Is it illegal to tow a caravan without extended mirrors?
When towing a caravan or any other trailer you are legally required to have a clear field of vision around and behind your caravan, without any blind spots. As most caravans are significantly wider than a car, even a large 4×4, it is usually not possible to comply unless you fit extension mirrors.
Are extension mirrors required when towing a caravan?
When you hitch up a caravan, boat or other trailer to your tow vehicle, you potentially block your vision of the areas specified in the ADRs. If the mirrors are partially obscured or completely hidden behind the trailer, then you must install extension mirrors.
Do I need mirror extensions to tow a trailer?
It is the law in most places that you do need to have towing mirrors installed if you are towing a travel trailer. It is the law because regular mirrors just do not cut it. They do not give you enough vision because they are obstructed by trailer.
Are towing mirrors a legal requirement UK?
Towing mirrors You must have an adequate view of the road behind you. Fit suitable towing mirrors if your trailer or caravan is wider than the rear of your car. You can be fined up to £1,000 and get 3 penalty points for towing without proper towing mirrors.
Can I tow a caravan without electric brakes?
By law, all vehicles towing more than gross 750kg are required to have trailer brakes installed and considering that most caravans exceed this limit you are legally supposed to have them. Trailers that are also over 2000 kg must have electric brakes.
How far do tow mirrors extend?
distance not exceeding 10 inches on each side of the vehicle. Lights, mirrorsand devices may extend beyond the permissible width of the vehicle to a distance not exceeding 10 inches on each side of the vehicle.
Are towing mirrors legal?
So if your van is wider than the vehicle towing it, which almost all are, tow mirrors – or large mirrors designed to permanently replace the vehicle’s factory mirrors for people who regularly tow – are legally unavoidable.
What’s the law on towing mirrors?
There is a legal requirement for you to have mirrors that allow you to see clearly an area that is 4 metres wide from the side of your caravan at a distance 20 metres behind the driver. A caravan is significantly wider than a car even a large 4×4 and you simply can’t comply with the law unless you fit towing mirrors.
Do I need towing mirrors on both sides?
It all depends on the width of the trailer, If the standard mirrors on the tow vehicle are wide enough to give the full length view down the sides of the trailer and the required field of view beyond, then you do not need extension mirrors, However 99.9% of caravans are wider than their tow cars and thus will need …
What weight caravan can I tow without electric brakes?
If no brakes are fitted, then 750kg is the maximum permissible towing capacity.
What is GTM on a caravan?
Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) is the maximum mass recommeded by the manufacturer of your fully loaded caravan when it is hitched to your tow vehicle. The GTM of the caravan is transmitted to the ground by only the caravan tyres and excludes the mass distributed to the towing vehicle through the coupling.
Do you need a mirror to tow a caravan?
Contrary to popular belief, towing mirrors are a legal requirement for the majority of cars including 4×4’s that are towing a caravan or trailer. If your trailer or caravan is wider than the rear of the towing car, you must fit additional towing mirrors
Is it illegal to tow a trailer with a mirror?
For some, however, especially those towing with larger, commercial vehicles, or towing smaller trailers, such as some of the smaller 4 berth folding campers, towing mirrors will not be required, as we will, already, have the required rear view, and fitting them will, actually, render us illegal.
How are the mirrors adjusted in a tow vehicle?
When you are seated in the tow vehicle the mirrors are beyond your reach to be able to adjust them whilst you are driving. As the name suggests these either clip on or strap on, together with suction clips, to the tow vehicle’s external door mirrors.
What kind of mirrors are good for towing a boat?
Clearview Mirrors make great caravan, boat or trailer towing mirrors. They are full replacement mirrors, in other words, you remove your current side mirrors from the vehicle and fit the mirrors into the same fitting.
