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Well my indicators click and flash on the dash, but does'nt everyones? is that the "Tell Tale"

Victor

this is from a post on here in 2006

http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Trailer-plug-guide-and-wiring-diagrams_W0QQugidZ10000000002022212

if you read down it says

By law all passenger vehicles should be fitted with a monitor to tell the driver that the indicators are working correctly this can be done either with a flashing light in the dash or an audible buzzer in the vehicle.

When we had the tow bar fitted this year, they put a speparate buzzer in the boot area, so we always know. I presume it is a part of the electrics that get added.

Alan

Quote: Originally posted by vmlopes on 20/5/2008

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Well my indicators click and flash on the dash, but does'nt everyones? is that the "Tell Tale"

 

Victor

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Aaah but I do get a warning light if any bulbs fail on the car or the trailer, guess I'm covered then??

Victor

this is from  CC advice, read para 17.

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/801876BF-A519-46FF-BC4F-F2DF284BD52C/0/TopTwentyCaravanningQuestionsAnswered.pdf

I've just been speaking to someone I know from the traffic division of our local force. When I spoke to him earlier he said he has never heard of such a law. He has just phoned me back now from work and this is what he told me - he said he's looked up all the information they have and there is nothing to say that there is an actual law about this in connection with trailers or caravans. Yes, it is a legal requirement to have an audio and/or visual warning in your vehicle to say that your indicators are working - which is what all vehicles have anyway - but there is no law to say you have to have one connected to your caravan/trailer indicators. So as long as your trailer/caravan indicators are all working correctly you will not be breaking any law by not having an extra warning device in your vehicle.

The first sentence in the paragraph in the above link is rather ambiguous, in that it sounds like it applies to when you are towing a caravan or trailer, but in actual fact it is just the normal legal requirement which applies to any vehicle.

Quote: Originally posted by Tigermouse on 20/5/2008

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I've just been speaking to someone I know from the traffic division of our local force. When I spoke to him earlier he said he has never heard of such a law. He has just phoned me back now from work and this is what he told me - he said he's looked up all the information they have and there is nothing to say that there is an actual law about this in connection with trailers or caravans. Yes, it is a legal requirement to have an audio and/or visual warning in your vehicle to say that your indicators are working - which is what all vehicles have anyway - but there is no law to say you have to have one connected to your caravan/trailer indicators. So as long as your trailer/caravan indicators are all working correctly you will not be breaking any law by not having an extra warning device in your vehicle.

The first sentence in the paragraph in the above link is rather ambiguous, in that it sounds like it applies to when you are towing a caravan or trailer, but in actual fact it is just the normal legal requirement which applies to any vehicle.

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Your "friend" doesn't know the law!!!

Just because some towbar fitters don't bother with the tell tale doesn't mean it shouldn't be there.

I worked in the motor trade for years and had to know the law for when fitting towbars, of which I have fitted hundreds over the years.

You MUST have a tell-tale (audible or visual) to show that the indicators on your trailer/caravan are working FACT.

You probably have more chance of winning the lottery than being caught for not having a tell-tale, but you are still breaking the law - even if some coppers don't know the laws they are suppossed to be enforcing

Most fitters install the audio device as its quicker and so cheaper.

For a visual tell-tale you need to run wiring to the dashboard unless a factory "plug n play" is available for your car.

My Nissan towbar electrics simply plugged into the loom under the car. Cost £30 - £35 for the wiring kit and meant it was a 2 minute job to wire it up - no messing about removing trim panels and tapping inot the lights wiring. It also cuts off the Fog light on the vehicle when a trailer/caravan is plugged in so you don't get glare back!

Chaz