Trailers, how maneuverable are they?

[Erich Stahler]

I have an Legacy Outback estate car with a tow bar and am considering getting a trailer in the near future that can take a car of up say 14 feet, I guess fairly standard kind of sized trailer a lot of people use at race meetings. My question is how maneuverable are they, specifically I would have to back down a 9 foot wide lane and turn 90 degrees into an opening of about fifteen feet to access my drive, would that be doable with the above rig?

Edited by Erich Stahler on Monday 8th September 23:32

[The Moose]

sounds like it could be tricky. remember the trailor will be manouverable by hand with no car on it so you could always line everything up and then trailor on hitch and put race car on trailor??

just a suggestion

the moose

[denisb]

Possible but jolly tricky and the first few attempts are going to be a mess (don't try them at one O'clock in the morning having just got back from a race!).

An alternative I am considering is fitting some 'caravan movers' to my trailer. That way you have got a big remote controlled car to play with.

I suppose it depends how long you 'drive' is but worth considering.

[Nicol@]

As mentioned, you can move it by hand.

We have similar at home. The trailer gets un-hitched then pushed along to its garage.

[refoman2]

thats a bit like asking,vans,how big are they?

there as manouvreable as you want them to be! and if you only have limited space then make sure you take a tape measure with when you go to look at one!

[GreenV8S]

Get a ball hitch fitted to the front of the car, then you can put the trailer exactly where you want it.

[The Moose]

GreenV8S said:

Get a ball hitch fitted to the front of the car, then you can put the trailer exactly where you want it.

dog ugly!!

[GreenV8S]

The Moose said:

GreenV8S said:

Get a ball hitch fitted to the front of the car, then you can put the trailer exactly where you want it.

dog ugly!!

If the looks bother you that much, get a removeable one.

[falcemob]

Quinny said:

Actually I'm not sure of the legallity of having a tow ball permanantly fixed at the front???

I'm sure I read somwhere that its a

I wouldn't think fitting a towball to the front of a Leagcy is an option in real terms plus you wont be able to manouvre the trailer in any tighter places with it on the front.
Apart from that I can't see any problems with a front mounted ball, what issues would there be?

[thunderbelmont]

I've seen them permanently mounted on LandRovers before.
Pushing a trailer is much easier indeed.

[Erich Stahler]

falcemob said:

Quinny said:

Actually I'm not sure of the legallity of having a tow ball permanantly fixed at the front???

I'm sure I read somwhere that its a

I wouldn't think fitting a towball to the front of a Leagcy is an option in real terms plus you wont be able to manouvre the trailer in any tighter places with it on the front.
Apart from that I can't see any problems with a front mounted ball, what issues would there be?

The Legacy Outback has a plastic moulded front from the radiator down so would look have to cut a big hole in it, so guess it wouldnt look to pretty!
No I think from the general comments on here sounds like i should be able to cope with a twin axle trailer, maybe un hitch round the corner and drag the empty trailer into my drive as a worst case scenario, or until i am confident enough to back it in.

[jimmyslr]

I suspect I am not the only one, but reversing trailers is a right pain and none too easy. They go the other way from the car and react fast with lots of scope for finding yourself in irrecoverable situations. Fine in a large drive where you can unhitch and push it (without race car unless you have some mates), but less fine in a narrow space. I am getting better at it, but 12 months and 1 racing season later it is still a right s$$g!

[mat205125]

Car trailers are wider than a car, so you'd have to measure and check your purchase.

Backing down a tight straight lane is easy with practice, and you can always unhitch and push the trailer for the last few tight corners and distance ... a car trailer is manageable by one person on flat sealed surfaces.

[Erich Stahler]

mat205125 said:

a car trailer is manageable by one person on flat sealed surfaces.

Ah, that's a very good point, it's a rough potholed gravel track!

[mat205125]

Erich Stahler said:

mat205125 said:

a car trailer is manageable by one person on flat sealed surfaces.

Ah, that's a very good point, it's a rough potholed gravel track!

You'll do well to safely shift a standard Brian James (other makes are available) sized trailer about on your own in gravel.

This could be worth considering, and is something that a friend has done for when he's loading his car on his own. Find a stty knackered old ride on lawn mower to fit a trailer hitch to. Dead easy and handy for managing trailers on your own.

[jellison]

Erich Stahler said:

I have an Legacy Outback estate car with a tow bar and am considering getting a trailer in the near future that can take a car of up say 14 feet, I guess fairly standard kind of sized trailer a lot of people use at race meetings. My question is how maneuverable are they, specifically I would have to back down a 9 foot wide lane and turn 90 degrees into an opening of about fifteen feet to access my drive, would that be doable with the above rig?

Edited by Erich Stahler on Monday 8th September 23:32

If I am moving ours about, Pretty Manoeverable", if my Father does it "Not Very". Odd I can't work it out, he has the revesing trailer geen missed out in his make-up!

Mind he is better at putting cars back together again than me - I havethe patience of a Pissed of Tick!!!!!!!!!

Edited by jellison on Friday 19th September 15:51

[GBRM]

I must admit it took me some getting used to but I started with a huge race box and not a trailer but it was good practice for a little/normal trailer! The one bit I think you might struggle with is length, so to speak!!

[jellison]

I am Knackered reversing with motorhome though!

[Batfink]

i never had a problem reversing with a trailer. I look over my shoulder with one hand on the steering wheel, then just drive watching the trailer. Trick is to just react to what you see without thinking whether you are turning the steering left or right.
Certainly easier than using mirrors!

[jellison]

Batfink said:

i never had a problem reversing with a trailer. I look over my shoulder with one hand on the steering wheel, then just drive watching the trailer. Trick is to just react to what you see without thinking whether you are turning the steering left or right.
Certainly easier than using mirrors!

Tell that to my Father!!!!!!!!!!