Vehicle loading test (with hints)

Any load that is carried on a roof rack should be*

securely fastened when driving

loaded towards the rear of the vehicle

visible in your exterior mirror

covered with plastic sheeting

The safest way to carry items on the roof is in a specially designed roof box. This will help to keep your luggage secure and dry, and also has less wind resistance than loads carried on a roof rack.

If a trailer swerves or snakes when you are towing it you should*

ease off the accelerator and reduce your speed

let go of the steering wheel and let it correct itself

brake hard and hold the pedal down

increase your speed as quickly as possible

Strong winds or buffeting from large vehicles can cause a trailer or caravan to snake or swerve. If this happens, ease off the accelerator. Don’t brake harshly, steer sharply or increase your speed.

You are towing a caravan along a motorway. The caravan begins to swerve from side to side. What should you do?*

Ease off the accelerator slowly

Steer sharply from side to side

Do an emergency stop

Speed up very quickly

Try not to brake or steer heavily as this will only make matters worse and you could lose control altogether. Keep calm and regain control by easing off the accelerator.

You are planning to tow a caravan. Which of these will mostly help to aid the vehicle handling?*

A jockey wheel fitted to the towbar

Power steering fitted to the towing vehicle

Anti-lock brakes fitted to the towing vehicle

A stabiliser fitted to the towbar

Towing a caravan or trailer affects the way the tow vehicle handles. It is highly recommended that you take a caravan manoeuvring course. These are provided by various organisations for anyone wishing to tow a trailer.

Why would you fit a stabiliser before towing a caravan?*

It will help with stability when driving in crosswinds

It will allow heavy items to be loaded behind the axle

It will help you to raise and lower the jockey wheel

It will allow you to tow without the breakaway cable

Fitting a stabiliser to your tow bar will help to reduce snaking by the caravan especially where there are crosswinds. However, this does not take away your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle/caravan combination is loaded correctly.

Overloading your vehicle can seriously affect the*

gearbox

journey time

handling

battery life

Any load will have an effect on the handling of your vehicle and this becomes worse as you increase the load. You need to be aware of this when carrying passengers, heavy loads, fitting a roof rack or towing a trailer.

You wish to tow a trailer. Where would you find the maximum noseweight of your vehicle’s tow ball?*

In the vehicle handbook

In The Highway Code

In your vehicle registration certificate

In your licence documents

You must know how to load your trailer or caravan so that the hitch exerts a downward force onto the tow ball. This information can be found in your vehicle handbook or from your vehicle manufacturer’s agent.

Who is responsible for making sure that a vehicle is not overloaded?*

The driver of the vehicle

The owner of the items being carried

The person who loaded the vehicle

The licensing authority

Your vehicle must not be overloaded. Carrying heavy loads will affect control and handling characteristics. If your vehicle is overloaded and it causes a crash, you’ll be held responsible.

You're towing a small trailer on a busy three-lane motorway. All the lanes are open. You must*

not exceed 50 mph

not overtake

have a stabiliser fitted

use only the left and centre lanes

The motorway regulations for towing a trailer state that you MUST NOT
• use the right-hand lane of a three-lane motorway, unless directed to do so (for example at roadworks or due to a lane closure)
• exceed 60 mph.

A heavy load on your roof rack will*

improve the road holding

reduce the stopping distance

make the steering lighter

reduce stability

A heavy load on your roof rack will reduce the stability of the vehicle because it moves the centre of gravity away from that designed by the manufacturer. Be aware of this when you negotiate bends and corners. If you change direction at speed, your vehicle and/or load could become unstable and you could lose control.

Are passengers allowed to ride in a caravan that is being towed?*

Yes, if they are over fourteen

No, not at any time

Only if all the seats in the towing vehicle are full

Only if a stabiliser is fitted

Riding in a towed caravan is highly dangerous. The safety of the entire unit is dependent on the stability of the trailer. Moving passengers would make the caravan unstable and could cause loss of control.

You are carrying a child in your car. They are under three years of age. Which of these is a suitable restraint?*

A child seat

An adult holding a child

An adult seat belt

An adult lap belt

It’s your responsibility to ensure that all children in your car are secure. Suitable restraints include a child seat, baby seat, booster seat or booster cushion. It’s essential that any restraint used should be suitable for the child’s size and weight, and fitted to the manufacturers instructions.

On which occasion should you inflate your tyres to more than their normal pressure?*

When the roads are slippery

When the vehicle is fitted with anti-lock brakes

When the tyre tread is worn below 2mm

When carrying a heavy load

Check the vehicle handbook. This should give you guidance on the correct tyre pressures for your vehicle and when you may need to adjust them. If you are carrying a heavy load you may need to adjust the headlights as well. Most cars have a switch on the dashboard to do this.

How can you stop a caravan snaking from side to side?*

Turn the steering wheel slowly to each side

Accelerate to increase your speed

Stop as quickly as you can

Slow down very gradually

Keep calm and don’t brake harshly or you could lose control completely. Ease off the accelerator until the unit is brought back under control. The most dangerous time is on long downhill gradients.

A trailer must stay securely hitched up to the towing vehicle. What additional safety device can be fitted to the trailer braking system?*

Stabiliser

Jockey wheel

Corner steadies

Breakaway cable

In the event of a towbar failure the cable activates the trailer brakes, then snaps. This allows the towing vehicle to get free of the trailer and out of danger.

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