Hi guys, I'm new to your forum but have been lurking for a while and would like to stay, a superb and very informative environment here.
My problem:
I recently bought an old Bass Spinner (somewhat similar to an Arrow Head) boat and trailer from a friend and took it for roadworthy and registration at a local Test Centre service in Pretoria. The guy who ticked the papers had one look at the tag on the trailer, looked at some computer printouts and said the trailer is illegal, despite still being registered on the previous person's name.
Why? Because the licence disc says the GVM is 1120kgs and anything above 750kgs requires handbrake and push-back brakes and all sorts of funny add-ons. Licence disc also states Tare 265kgs. The tag on the trailer says GVM is 3500kgs, no mention of Tare, only the VIN, which is correct. I was then sent to Ruto Flour Mills, to hell and gone and eventually got a weighbridge certificate for the trailer and the boat which said it weighed 680kgs combined, quite an exercise at that.
This seemed to make the examiner happy and the trailer was passed and the next day I received my new certificate and licence disc which still stated GVM 1120kgs, Tare 265kgs, meaning that according to the man with the clipboard the trailer is still illegal.
I have scanned your forum for similar subjects to no avail and all the jargon in the legislative online publications does not make sense to me.
Can someone please tell me what the bottom line with these mass figures and legal requirements entails.
Thanks is advance.
Richard
An extract from the closest I could get to an answer ( very confusing (1) (a) (i) and (ii) ) herewith:
http://www.fleetwatch.co.za/Legislation/october01/47-WhatYouCanTow.htm
Brakes on trailers
151. (1) Subject to the provisions of Sub-Regulation (4), no person shall operate on a public road a trailer, if: (a) the mass of such trailer and any load thereon is 750 kilograms or less and - (i) does not exceed half of the tare of the drawing vehicle, unless such trailer is equipped with at least a parking brake or other device for keeping such trailer stationary; or (ii) exceeds half of the tare of the drawing vehicle but does not exceed such tare, unless such trailer is equipped with a parking brake and either an overrun brake or a service brake; (b) the gross vehicle mass of such trailer exceeds 750 kilograms but does not exceed 3 500 kilograms and does not exceed the tare of the drawing vehicle, unless such trailer is equipped with a parking brake and either an overrun brake or a service brake; or (c) the gross vehicle mass of such trailer exceeds the tare of the drawing vehicle or 3 500 kilograms, as the case may be, unless such trailer is equipped with a parking brake and a service brake, etc.
My problem:
I recently bought an old Bass Spinner (somewhat similar to an Arrow Head) boat and trailer from a friend and took it for roadworthy and registration at a local Test Centre service in Pretoria. The guy who ticked the papers had one look at the tag on the trailer, looked at some computer printouts and said the trailer is illegal, despite still being registered on the previous person's name.
Why? Because the licence disc says the GVM is 1120kgs and anything above 750kgs requires handbrake and push-back brakes and all sorts of funny add-ons. Licence disc also states Tare 265kgs. The tag on the trailer says GVM is 3500kgs, no mention of Tare, only the VIN, which is correct. I was then sent to Ruto Flour Mills, to hell and gone and eventually got a weighbridge certificate for the trailer and the boat which said it weighed 680kgs combined, quite an exercise at that.
This seemed to make the examiner happy and the trailer was passed and the next day I received my new certificate and licence disc which still stated GVM 1120kgs, Tare 265kgs, meaning that according to the man with the clipboard the trailer is still illegal.
I have scanned your forum for similar subjects to no avail and all the jargon in the legislative online publications does not make sense to me.
Can someone please tell me what the bottom line with these mass figures and legal requirements entails.
Thanks is advance.
Richard
An extract from the closest I could get to an answer ( very confusing (1) (a) (i) and (ii) ) herewith:
http://www.fleetwatch.co.za/Legislation/october01/47-WhatYouCanTow.htm
Brakes on trailers
151. (1) Subject to the provisions of Sub-Regulation (4), no person shall operate on a public road a trailer, if: (a) the mass of such trailer and any load thereon is 750 kilograms or less and - (i) does not exceed half of the tare of the drawing vehicle, unless such trailer is equipped with at least a parking brake or other device for keeping such trailer stationary; or (ii) exceeds half of the tare of the drawing vehicle but does not exceed such tare, unless such trailer is equipped with a parking brake and either an overrun brake or a service brake; (b) the gross vehicle mass of such trailer exceeds 750 kilograms but does not exceed 3 500 kilograms and does not exceed the tare of the drawing vehicle, unless such trailer is equipped with a parking brake and either an overrun brake or a service brake; or (c) the gross vehicle mass of such trailer exceeds the tare of the drawing vehicle or 3 500 kilograms, as the case may be, unless such trailer is equipped with a parking brake and a service brake, etc.