Towboard - legal or not

[steven_wynn_uk]

Hi Folks,

Can't seem to get a definitive answer. My caravan has a few electrical problems on the rear lights. Slowly hacking through them. Want to use the van in the meantime.
Is it legal to simply pop a towboard on the back, hooked straight into the car? I'd assumed a yes as you have working lights, but then someone mentioned I could well be wrong....

 

[otherclive]

Your lights are meant to identify the perimeter of the vehicle, a tow board doesn’t do that. But of course they are used on bike carriers where the cars lights can be obscured by the bikes.

 

[steven_wynn_uk]

Your lights are meant to identify the perimeter of the vehicle, a tow board doesn’t do that. But of course they are used on bike carriers where the cars lights can be obscured by the bikes.

Ah OK, but if I had one covering the whole width of the van, that, would tick that box?

 

[otherclive]

Ah OK, but if I had one covering the whole width of the van, that, would tick that box?

Certainly across shouldn’t be a problem as long as it contains the lights required as per your caravan. I’m not even certain that one of the standard trailer boards wouldn’t suffice as I’ve seen car trailers with them fitted. At least your caravan would have its reflectors too.

 

[ProfJohnL]

According to the NTTA

Trailer Lighting Requirements | NTTA

Trailer Maintenance - Trailer Lights & Regulations

www.ntta.co.uk

Trailer Lighting Requirements
.......

• If, in the case of direction indicators, it is not possible to meet the maximum height requirements, this dimension can be increased to 2300mm.
• If, in the case of the rear position (tail) lamps and stop lamps, it is not possible to meet the maximum height requirements, this dimension can be increased to 2100mm.
• On trailers manufactured after 1 October 1985, the maximum height of the red triangular reflectors can be increased to 1200mm if necessary.
• Trailers manufactured after 1 October 1985 require numberplates, illuminated by an 'E' or 'e' marked lamp. If a clear window in the rear position lamp is approved, this can be used instead of a separate numberplate lamp but must be fitted to the manufacturer's instructions with regard to distance from the numberplate.
• At least one rear fog light is mandatory on trailers over 1.3 m wide. Two lamps are preferred but, if only one is fitted, it must be to the offside or on the centre line of the trailer.
• No maximum distance from the outer edge of the trailer is stated for a fog lamp(s) but there must be a minimum distance of 100mm from the stop lamp.
• The distance of the direction indicator from the side of the trailer may not exceed the actual distance of the rear lamp by more than 50mm.
• Trailers manufactured after 1 October 1985 which are more than 1600mm wide, (except boat trailers) require front position lamps (clear lens).

 

[RogerL]

After a car accident while away on holiday with the caravan, I've twice had the caravan towed behind the flatbed recovery truck - they just used a conventional towboard plugged into the truck.