the drawbar load . It fits when the towing vehicle and trailer form a straight line when loaded. If the side view shows a kink, the combination can easily skid and the braking distance increases – especially if the drawbar load is too low. The trailer must press on the coupling with at least four percent of its total weight and at least 25 kilograms. The drawbar load must not exceed the maximum value for either the trailer coupling or the drawbar. Also take a look at the approved maximum value in the vehicle documents. The limits can be found on the type plates on the coupling and drawbar and in field 13 of the vehicle registration certificate (Part 1). The lower value applies. Tip from TÜV SÜD Auto Partner TÜFA-TEAM “The drawbar load is not a fixed value, but depends on how the trailer is loaded. So if you bend, reload and store heavy objects around the axle.”

Skillfully distributed: In the event of sudden braking maneuvers, even a light plastic chair can become a dangerous projectile. The following therefore applies to trailers: secure all parts with safety belts and fill in empty spaces all around. Light and small loads must be secured with nets or tarpaulins. When loading trailers, always place heavy items close to the axle and ensure that they remain there during the journey. Also note: Because the rear axle of the car has to cope with the additional drawbar load of the trailer, do not load the rear axle of the car additionally. It is better to place heavy objects in front of the rear axle, i.e. close behind the rear seat. In this case, it is better to only load the trunk with light objects.

Correctly connected: Trailer couplings are among the “parts requiring type approval”, which must bear a corresponding national or European approval mark. Examples: M 1234, a large “E” in a circle or a small “e” in a rectangle. Tip for retrofitting: Inspection and modification approval at a TÜV SÜD Service Center offers security.

Another tip from the TÜV SÜD experts: When coupling the trailer, do not forget the light cable for the trailer lighting and, in the case of braked trailers, the breakaway cable!

Disciplined driving: Even for experienced car drivers, driving a trailer is a challenge, which is why one of the most urgent recommendations is to drive with discipline : Drive in a disciplined manner, adhere to the prescribed speed limits of 80, respectively 100 kilometers per hour. Adjust your speed to the conditions in crosswinds. As a general rule: Provided that the payload rules have been observed and the trailer’s tire pressure is correct, there will be no extremely dangerous lurching of the trailer.

Reacting with control: The rolling of a trailer is preceded by a process that can be detected at an early stage. The driver’s alarm lights should go on if the trailer starts to lurch slightly, even though there are no steering movements. In this case, reduce speed and the trailer will calm down again. It becomes more critical when the rolling impulses are transferred from the trailer to the towing vehicle. In this case, keep the steering wheel straight and apply the brakes briefly but firmly

Looking ahead: Sidecars have a significantly longer braking distance and less acceleration. The first thing to do is to keep a much greater distance. This applies to the front as well as to the side: when overtaking, make sure there is enough space between you and the vehicle next to you, otherwise a suction will be created and the trailer will start to lurch. This is always caused by crosswinds. In such a case, you should also ease off the accelerator. Shift down to a lower gear early when driving in the mountains. This protects the engine and prevents it from overheating. When going downhill, use the engine’s braking power in low gears. This keeps the brakes cool and grippy. With large trailers, also make sure that you can see to the rear. There are special rear-view mirrors for this purpose.

Faster on the road: As a general rule, car-trailer combinations are not allowed to drive faster than 80 km/h. However, if you want to drive faster with a trailer, you can get permission to do so – with a 100 km/h speed limit sticker, which is available from the vehicle registration office. Prerequisites: The car must have ABS and the trailer must have brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers and tires that are designed for 120 km/h and are less than six years old. Drivers of fast trailers must pay attention: Higher speeds cause the trailer to lurch even more easily, braking distances are even longer and distances must be even greater!