| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Treacodactyl |
TrailersOne way of reducing the size of car I need is to get something smaller for everyday use and a trailer for those once in a while jobs. However, I don't have any experience of them or know anyone who has one. Does anyone use a trailer much? I must admit thinking I might forget I'm towing one.
Dougal posted up details on weight limits here which use useful and I would like to know peoples experience of using them. I'm thinking along the lines of a smallish galvanised trailer rather than something horse box size because a small car can't cope with much (500kg unbreaked). However, it would be very useful to get something you could fit something like an 8 x 4 foot wooden or plasterboard panel in - is that possible? Also, how do you stop someone pinching your trailer when you go shopping? |
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| Northern_Lad |
Re: Trailers
Most come with a lock on the tow-bar receiver side. Look for a bloke called Ifor Williams in Wales for traillers. |
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| sean |
A trailer with brakes is not much more complicated than one without.
And you stop people from nicking it by removing the wheels. (More seriously by chaining it to the back of your car.) |
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| Treacodactyl |
I did wonder about breaked/unbreaked trailers it seems I could tow twice as much in a breaked trailer. How do the breaks work? I also noticed that some places rent trailers which might be ideal.
I would seriously consider removing the wheels when I'm not using the trailer, but not when nipping into B&Q. A hefty chain sounds wise. |
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| sean |
The tow-hitch can slide a couple of inches, when you brake the trailer slides towards the car and the back of the tow-hitch pushes a lever to pull the brakes on. Sorry that's not very clear, if you look at one it's obvious how it works. | ||||
| sean |
A diagram showing how they work. | ||||
| Treacodactyl |
Thanks, I understood your description but the diagram is also useful. 
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| Penny |
Ebay - got one for £40 - use it all the time
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| Treacodactyl |
What size is it? | ||||
| Penny |
Umm - big  Probably about 6ft by 4ft ish????
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| Treacodactyl |
Sounds like a very good buy, any problems with it? I'm reasonably good at mechanics so I could easily take on something that needed a bit of TLC. | ||||
| judith |
We have two - a smallish stock trailer and a home-made flatbed that we bought from an old fella who had a business buying and selling machine tools (I plan to shelter under this puppy if we are ever being bombed!). But we still needed to borrow our friend's Ifor GD85 when we had a pile of plasterboard to shift 
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| Penny |
None at all - it's not the prettiest thing on the planet, but it's all legal with lights and stuff. The Maverick is very clever, as it knows when the trailer is plugged into it, and makes a buzzy noise when the indicators flash, so you know they're working
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| JB |
Avoid hiring trailers. Unless you need a huge trailer you should be able to get one second hand somewhere. I bought a decent trailer for less than the cost of hiring one for a weekend and its already paid for itself several times over (only problem is that it takes up space in the garage) | ||||
| Treacodactyl |
That weighs it at 425kg empty.
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| judith |
Sorry. We were using the Landy. Probably not a lot of use to you then. |
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| Treacodactyl |
That's another option, I am planning to get an old Landy for a project. 
While looking up the GD85 on the Ifor Williams site I did notice other lighter trailers that would be ideal. 290kg and enough room for a double bed, but a bit expensive. |
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| judith |
Have you looked into buying a recon? |
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| dougal |
Treacodactyl -
Yes, it makes a great deal of sense to run a smaller car and use a trailer for those occasions when you need to carry something bulky, smelly or even heavy. If you are into DIY with big bits of metal (or even want to know more about trailers) have a look at http://www.indespension.co.uk/ they sell parts from which one could (at least in the recent past) build one's own design of trailer. (You normally want a 'nose weight' of about 25kg on the car's towbar, so almost balanced...) Re over-run brakes: one minor point omitted is that one has a blocking piece, that needs to be swung into place to *prevent* the brakes being applied when you are trying to reverse. The 'reversing catch' needs to be disengaged before driving off, otherwise you don't have trailer brakes! Security: there are various methods of locking the trailer to the tow-vehicle, and if the trailer is detatched some people put on wheel clamps, while others put a cowl over the coupling. At home, you might use a ground anchor. For serious security stuff, look at what is offered to caravanners. Storage: If you can store the thing on end, or on its side, it'll take up only a little room in a garage, but they are usually surprisingly heavy and awkward. You have things like lights, numberplate and mudguards to consider. |
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| Treacodactyl |
I've not looked at buying a recon mainly because I didn't think of it.
I'm not sure about attempting to make one or reviving a very old one though as I don't know how they feel so wouldn't know if anything is wrong. I'll have an ask about to see if there's anyone I know who I could borrow one from when I have the car sorted.
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| Rob R |
Just remember that it is illeagal to carry people in trailers 
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| dougal |
*Here* you go! | ||||
| Treacodactyl |
Cheers Dougal, the 1.2x2.4m foldable one for just over £300 looks very interesting. I could easily make a base and perhaps extend it in some way to take 1.22x.2.44m boards.
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| guyandzoe |
We have an 8x4 Ivor williams with 4 foot removable cage sides and a cover. Best thing we ever bought. It tows really well behind our 206 and we can load 750Kg before we approach our train weight limit. (the trailer is over 350Kg)
The brakes have an automatic reverse function so we dont need to remember to flick levers etc. However occasionally it will not work and you need to be careful if you want to revers a load UP hill. The reverser needs a jolly good shove to work in that case. IMHO a small cheap trailer will always be just that , small and cheap and a regret. I would also recommend a braked trailer. Even with light loads there have been occasions when I was very glad to feel the trailer helping to slow us up Find somewhere BIG to practice reversing your trailer. Hint: hand on bottom of wheel move hand in direction the trailer needs to go and move swiftly back to centre as soon as the trailer starts to go where you want it. Also - know how far round the trailer goes before it hits the car!!Then never go there again.... Best security advice - never leave it unattended when out and about. If you must leave it then buy the biggest best device you can afford. We use a wheel clamp and lock it to the car. guy |
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| RichardW |
Dont forget to check your licence as if you have passed your test in the last few years (about 5-10 I think) you might not be allowed to tow a trailer over a cirtain size unless you take a test. Also make sure your tow car is allowed to tow a trailer as some are not suitable even if you can get a tow bar for them. Newer ones must have an aproved tow bar.
Justme |
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| Jonnyboy |
I have an 8x4 trailer, use it every couple of weeks for collecting wood.
Personally, I have little time for a tiny trailer. One huge advantange of a decent trailer is that you can move 'bulky' objcets as opposed to 'heavy' objects. 8x4 also has the advantage that the floor can be easily replaced!
One bit of advice, always use a breakaway chain for safety, it can also double as a security lock. |
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| Treacodactyl |
Time to resurrect an old thread. I'm looking at trailers again and have a couple of questions. My car can tow 1400kg braked and I'll be towing over long distances, mostly on motorways and A-roads.
A 6x4 trailer would fit everything in I want, but would it be wise to think about a 8x4? Downside is it a bit heavier, longer and more costly, upside is it would be more flexible although I'm sure a 6x4 could be adapted to transport the odd panel of 8x4 ply or similar (although I shouldn't need to do that for a few years). Now, not having towed before and towing over a long distance I keep looking at twin axle trailers. I'll not be carrying about too much weight but would two axles be safer than one? What happens if you get a flat in a trailer? I have visions of a horrible accident but I'm probably just being paranoid. |
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| vegplot |
I can't recommend highly enough the trailer that both VSS and I own. They are single axle, 500kg unbraked very sturdily made but remain light and manageable. It has a detachable roof, fold down and detachable sides, and ramp with door. Size is 7ft x 4ft.
Very popular for small stock transport (pigs, sheep etc.) Gervase posted a link to a mid Wales manufacture recently which makes these or very similar trailers. Edit: Here it is at the Foody Weekend in April. I tow it behind the Land Rover as well as a Fiesta Van. 
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| Tavascarow |
I got mine on E-bay for 99p but I think you would strugle to get a 8x4 in it!
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| Hairyloon |
You lucky goat. A fairly good way of getting a pretty fair trailer is to scrap an old caravan. Perhaps a bit big. But they're the badger's nadgers. |
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| Rusticwood |
the date for the change in the driving licence changes is january 1st 1997 since then you can only tow up to 750kg unless you take the towing test.A good book to get if you arn't confident is "the essential towing handbook"(towing roadcraft).
The caravan club do towing courses |
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| Rusticwood |
if you are in the south west i can recomend nova trailers fron mortonhampstead devon | ||||
| RichardW |
Just remember when buying the trailer that its the plated MAM that counts not the actual trailer & load that counts unless you are over weight. So dont go buying a 2000kg trailer hoping that you can just load it to 1400kg.
Thats only half the regulations. You can also tow a trailer that weighs less (thats plated weight again not actual load) fully loaded than than the car does unloaded (again the plated unloaded weight) as long as the car fully loaded weight (plated) plus the trailer fully loaded (plated) is less than 3500kg. In practice that means that a car that weighs say 1800kg empty & 2000kg max plated can tow a trailer that has a max weight of 1500kg. Or 1650kg car (empty & 1850kg full) & 1650 trailer is ok too. Richard |
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| Treacodactyl |
So, if I was looking at something like an Ifor Williams GD64, with an unladen weight of 325kg and I only ever loaded 200kg into it, it is its maximum weight I need to look at, which happens to be 1400kg so right on the limit. That would seem to rule out any double axle trailer then as they can take more than 1400kg. |
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| Treacodactyl |
Thanks for the book recommendation, I might get hold of a copy and then decide if I can just find somewhere to practice or if I need a course. I might be able to get down to nova trailers so I'll take a look. |
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| RichardW |
Yes.
The load only comes into it if you are over loaded. They can tell just by looking at the car & trailer if that car is allowed to tow that trailer. One way round is to get the trailer re plated to a lower weight (I think the makers have to do it but not sure). If you are only ever going to tow small loads then get a small unbraked trailer. Mine weighs 150kg & can carry 600kg. Why tow 360kg around all the time when 150kg will do? |
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| Treacodactyl |
Flexability. I will need to carry some things that are about 6 foot long and a few foot wide. | ||||
| RichardW |
Mine will take 7'6" long & is about 3'6" ish wide internally But will take about 4'6" or more if on an angle Or you can stand them on edge if needed by removing the rear roof bar.
Oh & the trailers that VSS & VP have are very solid. (much better than mine) Dont know the carry weights on them but its is an unbraked one so 750kg MAM. |
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| paulandpatinmanche |
Not much help to you perhaps but here in France its quite common to find double axle unbraked trailers that will take 8 x 4's of plasterboard - we've got one for the ride on mower etc.
Tows fine behind a diesel BX, although the Renault 4 would struggle a bit! 
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