Trailers
Trailers are subject to the vehicle inspection just as towing vehicles are, generally on a two-year cycle. They fail above average, because between appointments nobody tends to look at them.
A trailer stands still most of the time — often outdoors. Lighting and plugs corrode, tyres age without covering any kilometres, and the overrun brake seizes up. None of this is noticeable in use, because the trailer is only moved occasionally.
Faulty or corroded lighting, perished tyres with adequate tread but considerable age, a worn coupling head, a stiff or unevenly acting overrun brake, split brake cables and a missing breakaway cable.
Hitch the trailer up and work through all the lights. Look at the date of manufacture of the tyres — the four-digit DOT number on the sidewall. Check that the breakaway cable and chocks are present.
Because trailer tyres cover hardly any kilometres, they often still have full tread but are ten years old or more. The compound is then hard and cracked — and that is objected to regardless of tread.
In brief
Generally every two years. Different deadlines apply to certain trailer types and weight classes — we check that from the paperwork.
Yes, we inspect both braked and unbraked trailers.
There is no fixed maximum age for all cases, but from about six years the compound ages noticeably. Cracked sidewalls are objected to regardless of tread.
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