davethsparky
Active Member
Pretty sure the handbrake bit is true. Did mine a couple of weeks ago and was told to put handbrake on whenever stationary and especially when pedestrians are crossing in front of you. This was exactly the same when I took the normal test 8ish years ago.
stutab
Well-Known Member
The handbrake bit is true, as I was told "when a pause becomes a stop, apply the handbrake" so anytime you stop for more than 2-3 seconds you need to put it on.
stutab
Well-Known Member
I know of somebody who failed, they were overcome with nerves and jacknifed the car and trailer at the start.
One of our lads at work failed. Pulled outta the test centre and straddled too far over the wrong side of the road. Instant fail. But he had to do the full test before he found out.
hmm, i questioned that during my lessons, and was told doesn't matter, if stopped for a long time put it on, but, otherwise do whatever.
Didn't get any minors for following that teaching.
mundungus
Active Member
Just good practice I think. My instructor wasn't against me being stopped with the foot brakes on, in gear and the clutch down if I was about to pull away fairly soon, just not if a pedestrian walks in front of you whilst you're stopped. As I said, it was just all about being the safest person on the road. If you're riding the clutch and have the possibility of squashing a pedestrian if your foot slips, that probably means you're not being the safest you can be.
It actually happened on my test. I came off a mini roundabout with a pedestrian crossing right there on my exit. The lights at the crossing was just turning from red and amber to green, but I had to stop as some dotty cow decided to step foot into the road anyway, she then walked a few paces into the road, thought better of it, turned and walked a pace back, then thought she'd cross anyway so turned and crossed slowly in front of me. The whole time the trailer was still on the mini roundabout blocking it, but with traffic trying to push past it impatiently. I sat there with my handbrake on not really knowing what to do. My instincts was telling me to get the trailer off the roundabout, as it was only a matter of time before someone clipped it, but with the stupid cow standing in front of me trying to decide whether the green traffic light was for me or her, I kept the handbrake on until she got out of the way. Examiner didn't batter any eyelid, even though he'd given me a minor for one missed mirror check on entering a roundabout, and another for approaching a differentroundabout in the wrong lane.
mundungus
Active Member
Tony Byiast Driving Academy - Braintree, Essex
This guy. He really is brilliant, I highly recommend him.
Kwakerman
Well-Known Member
The license system annoys me so much! Trailer part I can understand, but I have a Class D License... Meaning I can (And do!) drive a 13.6 Meter Tri-axle coach with 56 People on and weighs in at 17 Ton Unladen, yet as I passed after 1998 I can't drive a 7.5 ton maximum truck
Is more difficult to drive than this?
Slightly OT but I have C+E (HGV Class 1 Artic) and also have a caravan. When pricing up insurance I was asked if I had completed the Caravan Club Towing course as I would get 5% or so discount, said no but was C+E and they said that didn't count
Landy-Pilot
Member
Just an update chaps, did my training and test last week all went very well was a good experience and passed with only 1 minor which he didn't even mention till I asked.
Instruction was very good from TAL Training in Sheffield, learn't and re learnt some good pointers. As per everyone else, the manoeuvring procedure is a very small part so don't get hung up on this. Also don't get over confident just because you are used to towing this will likely be your downfall.
Instruction was very good from TAL Training in Sheffield, learn't and re learnt some good pointers. As per everyone else, the manoeuvring procedure is a very small part so don't get hung up on this. Also don't get over confident just because you are used to towing this will likely be your downfall.
Congrats
KillaJoules
Active Member
`
What order !??
Reverse up, align tow hitch and plonk trailer on ?
heh heh, I did my standard driving test 1,2,3, ....... 27, 28 years ago so got towing of trailers with both cars and 7.5 tonners by default!
Manoevering in tight spots and anticipating rear overhang is the hardest part of towing, reversing is easy.
I had to fill up the 110 in May in a tight Morereasons filling station with a 4 wheel transporter carrying a Discovery on the arse, then drive virtually into the door of the pay booth before turning right from under the canopy so the rear corner of the trailer would clear the pump first time.
(So Stu, what were you harvesting? looked too whispy for grain in the photo)
What order !??
Reverse up, align tow hitch and plonk trailer on ?
heh heh, I did my standard driving test 1,2,3, ....... 27, 28 years ago
so got towing of trailers with both cars and 7.5 tonners by default!Manoevering in tight spots and anticipating rear overhang is the hardest part of towing, reversing is easy.
I had to fill up the 110 in May in a tight Morereasons filling station with a 4 wheel transporter carrying a Discovery on the arse, then drive virtually into the door of the pay booth before turning right from under the canopy so the rear corner of the trailer would clear the pump first time
.(So Stu, what were you harvesting? looked too whispy for grain in the photo)
Landy-Pilot
Member
stutab
Well-Known Member
The combine is in OSR (The fields that are in yellow flowers now) and the tree was one that was in the way and looking dead so pushed it over with the loader. Been and fetched 10tones of very expensive hand made bricks on that trailer today, didn't ask how much it cost but the boss said drive slowly home.
Being in the right gear up and down hills is the most important even an auto down hills so you get engine breaking.
stutab
Well-Known Member
Well done, was it what you expected?
