Tell me about trailers

[blugnu]

I've never towed before, but hey, I'm fast approaching middle age and I have a Picasso and a huge tent, so when I saw a trailer advertised on the little board in my local supermarket for a great price, I bought it, even though I've never towed before and now absolutely nothing about it.

The car already had a towball (a Witter one, I believe these are very good - thanks, previous owners) so I've towed it home (well, to my friend's business for now as I need to sort out storage) and it seemed ok, if a little clonkier than I expected, but I think that's because it needs a bit of grease on the tow-ball, and because the trailer was empty and therefore bouncing around a bit over potholes and speed bumps.

So what do I need to know? It seems like the trailer has been in the garage for 20 years or so, stored on its end with the wheels off. It's in great cosmetic condition and the tyres look fine, although I guess 20 years is a bit old for a tyre?

I think it might be worth re-packing the bearings, and the brake lights don't seem to work, or aren't fitted, I'm not sure. I'll have to open it up and see how many bulbs there are. Do I need brake lights on it if you can see the brake lights on the car? The chap I bought it from says he thinks it might now be a legal requirement to fit mudguards - can any of you advise?

It's going to have to be stored outside, so any security tips would be much appreciated too. I have a very sturdy wooden construction I can chain it to, and I think I will also remove the wheels and put a hitchlock on. I'd hope that'd be sufficient deterrent for something that isn't actually worth that much and isn't even worth weighing in as it's mainly wood.


Any other tips about trailer owning, towing and maintaining much appreciated. I've been told that a short trailer is harder to reverse with than a longer one, and as you can't even see this from the driver's seat I have a ready made excuse not to try

Anyway, here it is. WARNING - extreme family motoring image follows.

[CDP]

Definitely needs brake lights and wheel arches. Both are cheap and easy (bulbs for brakes probably - or connections).

[Watchman]

You're right about the lights and mudguards.

You're also right about security - a wooden one shouldn't cause you too many sleepless nights however hitchlocks are cheap. I have 3 on my Brenderup - a long-loop padlock behind the handle preventing the handle from being lifted, a tiny little brass "blocker" in the key-hole for the "trigger", and a ball/loop inside the hitch cup.

Total cost was ~£10 and although each one alone probably wouldn't challenge a thief too much, I'm hoping the combined set will cause second thoughts.

I also have a monster motorbike lock which I loop through the A-frame when I'm camping with it. I just leave it dangling. It'd be impossible to drive with it hanging - it weighs over 20Kg. I used to loop the chain through the axle when I had a little Daxara (no A-frame).

[blugnu]

Watchman said:

You're right about the lights and mudguards.

You're also right about security - a wooden one shouldn't cause you too many sleepless nights however hitchlocks are cheap. I have 3 on my Brenderup - a long-loop padlock behind the handle preventing the handle from being lifted, a tiny little brass "blocker" in the key-hole for the "trigger", and a ball/loop inside the hitch cup.

Total cost was ~£10 and although each one alone probably wouldn't challenge a thief too much, I'm hoping the combined set will cause second thoughts.

I also have a monster motorbike lock which I loop through the A-frame when I'm camping with it. I just leave it dangling. It'd be impossible to drive with it hanging - it weighs over 20Kg. I used to loop the chain through the axle when I had a little Daxara (no A-frame).

Thanks all. It seems it also needs two red, triangular reflectors on the back too?

So my shopping list for tomorrow is:

reflectors
brake light bulbs
mudguards
a proper numberplate
a hitch-lock, some chain and an insert-able locking ball for the coupling.

Although the police drove past me twice when I was parked up with this and didn't stop me

I'm also thinking about adding some home-made sides to make it taller and more secure.

[CDP]

You may need your V5 and ID for a new numberplate. Ring the store to find out first.

[ColinM50]

Go Outdoors has all the bits you need and their prices are pretty good. Was in the Bedford shop this evening and they had plastic mudguards on the shelves. Not sure why I spotted them but I did, SWMBO was looking at girlie stuff and I sort of got stuck in the bloke aisle and it was all the trailer bits so I know I'm right

[blugnu]

I got a hitchlock and some triangular reflectors today. Towsure were out of the mudguards I wanted (i.e. the cheap ones!)
so I will try Go Outdoors - thanks for the tip.

The trailer is still in my friend's lock-up where I left it temporarily while I got some security for it, so I've not had chance to fiddle with the brake lights yet.

[marshal_alan]

if the tyres arent date marked or are 20 years old i would replace them, you wont need commercial tyres as the trailer's gross weight will be so low. would just put on a set of cheapo tyres

[leyorkie]

marshal_alan said:

if the tyres arent date marked or are 20 years old i would replace them, you wont need commercial tyres as the trailer's gross weight will be so low. would just put on a set of cheapo tyres

I found it was practically the same price to go for new wheels complete.
Western Trailers (or Towing) are very good for online stuff, old fashioned service with up to date web site.

[Meeja]

marshal_alan said:

if the tyres arent date marked or are 20 years old i would replace them.

This.

I bought a trailer off eBay for £40 a few years ago, and refurbed it so we could use it to cart our ridiculous amount of kit around that we use for camping holidays.

Coat of hammorite on the frame, service to the hubs, coat of varnish on the timber, new mudguards and a full rewire.

I bought a new wheel and tyre to act as a spare, which bolts onto the A-Frame at the front but totally ignored the original wheels that were on the trailer.

First time we went away using the trailer, I was halfway to Devon when one of the tyres blew out. Fortunately I had the spare so after 20 mins or so, we were back on the move.

Whilst on our week's holiday, I never got round to getting the blown out tyre sorted... and on the way home, the other original tyre blew out on the M5. Fortunately we were 1/2 mile from a service station so I could get off the motorway and to the safety of a car park.

As it was a Friday late evening it cost me the price of several spare wheels and tyres to get a mobile tyre firm to come and replace the tyre and get us back on the road again.

[blugnu]

Meeja said:

marshal_alan said:

if the tyres arent date marked or are 20 years old i would replace them.

This.

I bought a trailer off eBay for £40 a few years ago, and refurbed it so we could use it to cart our ridiculous amount of kit around that we use for camping holidays....
First time we went away using the trailer, I was halfway to Devon when one of the tyres blew out.

Thanks both - the wheels and tyres are currently in my boot for security as I have to leave the trailer outside, and I have noticed firstly that they have no age stamp, and secondly that one of them has what may be the beginning of a sidewall bulge. Are all camping shops much the same price for new tyres? They seem to be, but any bargain tips much appreciated.

I also have another question - I store the trailer at the end of a passageway that is so narrow I have to take the trailer down on its end, using a little skateboard thing (dolly board? is that the right name?)

Unfortunately the passageway is quite bumpy, and so the dolly board keeps getting stuck and then I end up with the dolly board slipping out from under it. Basically getting it to where it is now stored was a monumental pain. And I've got to get it out again to use it.

So I just wondered if anyone knows of any legal practical reason why I can't just unbolt the castors from the dolly board and bolt them onto the back of the trailer at the corners, so it's more stable and easier to move? Obviously they'll still be there when I tow it, sticking out a bit. Is that ok? And thinking some more, I'll have to have them inboard a bit so I can clip the tarp back on, but it'll still be easier (I hope) if they are attached to the trailer rather than a little board.

[CDP]

blugnu said:

Thanks both - the wheels and tyres are currently in my boot for security as I have to leave the trailer outside, and I have noticed firstly that they have no age stamp, and secondly that one of them has what may be the beginning of a sidewall bulge. Are all camping shops much the same price for new tyres? They seem to be, but any bargain tips much appreciated.

I also have another question - I store the trailer at the end of a passageway that is so narrow I have to take the trailer down on its end, using a little skateboard thing (dolly board? is that the right name?)

Unfortunately the passageway is quite bumpy, and so the dolly board keeps getting stuck and then I end up with the dolly board slipping out from under it. Basically getting it to where it is now stored was a monumental pain. And I've got to get it out again to use it.

So I just wondered if anyone knows of any legal practical reason why I can't just unbolt the castors from the dolly board and bolt them onto the back of the trailer at the corners, so it's more stable and easier to move? Obviously they'll still be there when I tow it, sticking out a bit. Is that ok? And thinking some more, I'll have to have them inboard a bit so I can clip the tarp back on, but it'll still be easier (I hope) if they are attached to the trailer rather than a little board.

As far as I'm aware as long as there aren't any sharp edges there's nothing to stop you legally putting casters on the back of your car to aid storage. Looking odd has never been illegal - just ask Sangyong.

[Watchman]

I considered the same approach to storing a Daxara previously. Four Tesco-trolley casters seems a sensible approach to be honest, although in practice I think I convinced myself that non-caster wheels (of the same size) would make it easier to steer (casters are the work of the devil except on completely flat floors).

I sold the trailer and bought a much bigger one in the end but I still reckon the suggestion is sound.

[Meeja]

CDP said:

Looking odd has never been illegal - just ask Sangyong.

I'll see your Sangyong and raise you...... Fiat Multipla!


Rather than fix the wheels on the back of the trailer permanantly, would it be feasible to make a dolly board that clips onto the back of the trailer using spring clips?



That way you don't have to have the weight of the castors/wheels lugged around everywhere with the trailer, or have any issue over protruding things at the back when towing - and it would take about 20 seconds to clip the dolly in place to manouvre the trailer when at home