Just trying to remember when 13.6m standard trailers replaced 12.00m trailers (ie overall artic length changed from 15m to 16.5. The year 1983 sticks in my mind (or was that when 38-tonne weight limit replaced 32t?). Robert 
I believe the shift to 13.6m was in the early 90s Robert. I remember switching firms at that time and the boss of the new one (Rowe &Co) telling me to take it easy in tight places with their brand new ‘45 foot flats’. Mind you that was in Cornwall during the dark ages, the place wasn’t know for being at the sharp end of technology back then, longer trailers could well have been in use elsewhere years earlier!
1995 @ 38.T .
I’ve just found out it was Jan 1991. Shows how the memory can play tricks, as I’d have put it earlier. Cheers and thank you for reponding! Robert 
Cornwall weren’t that backward when you think of R&Os fleet of fold flat tippers
I was thinking early 80s seeing Ferrymasters with over length stickers on
On Gray & Adams website is has section 1998-1990 bays built to accommodate 13.6 mtr trailers. That narrows it down a bit
robert1952:
Just trying to remember when 13.6m standard trailers replaced 12.00m trailers (ie overall artic length changed from 15m to 16.5. The year 1983 sticks in my mind (or was that when 38-tonne weight limit replaced 32t?). Robert
I’m not sure that 13.5m has completely replaced 12m even today.
IIRC, I first saw a 13.6m trailer in the late 80s.
Didn’t the early ones have a sticker on the headboard, something like “caution, deep pin,” or similar
I was at TIP Trailer Rental in Cardiff and in 1989 worse case 1990 we had our first 26 pallet Fruehauf Boalloy curtainsiders arrive on fleet where the curtains “wrapped around” into the front bulkhead. Even though they were 26 pallets it was tight and they went to about 43 feet overall length from 40’ so not quite up to the maximum of 13.6m. Some short wheelbase tractor units couldn’t get under them properly at the time and make a turning circle without damaging the back of their cabs/airlines etc (back when we all had air taps!!).
Kind regards Adrian
Pardon my ignorance ,isn’t 13.6 -12.2 more than half a metre ? Or have I forgotten or missed something ?edit must be bit a the rear and rest beyond the pin thus overall lenght only being half a metre longer !
hiya a pal of mine had a 3300 daf on a E reg with a top sleeper pod so he could pull a new length trailer
he was pulling for francens on fridgework theres a photo on TN there was 2 of them
John
Never mind 13.6mtr trailers, DHL/Lidl are using 14.6mtr now.
wing-nut:
Never mind 13.6mtr trailers, DHL/Lidl are using 14.6mtr now.
So are we but there’s nothing to them, had a go on a 15.6 m trailer the other day now that’s a different ball game with the ■■■ swing you get on it.
bald bloke:
wing-nut:
Never mind 13.6mtr trailers, DHL/Lidl are using 14.6mtr now.So are we but there’s nothing to them, had a go on a 15.6 m trailer the other day now that’s a different ball game with the ass swing you get on it.
+1 - The rear steer axle is a PITA when going backwards (Until you get used to it)
Rear axle steer shouldn’t make a difference. Don’t they lock into straight ahead position? Every one I’ve ever driven has unless it was faulty.
bald bloke:
wing-nut:
Never mind 13.6mtr trailers, DHL/Lidl are using 14.6mtr now.So are we but there’s nothing to them, had a go on a 15.6 m trailer the other day now that’s a different ball game with the ■■■ swing you get on it.
would that be those morrison trailers that look like they are going to wipe out every set of traffic lights on a crossroads corner?