Trailer theft is now as prevalent as motor vehicle theft, and as these vehicles are not registered with DVLA they are seen by the criminal as a much easier target, quite often trailers are stolen along with the plant or machinery they carry, and are then disposed of at a later date.
Partly due to recent changes in towing law (there is a good guide to this on the Ifor Williams web site) and partly because of increased awareness in the area, police officers are now paying more attention to the light trailer sector, and are stopping and checking more vehicles with trailers.
All Ifor Williams Trailers are registered
with TER when first sold . TER (The
equipment register) are a national plant and
equipment register who hold details of
genuine owner details as well as reported
stolen trailers and work closely with the
manufacturers as well as UK and
International police forces, regularly
exchanging data and updating the
stolen/recovered lists.
A line up of
current (2007) Ifor Williams models (L-R
HB505 / TA5 8'/ GD105 / TT105 / Eurolight)
BEFORE BIDDING OR BUYING
Ask the seller for the serial number, this
is the last 6 digits of the 17 digit VIN
number or the last 7 for newer Horsebox and
LT/LM models, if in doubt ask for all seven
digits.
1. Call TER (The equipment register) 01225
464599 To check that the seller is the legal
owner.
2. Alternatively check directly with Ifor
Williams Trailers, they should have the
sellers name on file against the warranty
registration details
(If he bought it new).
3. Check where the seller claims to have
bought it from, and call them direct - All
genuine trailer dealers should have records
of owners on file
for all trailers they have sold (both
new & used)
In some cases there may be a small charge
for this service, a small price to pay
considering what you stand to lose if you
get it wrong and are found to be in
possession of a stolen vehicle.
Also when checking a trailer confirm all the
details, for example Blue HB505R with split
ramp, if your serial number comes up on
their system as a different spec (i.e. a red
HB510R with a conventional ramp) then BEWARE
this could be a stolen trailer wearing a
plate lifted from a genuine trailer (which
is still around somewhere) or even a false
plate with details copied from another
trailer (this happens - frequently).
SELLER
WARNING SIGNS
Beware of sellers who little or no feedback
score, who have joined very recently with no
previous activity or appear to be hiding
their true location.
Beware too of those who may even be 100%
positive but have built their reputation
buying or selling e-books or very low value
items over a very short period of time.
If the seller refuses to tell you where he
bought it, or to tell you the serial number
or claims to have “lost” the trailer
type-plate - Don’t buy it - Report it !
DOCUMENTATION AND EVIDENCE
Assuming you have convinced yourself the
seller and the trailer are probably genuine,
and decide to buy it, you should print off
the ebay listing and keep this safely along
with any seller details you have picked up
along the way: name, address, phone numbers
etc... Once you have met the seller and
verified that he is who he says, ask for any
other paperwork relating to the trailer, The
original bill of sale is best, but failing
this anything that helps build a connection
between this “owner” and the vehicle, This
may help your defence, or or at least go
some way to proving “due diligence” should
you ever be accused of handling stolen
goods!
THE BUYING
PROCESS
Always insist on picking the trailer up from
the sellers home or registered address,
never agree to a sellers request of meeting
half-way, or at a motorway services, this
is often a ploy to stop you turning up at
the address given, which may be real (it may
be where the trailer was stolen from) of may
be a totally fictitious address. Even if you
arrive at the address, and are met outside
try to get access (need the loo?) to verify
the seller actually lives there, and has not
just parked the trailer outside a random
address that he has sent you to !
KEEP AN EYE
ON THE FINAL VALUE
I have seen many trailers that are clearly
5-6 years old selling for higher prices that
the equivalent new models!
HOW OLD IS
THE TRAILER?
With no registration mark to go on, sellers
can and often do lie about the age of the
trailer, or say things like “only 200 miles
from new” - that may be the case but it
could still be 5 years old, Look carefully
at the pictures for signs of ageing, very
dark galvanising, faded out stickers, heavy
wear marks on floors and inside walls -
remember a heavily used trailer that is just
2-3 years old may well need new tyres,
brakes & Bearings or coupling damper, and
trailers that are over 10 years old may use
some components that are no longer
available, meaning a costly conversion to
the newer spec. Please bear these potential
additional costs in mind when bidding.
Pre 1992 Style Horseboxes have springs on
the front ramp & 2 post partitions. Newer
models have gas-struts and swinging
partitions
GROSS
WEIGHTS & STAYING LEGAL
When you pick up the trailer (and indeed
once you start using it proper) you will
need a vehicle that can tow it legally, this
means the trailer Gross weight (MGW, or GVW
as it is sometimes stated) needs to be less
than the limits imposed by the towing
vehicle’s manufacturer.
The Maximum towing capacities of most towing
vehicles can be found either in the
handbook, or on the VIN or additional
information plates (often located under the
bonnet) Often two weights are stated, e.g..
500 / 1030 In this case the first figure is
for Unbraked trailers, the second for
trailers with brakes.
There have been cases reported recently
where users have been successfully
prosecuted for towing trailers with a
“potential” for being overloaded, even
though they were carrying nowhere near the
maximum load stated on the trailer.
If your trailer is rated too high and you
are happy with the maximum capacity of your
towing vehicle then Ifor Williams Trailers
can provide a down-rated type-plate for your
trailer showing the new lower gross weight,
of course you will be asked to prove your
ownership !
LICENSED TO
TOW ?
Drivers who have passed their test after 1
Jan. 1997 have lower weight limits for B+E
and B1+E (the trailer categories) until a
further test has been passed, If you are in
this group of drivers and are considering
buying a trailer to down-rate you may need
to take another driver (correctly licensed)
with you to collect the trailer. Further
information on licensing, driver trailer
combinations and trailer weights can be
found on the Ifor Williams and DVLA web
sites.
PLANNING TO
MOVE ABROAD ?
Almost all EEC Countries have a full
registration system for trailers (i.e.
Trailers are tested MOT style and have their
own registration mark) To get a trailer into
the registration scheme it will need proof
of ownership, a correct type-plate and may
need additional work, i.e. side protection
bars, additional / alternative lighting
scheme and/or additional markings / type
plates. A trailer that is too old or not
“type-approved” for that destination country
may not be allowed in or may need costly
conversion.
FINAL WORDS
ON BUYING
BUYING A STOLEN TRAILER CAN MEAN LOSING THE
TRAILER AND ALL OF YOUR MONEY (as well as a
possible conviction!)
Be very very careful out there !
SELLING A
GENUINE TRAILER
As a genuine seller you have nothing to lose
by offering your serial number for
inspection, this allows the potential buyer
enough time to check it out and may increase
the number of bids you receive (there are
many people who will not bid because of the
high percentage of stolen trailers)
Many good sellers already include a photo of
the type -plate on the listing. (there may
be more than one plate on some trailers, the
one you need to show will be located:
On the right-hand drawbar on all trailers
with brakes.
On the front panel for P5/6/7e (unbraked)
trailers.
On the rear cross member on the BV64e
(Unbraked) Box van.
If you have the original bill of sale or
invoice for the trailer, include it in the
sale, but keep a copy for your records as
proof of sale (and discontinued ownership)
If you have genuinely damaged the plate or
it has corroded and become unreadable, then
Ifor Williams Trailers can provide a new one
showing the original details, of course you
will be asked to prove your ownership and
will have to send them the remains of the
old plate.