Trailer Board Lights Legal or Illegal
Hi
I have an old caravan that we are about to sell but are having one last trip in it in the near future , and found there is a fault with the lights ( no indicators , brakes etc) .Rather than go to the expense of having someone looking into this am I ok to drive the caravan with a trailer board fixed to the back of the Caravan ( I have one from when I had a trailer , and works fine) , hence why I think its the caravan lights and not the car )
Thanks in advance
Keith
Comments
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The trailer board would be legal provided it displays the appropriate lights to replicate those required by law on the trailer.
So if your caravan requires by law a rear fog light, that would need to be included (foggy weather or not!), similarly reversing light. Front and side marker lights will be difficult though, should these be required.
As you refer to an "old caravan" you could be lucky if it has only simple rear lights. Otherwise it's down to what sort of day the traffic policeman has had so far.
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But you are still illegal and NO INDIATORS! Are you sure it is not the wiring in the sockets? If so, it is easy to sort out and could well save you a fine and endorsements. Hope I am not behind you as you turn without indicating. Why not repair the lights or use a trailer board ensuring that the correct number plate is shown. No one here will support you attempting to drive without the correct road lighting on your caravan.
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+ 1 to that.
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I would normally not respond but OP has not said that he would therefore use a trailer board. He said that he would therefore drive in the day time and hope 'that Mr Policeman has had a good day' - could mean anything. In my post I said either get lights fixed or use a trailer board! If he is using a trailer board that's fine.
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I had problems with the lighting on my 2003 Lunar a while back. In the end it was simply a bad connection in a plug/socket right at the back underneath & just required a squirt of switch cleaner and unplugging & plugging in a few times to clean the contacts.
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Just remembered that I got two free front marker lights when I bought a towing cover. They are the same stick on LED lamps one can buy in the pound shop. So that's sorted now as well for the OP.
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The folk in China that knock out the "two for a pound" LED lights will print anything you want on them!
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Wouldn't the trailer board need to be as wide as the caravan? Otherwise, the rear corners of the caravan aren't marked?
Yeah -'what traffic policemen' - but sods law says, they will be there when you don't want them.
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Hmm! Technically, any lights that are fitted, MUST work. Therefore, if the marker lights are not working, and you get pulled over by VOSA, you may well end up with a caravan you are not allowed to tow any further.
On the other hand, it is very unlikely that will happen, and using the trailer board is legal to cover the rear lights. You don't legally need a fog light, nor reversing lights, but then again, if they are fitted they should work.
So, in answer to your question, no, it isn't legal to use the trailer board if your caravan is fitted with marker lights, a fog light and reversing lights that don't work.
However, it could be argued that as it isn't foggy, or dark, they are not needed anyway. As for a police officer nicking you for it, it isn't going to happen if the main lights and indicators on the trailer board work.
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I'm sorry, but if the caravan was manufactured on or after the 1st April 1980 it must have a type approved rear fog lamp. A reversing lamp is optional, but if fitted it must display an approval mark if the caravan was first used on or after 1st October 1985.
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To be honest carrying a trailer board incase of caravan electrical problems isn't a bad idea.
If you have room for storage & the cost is relatively low compared to the implications of not having the correct lighting / issues.
We only have 7 pin trailer socket on the towcar anyway , but relay on a 13 Pin adapter for caravan connection when towing.
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