Definately, ignorance is no excuse. Maintenance:- I often receive comments on how old my smaller box trailer's (7 by 4) number plate is (about 1972 for memory) but times have seen repairs & replacements as well as the ever important greasing/adjusting bearings. Carrying very green (fresh) manure has resulted in about twenty gal floors: overloading/ rust has required 4 dray bars: 2 carcases from manure, and 3 towball hitches=1 from 1 3/4 inch to 50mm and 1 from the lock-down not looking really reliable even with "r" clip. It doesn't take much to carry around a pair of pliars to tighten the d shackles.Unfortunately I had a few stolen so leave them on trailer safety chains when not in use and keep a couple of spares under the floor. one day when i clean out my shed I may post a pic of a pintle hook that could scare the daylights from viewers. I just wonder what the driver of the truck was thinking at the moment it broke=looked like a flaw in the metal to me but I'm a novice.

Regards, Ranald